Caldera

They assume that you can print it right there at an internet shop if need be, so you're taking a chance if your statement is outdated. They might just send you there to print an up to date one. Mine were usually dated 1-2 days before the application date.

What exactly is acceptable to them is anyone's guess! It might also depend on your balance, if it's just slightly above the minimum they might be more inclined to suspect that the balance has fallen below in the meantime if the statement isn't very "fresh".

37 minutes ago, FredGallaher said:

They are getting a visa to study Thai, which is clearly in the realm of the Thai consulate ability.

Nobody doubts that they have that ability. It's just a nonsensical process and the result of the Ministry of Education failing to do its job.

1 hour ago, mosan said:

Ah, but did you pay x number of dollars, for an entire year up front, and in cash to enroll and leave the country only to be refused the student visa and or refused entry back into the country because your other entries "may" appear dodgy???

When I enrolled, I did have to pay tuition for the first term (and a lot more than what people pay for language schools in Thailand, obviously). If I had been refused the student visa, I'd imagine that I had been given a refund - I wouldn't count on that in Thailand.

In Thailand's case, the problem is that the Ministry of Education doesn't do its job properly and that consulates take it out on individual applicants instead of working on fixing this mess internally. I don't think that the process in itself is unusual, it just doesn't work as it should and needs to get fixed.

57 minutes ago, mosan said:

Somehow the sequence seems backwards to me.  Why in the world would anyone pay for a course prior to knowing you're going to be allowed to stay here!  Something is not right.

Back in the day when I went to college in the U.S., I had to enroll with the college first, got paperwork from them and subsequently used that to apply for my student visa. That seems to be the procedure all over the world, so Thailand doesn't stand out in that regard.

1 hour ago, darrendsd said:

Yes and no

 

He has been on a ED for learning Thai - they tested him to see if could really speak Thai and had indeed been attending classes before being satisfied that he had and then issuing him a new visa

 

If he had failed that test he wouldn't have got his new visa

My problem is that the concept of having a consular officer test an applicant's skills in their field of study is ridiculous. What would they have done if the OP's previous visa had been issued for studying semiconductor physics?

49 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

Well, it's somehow amazing and funny how quiet the Brexiteers are now watching their hero vanishing or at least struggeling about honesty, truth, and character.

Indeed. In a situation such as this one, you almost have to regret that British politicians don't have seppuku as an honourable way out.

Finally a high ranking Thai official who actually saw some time in jail for drug trafficking, most seem to get away with it because they have the good sense to conduct their business in Thailand. I hope the Aussies will provide some more details, his account seems to have quite a few rather large holes.

That's a list of brands I can actually relate to, many would make my list as well. Thais aren't such a mysterious tribe anymore, eh?

While I'm happy to hear that it worked out fine, that they tested your Thai language skills when you applied for an education visa for hand to hand combat is a complete joke. Don't they have any punching bags installed at the consulate section to conduct a proper test?

41 minutes ago, Captain 776 said:

They KNOW 99% of ED Visa is not legitimate.

Then why approve the schools and their programs in question? This is ultimately a scam. People pay for courses that do have the Ministry of Education's stamp of approval, but then fail to get a visa based on that extensive paperwork.

21 minutes ago, acenase said:

I already have a "Too Much Visas" in my passport stamp from Savannakhet. So I know I won't be able to get a Visa.  But what if I just want to stay 30 more days and use the Transit Visa just to go back through the border, even though I already used my 2 visa exempts for 2019? How much does this cost?

I'd guess (guess!) that they won't issue a transit visa if they've already given you a warning stamp previously. I doubt anyone can answer this with certainty, it would be quite a risky move.

5 hours ago, happysanook said:

Gave a "tip" to allow the transit visa (via a 3rd party). 

Interesting, that seems to be a new money making scheme. Just a few weeks ago, from reports back then they routinely gave those they refused a SETV a transit visa instead (charging the official fee, 800 baht).

7 hours ago, London Boy said:

I recently finished a 9 month stint at Chakrit Muay Thai School in Phrom Phong. ฿38,000 for 75 lessons and the Ed visa. By no means staright forward, I saw IO offices occasionaly doing spot checks at the school, and Khun Chakrit often complained how hard they made it for him. They've recently reduced it to a 6 month visa now.

I've never had any education visa myself, but immigration officers are welcome to challenge my Muay Thai skills any day. As long as they sign a waiver beforehand, it would give me immense pleasure to demonstrate my skills on each of these useless muppets. They would be just as useless afterwards, just more in pain.

16 minutes ago, Lovethailandelite said:

Good luck when you go to immigration in order to get your next extension. It may not be the outcome you was expecting

Your "luck", and I use that term loosely, seems to depend mostly on whether or not you pay them 5,000 baht instead of the official 1,900 baht extension fee.

1 hour ago, happysanook said:

Ended up paying tea money and getting transit visa.

In Vientiane or in Savannakhet?

Sorry to hear about your troubles and thanks for your report.

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

But the blame IMO lies with immigration for not making a clearcut policy. Either limit it to degree programs or specify a time limit for non-degree courses.

Exactly.

On paper, the Ministry of Education is supposed to do quality control on these schools and their programs. To apply for a visa to study at any such informal school, the school needs to apply for a letter of approval to be presented at the consulate as crucial part of the paperwork, after all. It takes many weeks to get that letter, so one could mistake them for actually doing their job.

Unfortunately they are completely useless and do a really crappy job (as with pretty much everything else they do, which is why most Thais are denied a quality education).

What's annoying is that the Thai authorities don't clean up this mess between themselves and choose to take it out on unsuspecting visa applicants instead. If the Ministry of Education has issued an approval letter, a consulate shouldn't refuse to grant a visa because they don't like the school in question. Consulates shouldn't be in the business of accrediting Thai schools. They should take up their concerns with the Ministry of Education to get their act together.

21 hours ago, Max69xl said:

These bank services at 7/11 are thought to be used by Thai people. A common Thai doesn't have internet or mobile banking.

Sorry, but that's nonsense. Pretty much all the Thais I know - including those who live in far-away villages - do have and use mobile banking. Just as they use Facebook, Line and YouTube. You're probably right about those who are 70+ years old though.

How do you "travel with crypto"? More like travel with (access to) your keys.

Boo-hoo, terrorism. Thailand is such a funny little country on the global stage, the only real and credible threat is domestic terrorism.

As far as tourists are concerned, and mass tourism in particular, I'd be much more worried about pollution, garbage, the destruction of what little is left of "nature" and overcrowding.

Lock him up.

The last times I visited both of my Thai banks was when my respective ATM card was up for renewal. Pretty much everything can be done online or at an ATM now, so I guess I won't be queuing up at a 7/11 for a bank transaction anytime soon.

I do realize that there are some transactions that cannot be done online or at an ATM (high amounts, getting a cashier's check, etc.). But you won't be able to do them at a 7/11 either.

10 hours ago, Ireland32 said:

Not a fan of that hotel and industrial feel, tbh, Great Nightlife if you go Speed Nightclub bring earplugs , deafening 

Speed (Speed 1 Music Hall) is a great suggestion. As said, deafening music, also cheap booze and probably the best eye candy Buriram has to offer. If a Thai night out is your thing, definitely go there.