New Policy For Student Visa Extension?

[jstumbo]

Totally appreciated

I went to immigration this morning and was told to submit my application next month as my first 90 days expired on feb. So if you go too early , they will not want you. I am still trying to understand the logic of this.

If you walk along the way to the immigration, there are many food stalls you can get your food from. Yummy!!!!!

To make sure that you are really attending the school.

Because if they let you exend it right away, then you would be able to stay for 180 days. Then you could just avoid going to the school at all for the entire time. If they make you come after about 60-70 days, then you have to show that you were attending the school for the last 60-70 days.

[Bkkthebest]

Some of us are really doing something productive here and this new 1,900 bhat-for-every-90-day-extension fee will deter some real students from continuing their study.

If less than $20 per month for your paperwork to stay in the country is a big problem for a person, I have a feeling that Thailand does not care if the student came here or not.

NOt everyone is borned in a country of superior currency.

[Bkkthebest]

Totally appreciated

I went to immigration this morning and was told to submit my application next month as my first 90 days expired on feb. So if you go too early , they will not want you. I am still trying to understand the logic of this.

If you walk along the way to the immigration, there are many food stalls you can get your food from. Yummy!!!!!

To make sure that you are really attending the school.

Because if they let you exend it right away, then you would be able to stay for 180 days. Then you could just avoid going to the school at all for the entire time. If they make you come after about 60-70 days, then you have to show that you were attending the school for the last 60-70 days.

Oh i see. That clears up. Thanks

[jstumbo]

Can someone recommend a good/cheap/efficient etc company/organization for learning Thai. Is it best to take a program with a Uni? What Uni's offer programs? Has anyone had any good or bad experiences? I would like to apply with somewhere that could provide a ED visa as I am curently studying and working part time but am not eligible for a Non-B visa through work (part time) and can not get a ED visa through school..

If anyone has any good info you can PM me, thanks!

Look at one of the sponsors at the top of the page. Can't recommend them, since I have never visited them though. You can however sit in and see their program before you sign up.

Your part time job cannot get you a Non-B visa, but they can get you a work permit?

[sonnyJ]

Don't they still give 1 year extensions for studying at a University? I thought the 90 extensions were only for studying Thai at a Thai language school.

If so:

If studying at a Thai University he would enter on a 90 day ED visa, get it extended for one year for a cost of 1900 baht. If he wanted to leave during that year he would need to get a re-entry permit for a cost of 1000 baht. If he got a one year multi entry ED visa instead, then I think he would have to leave the country at least every 90 days because that would be the maximum stay on a multi entry ED visa? Or he could get an extension on his one year visa for one year, but then I think he would need a re-entry permit to leave, which would kind of make getting the one year really pointless.

If studying Thai at a Thai language school, he could get the 90 day ED visa with the paperwork from the school. Then every 90 days he would need to get an extension at a cost of 1900 baht. If he wanted to leave the country and come back, he would need a re-entry permit at a cost of 1000 baht.

That's exactly how it has always been, at least for four years anyway. I don't know what is new about paying 1,900 for an extension, any extension. When studying for example on a four year bachelor program first they give you 90 days extension then 6 months then 1-year, depending on your progress on your studies. I thought this was asked by the school but might be always under only immigrations decision. If your studies will last only 1 year, then expect to extend every 90 days, or get a multi entry visa and leave the country every 90 days.

That is not always been this way. I was told that it is a new regulation for student visa.

There was a topic of this 'change' on TV some time ago. I still don't get it if for example 1 year Thai language school had ever given anyone straight 1 year stamp. The imm. at airport simply don't do it. Please someone tell me I'm wrong even it was 30 years ago.

It is not about 1 year straight stamp, there is no such thing. it is about paying that bloody 1.900 bhat every 90 days.

Extension, what ever 1,900! Get it! Nothing new.

[richard10365]

I'm a student at Payap. Myself and about 150 other students are studying for BA's and MA's degree program. I haven't heard of any of them having any problems with their one year visa extensions. If I do hear anything, I will post it here.

