How Do I Refresh A Single Entry Ed Visa ?

[Alaskagrrl]

As the title suggests I succeeded in getting my ED Visa from Laos. No problems except it appears to be a single entry.

I understand it can be renewed, wondering about the process and where my next visa run should be.

I'm in Koh Tao and the best would be Immigration in Samui, or Ranong...

Thanks

[ubonjoe]

With the proper documents from your school you can get an extension at immigration in Surathani.

Edit: List of requirementts from immigration website.

Documents for the application for further stay to study in Private Education Institutes.

Required Documents

In case of student

Immigration Form 7 (Tor Mor 7)

Copy of passport

A 4 cm. X 6 cm. Photograph

1,900 baht application fee

A certified document from the governor of the province in which the Private Educational Institute is located or from the Government Department or equivalent that takes care of the institute, document must contain details about the applicant:

Name, Family name

Age

Nationality

Passport number

Total academic years - curriculum - funding

Education transcript of the applicant - length of further stay

School license (Sor Shor 2)

The Permit / certificate to be school manager (Sor Shor 5) or Principal (Sor Shor 8)

The officials reserve the rights to examine or ask for additional documents if necessary

[ubonjoe]

Deleted two off topic posts.

The OP is asking for help on how to extend her stay on an ED visa.

[wasabi]

In addition to the above which is all correct here is my experience.

I think there is some variance but with my school I paid for a 10 month duration of schooling. A letter was sent to the Ministry of education and then to my school and then to me which I first sent to the Thai consulate in Los Angeles, CA then entered on a 3 month ED visa. The letter granted me a single entry ED visa for a duration of 10 months which must be renewed every 3 months at immigration for a fee of 1900 Baht. In order to leave and return to Thailand on a single entry visa you must get a reentry permit before you leave Thailand from immigration 1,000 for single use 3500 for multi use.

I just have completed my 10 months of schooling and wished to continue my studying. This required an interview in Thai at the ministry of education which I just did yesterday. I had to converse, read and write in Thai to the officer there. It wasn't hard but if you weren't genuinely studying Thai for the time you were here it might be. They just granted me another 10 months to study Thai. One of the questions was why do I want to keep studying Thai, I mentioned liking the people, culture and simply enjoying it. Lastly I mentioned wanting to test my proficiency this November.

I don't know if this is the policy of all schools, it might just be the way my school works. You may be able to get longer visas and even multi entry if you go somewhere like Chula.

[ubonjoe]

wasabi

You got a single entry ED visa that allowed you a permit to stay of 90 days when you entered the country. That permit to stay was extended for 90 days at a time. Visa's are not extended permit to stays are extended. You never had a 10 month ED visa.

[wasabi]

wasabi

You got a single entry ED visa that allowed you a permit to stay of 90 days when you entered the country. That permit to stay was extended for 90 days at a time. Visa's are not extended permit to stays are extended. You never had a 10 month ED visa.

I'm not sure if you are right. I entered Thailand on May 2nd 2008 at that point yes I was granted a 3 month extension. Every 3 months after that I had to submit a package such as you described earlier. I too thought it was simply me extending the visa in 90 day intervals until my most recent time. I just went to immigration in mid January and again submitted the package, which my school always assembles and from what I can tell is the same packet every time. When my passport was returned I noticed it was only extended to March 20th. I asked why only 60 days and not 90 days? The lady opened the packet and pointed to a page that said I had paid for and had been granted a period of 10 months which expired on March 20th. She said my ten months per the original agreement were finished as of March 20th, so there was indeed a 10 month window of time dictating my ability to extend my visa that supseded the 90 day intervals normally granted.

As I mentioned I had to be interviewed yesterday at the ministry of education. When that was complete the lady clearly stated I had been granted permission to stay another 10 months as was requested in the new application I submitted. So there are two things going on, one is the 90 day reporting but for whatever reason this is bracketed within a 10 month time frame. It is not something that can be continued indefinitely in 90 day chunks without oversight and permission from the Ministry of education.

[ubonjoe]

wasabi

You got a single entry ED visa that allowed you a permit to stay of 90 days when you entered the country. That permit to stay was extended for 90 days at a time. Visa's are not extended permit to stays are extended. You never had a 10 month ED visa.

I'm not sure if you are right.

I don't dispute the 10 month period that you paid the school for and had approval for from the ministry of education. But that was not a visa. Also your new 10 months is not a visa.

It is calling it a visa after you entered the country that I had a problem with. Your visa was finished as soon as you entered the country because it was a single entry visa. A visa only allows you to enter the country.

You are now on an extension of your permit to stay not a visa.

[wasabi]

wasabi

You got a single entry ED visa that allowed you a permit to stay of 90 days when you entered the country. That permit to stay was extended for 90 days at a time. Visa's are not extended permit to stays are extended. You never had a 10 month ED visa.

I'm not sure if you are right.

I don't dispute the 10 month period that you paid the school for and had approval for from the ministry of education. But that was not a visa. Also your new 10 months is not a visa.

It is calling it a visa after you entered the country that I had a problem with. Your visa was finished as soon as you entered the country because it was a single entry visa. A visa only allows you to enter the country.

You are now on an extension of your permit to stay not a visa.

Ok all I'm saying is my extension ability is limited to 10 months. So the act of refreshing is contained within that.