Answered2 years ago

What are the visa options for a family relocating to Chiang Mai with a volunteer and student visa situations?

Volunteer Visa Student Visa Dependent Visa ED Visa Visa Rules in Thailand Chiang Mai Immigration

Elaine ******

asked May 2, 2024

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We are a family of five who plan to relocate to Chiang Mai in the near future. I will be applying for a volunteer visa, while my two older daughters will be applying for student visas as they will be attending schools there. I have a couple of questions:

1. My youngest child is 15 months old and cannot apply for a dependent visa under my volunteer visa, as it does not allow for any dependents. What should I do in this situation?

2. My husband is eligible to apply for a dependent visa based on my two older daughters' student visas. However, should he apply for an ED visa in order to obtain a proper dependent visa for our 15-month-old baby under his name? I heard from someone tonight that even if my husband gets an ED visa, our baby may still not be eligible for a dependent visa. Is this true?

Thanks

Answer summary

A family of five plans to move to Chiang Mai, with a mother applying for a volunteer visa and her two older daughters for student visas. They face challenges regarding their 15-month-old child, who cannot apply for a dependent visa under the volunteer visa. The father is considering applying for an ED visa to potentially secure a dependent visa for their youngest child. There are concerns about whether this will indeed allow for their baby to receive dependent status, especially since dependents are typically linked to certain types of educational visas.

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Cliff *********

So you want to live in Thailand based on children going to school there.

How will you support yourselves?

You cannot work without a work permit…..and you cannot stay long term.

Find another scheme.

2 years ago

Elaine ******

@Cliff ********

I will do my volunteer work there. That is the reason why I go there. Not for children’s education purpose. However, if we go, we go together as a family. I have no interest to work without work permit.

2 years ago

Elaine ******

I do have work permit so that i can apply for volunteer visa

2 years ago

Henrik *****

Volunteer work is also work, and you will need a workpermit also for volunteer work.

2 years ago

Uwe ****

With so many kids the best would be to start some kind of business, like a restaurant business, in this way there is always good food around and the visas are taken care of for everyone automatically.

2 years ago

Steve *******

@Uddhava ***********

h

Large investment of capital and I believe a minimum of 4 Thai employees.

Also,KIV - Chiang Mai has been breaking records this year for pollution levels

2 years ago

Henrik *****

But you need to have many Thai employes to get 2 workpermits out of a restaurant.

Biggest chance is that it will be a big black hole to put money into.

Not excactly a good startup strategy

2 years ago

Elaine ******

@Uddhava ***********

good idea😀

2 years ago

Graham ******

Children under 15 cannot be fined for overstay and under 18 cannot be blacklisted for overstay.

2 years ago

Henrik *****

Never challenge the laws in a foreign country, but be extra correct.

2 years ago

Elaine ******

@Graham *****

After overstaying, will Thailand refuse entry to the child? Additionally, will it have any negative impact on the child's future applications for entry to other countries?

2 years ago

Brandon ************

The only ED visa that is eligible for dependents is a university degree seeking education visa. An informal school like a language school does not qualify for ANY dependents.

2 years ago

Elaine ******

@Brandon ***********

thanks so much for confirmation

2 years ago