[tropo]

Also the school is required to take care of all the paper work to guarantee the required extension of stay for the studies. Here's the envelope go to imm. office with 1,900 and a photo. Is it a surprise that they limit it to 90 days per time with all these private language schools, you don't study, no extension, simple.

Why should the Immigration department be concerned about whether the student studies or not? Should they start looking at exam results and report cards?

If a student commits himself financially to a course of study, it's up to him if he decides to keep with it or not.

I'd be more interested in finding out if a school would refund the money for a course if the visa or extension was refused at any time during the year. It would seem that the multiple-entry ED visa is a safer option. At least with this option you're clear for 15 months with no possibility of being refused.

Edited December 9, 2007 by tropo

[thaiexp]

Theres a language school advertising exactly this at the top of this post. 1 Year visa, no visa runs!

[jstumbo]

Why should the Immigration department be concerned about whether the student studies or not? Should they start looking at exam results and report cards?

If a student commits himself financially to a course of study, it's up to him if he decides to keep with it or not.

And since the person is on a visa/extension that is specifically for students, if they do not attend classes, then they are no longer a student and should be removed from the country. Many people can afford the costs of school and never attend. This is to prevent abuse of the student visas.

[MacWalen]

Well..no crystal ball needed for this one...

As soon as schools started to advertaize with texts like this, 1 year ed visa - no visa runs required , it was just a mather of time.....

Just a matter of time for what?

Are you suggesting that any of the Walen students ever had any problems with ED visas or extensions? If so you are not well informed. We have a lot of students and we take good care of each and everyone, whether 3 copies of a passport or 30 we take care of everything, you can make a copy for 0.5 Baht so even if your passport was quite full it might cost you extra 50 Baht, is that a problem?

For the most part comments in this thread are correct. It seems that this 1,900 Baht is a magical figure hard to get over. About 640 Baht a month. If you go out on a Saturday evening with your girlfriend/boyfriend or alone how much do you spend? 300 Baht? I don't think so. If 1,900 Baht every 90 days is a big problem I am afraid it might not change too soon so we better get used to it.

By the way, we have a Walen/Callan student party on the 21st of December for all our students, staff and teachers. 2 pints of beer on the school!!!, Sukhumvit, soi 22, Larry's place. We think we will have about 200 people but could be 300, if you are one of our students don't forget.bring your girlfriend/boyfriend/husband/wife along, good party for sure. We start at 8.30 pm till late.

Your Walen Thai School, Mac

[cali4995]

There was a reason extensions for students studying Thai at private schools

were reduced to only 90 days. There is a reason students are now required

to submit their passport to the MOE along with 3 copies of everything. Not

everyone is a student at Walen, what you do affects everyone else.

[Bkkthebest]

Don't they still give 1 year extensions for studying at a University? I thought the 90 extensions were only for studying Thai at a Thai language school.

If so:

If studying at a Thai University he would enter on a 90 day ED visa, get it extended for one year for a cost of 1900 baht. If he wanted to leave during that year he would need to get a re-entry permit for a cost of 1000 baht. If he got a one year multi entry ED visa instead, then I think he would have to leave the country at least every 90 days because that would be the maximum stay on a multi entry ED visa? Or he could get an extension on his one year visa for one year, but then I think he would need a re-entry permit to leave, which would kind of make getting the one year really pointless.

If studying Thai at a Thai language school, he could get the 90 day ED visa with the paperwork from the school. Then every 90 days he would need to get an extension at a cost of 1900 baht. If he wanted to leave the country and come back, he would need a re-entry permit at a cost of 1000 baht.

That's exactly how it has always been, at least for four years anyway. I don't know what is new about paying 1,900 for an extension, any extension. When studying for example on a four year bachelor program first they give you 90 days extension then 6 months then 1-year, depending on your progress on your studies. I thought this was asked by the school but might be always under only immigrations decision. If your studies will last only 1 year, then expect to extend every 90 days, or get a multi entry visa and leave the country every 90 days.

That is not always been this way. I was told that it is a new regulation for student visa.

There was a topic of this 'change' on TV some time ago. I still don't get it if for example 1 year Thai language school had ever given anyone straight 1 year stamp. The imm. at airport simply don't do it. Please someone tell me I'm wrong even it was 30 years ago.

