ED VISA , can it be a one year Visa ?

[david100]

hi guys,

i did my ED VISA back in europe, enrolled in a school in bangkok  paying the 1 year tuition for thai language,

after the first 3 months, i went to CW to extend it for another 3 months.

soon i'm suppose to go to CW again to extend it, but i have been told i will only get 2 months, because the visa ED can be at most 8 months long.

is it correct ? or depend in mood, school, weather.... ?

so, if i wish to attend all my paid year of thai language, should i exit thailand to a neighbor country, let's say Laos, and get a new ED visa ?

thanks,

 

 

[BritTim]

There can be all kinds of limitations on extensions of stay based on study. You should talk to the school to verify that what CW told you is correct. If it is, your best bet will probably be to use tourist visas to round off your year in Thailand. If you do not have previous tourist visas (or only a couple) getting two single entry tourist visas from the Vientiane Thai consulate should be straightforward. I doubt the school would give you paperwork to get a new Non Ed in Vientiane without financial inducements.

[ubonjoe]

How many hours was the course of study you paid for. In order to get a total stay of one year you need 400 hours. It seems you may only have 200 hours.

[david100]

yes, it's for 400 hours, thus one year attendance

but despite that, the ED visa would last only 8 months. i was not aware about that and neither i've been informed at the time of booking the course. i asked several times the assurance about the 1 year visa, and i was told so...but...surprise.

after the first 8 months are gone, i should exit thailand to get another ED visa to continue the classrooms till the end which i paid for. 

this is the point why i'm asking if anyone, actually, can get a 1 year ED visa, or it's just a 8 months nowday:)

 

[ubonjoe]

You should be able to get a total stay of about 12 months from the visa and extensions. That is 90 days from the visa entry and three 90 day extensions.

It seems you may of been given incorrect info.

[HHTel]

My daughter just completed her ED visa which was for a year including 3 extensions of 90 days.  There was never any problem.

[JackThompson]

18 hours ago, david100 said:

... but i have been told i will only get 2 months ...

By whom?

 

Not sure in that area, but many schools will request an "extra fee" for handling your extensions for you. 

 

Shorter extensions have been reported as punishment for not participating in the "extra fee" service at some locations - but you can still keep paying 1900 Baht for each (shorter) extension, until the full-year is complete.

 

This is similar to how agent-systems operate for other types of extensions - where legit-applications are blocked, to encourage agent-use.  But, in this case, your school acts as the "agent" with immigration - ensuring your extensions are all 3-months in duration.  

[Alanmel]

I recently got my ED Visa , initial term 90 days, then I can get 3 extentions. As previous post it is up to the school to do your paperwork and ensure it is correct,  you are paying them not just for tuition but to help you in these cases.  My school will not charge me "processing" fee but I've heard the dodgy ones do.

[Suradit69]

As BritTim said, if it all becomes too much hassle you could get a couple of single entry 60 day tourist visas and extend each for 30 day = 60+30+60+30 = 180 days.

 

There is no problem attending a language school while here on a tourist visa.

[JackThompson]

1 hour ago, Alanmel said:

I recently got my ED Visa , initial term 90 days, then I can get 3 extentions. As previous post it is up to the school to do your paperwork and ensure it is correct,  you are paying them not just for tuition but to help you in these cases.  My school will not charge me "processing" fee but I've heard the dodgy ones do.

If you can continue doing this the honest way, and get your 90-days, you are set.  It really depends on the immigration-office.  Some offices will check the paperwork and give you another 90-days without anything "special" added - just as some offices and desks within offices process other extensions honestly.  But others report receiving only 30 or 60 days - even with the correct paperwork - unless paying the extra fee. 

 

This lends itself to abuse, of course - students not attending and paying fees to get their extensions processed - just as those using other types of extensions use agents to skirt the qualifications.  And then, the predictable side-effects to the honest folks - students are hit with the extra-fee costs - just as many seeking other types of extensions cannot get service without paying an agent fees.
 

[david100]

thanks folks

tomorrow i will try to find out something more clear.

i've been extending my 1st 3 months accompanied by a school staff with the 'extra' fee. everything went smooth. got my 3 months extension.

now, that it's time for the next 3 months extension, the desk secretary at school told me that it's a 'new immigration rule' and i will get 'only' 2 months, even with the extra fee, because the limit is due to 8 total months. the school is paid for the year and i will be attending the year as expected. they will prepare the docs every time, but at the end of the 8th months i should get a new ed visa. i got a quick chat with a guy from my course, he told me he just went back from laos where he did the 2nd ed visa (after the 8 months). so might be some sort of agreement between some schools and immigration bureau  . maybe. 

[JackThompson]

1 hour ago, david100 said:

thanks folks

tomorrow i will try to find out something more clear.

i've been extending my 1st 3 months accompanied by a school staff with the 'extra' fee. everything went smooth. got my 3 months extension.

now, that it's time for the next 3 months extension, the desk secretary at school told me that it's a 'new immigration rule' and i will get 'only' 2 months, even with the extra fee, because the limit is due to 8 total months. the school is paid for the year and i will be attending the year as expected. they will prepare the docs every time, but at the end of the 8th months i should get a new ed visa. i got a quick chat with a guy from my course, he told me he just went back from laos where he did the 2nd ed visa (after the 8 months). so might be some sort of agreement between some schools and immigration bureau  . maybe. 

Thanks for the new info - first I've heard of this "new rule" - but any rule is possible.  Whatever a particular immigration office wants to impose seems to be tolerated by the higher-ups.  Or maybe this new-rule will soon be imposed everywhere - who knows.

[Hardie]

I got a one-year multiple-entry ED visa in the US, 90 days per entry...

[BritTim]

7 hours ago, Hardie said:

I got a one-year multiple-entry ED visa in the US, 90 days per entry...

When did you get it, an which consulate, and what documentation did you need to provide to support your application?

[david100]

all right

so the same day i also did the 90 days report. so i could also compare.

the 90 days report got me 90 days till the next report

the visa extension was for 70 days, right to the day i entered Thailand 8 months before. so it's a total of 8 months. 

then i should exit and apply for another ed visa ex-novo to finish my year course. 

[cuch]

I don't know if we are actually in the same school but I have exactly the same.. after 3months they give me 2months too 
and like all the lowcost school they propose me english class when I end my student visa... 
They change rules every year so Im confuse If its correct or not too.