Changing kid's nonO Single entry to Ed visa - Can I do it inside Thailand with only 5 days to expiry

[Cloudsgirl]

My son in Grade 8 has been studying a well-known high school course online. After four years, he has become bored and lonely and wanted to go to a normal school. I have enrolled him at a school in Nakhon Si Thammarat, where we live, in their English programme.

However, a visit to immigration there left me even more confused than when I started.

All I want to know is:

1) his non O visa expires on the 30th November so should I be going OUT to do the change from Non O to Ed? I already know that from the bulletins here visas can be changed over inside Thailand after the 1st December 2014. I don't want anymore trouble with overstays, even for a day. as my school on two occasions had more important things for me to do that to take my son out for his non O and thus I have two overstays on his visa already, albeit not huge overstays.

2) If it can be done inside of Thailand, does that 14 days left on your visa thing apply?

3) If the 14 days applies in this case, then I guess he needs to go to Penang....but I am unable to accompany him personally. I can take him to Hatyai and I know the travel agent whose driver is trustworthy and will drop him right at the agent I have in Penang, and whom my son and I know well and trust, who will take him to the embassy and help with everything. However,some people are telling me I HAVE TO accompany him as I am his parent.

Can anybody shed light on any of my questions here, please?

[ubonjoe]

You cannot change a non immigrant visa's class.

All you should need to do is apply for the extension for going to school with the non-o visa entry. All that is required is a non immigrant visa entry.

[paz]

May I add to ubonjoe's.

If for any reason you find that is more convenient to keep your child with the current non-imm 'o' and related extensions, he can still attend school and it's perfectly legal.