Question about changing from Non-Ed to tourist visa

[triton17]

Hi everyone,

 

Quick question about a visa situation I have. Currently I am on an ED-visa which will expire on February 25th. I have a ticket booked for home (USA) on March 12. I'd like to be able to be in Thailand from the 25th until I leave on the 12th as I have a wedding to go to in Chiang Mai and a friend is visiting. I'd prefer not to have to do a visa run for a 30-day stamp to Laos or somewhere else after the 25th. Given this, if I leave before my visa expires and do not get a re-entry permit, should I have any issues getting back in on a 30-day tourist stamp?

 

Thanks for the help and let me know if I need to clarify anything. 

[tonray]

Should not have any issues returning but you will not be able to stay past the 25th when your permission to stay expires.

[BritTim]

If you leave by air, without a re-entry permit, prior to February 25th, your current permission to stay should be automatically canceled. You can then return for a 30-day visa exempt entry. A same day return flight to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore might be the simplest solution. If you try to do this by land, and are currently on an extension of stay as a student, you may have a problem unless your extension is canceled prior to your departure. Thai immigration officials at some border crossings will not let you leave.

[JackThompson]

This may not affect your situation, but based on some reports here - If:

• your current permission-of-stay is an "extension" from an immigration office, and,
• if planning to return to Thailand in the future, and,
• if you may want a Non-B, Non-O or other non-immigrant visa in the future,

Then, I would recommend officially-canceling your ED-based permission of stay at your local immigration office before departing.  Otherwise, flying out and returning would work - provided the IO at the airport on re-entry does not create problems. 

 

Personally, I'd leave and re-enter by land, after canceling my ED extension, just to avoid dealing with airport immigration.  But to limit possible problems with immigration at the airport on re-entry (they actively-hate ED Visas / extensions, and will see yours in your passport), have 20K Baht worth of cash (not plastic), plus a copy of your flight-out for March 12th.