asiacurious

2 hours ago, Caldera said:

So you think it's nonsense, but how much did your girlfriend need to pay for the locally issued Non-ED visa?

 

I don't know of any case - studying in an informal language school program mind you - where the applicant got away with  paying just the official fee without any "extras".

Now you know of a case.  It was 2000THB (or maybe 1900THB - some things are 1900, some are 2000).  Anyway, the school prepared all paperwork with MoE and Immigration and met a group of students at Immigration for the initial visa application.  For extensions, they prepared all the paperwork and students would go by themselves to Immigration.

When you're a legitimate student who is legitimately studying at a legitimate school, there are no extras.  Lots of pages of documents, but everything is on the up and up.  In all the time we've been in Thailand, we have NEVER paid (nor been asked or expected to pay) any "extras".  With the exception of what the school handled for the ED Visa, we've always dealt with Immigration on our own and we have never used an agent for anything.

And maybe that's the difference.  Things cost more through an agent because you're paying for their time, knowledge, employees, and overhead... not because the agent has to cover "extras" on a your behalf.

Quick update in case this will help someone....

There was no problem with Immigration at the airport when returning after leaving the country for 3 weeks.  And no problem with MoE or Immigration with getting an extension on the visa after returning.  Just needed to have the re-entry permit in place before leaving and everything was completely normal.

4 hours ago, BananaStrong said:

Had an ED Visa a billion years ago.     Sorry, I can't answer your question.

 

1.   Is she really happy with her current school?  If so, can you name them?

2.  What was the cost for a year?

 

I might pursue that route again in the summer, not sure.

Classes, books, Visa, and Extensions all came to about 80K.  Good experience at the school, though the school doesn't offer the greatest advice or guidance on issues (like this) or re-entry permits (for example, they advice students not to leave the country for more than 1 week while on an ED Visa or Immigration may not let you back in, which is total nonsense.  As long as you have a re-entry permit and return before your visa/extension expires, you can go for several weeks without any problem.)

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

My understanding is a second one not possible unless studies at a university. 

That may be rubbish just a vague recollection of that being the case

I think you're correct if you want to continue studying the same language.  At least that's what both schools have said.  Study more of the same requires shifting from a private language school to a more advanced university program.  But shifting to another language (or another subject entirely, like Muay Thai) at a different private school, does away with that need.

2 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

That's right, a second back-to-back ED visa can easily be refused by a consulate. And even if the visa granted, entry with such a visa may be refused at an airport. That's why the schools say that an ED visa must be obtained in-country, as they have more control over the process (read: know who to pay).

Ugh.  So tired of the "know who to pay" nonsense.

First, reputable schools don't need to "know who to pay".   And there isn't a need for that when you're a legit school offering a legit program with legit students taking it.  No "come to class if you want" program from the schools I'm talking about.  You come, or they refuse to extend your visa.  Plus, there's no "extra" money hidden in the cost of the course they are charging to pay someone anyway.

Lastly, the whole in country conversion thing just started several months into Covid.  Prior to Covid, the only way to get a new ED visa was outside the country.  What's more, in-country ED Visas were the only way to get them until the country started to re-open in earnest, which was October 2021 at the earliest, but more realistically not until May 2022.  So really, less than a year.  So very few people have even been able to get a back to back ED Visa since before the pandemic, when the only way to do that was outside of the country.

So....  I guess I should have specified that I wasn't looking for mere opinions.  I probably should have been more clear and asked for responses from people who have actual knowledge or experience.  

My gf has an ED Visa (studying Thai) for almost a year and wants to get another ED Visa.   We are getting conflicting information from different language schools.  

This is what we've been told that we don't have any issue with (but please let me know if any of these first three are wrong):

• 1 - New ED Visa must be for study at a different school. (Both schools say this.)
• 2 - Must change language being studied.  (Both schools say this.)
• 3 - Must get ED Visa Cancellation Letter from current school within 7 days of leaving, take to CW, then exit Thailand.   (Current school says this.)

