Advice on getting ED visa

[Zerptop]

Hi 

 

Ive had the following: 

 

1 tourist visa from home (uk)

2 tourist visa from laos. 

 

So by the time this visa ends id have been in thailand about 7 to 8 months. 

 

Ive really loved it so far and want to learn the language and am set to get an Educational visa for Thai Language on my next run or hopefully so i dont have to extend for 3.months. 

 

I am just wondering if I may have any problems or if theres any advice to give?  Ill be spending an extra few days or so  in Laos before applying to it as I want to see more of it. Also considering seeing maynmar first then going to laos. ????

 

Excited to learn more than just the culture so thanks for advice x 

 

Cheers !

[JackThompson]

No problem to get an ED Visa at a consulate abroad with paperwork from your language-school.  The Thai consulate at Vientiene, Laos, is usually where they recommend you go.

 

There is a lot of corruption involving the "every 3 mo" extensions in the country at some offices, though.  Even though you will be attending classes and completely legit, I would make sure the school you choose provides a "no hassle" extension service.  There was a so-called "crackdown" a couple years back, designed to force more people into a "pay to play" pipeline with immigration.  Not paying for the "no hassle" service could result in immigration punishing you with shorter extensions (less than 3 mo), "tests" of your language ability, etc. 

[3421abc]

A few years ago I had a hard time w immigration because I was going to pro-language. Once I got pull aside at airport and the immigration officer mentioned to the supervisor I went to pro language, this happened about 2 yrs ago.

I wonder how much time an ed Visa can buy you nowadays

[anchadian]

If you honestly intend to learn the Thai language by attending the classes regularly with a reputable language school, I can see no problem with obtaining an ED visa.

 

When actioning an extension, ensure you have the required skills in speaking Thai if or when you are questioned by immigration.

[JackThompson]

2 hours ago, 3421abc said:

A few years ago I had a hard time w immigration because I was going to pro-language. Once I got pull aside at airport and the immigration officer mentioned to the supervisor I went to pro language, this happened about 2 yrs ago.

I wonder how much time an ed Visa can buy you nowadays

I would recommend never returning to the country by air with an ED Visa or re-entry permit from an ED-based extension-of-stay - most certainly not at Bangkok airports.  Even having an old ED Visa in your passport can result in problems there.  Entry by-land has not been reported to be a problem, though one might be asked to show 20K Baht, especially if coming in from Malaysia.

Whoever is encouraging the hassling of travelers at a few locations seems not to be a beneficiary of the "no-hassle ED-extension" system (perhaps this tea-money doesn't go beyond the local-office or district level), and would appear to be attempting to shift ED-stay foreigners to a type of visa or extension from which they will benefit (similar regarding their harsh-treatment of those using corruption-free TR-Visas).

 

Provided one avoids bad entry-points, one can successfully use serial ED Visas to study several languages, one after the other.