Son needs a Visa to help care for his Father in Pattaya

[buick]

a US citizen who is on an annual extension (retirement) from a Non O had a medical event and will be in a nursing home for long term recovery.  his son (age 35) has arrived to assist his father, used visa exempt entry plus extension and now on his second visa exempt entry.

 

is there a Visa that might be a available to him ?  perhaps his father needs to change to some type of Medical visa that might offer a related Dependent visa ?  i don't think he can get a dependent under the Non O retirement due to his age.

 

any thoughts on this are appreciated, the father is in Pattaya.

[DrJack54]

13 minutes ago, buick said:

US citizen who is on an annual extension (retirement) from a Non O had a medical event and will be in a nursing home for long term recovery.

Just playing devils advocate for a moment. 

If the father is in a nursing home what care would son provide apart from the obvious moral support etc. 

 

The son could consider a DTV perhaps soft power option. 

The old ED visa would provide a year. 

A METV would provide 9 months + 

 

How long is "long term recovery" 

[Gottfrid]

6 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Just playing devils advocate for a moment. 

If the father is in a nursing home what care would son provide apart from the obvious moral support etc. 

 

The son could consider a DTV perhaps soft power option. 

The old ED visa would provide a year. 

A METV would provide 9 months + 

 

How long is "long term recovery" 

Not sure, but depending on how long, and how much left until renew retirement extension, can´t the son also piggy-back on a possible renewal of his retirement extension

[couchpotato]

Probably better for the father to go home and be cared for there, and then no need for any visas for father or son.

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

Probably better for the father to go home, and then no need for any visas for father or son.

That's what I would be thinking. 

Even next 12 month extension not simple process for father. 

Yes can obtain a medical extension. 

Think it's 3 months at a time. 

@Sheryl has knowledge re options

[Mark1969]

5 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

Probably better for the father to go home and be cared for there, and then no need for any visas for father or son.

Only if he is well insured in the US. Without it he is broke in the US.

[Hamus Yaigh]

Not a common situation and there's not specific visa for the son afaik. Talk with the nursing home treating the father. Ask them to issue a medical certificate detailing the need for long-term care and a formal request to Immigration to allow the son to remain as caregiver. 

 

Visit the local Immigration Office with this documentation. Ask if a Non-O extension on medical/caretaker grounds is possible. Case by case basis but only in special cases I would imagine.

[buick]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Just playing devils advocate for a moment. 

If the father is in a nursing home what care would son provide apart from the obvious moral support etc. 

 

The son could consider a DTV perhaps soft power option. 

The old ED visa would provide a year. 

A METV would provide 9 months + 

 

How long is "long term recovery" 

 

the recovery could be years.  moral support/seeing a friendly face is likely all the son can do at this point but perhaps more at certain stages of the recovery.  but for now, he can't do much except make sure his father is getting what he needs on a daily basis.  it sounds like the nursing facility is doing a good job so far.

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, buick said:

the recovery could be years. 

Suggest the Son investigate option of obtaining a DTV. 

It's also a multi entry Visa so would be an option for 5 years.

 

You could start initial questions with @Issa Compass 

 

Also related thread re DTV here

https://aseannow.com/topic/1368258-choosing-between-dtv-and-retirement-visa/

 

Also here

https://aseannow.com/topic/1366999-retirement-extension-nah-i’m-dtv-now/

 

[ThreeCardMonte]

2 hours ago, Mark1969 said:

Only if he is well insured in the US. Without it he is broke in the US.

Broke is fine.  MediCAID is for broke people. 
 

Also, was unaware Pattaya had a nursing home.

[buick]

2 hours ago, couchpotato said:

Probably better for the father to go home and be cared for there, and then no need for any visas for father or son.

 

that might be possible at some point, but right now it's not feasible.  the son may be able to keep rolling with visa exempt entries and bring along some paperwork related to his father's situation - help explain to the IO why he's here, making 'visa runs'.

[buick]

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Suggest the Son investigate option of obtaining a DTV. 

It's also a multi entry Visa so would be an option for 5 years.

 

You could start initial questions with @Issa Compass

 

 

i did not think of that one so i'll bring that up.  i did mention the METV, which wouldn't be too onerous to obtain.  

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, buick said:

i did mention the METV, which wouldn't be too onerous to obtain

It's not difficult. 

Won't outline in this post however it actually provides almost 9 month stay. 

[buick]

2 hours ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

Not a common situation and there's not specific visa for the son afaik. Talk with the nursing home treating the father. Ask them to issue a medical certificate detailing the need for long-term care and a formal request to Immigration to allow the son to remain as caregiver. 

 

Visit the local Immigration Office with this documentation. Ask if a Non-O extension on medical/caretaker grounds is possible. Case by case basis but only in special cases I would imagine.

 

right, the nursing home must have some experience with this situation and how folks handle it.  so far, i think the son was planning on the visa exempt route but the IO asked him some questions when he arrived back in country after a 'visa run' so starting to think ahead now.   i was thinking bringing this medical info to show the IO might help future entries, at least for a little while.  maybe he could make a year out of it.  a little over three months so far.  as you note, maybe this can help get him connected to the Non O in some way via the local immigration office.  thanks for the comments.

 

 

[ChaiyaTH]

Get an agent to sort out a one year visa to minimize distractions and loss of time / stress.

[buick]

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

It's not difficult. 

Won't outline in this post however it actually provides almost 9 month stay. 

 

he'd have to fly back to USA but that might be his best option and perhaps a trip back home for a bit is something that would happen anyway.  

[buick]

16 minutes ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

Broke is fine.  MediCAID is for broke people. 
 

Also, was unaware Pattaya had a nursing home.

 

the nursing home could be just outside Pattaya, i think he's been in two of them so far.  

