Visa For Children Studying In Thai

[south22]

Hi everyone! I need advise on my children's case.

My wife & I just got 1 year extensions & WP til june 2009. My kids, age 6y11m and 4y9m have been staying with us and are enrolled in thai schools for a year now. BUT they came in on a tourist visa april 2007 then we went out of the border 2x and the last stamp they got expired last year JULY 2007.

Some friends advised us that they can stay and study here 'til they are 7 yrs old without paying any fines or having any problems so we decided not to bring them out the border anymore. My son will turn 7 next month and we want to make sure that there would be no problems with their stay here.

What should I do? The immigration officer who assisted us when we extended our visas last week said he thinks we can get dependent visas for them in bangkok??? Is that really possible?

OR do I really need to go out & get a dependent visa outside Thailand then process their extension of stay here?

Please share your experiences on this matter.

THANKS!

[lopburi3]

They are officially on overstay so they should not be able to obtain a visa/change in Thailand. You should take them to a Consulate for non immigrant visa issue based on your extension of stay and return to obtain matching extensions of stay for them. Remember to obtain a re-entry permit for yourself prior to travel.

[south22]

THANKS lopburi!

I think i need to prepare to go to penang since its the nearest consulate here in the south.

but how about the overstay fine? are children really exempted? OR do i need to prepare money to pay when we go to penang?

THANKS again!

[lopburi3]

They will not have to pay overstay.