Slavomir

I am certain the embassy in London will do the single entry non-o visas when the non-ed is applied for. Just contact them to confirm.

thank you ubonjoe!

Do you know if one can request a visa validity "starting date"?

E.g. I will start the whole procedure (to get ED visa for wife) soon-ish, but we will ask that visa will be valid from 1 october ?

As this would allow us to book the accommodation and plane ticket well in advance,

without the risk of booking to soon and visa not going through in time, or having visa but not having enough time to book the flights and accommodation..

Saying children under the age of 15 do not need visas is grossly incorrect, They are only exempt from paying overstay fines.

Thank you for clarifying ubonjoe, I think I'd better verify some of her other statements and claims then!

After I wrote :

...So the plan is for my wife to get a 1 year ED visa for start, and me and my daughter non immigrant O visa..

She replied with:

Some embassies and consulates will do the Non-O following an ED visa but not all.

Pretoria in South Africa is one but as for any others, it’s really up to the students to find out for themselves, so you better ask to the Thai Embassy in London to be sure that they will give you the NON-O;

Would you say that's also inaccurate?

I've just heard the children under age of 15 don't need ANY visa?! Is that true?

NOT true ! Children should have an appropriate visa.

If children arrive with a passport issued by a qualifying country without a visa they will be given a "visa exempt" entry. Overstaying the stay permitted by the VE entry will result in an Overstay Stamp being placed in their passport although they will not be fined.

Thanks, so what's the recommended practice here? Our daughter has British passport (we have Slovakian) Even If we won't be fined will it get us in trouble? What's the worst that can happen ?

The 'Worst" that can happen is that your child could be refused entry to a nursery/kindergarten/school in the absence of an appropriate visa.

The recommended practice would be to ensure the child has a visa.

Why would you not wish the child to be fully legal in a foreign country?

Well of course I wish for my child to be fully legal in a foreign country!

It's just I'm getting some conflicting information, the manager of one of the schools in Koh Samui wrote, and I quote: "the kids under 15 don’t need any visa".

So I'm at the stage of gathering the information , and part of it would be to know what would be the consequences of my daughter not having visa..

If it was inconsequential then cool, but if not, and it's true what you're saying and the school manager isn't correct, then of course we will sort out the visa for her as well.

I've just heard the children under age of 15 don't need ANY visa?! Is that true?

NOT true ! Children should have an appropriate visa.

If children arrive with a passport issued by a qualifying country without a visa they will be given a "visa exempt" entry. Overstaying the stay permitted by the VE entry will result in an Overstay Stamp being placed in their passport although they will not be fined.

Thanks, so what's the recommended practice here? Our daughter has British passport (we have Slovakian) Even If we won't be fined will it get us in trouble? What's the worst that can happen ?

I've just heard the children under age of 15 don't need ANY visa?! Is that true?

When your wife applies for the non-ed visa you can also apply for the non-o visas for yourself and your child.

I suggest you have your marriage certificate and your child's birth certificate legalized prior to traveling since it will be one of the requirements when you apply for your dependent extensions. Info here https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/461071/Legalising_a_signature_or_seal_final_Sept_15.pdf and a info graphic here https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/461072/legalisation_infographic.pdf

Thank you again ubonjoe for your advice. They certainly doesn't make it easy, hopefully this paperwork won't take as long as getting our daughters British passport!

btw, when you said "When your wife applies for the non-ed visa " , you meant "ED visa" I assume..

Thank you so much ubonjoe.. very useful info!

Can I please just recap if I understand this correctly, because it's a bit confusing and I really need to get this right..

For my wife:

1) While still in UK we'll send the paperwork for applying ED visa to school in Samui, They will send the docs to Ministry of Education in Surat Thani that will issue an approval letter.

2) Once letter is obtained school will send us required papework so we can apply for 3 month single entry ED visa at London embassy.

3) We arrive in Thailand, and at emigration booth at the airport she should get a stamp with a 90 day permit to stay.

4) After 3 months in Thailand, and studying she (or the school on her behalf) will apply for 90 day extension.

5) If this extension is approved , we have to travel outside the country (e.g. Laos) to a thai embassy and apply there for a non emigrant O visa?

Or are you saying that we could apply for this at point 2?

Great, thanks to everybody for the feedback / advice and answers..

Does anyone knows, how soon she would get that "extension of stay based on attending school"?

Should we all get single entry visa (or multiple entry if possible) for us all at first and wait till she get that extension?

And then can we get non-i O visa from within Thailand?

Would somebody be able to confirm please, if it is possible for my wife to come to Thailand on ED visa (she would study Thai and attend the classes)

and I (and our 2 y.o daughter) would get Non-immigrant O Visa ?

And maybe after 12 months I could study and she would get non immigrant O?

We are both from UK, have enough funds in the bank, and school would be in Koh Samui.

Many thanks for advice!

Thanks guys!

Does anybody know of some gated communities in Kamala? So far I've only found Kamala Nathong house..

Thank you for the tip, will check it out!

Strange no one mentioned the 08.05 diesel rail car which you also can take at Bang Sue Junction at 08.25.

Incidentally I just took a limo back and forth from Don Mueang to Hua Hin for 2100THB each way with wife and 4 year young.

That was NOT expensive considering it's 220km ride each way.

We landed 11am at DM and were swimming in the hotel pool at 15.30, can't do riding the train....

