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cauchy
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58 minutes ago, JackThompson said:
Sounds similar to this report:
https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1170345-my-ed-visa-after-31-july/?do=findComment&comment=15563426Hi JackThompson, thanks for referencing the thread, I had missed it.
Based on the information in there as well as Jonga80's feedback, I guess it is possible in general, but pretty much a situation of contacting the "right" school... with a possible roadblock currently due to the amnesty - an optimistic reading would be that immigration services are as clueless as the rest of us on what can or cannot be done these days...
Anyone else?
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Hi all,
As many, I am currently in Thailand on the tourist visa "amnesty" and (worryingly) waiting to see what happens at the end of the month, having used all possible extensions in March/ April (regular 30 days extension then embassy letter-sponsored special Covid extension).
As a potential way out, would it be possible to change my current tourist visa / amnesty status to an ED visa (say through a Thai language school)? My understanding is that this usually comes with conditions regarding timing (i.e. the request to immigration services must be done x days before the end of your tourist visa) and usually involve a visa-run to visit a Thai consulate abroad and getting a new visa.
(Before anyone asks, I am happy to put the hours at school - I have the time and motivation to freshen my Thai skills so not looking for a visa of convenience with no class time involved)
=> Does anyone have first-hand experience of being able to change an expired / amnesty-status tourist visa to an ED visa under current circumstances - e.g. without the need to take a trip outside Thailand? If so, can you share your experience and contacts in Bangkok (if at all possible, I suppose some schools might have better connections than others) ?
Thanks a bunch
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Hi,
I went through the same process at new MTT office yesterday (April 2nd) for a second extension of my visa-exempt stamp (French passport).
Arrived at 7am and queued outside (new comers are directed to chairs, row by row, by immigration staff).
Was let inside to 3rd floor at 7.30 just as the sun started getting uncomfortable outside; temperature check on the way and more queuing in rows
Was directed to 2nd floor at ~9:00 - similar setup as in floor 3; first document check and was given a couple of extra forms to sign (acknowledgement of conditions for visa extension and penalties for overstay)
By the end of 2nd floor queue, documents are checked, applicants are sorted by visa type (K/J) and given a number
Was let inside into ground floor (climatized area where the processing actually happen) just before 10:00
Another 10min or so queuing, then 3min processing - no question asked, and another longish queue to collect my passport.
I was out by 11:20 with the same "under probation" stamp that everybody on a 2nd tourist visa extension seems to be getting these days, due to come back on April 30th.
A few comments to add to Finlaco's post:
- Whatever your arrival time, be prepared to spend 4H to go through the whole process. I don't think passports processing inside starts before 8 or 8:30 so would dispute the advantage of showing up at 5 or 6 am
- There are photocopiers available on 2nd floor (I assume for a fee); also basic food and water were for sale on same floor (it will take 2H to get there though so bring some water)
- I only handed my TM7 and handed forms, passport, copy of main page + stamps and embassy letter (an obvious color scan/copy that was sent to me by email) - no further documentation was required nor any question asked
Although I see the whole requirement to apply for extensions as borderline irresponsible given the circumstances, I found the process itself (surprisingly) smooth - if lengthy, and the staff on site polite and doing what they could to make it as relatively painless as possible. Distances of 2 meters are kept between seats during all queuing sessions.
Overall a 4H and 1900THB loss but not the worst experience I have had with immigration in Thailand.
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Mariage in Thailand and visa turnaround time
in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits
Posted
Hi there,
After a few years with my Thai gf plus too much stress dealing with Thai immigration matters, thinking of tying the knot, then securing a non-O visa by the same occasion.
After enquiring on the process, I found out that as a French national, I can expect at the very least 3-4 weeks (best case scenario) of turnaround time to secure the required paperwork from my embassy. Add to this the time to prepare / translate / certify the paperwork brought into and out of the embassy, I am planning for a total turnaround time (from starting gathering the documents to show up at the Amphur and sign up the marriage documents) of 5-6 weeks at the very least.
Problem: my current visa-exempt stamp expires in 1 month and due to one-too-many visits to the kingdom - I have been there on a visa exempt stamp obtained in January, followed by 2 Covid extensions since; I flew to Singapore for 2 weeks and on the way back a few days ago, have been (not so nicely) let known by the immigration staff that I would not been given an extension on top of my visa exempt stamp.
So I find myself in a bit of a catch. If I start with the process paperwork tomorrow, I will not have the time to complete the process by the time my visa-exempt expires. And I suppose that without a marriage certificate, I will not have any chance to secure a way back to Thailand before the usual cool off period (Thai embassy in France has a practice of making you wait 3 months after your last visit to Thailand to issue a new tourist visa, not sure what my chances would be if asking for a regular Thai tourist visa from a neighboring country).
Would gladly hear your thoughts on whether there could be a solution to either stay longer in TH until my marriage paperwork goes through, or a way to come back without waiting for a few months to finish the process here?