Question

[Dirk_brijs]

Hi there guys,

I know there are alot of experts in here so I have the following situation and would like to know what I can do?

I am a 39 year old Belgian national. Am staying in Thailand now for almost 10 years. I have a son with a Thai and Belgian passport who will turn 8 in September. I am working n the cruise industry so I am always working on a 4 months on 2 months off rotation. I have been staying all this time on regular entry stamps though I have had a few tourist visas in the past when I took of for longer periods of time. Now before I did 1 visa run or sometimes 2 to get me through the second month of vacation but this now is not an option anymore I guess with only 15 days given at the border. I guess I can keep flying out to somewhere not too far to fly back and get another 30 days.

Now my question is though I think I could get an Imm O visa and get a 1 year extension based on supporting a Thai national with 40K in the bank when my son would sign a paper of parent hood at the Thai court. Am I still correct or is this changed again since short?

Now if this information I have is correct the question is would I do that or would I keep doing what I am doing now fl in and out as my vacaion periods almost never exceed the 2 month period or would I ave any advantages going forthe long term visa or could I maybe not even ask for one due to me leaving the country every 2 months for 4 months?

Hope the story is clear so youguys can get me sme good advise on what to do?

If not please feel free to ask me any question if needed.

Hope to get some good advises here.

Thanks

[Mario2008]

Guess you are not married, and don't have costudy over your son and you didn't legitimise the son.

The first you will have to do is legitimise the son, that means that as far as the law is concerned you are considered his father. Legitimisation of your son can be done at the local amphur, you just have to show up with your son and his mother. If all 3 of you declare that you are the father, the amphur can register you as the legal father of the child. Next you might want to arrange for costudy over the child.

To get yearly extensions some immigration offices inssit that you have sole costudy over the child.

When you have legitimise the child you also have the option to get a multiple entry non-O visa every year, instead of getting yearly extensions. With a multiple entry visa you can come to Thailand and each time you enter you will be allowed to stay for 90 days, after which you have to leave but can return the same day.

[ubonjoe]

You can get a multiple entry non immigrant O visa to visit you child in KL or Penang. This would allow you enter as many time as you want getting 90 days each entry for a year.

You need to show your childs birth certificate that show you as the father. A bank book with about 100,000 would be needed also.

I think this is easiest and simplest method for you. There have been no reports of any consulate asking for anything more than the birth certificate to issue the visa.

[PoorSucker]

Easy for you to get a multiple non-O if you are the child's birth certificate.

This will give you a 90 day stamp every time you enter the kingdom.

If you enter the same day the visa expires you'll still get a 90 day stamp.

If utilized the right way the non-0 visa can be used for 15 months.

[Dirk_brijs]

problem what I have is though that I dont have access to a Thai embassy or my pasport all the time. and when sign of we have to fly out of the country right away

[ubonjoe]

It only takes a couple of days in KL or Penang to get the visa. You apply the morning of one day and get it back the next afternoon. It's even possible to take an early flight from Bangkok and make the application that morning and return the next afternoon.

You could also fly into KL instead of Thailand on one your trips and get the visa. Just plan ahead and take the birth certificate and bank book with you when you leave.

[DtemJai]

Hi, apply for you visa for TH before you leave TH & use that one next time

[Lite Beer]

Hi, apply for you visa for TH before you leave TH & use that one next time

You cannot get a Visa in Thailand.

[DtemJai]

Of cause not in TH, outside TH.

[Dirk_brijs]

hear what you guys are saying. My company though arranges for my tickets to and from the ship and only supply me with Tickets from and to Thailand.

Now the question would this one year visa orwhatever visa it is called be beneficial to me or not? Stick with the entry stamp or go for the Visa what would you guys do if you were in my shoes?

[lopburi3]

It really does not cost that much more to obtain a visa than pay for a couple of your visa runs - so yes - it would be very beneficial to have a multi entry non immigrant O visa in your situation. Every entry gets you up to a 90 day stay with no further expense or trips. It is a total win situation for you.

[ubonjoe]

With your work schedule I would go for the visa from KL or Penang. You could get it while you are back on your break by making a short trip to get it. If you planned it in advance you could probably get a ticket for less than 3000 baht.

The problem you might have with getting the extension is timing for getting the extension done now and even next year when it comes time for a new extension. Also Pattaya is not the best place to get an extension for having a child. They have been reported as wanting you to have sole custody in order to get an extension. That means going to court and probably putting out at least 20 to 25,000 baht. Also you probably will need to make a visa run to get a single entry

non-o