Education visa querry and worries

[Arjy2000k]

My twin children study in Thailand, have been since they began. I have extended family there. The school was closed in March, at which point we returned to the UK.

 

As they have finished junior school, they now transfer to the senior secondary school, that is linked up with their current school. However, it is a differenct school so i will have to pay a new registration fee. This is some 500,000 Baht for the children (this is just to register the children, the 'pain' begins when you have to pay the term fees, lol!).

 

Our usual protocol in the good old days was to go to Thailand on a tourist visa, and the school had an adminstrative office that would handle getting us all stay on education visas. However, of course now we are having to do this by ourselves before we travel.

 

I have some major concerns and anxieties.

 

1) To get all relevent documents, registration certificates, etc for the education visa we need to pay the 500.000 Baht in registration fees to the school. If we can't get a visa, or Thailand suddenly locks down again then we lose all this money. This is a huge risk.

 

2) How long does it take to get a visa? How long is the process? The school has only just reopened, so we can only just commence the process. Term begins early September.

 

3) How long then are people waiting on repatriation flights? This worries me, that the whole process drags on and on, that it could be well into term time that they even get there.

 

4) The elephant in the room, is that Thailand may well open soon, and we can get there risk free and apply once there. But again is this likely? Doubt it.

 

 

 

Anyone have any answers and feedback for my questions?

[Arjy2000k]

I'm on the Thai e-visa website now filling in the forms, and it's just dawned on me - at what point do i imput my details ?!

 

What visa do i apply for ?

 

Does i apply as part of the same registration, or do you need to complete a new registration for each person?

 

SOUL DESTROYING

[blackcab]

I would consider negotiating with the school for the admission fees to be refundable if the children and at least one parent cannot gain entry to Thailand by an agreed date.

 

The school know you are genuine and they would like your business. Politely mention to the head of admissions that if the school cannot agree to this then you will consider other schools.

[Arjy2000k]

3 hours ago, blackcab said:

I would consider negotiating with the school for the admission fees to be refundable if the children and at least one parent cannot gain entry to Thailand by an agreed date.

 

The school know you are genuine and they would like your business. Politely mention to the head of admissions that if the school cannot agree to this then you will consider other schools.

 

Are you able to negotiate ? I assumed that was bad form.

 

Do you know what visa i would apply for as guardian ?

[blackcab]

23 minutes ago, Arjy2000k said:

Are you able to negotiate ? I assumed that was bad form.

 

It doesn't hurt to ask. The very worst that can happen is they say no, and you're in the same situation.

 

At the minute international schools are under pressure due to families and teachers being in different countries and also with some children being withdrawn due to parents having to repatriate.

 

@ubonjoe will be along shortly to answer your visa questions.

[ubonjoe]

I assume you are aware there is more to it than just applying for their visas and yours.

All of you will need certificates of entry, proof of covid 19 insurance, a fit to fly certificate, a covid 19 test with 72 hours before departure. 

Start here on the embassy website. http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/119247-Requirements-for-Certificate-of-Entry-during-trave.html#6

[Arjy2000k]

12 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

I assume you are aware there is more to it than just applying for their visas and yours.

All of you will need certificates of entry, proof of covid 19 insurance, a fit to fly certificate, a covid 19 test with 72 hours before departure. 

Start here on the embassy website. http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/119247-Requirements-for-Certificate-of-Entry-during-trave.html#6

 

Hello UbonJoe,

 

yes i am aware i have to get the COE (and all that entails) after i've got my visa. At the moment they have told me to organise my visa first as they are not doing COE, because there are no flights. Does that sound rite?

 

As a guardian what visa do i apply for? My childrens visa seems fairly straight forward.

[ubonjoe]

 

16 minutes ago, Arjy2000k said:

At the moment they have told me to organise my visa first as they are not doing COE, because there are no flights. Does that sound rite?

What may mean is there are no seats available on the flights.

There are flights scheduled next month. The will not issue the COE until you have a flight and rooms reserved for the quarantine.

 

20 minutes ago, Arjy2000k said:

As a guardian what visa do i apply for?

You would apply for a non-o visa. See: Non-Immigrant Type O (Visiting or staying with applicant's family resided in Thailand....

Here: http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84508-Non-Immigrant-visas.html#6

[Arjy2000k]

 

 

58 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

 

What may mean is there are no seats available on the flights.

There are flights scheduled next month. The will not issue the COE until you have a flight and rooms reserved for the quarantine.

 

You would apply for a non-o visa. See: Non-Immigrant Type O (Visiting or staying with applicant's family resided in Thailand....

Here: http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84508-Non-Immigrant-visas.html#6

 

Thanks Ubonjee.

 

How do i get a reservation on the flights without a COE ? Whenever i email the embassy they say there are no flights, although today they said they were releasing them in the future.

 

So when they get released how do i try and get one?

[ubonjoe]

10 hours ago, Arjy2000k said:

So when they get released how do i try and get one?

The embassy will inform you when you can purchase the flight and which travel agent to use to do it. I assume they inform them of those allowed to do it.

[Arjy2000k]

13 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The embassy will inform you when you can purchase the flight and which travel agent to use to do it. I assume they inform them of those allowed to do it.

 

HI Ubonjoe, hope you don't mind me raiding your experience again.

 

When i do the application online, do i apply for everyone under one registration? ie, i have registered my email, and my address. Do i do everyones application under this? Or does each new application need a new registration?

 

Secondly, when i look at the documents requested for myself :

Visiting or staying with applicant's family resided in Thailand (more than 60 days)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (Please check relevant embassy/ consulate's website for specifically required documents)

1. Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months
2. Photograph of the applicant, taken within the past six months
3. Financial evidence, e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings, proof of sponsorship from a third party)
4. Personal details of a family in Thailand, e.g. ID card, Passport and the visa page or stay permit in Thailand
5. Proof of relationship to a family in Thailand, e.g. A copy of marriage certificate / birth certificate / certificate of adoption
6. Proof of accommodation in Thailand, e.g. Accommodation bookings, invitation letters from family/friends in Thailand
7. Travel booking confirmation

 

 

How do i get 6 and 7 if i can't book a flight till i get a visa?

[ubonjoe]

11 hours ago, Arjy2000k said:

When i do the application online, do i apply for everyone under one registration? ie, i have registered my email, and my address. Do i do everyones application under this?

You can do a registration and do the application for each member of your family.

That info is not specific to your case to do the application. You only need have a copy of their passport and their birth certificate to apply for the visa. You only need to prove you are the parent of one of your child when you apply.

Normally the application would be done after the children have their non-ed visas so that you could include a copy of it with yours. You may need to do their application and attach a copy of it instead of the visa.

 

 

[Arjy2000k]

7 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You can do a registration and do the application for each member of your family.

That info is not specific to your case to do the application. You only need have a copy of their passport and their birth certificate to apply for the visa. You only need to prove you are the parent of one of your child when you apply.

Normally the application would be done after the children have their non-ed visas so that you could include a copy of it with yours. You may need to do their application and attach a copy of it instead of the visa.

 

 

I've given till tomorrow as a deadline before i just give up.

 

This is absolutely soul destroying.