Ed Visa for young kids in Penang

[davidjg]

I'm going to Penang next week to apply for an Ed visa for my kids (aged 2 and 4, French passports) and O visas for my wife (spouse), my 1 year old son (dependent) and myself (guardian). The kids are currently studying at a local (not international) Thai school and I have the official letters from the schools saying so. Aside from the birth certificates of the kids, are there any other forms or documents I require? Do I need to show any money in the bank and if so, which country's bank and what proof is required? I have also read that a letter from the ministry of education is required in some cases, or is this just for language schools?

 

I have tried to search all the information possible but it seems that there is not an abundance of info available for my specific situation. I've found info for kids at international school and Ed visas for language schools but nothing for what I need.

 

I really don't want to bring the whole family there to find out I have the wrong documentation.

 

Any help with this would be much appreciated.

 

 

 

[ubonjoe]

Is it a private or government school? It can be a private school and not be an called an international school.  If it is a private school you will need a copy their MOE registration certificate.

I would be prepared to show some financial proof in case they ask for it. They would prefer it to be in Thai bank but may accept it being in a any other bank.

 

[davidjg]

This is the school.

 

http://www.phuketthaihua.ac.th/

 

How can I tell if it is private or government?

[ubonjoe]

I am sure it is a private school. Are you paying for tuition and books? If you are it is is private.

[davidjg]

Thanks ubonjoe. Yes, I pay tuition. I'll go and ask for that certificate today. So I don't need a letter from the MOE? Is this just for language schools?

 

I'll also start moving funds around just in case. Is a bank statement printed from a computer a satisfactory proof of funds?  

[ubonjoe]

If they have any other foreign students I would think they would know what is required. 

I think you are asking about this letter.

" 3. For those who wish to study, an official letter from the Ministry of Education of Thailand, or other sub-authorities 

    concerned, approving the enrolment of foreign students is also required "

 I think it may be needed but it should not be that hard to get.

[davidjg]

There are very few foreign students at the school. I have seen one or two but seems all have a Thai parent so probably in a different situation to me.

 

I will ask today about the letter, but I doubt I will be able to get it before my scheduled flight next week. I'm not sure now whether to risk it and go or extend my tourist visa for another month and get the letter. Just checked on the Penang Thai Embassy website and it says the document is required.

 

Do you know if any of the agencies in Penang have a good enough relationship to process applications with some documents missing?

[ubonjoe]

i don't there will be any agents that could get a visa done without all the required documents. But they would know what is actually required to get one.

Perhaps contact Banana guest house and ask them.

[manonthemon]

I'm wondering - what is the benefit of getting ed visas for kids if they can stay in Thailand on tourist visas, overstay and face no consequences untill they are, I believe, 12 years old?

This is what I do - my daughter, 1.5 years old, uses on arrival visa exemption stamps to enter Thailand and overstays each time. We never have any trouble when leaving or coming back. I'm on a Non B visa. 

So what is the point of going through trouble of getting visas for kids?  

[ubonjoe]

I'm wondering - what is the benefit of getting ed visas for kids if they can stay in Thailand on tourist visas, overstay and face no consequences untill they are, I believe, 12 years old?

This is what I do - my daughter, 1.5 years old, uses on arrival visa exemption stamps to enter Thailand and overstays each time. We never have any trouble when leaving or coming back. I'm on a Non B visa. 

So what is the point of going through trouble of getting visas for kids?  

They are doing the correct thing by getting visas and then extensions for their children. Plus for them it has the side benefit of them being able to also get extensions as caregivers based upon the children extensions. 

You child is still young but later you may have problems because some schools will not allow a child to enroll without a visa or extension of some kind.

If you are on extensions of stay you child could get one as your dependent.

[manonthemon]

Thank you.

So me, beeing on a one year extention, I can get a dependant visa for my daughter right? 

And later, once she goes to school gets her  Ed visa I can get an extension as her caregiver? Sounds cool - would be nice not to be completly dependant on having a job here in Thailand as far as visas go. 

[ubonjoe]

Thank you.

So me, beeing on a one year extention, I can get a dependant visa for my daughter right? 

And later, once she goes to school gets her  Ed visa I can get an extension as her caregiver? Sounds cool - would be nice not to be completly dependant on having a job here in Thailand as far as visas go. 

Yes you can get a dependent extension for your daughter. She would need a single entry non-o visa in order to apply for it.

To get an extension as a caregiver requires 500k baht in a Thai bank. Also you probably would not get a work permit issued on this type of extension.. 

[davidjg]

The school called the Ministry of Education who advised that they only provide this kind of letter for Language schools, not regular schools. Not sure what to do now.

[apin]

Just got back from penang 2 days ago. I was able to get a guardian visa (non o) with these documents: Certificate of enrollment from a kindergarten school, birth certificate of my child and his passport copy, bank statement (with 500k baht deposit in less than a month), letter from the bank addressed to the consul. He was on visa on arrival and overstayed for 18 months.

[digitalchromakey]

Just got back from penang 2 days ago. I was able to get a guardian visa (non o) with these documents: Certificate of enrollment from a kindergarten school, birth certificate of my child and his passport copy, bank statement (with 500k baht deposit in less than a month), letter from the bank addressed to the consul. He was on visa on arrival and overstayed for 18 months.

Did Penang specifically ask to see the bank statement showing 500K THB and bank letter, or did you provide it 'just in case'?

[Somtamnication]

This is the school.

http://www.phuketthaihua.ac.th/

How can I tell if it is private or government?

I taught there. It is private. Get them to give you a letter (2) confirming their enrollment. Penang is easy for the ED visa. Other places are not. Hit or miss with financial info requests, so be prepared with that and copies of their birth certificates.

[davidjg]

No problem for me getting Ed visas and O visas. I told them that the kids were at international school although they are all at local school and they accepted the acceptance letters. They did specifically ask for bank statements for the O visa however they didn't specify an amount. It was however above 500k equivalent but didn't seem to be looked at very closely.

[davidjg]

Never requested any letter from the bank.

[smartiemarty]

Hi everyone,

This is an interesting topic.

Am I correct in thinking that it is possible to enrol a foreign child in a private school and therefore the parents can get "guardian" or "caregiver" visa / extension of stay?

We are a family of 3 soon to be 4 of uk and irish nationality, unmarried, and under 50, and our first daughter was born in samui in 2009. We stayed in samui / phangan for several years and left in 2010 for other adventures. We would like to return to samui but with all of the changes / enforcements etc i'm not keen on trying to stay one step ahead of the immigration department and want a legal option so we don't have to worry about looking over the shoulder and having to leave at a moments notice.. I work offshore on various non regular contracts of anywhere from 1 week to 2-3 months and usually try to work around 4-5 months a year but this can vary greatly. I would not seek to work in thailand and am not interested in forming a company. Basically we would live in thailand and i would work overseas to generate funds.

So my question is if i enrol our 6 year old into a private school in thailand, is it possible for the whole family to have non-o visa's and then get an extension of stay based on guardianship? We certainly aren't rich but have sufficient funds and showing 500k or even 1mil wouldn't be a problem.

If so what is the process and can anyone point me to any online resources that i can peruse. I have looked online but don't find a definitive answer.

Cheers in advance for any advice...

[ubonjoe]

Only one parent can get the one year extension of stay per child attending school. The other might be able to get a multiple entry non-o visa that would require leaving the country every 90 days.

Extensions for other family members would not be possible.