Change non-b multi to a non-o (Thai child) visa

[Darrren]

Hi,

 

I have been living and working in Thailand (with work permit and non-b multi entry visa) for a year (same employer). My work permit expires in September (my employer will renew it) and my non b multi obtained from Penang, Malaysia will expire in October. I am now a father to a Thai child who is registered on the house book here where my partner and I live. The Thai consulate in Penang have stopped doing non b multi’s for employees unless you own more than 20% in the company you work for.... I work in a government school, this is not possible. Can I convert my current visa (non b multi) into a ‘Non Immigrant O, Thai Child visa’ within Thailand? My school are prepared to up my wages to meet the 40k a month to meet the criteria. Sick of going to Penang anyway :/ advice/best way forward? 

 

 

[ubonjoe]

You would not be able to change your visa category to a non-o visa at immigration.

You could apply for a one year extension of stay based upon being the parent of a Thai during the last 30 days of any of the 90 day entries from your non-b visa.

To apply for the extension based upon being the parent of a Thai you have to be the legal father of your child by marriage or legitimization of your parenthood. Info is in the following topic.

Is there a reason why you cannot apply for a extension of stay based upon teaching at immigration instead of getting multiple entry non-b visas. That would be an option if you are unable to get the extension based upon being a parent.

[Darrren]

On 17/05/2018 at 7:40 AM, ubonjoe said:

You would not be able to change your visa category to a non-o visa at immigration.

You could apply for a one year extension of stay based upon being the parent of a Thai during the last 30 days of any of the 90 day entries from your non-b visa.

To apply for the extension based upon being the parent of a Thai you have to be the legal father of your child by marriage or legitimization of your parenthood. Info is in the following topic.

Is there a reason why you cannot apply for a extension of stay based upon teaching at immigration instead of getting multiple entry non-b visas. That would be an option if you are unable to get the extension based upon being a parent.

Thank you for your reply.

 

I can’t change visas I understand that now, thank you for that. If I were to get a one year extension of stay, is this something I do from within Thailand? Is it classed as a visa and would I have to do the 90 day report. I am on the birth certificate as the father and undestand that this alone is not enough, I will check with the registration office. My school have handled documents for our runs previously but now due to the changes in requirements I’ve had to take control as I can’t afford the time or the money to get a single non b every 90 days. There are three other teachers in exactly the same position, two with degrees and one without. I have visited immigration here on Samui twice to see if I could do anything to avoid going to Malaysia all the time and have been unsuccessful. However, on the second attempt they did appear to ‘try’ and gave me a few documents that i’ve yet to translate. I’m assuming then, that in the final 90 day stamp period of my visa I could approach immigration and apply for a one year extension of stay (is this classed as a Non-O?) if I satisfy the right criteria? I assume that the criteria may include proof of a degree, no idea. We have the full backing of the school as far as WP, contract and any other required (and stamped) documents we may need. I will be ok as I can formalise my marriage or get confirmation of being the father of a Thai child, but it seems it’s on my to find a solution for the others. There’s a requirement for two criminal record certs (U.K & Thai) short notice but fair enough but with no non b multi as said it’s just not viable and the school may lose teachers as a result of this. I/we appreciate your advice.

[ubonjoe]

7 hours ago, Darrren said:

I can’t change visas I understand that now, thank you for that. If I were to get a one year extension of stay, is this something I do from within Thailand? Is it classed as a visa and would I have to do the 90 day report. I am on the birth certificate as the father and undestand that this alone is not enough, I will check with the registration office.

You apply for the one year extension of stay at immigration. You will need 400k baht in a Thai bank or proof 40k baht income. After you get the extension you would then do 90 day reports to immigration. 

If you have financial proof (same as above) you could get a multiple entry non-o visa based upon being the parent of a Thai in Penang. You can get a work permit  and work with that visa.

Not sure why you cannot get and extension based upon teaching. Do you have a teaching license or a waiver?

[Darrren]

Thank You again for your reply and your help. My plan of action now the, based upon your advice is to see if I am recognised/registered by the local amphur and/or if I am not registered, register with my wife and landlady (with house book) there. Something I need to do regardless. I have also booked an appointment to go to my embassy in Bangkok in a months time for the affirmation document to be signed and translated there (I can also visit the Thai Royal Police office and hopefully get my check done on the spot). My visa expires  late November, so we intend to visit my wife’s (we are village and temple married) family to take the new baby up there and register our marriage while we are there (my wife is on the house book there, same as her ID card). Then back for November ready to apply for my one year extension. Is this renewable every Year? I am running my plan by you so that you can advise me on if it’s a solid one or not :) 

 

If that’s ok then it’s only the three other teachers that require your advice. You said  “Not sure why you cannot get and extension based upon teaching. Do you have a teaching license or a waiver”? 

