Visa Options

[JustHereAWhile]

Hi,

My family are all Americans and we came to Thailand on medical emergency (my daughter was premature) and we stayed in Bangkok and got an extension through Bumrungrad until May 1st. So at this point I am not sure if I even have a visa vs an extended visa exemption since I am an American.

At this point my daughter is doing fairly well and we moved to Chiang Mai. I've been running to Chiang Mai immigration office trying to get our visas extended until June so we can make sure our daughter is still doing well before we leave. Today the officer asked for the birth certificate and a letter from the consulate (which I found out is just an affidavit saying our marraige license is valid). But I have been getting not so positive feedbacks from the officers there and I heard extension due to medical reasons are hard to come by in Chiang Mai.

I have been reading online and it seems:

1) the 90 days / 6 months limit no longer exists per 778/2551.

2) therefore we should be able to just do visa runs up to Mae Sai at 15 days a go, up to three times, so that will get us to June.

Questions:

1) Do you think we will have any problems with that?

2) Do you think this is better than trying to get extended and lose about $150 (2 extensions + 1 affidavit)?

3) If we do land visa run, do we NEED some kind of returning ticket to show we intend to leave?

Thank you!

R.

[lopburi3]

The police order is 777/2551 and there has not been any change - if you have medical reasons an extension of stay can be obtained but if you have moved from Bangkok to Chiang Mai it would seem there is no longer a medical reason for stay?

You do have paperwork to exit with new daughter taken care of?

Do not believe 3 border runs will be an issue for up to 45 days.

Suspect your case is weak for medical reasons if no longer within easy commute to treating hospital but no real knowledge of what would be allowed.

There should not be any border requirement for ticket.

[JustHereAWhile]

Lopburi,

Thank you for the quick response. Yes my daughter is out of ICU so we moved up to Chiang Mai to be closer to friends and she is still having follow up visits at Ram. Chiang Mai still offers better care than where we are going and we actually had a doctor friend recommend us to stay in Thailand for 1 year because premature babies tends to have more issues during that time.

But yes, you are right, while we have SOME reasons to stay here medically, I think our case is bit weak. We do have some other matters to attend so it would be nice to remain until June anyway.

Not sure what you mean about the paperwork for my daughter, she was born in another country and already have her Consular Report of Birth Abroad (equivalent of birth certificate) and US passport. Am I missing anything?

Thanks

R.

Edited April 23, 2012 by JustHereAWhile

[Lite Beer]

From 777/2551:

2.25 In the case of medical

treatment or convalescence

or to look after a patient:

Permission will be granted

for a period of not more

than 90 days at a time.

(1) Confirmation and request has been made by a physician

responsible for the treatment. The Physician must describe the

details of treatment and advised that the illness is a barrier for

travelling.

(2) In the case of looking after a patient, confirmation and request

has been made by the physician responsible for the treatment or

by an embassy or consulate.

(3) Patient Carer, except parents, spouse, children, adopted

children or children of spouse, shall be granted no more than 1

extra person.

[lopburi3]

Misread of your first post as you came here for birth. Sorry. She has her paperwork. Overstay is not an issue for child so she would not have to make the border trips.