Daughter (USA) has been in international school for 5 years in Thailand, Have not used a visa so far. and has not been an issue when we leave the country or return.

When she turns 14 does she need a visa? Some have said yes, and some no. When I asked the consulate they said, They are pretty
lenient with children once they are already in the country.

I am sure this has been asked before but the rules change fast here.

Any ideas or comments would be appreciated.

Thank you

Every non-Thai national needs a visa and permission to stay in Thailand, including children. But for children under 15 there is no overstay fine. But the day they turn 15 they will be on overstay and illegal in the country and they face arrest and deportation just like an adult, and need to pay the overstay fine.

Best to take care of this now.

I always suggest that visas and extensions of stay be gotten for children under 15 even though they do not pay for overstay.

If you are on an extension of stay yourself you can get an for her as your dependent. She would first need to make a trip to a nearby embassy or consulate to get a single entry non-o visa and then extend the entry from that visa.

Otherwise with documents from school she could get a ED visa and then an extension of stay for studying.

The ED-visa requires sightly more paperwork but has the benefit of that the child has a reason to stay of it's own and is not tied to you. If you would lose your permission to stay, you could even be a dependent of your child (with 500,000 in the bank in Thailand).

Thank you for all replys,

Yes helpful

I don't understand about visa extensions?

I have a B VISA 12 month multlple entry visa which I obtained in the US from a consulate.

Before it expires, while i am in thailand, can I get an extension in Phuket Town or where?

and how much does this cost?

or must I leave the country to get it?

Same question for my daughter if she has a ED Visa now at age 14 which we will get outside of Thailand.

how does she get an extension?

thank you

I appreciate your help.

For you, are you working and do you have a work permit? For most job you do need an income of at least 50,000 baht a month. (Teachers for example do not fall under the 50,000 baht income rule).

Best is to ask your employer if they have experience with getting an extension of stay from immigration for their employers.

Your daughter cna get a visa with a letter from the school confirming that she is registered and a student at the school. In Thailand itself she can than get a 1 year extension of stay a long as she studies at the school, with some paperwork from the school.

Being an international school, the school will know what to do and what paperwork to provide. Simply have a talk with them and they will guide you through the process.

If the 14 year old has a ED Visa and studies in thailand

does she or the parent have to to to check in every 90 days?

If the 14 year old has a ED Visa and studies in thailand

does she or the parent have to to to check in every 90 days?

On a 1 year extension of stay you have to report your address every 90 days, which can be done by mail (with a few immigration offices not accepting). You can also send someone on your behalf.

I suspect that a large international school would do the 90 day reports for a student.