What options do I have for extending our stay in Thailand as dependents after my husband's work ends?

Mar 10, 2020
5 years ago
Ellen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi, I’m looking for some advice. I’m currently in Thailand as my husband’s dependent, as are my kids. I’m on a non-immigrant O re-entry visa and the kids are non-immigrant F. My husband’s job may come to an end soon and we want to stay in Thailand until the end of the school year (early July). We were thinking of switching to student visas for the kids (5 & 7 years old) and guardian visas for us. Three questions: is this the most sensible option? What documents do we need? And is there any way to do it without leaving the country (am loathe to travel overseas at the moment for fear of self isolation). Thanks in advance!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The poster is seeking advice on how to remain in Thailand after their husband's employment concludes. They currently hold a non-immigrant O re-entry visa and their children have non-immigrant F visas. They are exploring the possibility of switching to student visas for the kids and guardian visas for themselves but are concerned about the necessary documentation and the ability to process these changes without leaving the country.
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Bri ********
Hi, may i know how did you solve this? I have the same situation like you. Both my boy and i are re-entry visa. My husband will cancel his work visa in February. But i want to finish my boy's study until in the end of June.
Tod *********
If your extensions are piggybacked based on your husbands extension you ALL need to go cancel your extensions together.

Most times employers will give employees the termination letter a few weeks in advance of that date, you all go to the immigration office, they cancel everyone's extension on that date and then give you a new stamp in your passport until the termination date on the paperwork.

THEN you have until that date to leave the country..
Robert *******
How long you can stay inside Thailand is stamped inside your passport.

Or there is a rectangle stamp with Visa Class, day of arrival and the most important: Admitted until ../../.. and that day you leave the country.

Or

if visited the Immigration Office you leave the country on the day mentioned in the big stamp in your passport with the text in line 2;

Extension of Stay is permitted up to ../../..

As your husband and children has the Non Immigrant F visa, you really have to talk to organization if things change.
Ellen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
The main advice seems to be to just move to tourist visas and extend them once if necessary. We could probably do a short hop to Laos and back. We’re from the U.K. so it should be easy enough. One more question - when my husband’s job finishes, how long will we have to leave the country?
Ellen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks everyone. My husband is on an F non-immigrant visa and the kids also have F. I’m on O as we weren’t married when we arrived in Thailand.
Tod *********
keep in mind the financial requirements to get a Non-O visa/extension based on raising foreign children in thailand are 500K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 30 days before you apply for the extension for the first yearly extension.

I'd say IF you're not gonna be here for the long term, (indeed just wanna be here until July) go get tourist visas from a nearby thai consulate for everyone. Kids can go to school on tourist visaa and in fact seeing as they are under 15 they can't even be banned or fined for overstay so just let them overstay.
Benjamin ******
>and the kids are non-immigrant F

I'm surprised. The Non-Immigrant F is to perform official duties. Are you sure they aren't on an ED visa or a Non-O visa?

>We were thinking of switching to student visas for the kids (5 & 7 years old) and guardian visas for us. Three questions: is this the most sensible option?

Yes, I think so, at least legally. Logistically might be difficult though.

>What documents do we need?

Ask your local immigration office. What office are you going to use? You may be able to do in country conversion.

>am loathe to travel overseas at the moment for fear of self isolation

*IF* you have to leave (highly unlikely), it'll probably be to Laos, which I can't imagine being on any type of quarantine anytime soon.

My opinion:

1. Figure out the exact date when you're planning on leaving Thailand. I'm assuming you want your children to stay in school until the end of the term, which is early July.

2. If you're from a visa exempt country (see
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9.pdf), simply bounce in and out of Thailand once your husband separates from his employer. On each entry you'd get 30 days, extendable at immigration by another 30 days.

3. Assuming your children are on some type of dependent visa, I recommend simply letting your children go on overstay. There is no fine or other penalties until they turn 15.
James ********
Is July a real dateline for you to leave Thailand? This is March. July is 4 months from now.

If you plan to leave Thailand...July or August...

When the time comes at end of husbands work...keep it simple and with one border run you can get 30 days exempt visa on arrival.

That can be extended added 30 days at Thai Immigration for 1,900 Thai baht.

You can do this two times...giving you 4 more months of stay in Thailand following end of current visas.

No need for Guardian visas which requires deposit of 500,000 Thai baht for each parent.

As children complete school soon...I do not believe you need a new Ed visa for each child.

Maybe Tod or Robert will advise.

And as its nighttime in Thailand, I would expect added comments in the morning.

Take care....
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