This is what isn't making sense to us:

• 4 - Must leave Thailand and come back on a 60 day Tourist Visa.  (New School says this.)
• 5 - Can NOT get ED Visa at Embassy outside of Thailand.  (New School says this.)
• 6 - Must convert Tourist Visa to ED Visa once in Thailand.  (New School says this.)

I've checked with two Embassies outside of Thailand and they both say that they are currently processing ED Visas, contrary to what the new language school says (in 4, 5, and 6 above).

I understand that you have to leave Thailand to formally end the ED Visa.  Why must you get a Tourist Visa to come back to Thailand to convert the tourist Visa to an ED Visa in country, if Thai Embassies in other countries are currently processing ED Visas?  (Remember that in-country conversions are a relatively new thing that only started during Covid.)

Is there something I am missing?  Do embassies NOT give ED Visas to someone who just had an ED Visa?  Or something else?

Thank you!

On 10/14/2022 at 2:49 PM, problemfarang said:

you can leave the kingdom for 7 days. if you have a reason with proof 15 days

Ok, so this is different from what I've been told from another school I checked with, that says it's 7 days during the first 8 months of study, and 15 days after that.  When asked where this policy comes from, they said the Ministry of Education.

They also said there won't be a problem actually getting back into Thailand if one does go beyond these 7 or 15 day limits, but the problem will come from the Ministry of Education which won't approve of future visa extensions if you go beyond the limits.

Of course this begs the question, how does the MoE even know if you've gone beyond those 7 or 15 day limits since Immigration (and not the MoE) actually processes the extensions?

Finally, schools say there is no issue with getting an extension if you stay in Thailand and choose NOT to take classes for 3 weeks (or 6 or 7 weeks for that matter).  Only if you leave Thailand for more than 7 (or 15) days is there a problem.

Thank you.

I have a couple of questions on leaving and returning to Thailand while on an ED Visa for studying Thai (at a private language school, not an ED Visa issued through an accredited University program).  Here's what (I think) I understand:

• Must get a re-entry permit BEFORE leaving
• The ED Visa does NOT pause while out of the country, so there must be enough time on the visa (or extension) so that re-entry to Thailand occurs BEFORE the visa (or extension) expires

Here are my questions:

• How long can a person be out of the country while on an ED Visa?  (Obviously they must get back to Thailand BEFORE the ED Visa/extension expiration date.)
• Are there any known issues with Suvarnabhumi Airport Immigration when re-entering the country?

A fairly well known school is telling students they can only leave Thailand for a maximum of 7 days or they will have problems re-entering Thailand.  Some school websites (including this particular school's site) do not mention any problems.  They only indicate the need for a re-entry permit and valid ED Visa/extension with time left before expiration.  Is this school correct?  Or is it FUD?

Experiences and advice appreciated.  And if anyone has any links or documentation from authoritative sources (such as written policies issued by the MoE or Thai Immigration) that would be especially helpful.

Thank you!

LED all the way.

My suggestion is the first thing to decide is if you want a warm feeling (like old style incandescent bulbs), or a cool feeling (like daylight).  Probably best thing to do is just go buy 1 screw in bulb at 2700-3000 Kelvin (that's the color temperature) and a second screw in bulb at 5500-6500 Kelvin.  The lower the K number the warmer the light.

Then get two light fixtures and screw the bulbs in and look at the light during the daytime, then again at night.  Most people prefer the warmer color from 2700-3000 Kelvin bulbs.

Everything else is secondary to color temperature.  After you know the color temperature you can worry about what style of light you want (ceiling mount, wall mount, free-standing floor light, table lamp....)  Same for how much light a bulb gives off (which is measured in lumens).  You can get a higher wattage bulbs that are dimmable and put wall or ceiling fixtures on dimmer switches to control the light output.  And for floor or table lamps you can similarly get them with or without dimmer switches (or add them via a plug in adapter).

