Ed Visa - How Long Can I Stay?

[bamboozled]

I am 39 and from the USA and just went to New York to get an ED visa from the NY consulate. I had a letter from a Chiang Mai school (AUA) with the initial course I signed up for lasting only 6 weeks. A friend of mine was given a multiple entry, year ED visa (according to him) showing the same documents that I showed and specifically requesting the 1 year, multiple entry(and paying $150), so I stressed that I wanted a multiple entry year visa. ...I WAS given an ED visa for which I paid $120 but there is no indication of the duration of its validity, only that I need to enter by a certain date. And I was given only 2 entries, not multiple entry. I asked the officer to clarify and he mentioned getting re-entry stamps at the airport but I left not fully understanding what exactly my visa will do for me. Am I to understand that I can leave and return to Thailand as often as I would like, granted that after two times I pay for a re-entry stamp? By not giving me a multiple entry, is this just a way for the government to make money with the re-entry stamps? And how long is this visa good for? Indefinetly, as long as I show that I am enrolled in school? I don't understand how long this visa will last, when I need to exit, if it was better just getting a tourist visa (cheaper) etc.....

Anybody have answers?

Thanks, Peter

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I am 39 and from the USA and just went to New York to get an ED visa from the NY consulate. I had a letter from a Chiang Mai school (AUA) with the initial course I signed up for lasting only 6 weeks. A friend of mine was given a multiple entry, year ED visa (according to him) showing the same documents that I showed and specifically requesting the 1 year, multiple entry(and paying $150), so I stressed that I wanted a multiple entry year visa. ...I WAS given an ED visa for which I paid $120 but there is no indication of the duration of its validity, only that I need to enter by a certain date. And I was given only 2 entries, not multiple entry. I asked the officer to clarify and he mentioned getting re-entry stamps at the airport but I left not fully understanding what exactly my visa will do for me. Am I to understand that I can leave and return to Thailand as often as I would like, granted that after two times I pay for a re-entry stamp? By not giving me a multiple entry, is this just a way for the government to make money with the re-entry stamps? And how long is this visa good for? Indefinetly, as long as I show that I am enrolled in school? I don't understand how long this visa will last, when I need to exit, if it was better just getting a tourist visa (cheaper) etc.....

Anybody have answers?

Thanks, Peter

Seems that you were lucky to even get two 90 day entries of an ED visa considering your course was but of 6 weeks, your friend even luckier. The re-entry permits are only useful if you leave Thailand during the validity of your two entries. That will maintain the unexpired period of either visa,

[Maestro]

The visa in your passport should have some text like “this visa must be utilized before” followed by a date. If it isn’t there, something may be wrong with it.

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Maestro

[bamboozled]

The visa in your passport should have some text like “this visa must be utilized before” followed by a date. If it isn’t there, something may be wrong with it.

--

Maestro

Thanks for the two replies. For dates, the visa only gives the date it was issued and an "enter before ....." date. Nowhere does it mention an expiration date. As far as two 90 day periods, how is that determined? By the price I paid? By the fact tha I have 2 entries as opposed to only 1 or multiple? In my experince with tourist visas (China, Indonesia), there is always a time limit stated on the visa. This one doesn't mention it. Isn't a regular tourist visa valid for 90 days? And easily renewable? If so, it seems I wasted time and money to get this one. I could have more easily gone to Vientiene and then gone to school anyway for less time and money...... Am I missing something here?

[PattayaParent]

The "Enter Before" date may be the expiration date and may mean that you have to make your 2 entries before that date.

What IS the date? Is it 3 month away? 6 months? 1 year?

[lopburi3]

The enter before date is always the expiration date. All entries must have been made by that date be it one, two or multi entry allowed.

[tropo]

The visa in your passport should have some text like “this visa must be utilized before” followed by a date. If it isn’t there, something may be wrong with it.