 

Our school is a government school with English program funding (EP). Three years ago they had one teacher who was probably just winging it on a tourist visa. As the school grew they engaged with a small accounting/lawyer type set (maybe someone’s relative) and the Penang method was used and legitimate work permits were issued. I do speak a little Thai but nowhere enough to break through the language barrier and engage in finding a solution (hence the reason for my post here). During the ‘Penang process’ there has been no mention of the possibility of any teaching extension, teaching licence or waiver. As I’ve said I have visited immigration twice and not really got anywhere, even the lawyer/accountant was tasked with visiting immigration with our documents, had no success. Two new teachers have joined through an agency, the agency said they ‘will sort everything out’ (I was going to ask them for advice) but they have now told them that they would in fact have to go to Penang or Kota Baru to obtain their first non-imm b single and then would never have to return again? I’m not sure this is a viable way? Maybe I’m wrong but once they go down the foreign Thai embassy visa route won’t they also have to do the 90 day stamp routine also? Maybe it’s the first step towards getting them their teaching licence or a waiver? They have been very vague with them. I’ve described everything ‘as is’ so you can evaluate where wer’re at. Waiting for things just to be ‘alright’ isn’t acceptable as no visa, no job. Your advice on this matter is greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you very much.

Edited May 19, 2018 by Darrren
Grammar!

[ubonjoe]

38 minutes ago, Darrren said:

Thank You again for your reply and your help. My plan of action now the, based upon your advice is to see if I am recognised/registered by the local amphur and/or if I am not registered, register with my wife and landlady (with house book) there. Something I need to do regardless. I have also booked an appointment to go to my embassy in Bangkok in a months time for the affirmation document to be signed and translated there (I can also visit the Thai Royal Police office and hopefully get my check done on the spot). My visa expires  late November, so we intend to visit my wife’s (we are village and temple married) family to take the new baby up there and register our marriage while we are there (my wife is on the house book there, same as her ID card). Then back for November ready to apply for my one year extension. Is this renewable every Year? I am running my plan by you so that you can advise me on if it’s a solid one or not :) 

You cannot be registered at an Amphoe you can only apply for a yellow house book with the consent of the homeowner and a assortment of documents. Your fiance could change her house book registry to the owners house book with their permission.

I am certain your embassy will not translate the affirmation. It will have to done at a translation service and then the translation will have to be certified by the Consular Affairs Department of the MFA in Bangkok. You can arrange for the translation service to the certification for you and send it to you by EMS. After that is done you can register your marriage at any Amphoe. I suggest you check with Amphoe first to find what they require besides the affirmation.

Not sure what you are going to do at the Royal Thai Police. If you mean getting a police clearance certificate that can take a month to get.

You can apply for a new extension of stay every year when your current one is within 30 days of ending. You will need to show 400k baht in a Thai bank in your name only for 2 months on the date you apply or proof of 40k baht income to apply for it.

General requirements to apply for a one year extension stay based upon teaching at a government school is here. https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_6  For the teaching license or waiver I suggest you ask about it on the Teaching in Thailand Forum .

[Darrren]

Thanks again for your reply. I have all the pieces of the puzzle to put it together over the next 4/5 months, I thank you for your advice. Apparently I need the affirmation prior to registering my marriage (according to that link) and the RT police check does take a while I know but there are some that say it can be done same day. (Agencies offering this service here charge a fortune)  either way I have two reasons to be in Bangkok, also, as you say the translation can be done there also in a nearby MFA building. The landlady where we live is extremely helpful (she helped us register the baby) so I have her support. 

 

Thank you you for your advice, the link and the forum recommendations. We really appreciate it.

[PoorSucker]

There's a good translation service between fishermans village and Banrak. 

They can translate the affirmation and get it affirmed with the MFA. 

 

No problem getting married in Nathon, did that ten years ago. 

 

When you get married you can not get extension of stay based on your child it must be based on marriage. 

Here is a checklist for Samui immigration for marriage extension. 

 

My son just started EP1 in your school. 

Feel free to ask me for assistance, I'm Benjamins dad.