Trying To Get 12 Month Multi-Entry On A Non-Immigrant 'O' Visa

[kitkat2012]

My husband and I and our 6 year old child all have Australian passports. My husband and I entered Thailand with 90 day Non-Immigrant ‘O’ visas. Our child with a 90 day Non-Immigrant ‘ED’ visa, because he is studying at an approved/accredited International School.

My husband and child have recently been granted ‘One Year Extension of Stay’ on their visas. Because we only have one child, we have been told that only one parent is eligible for this extension. Therefore, I must exit Thailand every 3 months. After my husband and child were granted their extensions, I recently went to the Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and applied for a Non-Immigrant ‘O’ 12 month multi-entry visa but this was not granted and I was instead given only a 90 day single entry visa.

I was told by the embassy staff that I must apply for an extension at my local Immigration Office in Thailand. I rang my local office and was advised that they can only issue a 7 day extension. So now it seems that I will need to go through the application process every 90 days, rather than just doing a border bounce which would have been the case if I had been granted a multi-entry visa for 12 months.

I am getting conflicting information from the Thai Embassy in KL and my local Immigration Office. Can anyone advise what the correct policy is for my particular circumstances? And if so, maybe a link to something on a government website that I can refer to when I next apply for a visa.

[Lite Beer]

You don't appear to qualify for 12 month extensions and will have to rely on Tourist Visas or Non Imm O Visas.

Maybe try a different Thai Consulate and see if they will issue a Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa.

Unlikely in Asia though.

You could always sign up with a Thai Language School and get a Visa that way.

[Mario2008]

Currently you do not qualify for an extension of stay from immigration, so you only qualifiy for 90 day entries on a non-O visa. You can try to get a multiple entry non-O in Savanakhet, but if you will get one is very unsure. Australia might be a better place.

You could go and study yourself and get an ED-visa based on that.

[kitkat2012]

You don't appear to qualify for 12 month extensions and will have to rely on Tourist Visas or Non Imm O Visas.

Maybe try a different Thai Consulate and see if they will issue a Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa.

Unlikely in Asia though.

You could always sign up with a Thai Language School and get a Visa that way.

Currently you do not qualify for an extension of stay from immigration, so you only qualifiy for 90 day entries on a non-O visa. You can try to get a multiple entry non-O in Savanakhet, but if you will get one is very unsure. Australia might be a better place.

You could go and study yourself and get an ED-visa based on that.

Thank you both for this information. I think and ED visa for myself is a good option for me.

[Mario2008]

Yes, and it doesn't have to be university or have to be Thai language. Just make sure the course is accepted for an ED-visa, the school will know if they are.

[kitkat2012]

I have checked with my local Immigration Office and they have advised which Thai Language Schools are approved for ED visa purposes. Thanks again.