That was really good tip tartempion, I think I'll go for that 8.05 DRC train! It's air conditioned and the second class looks quite good there, seats seem comfortable and for 412 bht (cca £8) it's not bad at all. and it's supposed to include "an airline style meal and soft drinks" .. whatewer that means

there are a number of accommodations in the vicinity of hualampong catering to a broad range of budgets

True, although they tend towards the lower end. I've often stayed at the Sri Krung hotel just across the canal from Hualumphong. It's basic, but clean, and has a good little restaurant downstairs for breakfast. About 700 Baht, I think.

I love to take the train to HH on the odd occasions I go there. As mentioned, it does take ages, but it's a great way to travel. And if you're looking for an evening meal, there's a great little place just behind the Hong Kong Noodle place (you can't miss it - it's opposite the station), and near the MRT entrance. Tucked away a bit, but look for the lights that seem to drip (if you know what I mean...). A few tables outside, and more inside. Always busy. The chicken with orange sauce is delicious.

Thanks Nisakiman for the tip, never had chicken with orange, so might just try it out!

I will only have a medium size rucksack, so luggage is not an issue and thank you for the accommodation tips..

I wouldn't mind paying travelling by first class in train, (still much cheaper then taxi) but I've been told that 9:20 train is only 3rd class.

Can't see the available classes there only names and types of trains :

Thank you very much QEDDEQ, I wish everybody here would just answer like yourself, clearly , shortly and actually to the point!

I haven't booked the place to stay for the night yet, so will make sure to pick something close to the train station itself or a closeby MRT station.

I think I still like the idea of traveling by train the best, as it will give me opportunity to see quite a bit of country side and meet some authentic Thai people.

Plus is very cheap, although maybe not as comfortable as taxis, but I've traveled with taxis many times in Thailand so this will be a new experience..

As to whether Hua Hin, or not, I've already had discussion on this forum about possible destinations,

got a lot of tips based on my specific requirement and from the repeated recommendations I picked 3 places to explore , HH being one of them.

Everybody has a different taste, experience and requirements so no single place will be favoured by everybody here..

I would like to repeat some of the questions I'd be interested to get some answers to

And if I haven't been there before, how much before the departure you recomend I get there ? will 40 minutes be enough to buy ticket and find the platform and get on the train?

Do ticket office people speak english?

Plus, somebody mentioned there's a food on the train? is there like a restaurant car you can go to and buy a meal?

You don't sound much like an adventurer so I'd suggest the train at any price over having a solo driver attempting to outrace

everyone else on the road. Try the Thai food offered on the train, not 7-11 which I think would be your natural inclination.

If you are thinking of any adventures with the ladies be prepared for getting ripped off a few times as you sound very

vulnerable. Are you sure you want to be in Siam? Have you read up at least a bit on this country? Whatever you do, don't go

to Ko-Tao. Happy trails!

You on the other hand sound like a person making judgements based on very little evidence But I won't bait and indulge you further, as this would derail this thread even more..

No offence intended, have you ever been to Thailand?

Why would you want to got to Hua Hin?

Also (considering my destination and travel plans) where in Bangkok would be a good place to stay?

Probably some scuzzy guesthouse on KSR.

Have you ever been to Bkk?

I've been to Thailand 4 times (Phuket + some usual trips), to Bangkok once, but that was different type of visit (and budget)..

Never been on a train in Thailand or stayed in anything other than 4-5 star hotel.

I'm going to Hua Hin to investigate some good places / areas to live.

oh, yeah, sorry, rabid old goat .. didn't click through the second "check" button, somehow managed to miss it!

202 bht seems very good!

I'm I correct in assuming this is leaving from Main station ? (Hualamphong) .. as it didn't say explicitly on your link which station it is.

And if I haven't been there before, how much before the departure you recomend I get there ? will 40 minutes be enough to buy ticket and find the platform and get on the train?

Do ticket office people speak english?

you can catch the subway (mrt) to either of two trains stations for the relaxing 3rd class train to hua hin

i recommend the first one 09.20am to get you there in time to look for a hotel. http://www.railway.co.th/checktime/checktime.asp?lenguage=EN&StationFirst=Bangkok&StationLast=Hua%20Hin click the links to check details

Thank you for the info.. any idea of the ticket price?

can the ticket be bought online (is it better/cheaper)?

Greetings to all!

I will land in BKK in the evening will stay in Bangkok over night and next day would like to go to Hua Hin.

What would you recommend as a means of transport ? Bus or Taxi or Train ?

Just for 1 person, speaking very minimal thai

What I've heard, taxi would cost around 2500 which is not that cheap.

Also (considering my destination and travel plans) where in Bangkok would be a good place to stay?

(e.g. if you recomend bus/coach station , close to the specific station etc..)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

csabo: I know you mean well, but when you think about it , your post was less useful to me (actually pretty much off topic) then those people giving the tips about CM.

I am aware than CM may not tick ALL of the boxes, but I still might consider it, because people living there long term my have more insight what's more suitable for my circumstances than I think I do.

For example maybe living near a nice beach from longer term perspective while having a wife and a daughter there as well have more downsides than I realised, as that might drive more tourists in and increase the local prices, has more crime, etc..

how long is staying here a bit? like many have said, Thai immigration is cracking down hard on the visa issue so you may not be able to stay here "a bit". Malaysia you can easily get retirement visa even if you are under 50 but you need to have a Malaysian reference and put in $50,000 in Malaysian bank account.

That's to be determined, depending on how it is going of course.

Do you have some tips on where in Malaysia would be a good place to try?

Consider strongly:

1. Malaysia (there are nice beaches there, too)

2. Chang Mai.

3. Udon Thani

Don't stay on or near a beach. Drive there when you want.

***** Stay UNDER The Radar With Your Work!!

Thank you for your comment, Malaysia could be an interesting alternative.. What is the visa situation there?