All Things Visa Related

[Senia]

1. I am a foreign mother to a Thai child. can I get visa extensions based on this, if yes how do I go about it.

2. Buying property in Thai child's name and mother's name only ............ possible?

3. Opening a bank account for the both of us. ( No work permit yet )

Basically it's a trust issue, I do not trust Thai father in all matters relating to my child's money.

[Maestro]

Paragraph 2.18(5) of Police Order 777/2551 applies to your case for extensions of stay. Please note that the correct translation from Thai would be “In the case of a parent, that parent must maintain…”

[InterestedObserver]

1. Already answered.

2. Your Thai minor child can own property in his/her name but supervised by the Juvenal Court. Foreign mother, no way.

3. Possible, but you may have to search for a bank branch willing to open the account.

Edited June 14, 2011 by InterestedObserver

[Lite Beer]

As Maestro said above for a 12 month extension of stay you need:

(5) In the case of a parent, one of parents must have an average annual income of not less than 40,000 baht per month or a money deposit of not less than 400,000 baht for expenses within a year.

[lopburi3]

You can buy property but not land. A condo with foreign ownership allowed would be the logical option. Not sure of current laws on children.

You should be able to open in Bangkok Bank (they have specific requirements allowing for foreigners - copy below) and most people seem to have success at Kasikorn Bank. If one branch does not wish to open just visit the next.

You hold a tourist visa or non-immigrant visa e.g. ED, EX, F, IB, IM, M, O, O-A, R, RS, D, F, SE, MT, S

(except non-immigrant L-A visa)

Valid passport, and

ONE of the following documents:

2.1 An identity card issued by a government institution or university such as:

- Your driver’s license, Foreign Identification Card, University

Student/Professor Card

2.2 A letter of recommendation from

- Embassy [Download Form 177 KB], International

Organization, Customer’s home bank to Bangkok Bank via

the SWIFT message [Download Form 958 KB], a person

acceptable to Bangkok Bank (such as BBL staff, customer,

government officer, company executive, private firms), or

home country institutions (such as pension receipt)

[Download Form 674 KB]

2.3 Other documents showing your name such as:

- Bank Statement, lease agreement, utility bill, documents

showing owners of a fixed asset or Condominium

Sale/Purchase Agreement

[Mario2008]

Buying property depends on the kind of property. Only a Thai national can own land, so you can put it in the childs name but not yours.

Property in a child name is protected by law. The parents are guardians of the property, but for certain actions (like selling of the property) they must seek permission of the court. A parent can not just sell the property of his child and put the money in his own pockets, but might get permission to sell property to finance the childs education.