Non-immigrant ED visa requirements (hours especially)?

[KevT]

I'm looking into studying/improving my Thai, either at a Thai university or private school. I know that there have been changes in the past years to counter abuse with using an ED visa as a way to stay in Thailand, so from what I remember, a minimum number of hours and things of this nature were added.

 

I did find a page on the AUA school website, which says:

Quote

The "ED" Visa

The "ED" Visa is for foreign students, who wish to study in Thailand. A student must apply for this visa outside of the country. It is normally valid for 90 days. ED visa students will study a minimum of 15 hours per week (or 180 hours during the 90-day visa period).

http://auathai.com/visa

 

...but I'm guessing the course package is being described in the ED visa description (some other schools also have a similar/misleading way of describing the ED visa, but with a different number of hours).

 

And I also found this on the Indonesian Thai embassy website:

Quote

Important Notes: For informal courses e.g. Thai language and cultural training courses, applicants must provide documents which demonstrate that the course meets the minimum requirement as follows:
            - If the course is less than 5 months, the period of study must be at least 4 days per week, 2 hours per day.
            - If the course is longer than 5 months, the period of study must be at least 5 days per week, 5 hours per day.

http://www.thaiembassy.org/jakarta/en/services/64472-Non-immigrant-visa-ED.html

 

I checked about 20 other embassy websites, and most don't give much information about the ED visa requirements, or don't mention minimum hours.

 

What are the complete and official requirements for the non-immigrant ED visa? Does anyone have a more formal/official document describing them?

Edited December 12, 2017 by KevT

[ubonjoe]

To get the paperwork for a non-ed visa and a extension of stay you must attend classes 2 hours a day 4 days a week if studying a informal school such as a language school . To get a total stay with extensions of 6 months you must be enrolled in a course of study of 200 hours and for one year 400 hours. 

For a university the rules are different and you can get a one year extension at immigration instead of 90 days that are the maximum for informal schools.

The embassy in Vientiane Laos does not mention hours to get a non-ed visa. See: http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/upload/pdf/Visa/Non- ED & O.pdf