--

Maestro

Thanks for the two replies. For dates, the visa only gives the date it was issued and an "enter before ....." date. Nowhere does it mention an expiration date. As far as two 90 day periods, how is that determined? By the price I paid? By the fact tha I have 2 entries as opposed to only 1 or multiple? In my experince with tourist visas (China, Indonesia), there is always a time limit stated on the visa. This one doesn't mention it. Isn't a regular tourist visa valid for 90 days? And easily renewable? If so, it seems I wasted time and money to get this one. I could have more easily gone to Vientiene and then gone to school anyway for less time and money...... Am I missing something here?

It would help if you could give us the expiration date (enter before date).

You haven't wasted your money at all. You've only enrolled on a 6 week course, yet you've gained 2 entries of 90 days each which may give you a total of 6 months in Thailand by doing one border run after your first 90 days....but this depends on how long your visa is valid for and when you intend to first arrive in Thailand.

[Tod Daniels]

This is a picture of one Non-Immigrant Type ED visa issued from the Honorary Thai Consulate in Coral Gables Florida. (Sorry ripped it from another post)

As you can see; it has an issued date, and a must be utilized before date, or the "expiration date" if you will. It is good for multiple entries (as many as you want to make while the visa is valid, each entry good for another 90 day permitted to stay).

Using this visa to enter the Kingdom will give you a 90 day permitted to stay stamp. IF you didn't extended at Thai Immigrations inside thailand for continuing education, you could exit on or before the last permitted to stay until date, and re-enter receiving another 90 days of stay. This can be done for the validity of the visa. You could/would exit and re-enter every 90 days through out the year. Exiting and re-entering one last time just before the expiration date of the visa would give you another 90 days so all in all, about 15 months stay in the Kingdom on the one year visa.

I don't know what your visa looks like, but posting a scan of it (with your passport number blocked out) would let the experts (of which I am NOT) tell you what you received, how many entries, and it's expiration.

As one poster commented, 6 weeks of class may not have been sufficient for the Embassy to issue you a one year multi entry ED visa.

[bamboozled]

This is a picture of one Non-Immigrant Type ED visa issued from the Honorary Thai Consulate in Coral Gables Florida. (Sorry ripped it from another post)

As you can see; it has an issued date, and a must be utilized before date, or the "expiration date" if you will. It is good for multiple entries (as many as you want to make while the visa is valid, each entry good for another 90 day permitted to stay).

Using this visa to enter the Kingdom will give you a 90 day permitted to stay stamp. IF you didn't extended at Thai Immigrations inside thailand for continuing education, you could exit on or before the last permitted to stay until date, and re-enter receiving another 90 days of stay. This can be done for the validity of the visa. You could/would exit and re-enter every 90 days through out the year. Exiting and re-entering one last time just before the expiration date of the visa would give you another 90 days so all in all, about 15 months stay in the Kingdom on the one year visa.

I don't know what your visa looks like, but posting a scan of it (with your passport number blocked out) would let the experts (of which I am NOT) tell you what you received, how many entries, and it's expiration.

As one poster commented, 6 weeks of class may not have been sufficient for the Embassy to issue you a one year multi entry ED visa.

I didn't think of posting the picture of the visa. OK, here it is.... But from what I am reading here, I feel I REALLY wasted my time and money. I had showed a plane ticket to Thailand for 27 January so I think in essence what they gave me was a two month visa beginning January 27 and ending March 26, which covers the length of my course but not the length of my stay in Thailand based on my return plane ticket (October 2008). Nor does it leave me any room to continue studying as I had explained to the consulate that this school only registers students in 6 week intervals. If indeed I was given only 2 months, why did I have to pay $120??!! Did he pocket the extra cash (hahahaha)? Can this visa be extended by showing new enrollment at the school? And if so, for how much money will I be asked? Again, seems to me I was much better off with a Tourist visa.

Aiiiiiii!! Thanks for the help everybody. I guess I can enter Thailand but I'm feeling a bit dejected...