It is not about 1 year straight stamp, there is no such thing. it is about paying that bloody 1.900 bhat every 90 days.

Extension, what ever 1,900! Get it! Nothing new.

The 1900 bhat every 90 day is a new thing, not the extension. Get it?????!!!!!

[Bkkthebest]

There was a reason extensions for students studying Thai at private schools

were reduced to only 90 days. There is a reason students are now required

to submit their passport to the MOE along with 3 copies of everything. Not

everyone is a student at Walen, what you do affects everyone else.

The extension for 90 days is totally no problem to every student, i presume. It is the rude slap of 1900 bhat fee for every 90 day extension that is not really a welcome note for foreign students. If they can just slap you this way, they will have the "freedom" to slap you with a higher fee whenever they want.

I find that the fee is just s sign of corruption and greed rather than their way of filtering students who abused the system. Come on... we are not stupid and we can see what they are really doing or if they are really serious in filtering unwanted student, maybe unwanted "poor" students.

Face it, students who have the money will still abuse the system. It will not solve the problem of what they assumed that they are looking at.

[tropo]

Why should the Immigration department be concerned about whether the student studies or not? Should they start looking at exam results and report cards?

If a student commits himself financially to a course of study, it's up to him if he decides to keep with it or not.

And since the person is on a visa/extension that is specifically for students, if they do not attend classes, then they are no longer a student and should be removed from the country. Many people can afford the costs of school and never attend. This is to prevent abuse of the student visas.

Going by your wording, the Immigration Office is now looking for proof of attendance of class or study when they issue a 90 day extension. Is this so?

[Maestro]

...they will have the "freedom" to slap you with a higher fee whenever they want...

Wrong.

I am in the mood for splitting hairs today. The fee of 1,900 Baht for an extension of stay is fixed in Thai Royal Police Order No. 606/2549 and the Immigration Bureau cannot change it whenever it wants. However, it can change its policy regarding the length of extension for any category of students, ie collect the 1,900-Baht fee more frequently than the maximum of one year permitted by the aforementioned police order or the 90 days as per current policy for students of Thai language at a private school. Of course, the Bureau can also change its policy to grant longer extensions than 90 days but always maximum one year whenever it wants.

--

Maestro

[Maestro]

...the Immigration Office is now looking for proof of attendance of class or study when they issue a 90 day extension. Is this so?

According to posts I have seen made by Macwalen, whom I recognise as being familiar with the procedure, the immigration office requires a letter from the Ministry of Education and this letter is obtained for the student by the school. I have never seen such letter and do not know what it says, but I can imagine that in order to get it the school has to report to the Ministry the student’s attendance.

--

Maestro

[sonnyJ]

Also the school is required to take care of all the paper work to guarantee the required extension of stay for the studies. Here's the envelope go to imm. office with 1,900 and a photo. Is it a surprise that they limit it to 90 days per time with all these private language schools, you don't study, no extension, simple.

Why should the Immigration department be concerned about whether the student studies or not? Should they start looking at exam results and report cards?

If a student commits himself financially to a course of study, it's up to him if he decides to keep with it or not.

I'd be more interested in finding out if a school would refund the money for a course if the visa or extension was refused at any time during the year. It would seem that the multiple-entry ED visa is a safer option. At least with this option you're clear for 15 months with no possibility of being refused.

To make it clear for you ED-visa means education. So you can get it if you are a student at some school. After finishing or terminating the studies you are required to inform immigration immediately so they can cancel your visa.

[sonnyJ]

Don't they still give 1 year extensions for studying at a University? I thought the 90 extensions were only for studying Thai at a Thai language school.

If so:

If studying at a Thai University he would enter on a 90 day ED visa, get it extended for one year for a cost of 1900 baht. If he wanted to leave during that year he would need to get a re-entry permit for a cost of 1000 baht. If he got a one year multi entry ED visa instead, then I think he would have to leave the country at least every 90 days because that would be the maximum stay on a multi entry ED visa? Or he could get an extension on his one year visa for one year, but then I think he would need a re-entry permit to leave, which would kind of make getting the one year really pointless.