But my suggestion is to start with the color of the light that you want, then take it from there.

16 hours ago, nightfox said:

Maybe the a la carte items cost more in Thailand but in general all value meal combos are way cheaper then the USA. Big mac meal in Thailand 170 bht = $4.79 USD. It cost at least $10 in the States so how is that more expensive?

Sounds about right.

Also, it seems like the higher priced a la carte items in Thailand are to get people to buy the more expensive value meals.  In the US, the cheaper "dollar menu" items are to get people in the door who would otherwise not be able to afford the "value meals".

Many Thais who order value meals never seem to finish what they've ordered and leave a lot of food behind on the tray, and the table.  Too often it looks like like a bomb exploded in the middle of their food.

22 minutes ago, dj230 said:

McDonalds is kind of expensive here, the cheap sandwiches like a cheeseburger 100 baht, translates to $3USD, even in USA a McDouble is like $1 no? Is it cause the beef?

Not anymore.  Was home last April and saw this on a menu board.  And that was BEFORE all the big price increases that have apparently happened over the summer....

On 8/11/2022 at 7:49 AM, KannikaP said:

No he didn't, still with us.

I heard he died.

4 hours ago, Dante99 said:

well both

 

did you have some reason to ask other than an attempt to be clever?

yes

On 4/27/2022 at 7:59 PM, Dante99 said:

Come on folks take it easy on the digital nomads.  One time I briefly met one who seemed okay.

One time you briefly met one who seemed okay.

? OR ?

One time you met one who briefly seemed okay.

9 hours ago, sallecc said:

Lesson learned: next time I'll use better and more transparent agent... and yeah, after the summer in Europe, I'll be back with brand new and empty passport

If you're doing an ED Visa, a better lesson learned would be to NOT use an agent.  Go to a school that prepares and submits everything for you.  You'll keep your passport through the process.  The Ministry of Education doesn't need your passport - just a photocopy.  And Immigration needs the passport for a minute or two when you apply for the ED Visa, and another few minutes to put the stamp in 15 days later.

So....  If you're using an agent and your passport is out of your hands for 6 weeks (which based on what others have said seems to be the case) then I have to ask...

Where is your passport?

Simple answer - the agent is holding it.

But why?  Or at least, why don't they tell their clients this?

Is it that they want the process to seem more complicated than it really is, so you'll continue to use an agent?

Doing everything through a reputable school gives so much more transparency about the whole process.

40 minutes ago, audaciousnomad said:

It won't happen this time around. Multiple reports of a 30-day Under Consideration stamp for Bangkok applications.  Haven't heard any new reports that differ from this. ???? 

For CW Immigration?  I've only been reading reports here of UC stamps at other locations for non-Covid extensions, but not at CW for Covid extensions.  Not saying CW isn't doing that now, but I just haven't read or heard of it happening.  Could you point me to some of those reports so I can correct my understanding?

6 hours ago, webfact said:

She sped off but he chased after her. To get out of the situation she pretended to converse with someone. The pervert rode off.

The guy isn't a pervert.  He's worse.  The "situation" the woman was trying to avoid could easily have turned out to be rape. 

It simply isn't normal to chase after someone like this.  They guy put her in fear of her safety and I think there's a case that could be made against the guy for stalking, assuming there is such an offence in Thailand.  (There must be, right?)

And if it's the same guy doing this to multiple women?  He's clearly got some issues and is probably a ticking time bomb.

The age (of either the perpetrator or the victim) doesn't matter.  When one person makes another so uncomfortable that they flee in fear of their safety, there's a problem. 

I know someone who recently got an extension when they had nearly a full month left on their current extension.  They wanted to tour around the country and the speed at which they were going to travel depended on whether they would have a month or 3 months left.

Plus, they didn't want to be bothered with dealing with an IO in a province they weren't familiar with in the middle of their trip.

They went in, got the extension, and left the IO with almost 90 days total extension.