What steps can I take to extend my son's follower visa while in the United States during COVID-19?

Question

I’m currently in Thailand. Been here 14 years on a non-profit volunteer visa. My wife and our kids are all American. Kids have grown up here.

We’re going to the States in May. Planning to return in September.
My visa expires in March of 2022. 
My 16-year-old son’s visa expires in August because we just renewed his passport.

I went to immigration yesterday (in Surin) to ask them if they would extend my son’s “follower” stamp/visa “ผู้ติดตามครอบครัว”￼ to have it expire at the same time as mine in March of 2022. They told me they could only do it 45 days ahead of time which is late June. ￼￼￼I will be in the States then.

I’m trying to figure out what I need to do to extend his follower stamp/visa while in the States. In the past we just send the application to a Thai consulate and they give the kids a visa that allows them to return to Thailand which then gets changed to a “follower” stamp once we’re back in the country. ￼￼

Is anyone familiar with how this process works now during the time of COVID-19? We don’t want to have to apply for a separate visa for our 16 year old kid because of all the complications of the￼ ASQ and COEs and such. Any thoughts?

Ask Thailand · Answer

The user has been in Thailand for 14 years on a non-profit volunteer visa and is facing issues with the expiration of their visa and their 16-year-old son's follower stamp while planning a trip to the States. Their current visa expires in March 2022, and the son's expires in August due to a recent passport renewal. The user inquired about extending the son's follower stamp while in the U.S., as the local immigration office only processes extensions within a 45-day window. Responses from the community suggest applying for a new Non-O visa at a Thai consulate based on his status as a child of a foreigner in Thailand, while highlighting that current entry requirements remain uncertain due to COVID-19.

Matt ******* · Answer

Thanks [mention redacted] and [mention redacted]. That points me in the right direction.

Michael *********** · Answer

Matt. Frances’ visa expired while in the states. They have her a new non-o without hassle. The saw and coe were a very simple process as well. We are waiting for her to enter the 45 day window to get her extension to match mine. It’ll be more of a hassle than getting a reentry but it is completely doable and not difficult.

Tod ********* · Answer

Whether he gets a new 90 day Non-O or if he had an extension matching yours isn't gonna make the slightest difference in the COE or ASQ when you go to come back. In fact no one has the slightest idea what the entry requirements will be then so that'd be about the last thing I'd worry about)

Tod ********* · Answer

Sadly (and not to disparage you in the least) the fact you didn't renew your sons passport BEFORE you got the next year extension is 100% on you.

That has thrown more people on "piggy back" visa/extensions off the rails than anything else. It makes you "out of sync".

BE that as it may, About all you can do is when you're back in the US you would apply for a 90 day Non-O visa at a thai consulate (there are only 4 consulates issuing visas now) based on him being the child of a foreigner here on a long term volunteer extension.

What steps can I take to extend my son's follower visa while in the United States during COVID-19?

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