ED visas are back on the table (?)

[KwaiMaiSabai]

I heard that you can get ED visas from language schools / non-unis WITHOUT needing to exit/re-enter the country

 

Can anyone confirm? Is this old news?

 

 

[ubonjoe]

The rules have not been changed but some informal schools can arrange to get a 90 day non-ed visa entry at some immigration offices.

[KwaiMaiSabai]

I was told by Sandee language school that they can get people an edu visa now & convert in-country, but not sure if theyre legit

[KwaiMaiSabai]

(to be more specific, convert from tourist visa)

[Tropposurfer]

I was told directly by the school principle for the school I have been attending in Patong, Phuket (a registered educational institution) that people convert to ED visas in-country (without leaving the country) and that they can get that done for a small fee. All properly legit ... well as far as getting correct stamps and paperwork tabled with Phuket Town IO. How 'legit' and of that is is anybody's guess lol ????

 

 

[Phillip9]

On 12/28/2020 at 11:15 AM, KwaiMaiSabai said:

I heard that you can get ED visas from language schools / non-unis WITHOUT needing to exit/re-enter the country

 

Can anyone confirm? Is this old news?

 

 

I converted from a visa exempt arrival to an ed visa a few months ago without leaving the country.  Many schools can arrange this, but there is an additional fee of a couple hundred USD. In most cases, at any reputable school, the visa will be legit.  You normally have to go to immigration yourself to get the official stamps.

[edwardandtubs]

5 hours ago, Tropposurfer said:

I was told directly by the school principle for the school I have been attending in Patong, Phuket (a registered educational institution) that people convert to ED visas in-country (without leaving the country) and that they can get that done for a small fee. All properly legit ... well as far as getting correct stamps and paperwork tabled with Phuket Town IO. How 'legit' and of that is is anybody's guess lol ????

 

 

 

Would this "small fee" be the 13,000 baht they were charging a few months ago?

Edited December 29, 2020 by edwardandtubs

[edwardandtubs]

40 minutes ago, Phillip9 said:

I converted from a visa exempt arrival to an ed visa a few months ago without leaving the country.  Many schools can arrange this, but there is an additional fee of a couple hundred USD. In most cases, at any reputable school, the visa will be legit.  You normally have to go to immigration yourself to get the official stamps.

Why would they ask for USD? 

[Caldera]

Have they found a way around the restriction that you cannot stay longer than one year from your original (visa exempt, or tourist visa) entry?

 

For informal studies such as at language schools, that used to be quite a limitation in times of Covid, even if they were willing to do the conversion to a Non-ED visa at a local immigration office.

 

[Phillip9]

21 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

Why would they ask for USD? 

 

Sorry, my mistake.  You will pay in Baht.  I just can't remember the exact amount I payed but I remember the approximate amount converted to USD.   Figure something like 6,00O - 8,000 baht extra in addition to normal school and immigration fees.  This will vary by school and province.  Ask schools for specifics.

[Phillip9]

16 minutes ago, Caldera said:

Have they found a way around the restriction that you cannot stay longer than one year from your original (visa exempt, or tourist visa) entry?

 

For informal studies such as at language schools, that used to be quite a limitation in times of Covid, even if they were willing to do the conversion to a Non-ED visa at a local immigration office.

 

Not that I am aware of.  But I think this varies by province.  My school in Hua Hin is still saying people have to leave after one year from their entry.  I've heard phuket allows you to stay one year from the date of your visa conversion.  

[kevin612]

Due to the COVID, immigration needs to adapt the situation that people can obtain the Ed visa without leaving the country.

[DrJack54]

53 minutes ago, kevin612 said:

Due to the COVID, immigration needs to adapt the situation that people can obtain the Ed visa without leaving the country.

Or apply for 60 day extension based on covid situation, which many people are doing.

[Tropposurfer]

On 12/29/2020 at 5:19 PM, edwardandtubs said:

 

Would this "small fee" be the 13,000 baht they were charging a few months ago?

Hi Ed,

Late reply ( I don't load ThaiVisa often). I just saw your question.  I can't speak to the 13,000 you mention. But I can definitely tell you that in Phuket every ED visa student I met and spoke with who was willing to answer the question, or volunteered their annoyance was with the 3100 additional 'fee' levied in order to guarantee the 90 day extension stamps to be issued on ED visa, lest you fall foul of them, and they simply refuse to give you the extension stamp. Maybe the 13,000 you speak of is an external immigration agent fee of some sort?

Sorry I can't be of more definitive help with this. If you have a registered school in mind maybe go ask quietly of the principal of the school they may tell you the skinny on this amount.