Visa options without leaving the country

[Steps]

HI,

  I am kind of planning ahead here in case of the inevitable regarding losing my job. If i do lose my job, it is my understanding that you have about 7 days to leave the country? (i may be wrong).

 

What are my options for getting a new visa to stay in the country without having to leave the country? I have been with my girlfriend for over 13 years but not married. We also have kids together. One option is the marriage visa or non O for my kids. However for the Non-O you need 400,000THB in the bank right? If so, this would not be an option. Do you have to leave the country with this option?

 

The only other option i can think of right now is the ED visa for learning Thai with a Thai school that is registered with the MInistry of Education. Do you have to leave the country?

 

Thoughts, knowledge, experience please.

[BritTim]

If you are named on the kid's Thai birth certificates, you should be able to get a 60-day extension to visit them. Further, since you are currently in Thailand on a Non Immigrant entry, in principle, a one-year extension to stay with your kids should be possible as long as you can meet the financial requirements and are legitimised as the father (which should be easy depending on the kids' ages and the cooperation of your girlfriend). Be aware, however, that some immigration offices may make the one-year extension hard.

[mike787]

Best option is marry her.  You have already invested so much, what are you waiting for.  It will make life much easier for both of you.

[DrJack54]

OP, clearly your under 50?

[Steps]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, clearly your under 50?

Yes. So no retirement visa for me

[Steps]

2 hours ago, BritTim said:

If you are named on the kid's Thai birth certificates, you should be able to get a 60-day extension to visit them. Further, since you are currently in Thailand on a Non Immigrant entry, in principle, a one-year extension to stay with your kids should be possible as long as you can meet the financial requirements and are legitimised as the father (which should be easy depending on the kids' ages and the cooperation of your girlfriend). Be aware, however, that some immigration offices may make the one-year extension hard.

I am currently on a Non-Imm-B with work permit from company. If i am released from the company, you are saying that i am eligebale for a 60-day extension? Even if the company releases me? 

 

"met financial requirements" as in 400,000THB in the bank? Do not have!

 

Is my Non-Imm-B invalidated once i am released from the company? or could i keep this visa alive?

[Steps]

2 hours ago, mike787 said:

Best option is marry her.  You have already invested so much, what are you waiting for.  It will make life much easier for both of you.

But i would still need to meet the financial requirement of 400,000THB right? which i dont currently have in the bank!

[FlyingThai]

2 hours ago, mike787 said:

Best option is marry her.  You have already invested so much, what are you waiting for.  It will make life much easier for both of you.

Yeah a marriage is well known for making things "easier". ????

 

Just kidding, I think with a child involved marriage is definitely something one should look at to keep the family together. Especially if it's about leaving Thailand some day.

 

The OP would need the 400k cash though and have this in the account 2 month prior to getting his visa.

[JackThompson]

2 hours ago, Steps said:

I am currently on a Non-Imm-B with work permit from company. If i am released from the company, you are saying that i am eligebale for a 60-day extension? Even if the company releases me? 

Yes, based on your Thai children - 60-days - if you are on the Birth-Cert, and they go with you to immigration.  No "financials" to get this.

 

Quote

"met financial requirements" as in 400,000THB in the bank? Do not have!

Ironically, unless you get married, there is no "2 months seasoning" for supporting Thai children.  Once you are married, even with children, most IOs will insist on the seasoning.  

 

Therefore, 400K in the bank only on the day you apply would work - though might need to leave it there 30-days, during your "pending approval" stamp - until you get your final 1-year (11 more months) stamp. 

 

According to one recent report, at least one agent is reported to do Non-O for Thai Children, but not for married-to - likely because they don't need to pay off the district-level IO to "overlook" the lack of 2-mo seasoning.

 

The other option is proof of 40K/mo income - by international bank transfer, and sometimes (often?) needing to show what 'pension' it is paid out of in your passport-country.

 

Quote

Is my Non-Imm-B invalidated once i am released from the company? or could i keep this visa alive?

If you have an 'extension of stay' from immigration based on your employment, it dies the day your employment ends - must leave Thailand by midnight of your last day (yes - insane!). 

 

There is no "automatic" 7 days - except you can go to immigration and get a "denied exension" - giving 7 days to leave the country (what most folks do).  But as you have Thai children, you could apply for 60 days to 'visit' them, instead.

 

If the company will keep you "on the books" on unpaid-leave, your extension is not automatically-dead - another option.  Maybe agree to pay them for whatever costs/mo for their accounting to do this.

[Steps]

18 hours ago, FlyingThai said:

Yeah a marriage is well known for making things "easier". ????

 

Just kidding, I think with a child involved marriage is definitely something one should look at to keep the family together. Especially if it's about leaving Thailand some day.

 

The OP would need the 400k cash though and have this in the account 2 month prior to getting his visa.

Hi,

  I read a post before and the penny dropped!! If I marry whilst still in employment, I could change my visa status (whilst in employment) to Marriage visa and only have to provide x 2 pay slips indicating a monthly salary of more than 40k? That way I escape having to provide showing 400k in the bank if I am released from employment?
 

is my understanding correct? This will also depend on the company going out of their way to change my visa from Non-Imm- B to marriage visa