I have an eleven year old Australian daughter living with my wife and I for about three years in Thailand. My biological daughter. She has been attending school here for three years.

She was originally on a dependent's visa, but when I renewed her passport the immigration officer said don't worry about a new visa in the new passport until she is fifteen. Well at the time they didn't want to do the exercise so I took their advice. I want to fix this up now and the following has transpired.

I have applied for an education visa, knocked back because the immigration office involved wants a certain form signed by the Buriram office. Buriram office says this form is signed for foreign teachers. So this visa refused, on the basis that I could not provide this form signed by Buriram.

I then suggested applying for a dependent's visa for her, and was told that I needed to be working for the government or be a teacher for this visa to apply. I cannot believe this is true.

Anyone know the actual requirements, mainly for a dependent's visa, I think this one should be easier as I don't have to involve third parties, ie the school and Buriram office.

The officer that told you child did not need to get extensions was wrong. Children under the age of 15 do not pay overstay fines which does not mean they don't need visas or extensions.

Somebody is giving you wrong info. There are very few extensions of stay that do not allow for dependent extensions. What type of extension do you have so I can quote the clause of the police order that allows it?

I am on a marriage extension.

I did look this up the Web and no where can I see this employment requirement.

I am more or less wondering what to do about this given immigration's attitude. I haven't overlooked that they may be needing something to grease the wheels but I am very reluctant given that I believe I am 100% right.

Thanks for your reply.

She is allowed an extension as your dependent under the same clause that you get your extension for. It is clause 2.18 of Police Order 327/2557 basis for extension of stay.

"2.18 In the case of being a family member of a Thai national (applicable only to parents, spouse, children, adopted children, or spouse’s children):

Each permission shall be granted for no more than one year.

(4) In the case of children, adopted children, or spouse's children, said children, adopted children, or spouse's children must not be married, must live with the alien as part of the family, and must not be over 20 years of age except in case of the person hereof is of illness or disability and cannot live without support of father or mother:"

Your daughter will need a to go to a nearby embassy or consulate to get a single entry non-o visa. With her birth certificate, your marriage certificate and copies of your extension stamp she can easily get the non-o at Savannakhet or Vientiane.

Perhaps there was confusion at immigration if you were asking for a visa. Immigration can only do a conversion from a tourist visa or visa exempt entry to a non immigrant visa for dependents of those on extensions based upon working.

Thanks Ubonjoe.

I have already the non o from Vientiane.I will try our nearest immigration once again with a copy of this police order.