Hi,

My kids (UK citizens) will be travelling with their Mum to (UK/Thai citizen) over the summer.

The total duration of their stay is 64 days.

I'm confused as to which visa is most appropriate given they'll be in-country for more than 60 days.

I'm hoping a) they won't have to hang around in Bangkok to get a 4-day extension

Do an international visa run.

TIA for any advice, suggestions.

Stuart

Your kids have Thai nationality by birth, but it appears they do not have the passport. The trip to Thailand would be a good occasion to obtain them

In any case they can enter visa exempt (check below about boarding) and if younger than 15 they will not charged overstay.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/754481-boarding-to-thailand-without-return-ticket/

Otherwise they should obtain a tourist visa first, then an extension of stay in Thailand, that cost Bt 1,900.

Thanks @Paz for your answer. We are very much on the same page in terms of consideration of options;

We have contemplated getting the 2 kids thai passports, but Mrs H is put off (by what she believes to be) a bunch of red tape i.e. document translations (house papers) etc.that make it difficult (she is thai, I am british, we work in the USA).

They could enter Thailand on their UK passports, and then file for Thai passport in Bangkok? But wouldn't they 'check out' on the same passport they 'checked in' on, over 60 days later?

- I assume it would be preferable to get the Thai passport beforehand via an embassy in the USA and they they'd enter/exit on their Thai passport without problem

I have explored the extension route, that's a possibility, but I assume takes a couple of days (and handover of passports) and needs to be done in BKK? This possibly creates difficulty with our holiday plans

Ditto, I have explored the overstay route. Despite there being no fiscal penalty for overstay for kids < 15 (and it's cheaper than THB 1900 for just 3 days), I'm somewhat reluctant to have their name in a 'system' as an overstayee.

TIA

Stuart

They cannot leave on Thai passports once they entered with foreigner ones. That and overstay being Thai is actually an abuse by Thai immigration, i would not worry too much about it.

The first step toward them obtaining Thai documents is a Thai certificate of birth issued by the Thai embassy in the country they were born, on the basis of their foreign birth certificate and mother's documents.

The birth certificate can be obtained in Thailand also at the consular section of Ministry of Foreign affairs.

One consideration often made is to avoid getting documents until males are older than like 35, to avoid conscription.

if thet get single entry tourist visas, they will get 60 days upon entering and can extend for 30 days. The extension costs 1900 baht and can be done at the immigration office near where they are staying. It will be done as they wait the time depending on the location of the office, some are crowded. I did my retirement extension in Nov and it took less tha 30 minutes!

Thanks @all. A bit reluctant to get Thai passports in fear of a military obligation in 10 years!

Also RT @paz: "The first step toward them obtaining Thai documents is a Thai certificate of birth issued by the Thai embassy in the country they were born, on the basis of their foreign birth certificate and mother's documents"

- This is problematic as we live in the USA, but the kids were born (and parents are UK citizens) in the UK. i.e. we'd have to schlepp over to the UK from USA just to complete this?

Seems like the extension is the best option?

Thank you

You can have foreign birth certificates processed at MfA in Bangkok as mentioned above.

Many people don't worry about getting extensions for minors of 15, because there is no consequences for not doing so. Beside, your kids are Thai.

Forgot to mention, your kids can also obtain a non-imm 'O' visa on the basis of having a Thai parent, hence being Thai. That allows for a 90 days stay if single entry - the cheapest.

Edited January 12, 201511 yr by paz

You can get a single entry non-o based upon marriage to a Thai. Your children can get theirs based upon being returning Thai nationals or for having a parent that is Thai.

You can get the visas at the embassy in DC or one of the 3 official consulates in NY, LA or Chicago in person or by mail. Or one of the honorary consulates in person.

Thank you all. I wasn't too clued up about the O option, but that seems like the route to for the 2 kids. Much appreciated.