[DrJack54]

17 minutes ago, buick said:

 

he'd have to fly back to USA but that might be his best option and perhaps a trip back home for a bit is something that would happen anyway.  

Indeed he might be due at some point for trip back to USA. 

Be aware that the need to apply for METV in home county of where you have permanent resident status has changed. 

@Liquorice pointed this out recently. May update current requirements. 

[Rob Browder]

3 hours ago, couchpotato said:

Probably better for the father to go home and be cared for there, and then no need for any visas for father or son.

 

I saw a video about a hospice in Thailand - with the cost often paid for via renting the house "back home," so that home could be passed to the children after passing.   The alternative was, the house would be liquidated to pay for care "back home."  

I believe that case was Australia - but in the USA, you have to liquidate everything before you can get medicaid, and medicare does not cover all / 100%.  Paying out-of-pocket in Thailand may be a much better option.

[Mark1969]

2 hours ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

Broke is fine.  MediCAID is for broke people. 

Use it before commenting.

 

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

It's not difficult. 

Won't outline in this post however it actually provides almost 9 month stay. 

Why did you tell this guy 9 months? It enables a stay of 5 years + 6 months.

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, Mark1969 said:

Why did you tell this guy 9 months? It enables a stay of 5 years + 6 months.

My reply was to a post regarding a METV not a DTV. 

Also I had already suggested a DTV in my first post. 

Read more slowly. 

[Liquorice]

@buick

 

Do you know the financial status of the son?

The son could apply for 90 day extensions under section 2.25 of Immigration orders based on taking care of a patient.

(2) In the case of taking care of a patient, the applicant must have been confirmed and requested by a physician of the hospital or state medical institution providing the examination and treatment, or by an embassy/consulate.

[buick]

2 hours ago, Liquorice said:

@buick

 

Do you know the financial status of the son?

The son could apply for 90 day extensions under section 2.25 of Immigration orders based on taking care of a patient.

(2) In the case of taking care of a patient, the applicant must have been confirmed and requested by a physician of the hospital or state medical institution providing the examination and treatment, or by an embassy/consulate.

 

as i understand it, the family (siblings of the father) are assisting financially and i believe the father has a Trust of some sort that assists also.  their financial status is superior to that of the son and perhaps could support the son in one way or another.  so i'll say son's financial status is limited but the overall family is solid.  the medical issue hasn't created a financial problem for the the Father and/or the Family.

 

it sounds like the staff at the nursing home might be able to prepare a document that would help the son qualify for 90 day stay(s) under the cited immigration clause.  if i'm reading that right.  i'll have to see what discussions he's had with the folks at the nursing home.  

[buick]

4 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

 

I saw a video about a hospice in Thailand - with the cost often paid for via renting the house "back home," so that home could be passed to the children after passing.   The alternative was, the house would be liquidated to pay for care "back home."  

I believe that case was Australia - but in the USA, you have to liquidate everything before you can get medicaid, and medicare does not cover all / 100%.  Paying out-of-pocket in Thailand may be a much better option.

 

i don't want to get too far off track here but i thought i add recent experience of mine.  i had some issues with anxiety attacks a couple years ago.  long story short, i went to the ER twice in the USA and once in Bangkok.  i've got good insurance in the USA, the ER visit cost me $400 each time in USA - insurance covered the rest (i think the total charge was $2,000+/- for each visit).  in Bangkok at Bumrungrad, the visit cost 12,000thb, no insurance.  roughly the same as USA with insurance.  in all three cases, nothing major was done, told me i was fine.   

 

[Liquorice]

3 minutes ago, buick said:

as i understand it, the family (siblings of the father) are assisting financially and i believe the father has a Trust of some sort that assists also.  their financial status is superior to that of the son and perhaps could support the son in one way or another.  so i'll say son's financial status is limited but the overall family is solid.  the medical issue hasn't created a financial problem for the the Father and/or the Family.

If the Father's condition improved to the point he could fly back to the US, then that may be a better solution, perhaps for all the family.

It's difficult for the son to stay long term, no easy Immigration solutions.

 

7 minutes ago, buick said:

it sounds like the staff at the nursing home might be able to prepare a document that would help the son qualify for 90 day stay(s) under the cited immigration clause.  if i'm reading that right.  i'll have to see what discussions he's had with the folks at the nursing home.  

 

Immigration order 327/2557. Section 2.25

 

Any letter must confirm a physician requested your aid in the care of your Father, additionally the US Embassy may be able to assist.

[ThreeCardMonte]

8 hours ago, Mark1969 said:

Use it before commenting.

 

Why did you tell this guy 9 months? It enables a stay of 5 years + 6 months.

“use it before commenting “

 

I’m not qualified.  I’m not broke and already have private health insurance.

 

Common knowledge to USC mediCAID is for the destitute.   By all means continue to use it.

[Issa Compass]

Based on the current visa options, it appears that the 35 year old son would likely only be eligible to apply for a Digital Nomad (DTV) visa or continue using tourist visas for the time being. Please let us know if you'd like assistance exploring either the DTV or tourist visa options in more detail.

[Briggsy]

Since the 35-year-old son doesn't seem to be working, an Elite visa would resolve all issues. It's only 650,000 Baht.

[FritsSikkink]

On 7/31/2025 at 11:25 AM, buick said:

 

that might be possible at some point, but right now it's not feasible.  the son may be able to keep rolling with visa exempt entries and bring along some paperwork related to his father's situation - help explain to the IO why he's here, making 'visa runs'.

Don't think immigration will help with the need to see a friendly face.

[Mark1969]

Does the father want to stay in Thailand at all?

 

If money is not an issue, what benefits are there to staying in Thailand if he can afford care in the home country close to family? He would be inside most of the time anyway so it's not as if he will be out and about much enjoying Thailand.