If studying Thai at a Thai language school, he could get the 90 day ED visa with the paperwork from the school. Then every 90 days he would need to get an extension at a cost of 1900 baht. If he wanted to leave the country and come back, he would need a re-entry permit at a cost of 1000 baht.

That's exactly how it has always been, at least for four years anyway. I don't know what is new about paying 1,900 for an extension, any extension. When studying for example on a four year bachelor program first they give you 90 days extension then 6 months then 1-year, depending on your progress on your studies. I thought this was asked by the school but might be always under only immigrations decision. If your studies will last only 1 year, then expect to extend every 90 days, or get a multi entry visa and leave the country every 90 days.

That is not always been this way. I was told that it is a new regulation for student visa.

There was a topic of this 'change' on TV some time ago. I still don't get it if for example 1 year Thai language school had ever given anyone straight 1 year stamp. The imm. at airport simply don't do it. Please someone tell me I'm wrong even it was 30 years ago.

It is not about 1 year straight stamp, there is no such thing. it is about paying that bloody 1.900 bhat every 90 days.

Extension, what ever 1,900! Get it! Nothing new.

The 1900 bhat every 90 day is a new thing, not the extension. Get it?????!!!!!

The immigration is still happy to give you 1-year extension stamps for serious academical multi-year program studies.

To study simply to speak and write Thai language, how many years it takes? Is it a surprise that you don't get 1 year stamp for that? Someone please tell me they have got it before????

[Fun2Fun]

Well..no crystal ball needed for this one...

As soon as schools started to advertaize with texts like this, 1 year ed visa - no visa runs required , it was just a mather of time.....

Just a matter of time for what?

Are you suggesting that any of the Walen students ever had any problems with ED visas or extensions? If so you are not well informed. We have a lot of students and we take good care of each and everyone, whether 3 copies of a passport or 30 we take care of everything, you can make a copy for 0.5 Baht so even if your passport was quite full it might cost you extra 50 Baht, is that a problem?

For the most part comments in this thread are correct. It seems that this 1,900 Baht is a magical figure hard to get over. About 640 Baht a month. If you go out on a Saturday evening with your girlfriend/boyfriend or alone how much do you spend? 300 Baht? I don't think so. If 1,900 Baht every 90 days is a big problem I am afraid it might not change too soon so we better get used to it.

By the way, we have a Walen/Callan student party on the 21st of December for all our students, staff and teachers. 2 pints of beer on the school!!!, Sukhumvit, soi 22, Larry's place. We think we will have about 200 people but could be 300, if you are one of our students don't forget.bring your girlfriend/boyfriend/husband/wife along, good party for sure. We start at 8.30 pm till late.

Your Walen Thai School, Mac

I think you misunderstood the statement, it was not in any way meant to be a dig at your school, to clear up:

A mather of time till 1 year ed visa is not readily available, and as many have mentioned it is now only 3 months visa and needs to be extended every 3 months.

[LivinLOS]

Some of us are really doing something productive here and this new 1,900 bhat-for-every-90-day-extension fee will deter some real students from continuing their study.

If less than $20 per month for your paperwork to stay in the country is a big problem for a person, I have a feeling that Thailand does not care if the student came here or not.

NOt everyone is borned in a country of superior currency.

No they are not.. But Thailand has quite obviously decided to review who can and cannot stay in Thailand by mostly fiscal ability. No fiscal ability to stay then dont come seems to clearly be the message.

[Bkkthebest]

Some of us are really doing something productive here and this new 1,900 bhat-for-every-90-day-extension fee will deter some real students from continuing their study.

If less than $20 per month for your paperwork to stay in the country is a big problem for a person, I have a feeling that Thailand does not care if the student came here or not.

NOt everyone is borned in a country of superior currency.

No they are not.. But Thailand has quite obviously decided to review who can and cannot stay in Thailand by mostly fiscal ability. No fiscal ability to stay then dont come seems to clearly be the message.

A more discreet way of putting it is to tell you that if you do not have the money to due with all this then stay away from Thailand, we need people to be healthy for our economy. LOL....