Where to get Non O visa as a parent to Thai child?

[Ajvat37]

Hello all,

so I have a current non o (90 day as a parent to Thai child) from Vientiane however I would like to go somewhere else this time around.  Chiang Mai immigration told me I can NOT extend based on monthly deposits to my Bangkok bank account and instead need the 400k to sit there for at least two months, I would also need to legally pursue guardianship of my child who lives with me and I take care of already.  I know that legal work expensive as well and I just don’t want to invest that much money here for an extension.  Savanakhet always gets good praise it seems, Penang or somewhere in Cambodia maybe?  Anyone that has gotten a non o recently for being a parent to a Thai kid I would greatly appreciate hearing your experience/advice.  I’m fine with just another single entry but if longer term visa is available I would jump at the chance.  Thanks all.

[elviajero]

11 minutes ago, Ajvat37 said:

Chiang Mai immigration told me I can NOT extend based on monthly deposits to my Bangkok bank account and instead need the 400k to sit there for at least two months,

That's wrong. If you are applying as a parent - unlike applying as a spouse - there is no requirement to keep the funds in your account for 2 months.

 

Police order;

"In the case of parents, the father or mother must maintain an average annual income of no less than Baht 40,000 per month throughout the year or must have deposited funds of no less than Baht 400,000 to cover expenses for one year."

 

"In the case of marriage to a Thai woman, the alien husband must earn an average annual income of no less than Baht 40,000 per month or must have no less than Baht 400,000 in a bank account in Thailand for the past two months to cover expenses for one year."

 

17 minutes ago, Ajvat37 said:

I know that legal work expensive as well and I just don’t want to invest that much money here for an extension

How much legal work/cost depends on the age of the child and whether or not the mother is willing to comply. In may cases the legal cost is negligible.

[ubonjoe]

Savannakhet is a good location for a single entry non-o visa based upon being the parent of a Thai.

Penang will issue a multiple entry non-o visa if you can show 400k bhat or proof of 40k baht income.

 

[SEtonal]

10 minutes ago, elviajero said:

That's wrong. If you are applying as a parent - unlike applying as a spouse - there is no requirement to keep the funds in your account for 2 months.

 

Chiang Mai Immigration Office is doing everything possible to get applicants to use a visa agent.  CM is even refusing to accept still valid income affidavits issued by the US Consulate.

 

 

 

[Ajvat37]

1 hour ago, elviajero said:

That's wrong. If you are applying as a parent - unlike applying as a spouse - there is no requirement to keep the funds in your account for 2 months.

 

Police order;

"In the case of parents, the father or mother must maintain an average annual income of no less than Baht 40,000 per month throughout the year or must have deposited funds of no less than Baht 400,000 to cover expenses for one year."

 

 

How am I wrong when the woman at immigration specifically told me that they would not accept the monthly deposit and the only way was having 400k in the bank for at least two months before they would give me a year extension?

and I was quoted 50k for the legal work 

[Ajvat37]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

Savannakhet is a good location for a single entry non-o visa based upon being the parent of a Thai.

Penang will issue a multiple entry non-o visa if you can show 400k bhat or proof of 40k baht income.

 

Does the 40k bAht income need to be from a third party or would me just transferring at least that much every month from my US bank to my Thai bank be enough?  I just show my bank book with the deposit history?

thanks for the reply

[elviajero]

2 hours ago, Ajvat37 said:

Does the 40k bAht income need to be from a third party or would me just transferring at least that much every month from my US bank to my Thai bank be enough?  I just show my bank book with the deposit history?

thanks for the reply

Penang will not issue a ME visa based on income; only a min of 400K in the bank.

[ubonjoe]

Just now, elviajero said:

Penang will not issue a ME visa based on income; only a min of 400K in the bank.

They have Issued them based upon income before. Even a mixture of money in the bank and income has been allowed.

[elviajero]

4 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

They have Issued them based upon income before. Even a mixture of money in the bank and income has been allowed.

I have only seen reports confirming it’s cash in the bank only.

[SEtonal]

Here's information on Vietnam.

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1094102-single-entry-non-0-based-on-being-the-registered-parent-of-a-thai-child-from-saigon/?tab=comments#comment-14023516

[AGareth2]

15 hours ago, elviajero said:

That's wrong. If you are applying as a parent - unlike applying as a spouse - there is no requirement to keep the funds in your account for 2 months.

are you sure?

I know of one individual that had to leave and come back and wait out the seasoning before re-applying at CW

[elviajero]

6 hours ago, AGareth2 said:

are you sure?

I know of one individual that had to leave and come back and wait out the seasoning before re-applying at CW

Yes. I quoted the published rules in post No.2.

 

I’ve applied at CW in the past without seasoning.

[Ajvat37]

The two month wait period is what I was told if I want the year long extension from Chiang Mai immigration.  

[JackThompson]

7 hours ago, Ajvat37 said:

The two month wait period is what I was told if I want the year long extension from Chiang Mai immigration.  

The rule you were told here (no seasoning required based on a child) is the official rule, but every Immigration Office is permitted by the authorities to make up fake-rules to force agent-use.  The fish rots from the head down, which explains why nothing is done to stop this - and likely the money is shared with the head.  You can therefore expect that any IO/office you deal with may be be dishonest (lie to you about the laws/rules), and to make up whatever incorrect rules they want - yet ignore the required-rules, when it suits them (i.e. when an agent-fee is paid). 

 

In this case, they assume you don't have the 400K, so will need an agent to "fake" the money for you.  The 2-months seasoning is conveniently ignored for agent-based applications.  The purpose of the seasoning requirement is to prevent alternate lenders who don't share the loot with immigration.

 

On 4/13/2019 at 3:03 PM, Ajvat37 said:

Savanakhet always gets good praise it seems, Penang or somewhere in Cambodia maybe?

Forget Cambodia - terrible consulate and slow.  Savannakhet is good but only for a single-entry. 

 

If Penang will allow the income-method (I had not heard they stopped), they might want to see more than just deposits into a Thai account.  An embassy-letter stating your income should work, and if your embassy no longer offers income-letters in Thailand, see if they will do on in Kuala Lumpur.  This has worked for people to get Non-O Visas based on retirement at that location in the past, so not sure why they would deny the same doc for a Non-O based on having a Thai child.  Consulates can make up any rules they want, so no guarantees, but might be worth a try.