New to the forum, frequent visitor and now my first post. Hope someone can help clarify my options. I have tried a search but can't find a definitive answer

My third yearly extension of a Non O visa based on support of a child ends on 30th March. Previous extensions have been based on 40k monthly income, from a teaching job, with a KR.11 from the local amphur as evidence of legal responsibility for my son. A change of school director and new head of department has resulted in a new contract for next year which I don't like so it's time to move on.

So, the options as I understand are:

1. Use the 400k in the bank route and extend for another year. Problem with this is I don't have that much in my Thai account and if I transfer funds now they won't have seasoned for the required two months.

2. Cancel my work permit on the 29th and leave Thailand on the the same day. Go to a neighboring country and get an new single entry Non-O by showing 100k in a Thai bank account and the KR11. This would give time for the 400k to season and then extend for a further twelve months or alternatively allow time to find a job and extend using the monthly income method.

Are those the only options as far as a Non-O visa is concerned? I think I have seen somewhere that a sixty day extension is available without leaving the country but I'm not sure if it applies in my circumstances. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

It applies also in your case. From Thai Police Order 777/2551:

2.24 In the case of visiting a spouse or children who are of Thai nationality:

Each permission shall be granted for no more than 60 days.

(1) There must be proof of relationship.

(2) In the case of spouse, the relationship must be de jure and de facto.

You already have the proof of relationship; it is the same you used for the one-year extension.

Thanks for the reply, and the link.

Any idea what income / money I need to show to extend on this basis? I couldn't find anything on this point is the police order.

Thanks again.

For a 60 day extension there is no need to show any income or money in the bank.

For the 1 year extension based upon having a Thai child there is no seasoning required according to the police order.

It's nice to know I don't have to rush off and get another visa. After extending for 60 days I will have time to either find a job and extend again on the income route, or bite the bullet and tranfer a lump of cash. I don't like the thought of doing that though as the exchange rates are <deleted>!

Thanks for answers.

I just got a 60 day extension with my Family Court order in my local immigration office and all they needed was a copy of the court order, and the paper I had also obtained from the Amphur. Didn't need birth certificate or any other detail.

I wonder what would have happened if I just had the birth certificate?

Do you need to have the document saying that you are the legal father for the 60 day extension, or will a birth certificate suffice for that? I presume you could ask for the 60 day extensions while your case goes through the court? I didn't do that but with hindsight I probably should have because it took about 4 months.

For a 60 day extension normally the birth certificate is enough.

For a 1 year extension of stay you must have a court order, like you have. Many embassies now also require to see a court order for a non-O visa.

For my last three extensions the KR11 from my local amphur has been accepted. Is a court order now mandatory or is it, as usual, down to the individual officers interpretation of the regulations?

I sometimes wish they had one simple "rule book" which they all followed, and on which we could make sensible forward plans. On the other hand it is sometimes usefull if the regulations are interpreted loosely, especially if it is in our favor.

Thanks for the helpful replies.

it seems a bit different per immigration office.

Probably the legal situation is:

- when married and divorced, the document from the amphur should be enough as that is a legal document

- If not married married and the child was only legalised the amphur document is not enough as the amphur you can legitimize a child, but you cannot be awarded custody at the amphur. (The law only talks about legalisation of a child at the amphur, which makes it unclear if one would also get parental rights)

As part of getting divorced the Amphoe documents can and do include custody of the child as part of the attached agreement.