I received an information from our HR that my 5yo child needs to get a Non-O visa or we will need to pay overstay when the new visa law on children takes effect on the 29th August. My child was born in Thailand and would only get 30-days visa on arrival every time we leave the country and come back, and we never had an issue at all. I was told that we can do this until he turned 14 years old. However, I read that the immigration will bring this to 7 years old (which he will still won't be affected until next year). I'm trying to find any information about this new law(and age requirement) but to no avail (or am I missing something). I've asked around within our network but it seems that no one knew anything about it. I've heard different stories as well (good and bad). If you know, can you direct me to the right website or information.

If this is true, we only have few days(roughly 10 days) to plan everything. Do we bring him out, then come back getting a 30-days stamp and process the Non-O in Thailand OR we get him Non-O visa outside then come back to process his docs? I'm afraid, we have limited time to stay outside the country since we cannot take long off from our work. Is getting Non-O Visa from KL advisable? OR Is getting Ed visa easier for him, he's currently enrolled in a private English Kindergarten (not international school)?

Also, how can I apply a visa for the caretaker(relative) of my child, what type of visa is that? Both my husband and I are carrying Non-B. Huge thanks.

Some people say there will be a change, but have not seen any confirmation of that from immigration. Personally I don't think it is true, as Thai criminal law limits the liability of children under 15 and that is presumably the reason the current limit is 15.

However, getting your child a proper visa is a good thing. He can get a visa very easily, either upon showing that he is enrolled at a school or that you or your wife have an extension of stay based on employement. (Non-B visa and work eprmit will also be fine) This last would be best, as some immirgaiton offices will not accept kindergarten as a school.

I would not go to KL, but Penang or Laos.

Your relative will need to find his/her own reason to stay, only a parent can get a visa based on the child studying.

I have seen nothing published official or unofficial about changing the rules for children under the age of 15 not paying for overstay. As far as I am concerned it is just a rumor. The 29th of this month is only the date that a new police order for extensions of stay goes into effect.

Paperwork wise it would be easier to get a your child a dependent extension than for attending school. Both would require going to out to get them a visa. For the dependent extension it would just require their birth certificate in English or Thai and copies or of your passport showing your extension

An extension for a parent of a child attending school and on extensions for that requires 500k baht in a Thai bank. Only one parent can get the extension.

Sounds like you have some time to get it figured out. Don't act in haste.

Ubonjoe can maybe get you some reliable advice

Otherwise, go to the local immigration office and explain your situation.

Mario2008, if we go to KL, is it better to just get 30-days stamp and process my child's Non-O visa in Thailand. Travelling to Laos might not be advisable for young children, I don't think he can handle the long hours of land travel. We are stuck to Penang (for Non-O application) or KL(for just 30-days stamp).

ubonjoe, accdg to the immigration office that our HR have spoken with, it's all on the website but it only shows the list of reqs and not the age requirement for the children...what happens if we cannot provide 500k bht in a Thai bank, is consistent deposit transaction would suffice? or are you suggesting to just get a 30-days stamp and let my company process the Non-O here?

Thanks again!

Penang is simply more friendly than KL, hence my advise. You should get a single non-O for your child without too much trouble in KL. Do get a letter from the company stating that you work for them and live in Thailand and the child lives with you and thus request a visa.

Money in the bank is only needed if one of the parents applies for an extension as a dependent of the child. As both of you work, that is curently not needed. (You might not be allowed to work on an extension based as a dependent anyway).

You child cannot get a non-o visa from immigration it can only be done at an embassy or consulate.

You can fly to Vientiane. You can also fly domestic to Udon Thani and form there it is short trip to bridge in Nong Kai. Check for flight to Vientiane on Nok Air that are a fly/ride service via Udon.

The 500k baht is not for the dependent extension for your child. It is for you to get one as their parent.

What website is your HR department looking at. There is nothing that says anything about children's overstay on the immigration website. There is a notice about adult overstays.

ubonjoe, it was the immigration officer who told our HR that it was on their website, but this is the only thing I found

http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/content/sv_sponserTH.html

How long does it take to get Non-O visa in Penang, KL or Vientiane? Do they process visa application during weekends too? Is it possible to get him Ed Visa under 30-date stamp? I'm not sure if taking the risk of not getting him visa now is worth it. If we delay it, it might cost us double when we travel later in the year.

The link you posted is for a parent of a Thai to do a conversion to a non-o.

It is apply for the visa in the morning of one day and get it back the next afternoon.

It is also not possible do to a change to a ED visa.

You could fly drive on Non Air from Bangkok to Mukdahan and go across to Savannakhet where you can get an non O the same day.

Could he get 30-days visa upon returning to Thailand if he won't be able to get Non-O visa from a Thai Consulate?

Huge thanks to all your information.

You should not have a problem getting the visa they are not that picky for getting that type of non-o. As long as you have his birth certificate and copies or your passport showing your extension of stay he will get it.

But if needed he would be able to get a 30 day visa exempt entry. If by land he would only get a 15 day entry unless from a G7 country.

Visa is normally submit in the morning of workday 1 and pick-up on the next workday in the afternoon.

Consulates are closed during weekends, but Khota Baru is in a moslim area and hence closed on Friday (and Saturday), but open on Sunday.