What are the visa options for adoptive parents of a Thai child wishing to return to Thailand?

Non-O Visa Adoption Visa Guardian Visa Immigration Thailand Visa Rules Visa Applications Family Visa Volunteer Visa

May 30, 2024

6 months ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi, I'm looking for some advice regarding a non-immigrant type O visa based on being adoptive parent of a Thai child.

We'll be applying from the UK via the eVisa system. We have been based in the UK for the past year (British citizens) and before that we were in Thailand for 9 years on a volunteer visa. 

My husband and I plan to return in August with our biological son (14, education visa, registered at International school in Bangkok) and adopted daughter (11, Thai and British citizenship, registered at International school in Bangkok, special needs). We want to volunteer with a registered Foundation and have sufficient funds outside of country to support the family. 

My questions are:

* Can two adoptive parents follow the same adopted child or would one of us need to apply for the guardian visa to follow our son's education visa? As I understand it is possible to get a work permit on the former but not the latter, is this correct?

* Are these visas currently being issued on the basis of having an adopted Thai child? A recent post suggested that somebody in a similar situation had been denied the application at Chaeng Watthana. This is where we would potentially be applying for our extension.

Thanks in advance for any relevant experience or advice.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is seeking advice on the Non-O visa application process for adoptive parents returning to Thailand with their adopted child. They ask if both parents can hold the same visa for the adopted child and if current visa policies are issuing visas for adoptive parents of Thai children. Responses indicate that typically one visa per child is allowed, and provide details about the financial requirements for each visa type. There is uncertainty about the current issuing status of such visas.

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Tod *********

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱

Nope one parent visa per one child,

The parent that does the 'support a thai child' visa needs to bank 400K in a thai bank account in their name only. This parent in theory could hold a work permit and legally work on that visa/extension

The parent that does the 'support a foreign child enrolled in school on an ED visa' needs 500K baht in a thai bank account in their name only. This parent cannot work.

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝗱

Honestly I don't have the slightest idea how it works for foreign parents of adopted thai children.

AND

I don't know if you could get the initial 90 day Non-O visa based on that from the thai conuslate in your country or here at the immigration office once you arrive.

Same with the extension, that'd be something you'd have to hash out once you're here.

I'd say EVERYONE (except the thai child who can come in on their thai passport) get at least a single entry tourist visa from the thai consulate in your country before you come here.

That way you will all get 60 day entry stamps and can get one 30 day extension.

That should be plenty of time to sort out IF you can get the visas you're after in regards to parent of an adopted thai child.

Sorry to be so vague, the topic has not really ever came up that I can recall.

6 months ago

Elise **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

Thanks for your reply. Very helpful clarification re the one parent visa rule. I'm confused with the terminology on the Thai eVisa site... do you know if the categories below relate to the initial 90 day Non-O visa? If so it looks like we can apply for them from the UK

6 months ago

Tod *********

@Elise *********

you are correct though in theory (y)

one parent would apply for the "To stay with non-Thai family residing in Thailand (more than 60 days)"

and

the other parent would apply for the "To stay with thai family residing in Thailand (more than 60 days)"

Just don't know if you can meet the documentation requirements for the parent doing the "raising foreign child legally enrolled in school on an ED visa" seeing as you don't have the ED visa for that child to offer as supporting documentation.

You'd probably be able to get the Non-O for the parent based on the thai child though,

6 months ago

Elise **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

Thankyou

6 months ago

Reply to

Elise **********

Tod *********

you're not logged in and selecting the choices, you're just using that "look up a visa" feature.

How will you get the foreign child's ED visa before you come, they need documentation showing they're enrolled in a school

AND

how will you apply for the "Guardian Visa" (parent raising foreign child) without showing the child holds an ED visa 😕

6 months ago

Elise **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

6 months ago

Tod *********

@Elise *********

which is why I said you're unlikely to get the "stay with non thai family" being the parent of a foreign child on an ED visa

Your non-thai 😮 doesn't have a visa to stay IN thailand yet 😕

6 months ago

Elise **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Assuming we get the ED visa we would then put in an application via eVisa for a "staying with non-that family" visa for either me or my husband

6 months ago

Elise **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

Is there any reason that we can't apply for ED visa for non-Thai child through the eVisa system first (ie. before either parent has a visa)? We have letters from the school and all the required documents already.

6 months ago

Tod *********

@Elise *********

as I said IF you have the documentation from the school you can indeed apply for the 90 day Non-ED visa for your child and then the 90 day Non-O visa for the parent too

6 months ago

Elise **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

These are the drop down menus

6 months ago

Tod *********

@Elise *********

and as I said, should be ok getting the Non-O based on raising thai child IF they'll issue that visa based on an adopted child

6 months ago

Elise **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Yep, not logged in. We're planning to apply for my son's ED visa first as we have all the documentation showing enrolment and have already paid fees