Category O Visa To Visit Parents? (but I'm A Foreigner)

[chempatty]

Hello all,

First sorry if this is a repost - tried going through the forum but was unable to find the answer to my question. I'm a US citizen and I want stay in Thailand longer than the 90 day tourist visa allows (don't want to do the visa runs and have yet decide if I want to study Thai to attain a visa).

So my question is this:

My dad works for the UN and he has been posted here around 4 years, would it be possible for me to attain a "non-immigrant visa category O to visit family"? And at that can I get the year long visa or how long of a visa can I attain?

Thanks for all the help!

CP

[LivinginKata]

First of all the tourist visa only gives you 60 days, and then you apply for a 30 day extension (1,900 baht). Then you must leave Thailand.

I suggest you apply for a non-imm O visa in your home country. Try for a one year multi. This allows you the full 90 day stay in Thailand, then leave, come back and get another 90 days, etc.

Subject to you providing suitable evidence of a full time study in Thailand you MIGHT be able to convert you CURRENT non-imm O visa to an ED visa and can then apply for a one year EXTENSION.

No idea about whether your family connection would benefit you.

[LivinLOS]

Current word on the ED from sunbelt is that ED's for Thai language studies are only getting 90 day extensions.

Recent thread somewhere here.

[Maestro]

My dad works for the UN and he has been posted here around 4 years, would it be possible for me to attain a "non-immigrant visa category O to visit family"? And at that can I get the year long visa or how long of a visa can I attain?

Yes, you can get a non-O visa to visit Family. Regarding an annual extension of stay, you will qualify for this if you are less than 20 years old and unmarried and live with your father while in Thailand.

--

Maestro

[chempatty]

"Yes, you can get a non-O visa to visit Family. Regarding an annual extension of stay, you will qualify for this if you are less than 20 years old and unmarried and live with your father while in Thailand."

Thanks for all the information. But I'm a little confused. So I can get the non-O visa but I won't be ale to get the annual extension of stay (since I'm over 20 years of age) is that right?

Then my question is what would be the point of getting the non-O visa versus just getting the 60 days tourist visa and then extending? Does the non-O visa last longer? Are there any other options? Thanks a million guys.

CP

[lopburi3]

A single entry non immigrant O visa allows a 90 day entry/stay. A multi entry non immigrant O visa is valid for one year and allows unlimited number of 90 day stays.

[chempatty]

A single entry non immigrant O visa allows a 90 day entry/stay. A multi entry non immigrant O visa is valid for one year and allows unlimited number of 90 day stays.

Awesome, that was the information that I was looking for. But just another question - and sorry I know I have a ton of questions, and I'll do my best help answer questions next time around --

If I get the single entry non immigrant O visa can I extended it after 90 days? Is it the same process at the toursit visa extenshion or should I just try for the muiltiple entry non immigrant O visa?

And I asked because I'm a little pressed for time, I'm going to HK next week; and before I get to the Thai consulate there I want to know which visa I should be applying for.

Thanks a ton for all your help!

CP

[lopburi3]

No. You can not extend the non immigrant O visa for 30 days as you can often do for a tourist visa. You can ask for a multi entry non immigrant O visa from Hong Kong with proof of visiting father (perhaps a copy of his passport/visa and your birth certificate) but am not sure they will issue it. They are rather hard to obtain in the immediate area if not married to a Thai or over age 50.