[lopburi3]

You received a normal 90 day visa period (from application until expiration) and you are allowed to make two entries. If you had entered the country immediately after issue it would have covered almost six months stay in the Thailand. If you exit/return for your second entry on about 25 March you can still get five months stay on it.

[bamboozled]

You received a normal 90 day visa period (from application until expiration) and you are allowed to make two entries. If you had entered the country immediately after issue it would have covered almost six months stay in the Thailand. If you exit/return for your second entry on about 25 March you can still get five months stay on it.

Actually, dec. 27 to march 26 is only 3 months. And I showed my entry date of jan. 27. Plus, 90 days doesn't cost $120......or I guess it does!

Seems to me any way you slice it I didn't really accomplish much with this visa except lighen my walllet.

[bamboozled]

You received a normal 90 day visa period (from application until expiration) and you are allowed to make two entries. If you had entered the country immediately after issue it would have covered almost six months stay in the Thailand. If you exit/return for your second entry on about 25 March you can still get five months stay on it.

Actually, dec. 27 to march 26 is only 3 months. And I showed my entry date of jan. 27. Plus, 90 days doesn't cost $120......or I guess it does!

Seems to me any way you slice it I didn't really accomplish much with this visa except lighen my walllet.

...oh, I reread your post. Yes, I got 90 days from when I applied. I don't quite understand this: "If you had entered the country immediately after issue it would have covered almost six months stay in the Thailand."

[beechguy]

You received a normal 90 day visa period (from application until expiration) and you are allowed to make two entries. If you had entered the country immediately after issue it would have covered almost six months stay in the Thailand. If you exit/return for your second entry on about 25 March you can still get five months stay on it.

Actually, dec. 27 to march 26 is only 3 months. And I showed my entry date of jan. 27. Plus, 90 days doesn't cost $120......or I guess it does!

Seems to me any way you slice it I didn't really accomplish much with this visa except lighen my walllet.

I think Lopburi is telling you to leave and return to Thailand on or before March 25, and you will get stamped permitted to stay for an additional 90 days from that point. So, more than a total of 90 days.

Edited January 9, 2008 by beechguy

[Lite Beer]

You received a normal 90 day visa period (from application until expiration) and you are allowed to make two entries. If you had entered the country immediately after issue it would have covered almost six months stay in the Thailand. If you exit/return for your second entry on about 25 March you can still get five months stay on it.

Actually, dec. 27 to march 26 is only 3 months. And I showed my entry date of jan. 27. Plus, 90 days doesn't cost $120......or I guess it does!

Seems to me any way you slice it I didn't really accomplish much with this visa except lighen my walllet.

I think Lopburi is telling you to leave and return to Thailand on or before March 25, and you will get stamped permitted to stay for an additional 90 days from that point. So, more than a total of 90 days.

Agreed . Hop over the border and come back for 90 more days.

[lopburi3]

1. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA

* US $60.00 for single entry

* US $150.00 for multiple entries

You paid the normal $120 (2x$60) for a two entry visa.

[bamboozled]

1. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA

* US $60.00 for single entry

* US $150.00 for multiple entries

You paid the normal $120 (2x$60) for a two entry visa.

Let me ask one more question. What happens when I leave a third time? Am I banned from returning? It is so easy and quick to make wkend trips to, say, Vietnam or Laos. Am I prevented from doing this because I only have 2 entries? Can I get a renewal stamp at the airport before I leave? Or do i forfit my visa?

Perhaps the consulate in Chiang Mai can answer my questions....

[dr_Pat_Pong]

1. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA

* US $60.00 for single entry

* US $150.00 for multiple entries

You paid the normal $120 (2x$60) for a two entry visa.

Let me ask one more question. What happens when I leave a third time? Am I banned from returning? It is so easy and quick to make wkend trips to, say, Vietnam or Laos. Am I prevented from doing this because I only have 2 entries? Can I get a renewal stamp at the airport before I leave? Or do i forfit my visa?

Perhaps the consulate in Chiang Mai can answer my questions....

You can get re-entry permits from Thai Immigration which will keep the remainder of your stay alive.