Went to a Thai language school today and they said they can offer a one year ED visa but I'll have to go to immigration every 90 days for an extension. I thought they didn't do one year ED visa's anymore?

 

I guess they'll provide me with the paperwork so I have to go outside the country and apply for and ED visa, correct? Will this be a single or multiple entry visa?

 

I read somewhere you must do at least 8h/week? Is this still correct or doesn't it matter?

 

Any further advice on ED visa's in Pattaya? Drawbacks?

 

Thanks!

 

Oh, if I'll go this route, I will attend the classes. ;-)

Edited January 11, 20188 yr by ExpatDraco
addon

Enrolling in a 400 hour course of study will allow a total stay of of one year. That is total of the 90 day entry from a non-ed visa and getting three 90 day extensions.

You can only get a single entry non-ed visa from nearby embassies and consulates. Some embassies and consulates in home country would issue a multiple entry non-ed visa with supporting documents.

You are required to attend classes at least 2 hours a day 4 days a week.

Thanks ubonjoe. According to the school only 180 hours are needed. They didn't spoke about attendancy requirements. I'll send them an email to clarify.

 

 

Other schools also speak about 180 hours, 4 (2x2) hours/week, 70% attendance needed.

 

You'll get an extension of stay of 12 months, but you will need to go back yo immigration every 90 days because of visa renewal? I thought you could not renew a visa inside Thailand?

 

Mysteries, mysteries... ;-)

38 minutes ago, ExpatDraco said:

Other schools also speak about 180 hours, 4 (2x2) hours/week, 70% attendance needed.

Unless the Ministry of Education has changed their requirements it requires 400 hours for a year or 200 hours for 6 months.

38 minutes ago, ExpatDraco said:

You'll get an extension of stay of 12 months, but you will need to go back yo immigration every 90 days because of visa renewal?

You only get 90 day extensions. It is 90 days from the visa + 90 days + 90 days + 90 days to reach almost 12 months of total stay. One year extensions are only issued for studying at a university.

I mentioned no where in my post about visa renewal.

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

Unless the Ministry of Education has changed their requirements it requires 400 hours for a year or 200 hours for 6 months.

You only get 90 day extensions. It is 90 days from the visa + 90 days + 90 days + 90 days to reach almost 12 months of total stay. One year extensions are only issued for studying at a university.

I mentioned no where in my post about visa renewal.

I wasn't talking about your post, for example this school says the same: http://tlslanguageschool.com/faq

 

Quote

 If i have been approved for a 1 year extension why do i have to go to immigration every 3 months?.

Immigration will only issue you with a 3 month visa because we have to provide evidence that you are attending school, This is done every 3 months and your new visa will cost you 1,900 baht (a 1 year visa would cost 7,600 so there is no difference in cost of the visa)

We would also like to inform you that the Education department are periodically inspecting schools who can offer the ED Visa and evidence must be provided that the individual is attending school, if it is clear that the individual is not attending school in breach of his visa the education department have the authority to cancel the students visa's.

 But they probably just mean an extension.

 

Now I'm only just in doubt about the 180 hours, two schools saying the same thing. Ah well we'll see. :-)

19 hours ago, ExpatDraco said:

I thought you could not renew a visa inside Thailand?

 

Mysteries, mysteries... ;-)

You cannot renew or extend a visa either inside or outside Thailand.

 

--You might obtain a new visa at an embassy or consulate, but a visa is not renewed.

 

--You might be able to extend your permission to stay (not a visa) at immigrations inside Thailand if you qualify. So if the original visa gives you a 90 day permission to stay, it may be possible to obtain an extension of the permission to stay. After entering the country you would no longer have a usable visa.

 

--Foreigners remaining in country for periods of 90 days or more have to do a 90 day report at immigrations even if they have a long term extension of their permission to stay.

 

Not understanding something doesn't make it a mystery.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 12, 20188 yr by Suradit69

I collect my ED visa next week, I could choose any Embassy / Consulate worldwide.
My school is 180 hours in total for the year, 4 hours per week (2x2 days).
I need a TM30 every 90 days and will go to the local Immigration Office to renew/extend for another 90 days. The school arranges everything and just gives me an hour slot to attend the office.
I'm allowed 4 yearly ED visas back to back.
Cost 33k baht plus initial travel outside Thailand to collect the initial ED Visa.

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

37 minutes ago, QPRFC said:

My school is 180 hours in total for the year, 4 hours per week (2x2 days).
I need a TM30 every 90 days and will go to the local Immigration Office to renew/extend for another 90 days. The school arranges everything and just gives me an hour slot to attend the office.

I'm allowed 4 yearly ED visas back to back.

That used to be possible - but unless there has been a recent change, or the school is buying-off an IO somehow, what you describe is not consistent with recent reports.  Those I last spoke to in-person on this (over a year ago) had to do 400 hours per year, change languages every year or so, plus pay "extra" for hassle-free extensions, to get years of ED visas. 

 

Please let us know how the 90-day extensions go, with that class schedule.  If this is now permitted, many people will find ED visas practical, again - which is great news for Thai businesses, landlords, etc. 

3 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

Those I last spoke to in-person on this (over a year ago) had to do 400 hours per year, change languages every year or so, plus pay "extra" for hassle-free extensions, to get years of ED visas. 

One school (Walen) that has locations in various parts of the country states that number of hours required is dependent upon the provincial office of the Ministry of Education requirements. Apparently Chonburi has rolled it back to 180 hours.