No matter what "official" I talk to i can never seem to get a clear cut answer. Heres my question: Myself and my girlfriend are from the US and are both under 50, we are going to Thailand to study in Muay-Thai and I plan on being there for a year and her for 8 months and aren't sure what VIS to get, I've been told I could get a non-immigrant(E) visa but I'm not sure. And as for the letter they need to send me I have no idea what is supposed to be in that(and im not 100% sure if the school I'm going to does or not)...and of course the person at the Embassy couldn't give me a straight answer. ARGH! help! hehe Thanks

Nasrudin, I would think if you had the school send you a document

on a company letterhead, basically stating you were going to study

muay-thai for this period of time, typed in Thai for authenticity, that

would be enough for them to issue it if they were willing to do so.

You can look at ten different embassy/consulate websites, ministry of

foreign affairs and get bits and scraps of information but never a

complete answer. People use the"ED" visa for going to Univ, studying

in the monkhood, private Thai language schools. So I don't see how

diving or studying muay-thai is any different. They will or they won't.

You shouldn’t have any problems getting the visa from your home country, because of this I would recommend you to get a multiple entry just in case you encounter problems later on when you try to extend your visa. If you have a multi you know you can stay for 15 months by doing a visa run every 3 months.

Edited October 20, 200718 yr by madjbs

http://www.thaichicago.net/clate/non-imm.html#study

These documents must be certified by a Notary Public and certify true signature of the notary public by the Secretary of State.

VIII. Studying

* For studying in private schools or private colleges.

o Approval from the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of University Affairs (When the applicant has been approved by the above-mentioned offices, the school or college would then send the approval document to the applicant and to the Consulate for consideration in issuing the visa.)

* For studying at a government school or government university

o Approval from the Ministry of Education/Ministry of University Affairs or the University's administration. (When the applicant is approved by the Ministry of Education / Ministry of University Affairs or the University's administration, the school or college will then send the approval document to the applicant and to the Consulate for consideration in issuing the visa.)

How long does it usually take to get ED VISAs?

I would expect it to be the same as other visas - the next working day at most places - some the same day.