Non Immigrant Ed Visa

[Miller]

I am working for an educational program that will host American students in Thailand for 4 months. The students will be applying for a Non-Immigrant Type ED visa (we have a host university etc...). However, the program requires the students to spend 25 days outside of Thailand (in the middle of the program) doing research in other Asian countries and return back to Thailand for their remaining studies. So here is my question:

- If the student is able to secure a multiple entry ED visa (which I've heard is quite tough) we don't have a problem. They can enter on their ED visa and continue to renew/re-enter. Correct?

However!

-If they can't secure a multiple entry ED visa and get stuck with a single entry visa, what can we do? Can they enter on a tourist visa and apply for another ED visa?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[lopburi3]

As a visa can only cover 90 days stay would suggest they obtain a second visa while outside of Thailand for there second entry.

[Miller]

As a visa can only cover 90 days stay would suggest they obtain a second visa while outside of Thailand for there second entry.

Can they obtain a 30 day (if arriving by plane) tourist visa after having a ED visa and then renew their ED visa for their remaining time?

Thanks!!

[lopburi3]

Americans can obtain 30 day visa exempt entry but not sure of your question. Are you asking if they can make first entry using this rather than there visa? It will be up to the immigration officer but normally they will allow it if you have not filled in the visa information on the arrival card.

[Miller]

Americans can obtain 30 day visa exempt entry but not sure of your question. Are you asking if they can make first entry using this rather than there visa? It will be up to the immigration officer but normally they will allow it if you have not filled in the visa information on the arrival card.

Thanks for your help. For clarification - If the student enters on a 90 day single entry ED visa and needs to leave 30 days into the visa for research for 25 days, can they re-enter Thailand on a tourist visa (because their student visa is only a single entry)? Or what is the option for re-entry?

So here it is broken down:

Enter on single entry student visa

Stay in Thailand for 30 days on student visa

Leave Thailand to go to other country for research

What are the options for re-entry?

Thanks! I really, really appreciate it!

[lopburi3]

The options depend on the time required. 30 day visa exempt for air arrival - 15 days visa exempt for land arrival - 60 days for tourist visa or 90 days for new non immigrant ED visa arrival. Visas can easily be obtained with normal paperwork at Royal Thai Consulates in the countries around Thailand.

[Miller]

The options depend on the time required. 30 day visa exempt for air arrival - 15 days visa exempt for land arrival - 60 days for tourist visa or 90 days for new non immigrant ED visa arrival. Visas can easily be obtained with normal paperwork at Royal Thai Consulates in the countries around Thailand.

The program is broken down as follows:

35 days in Thailand

25 days out of Thailand

49 days in Thailand

So you're suggesting that the students get a 30 day visa exempt for air arrival. Then what can we do for the remaining 19 days? Get a new ED visa?

Thanks again!

[lopburi3]

You said leave after 30 days in previous post - now you say 35 so you need a visa entry for initial stay. Use the ED visa and then obtain another visa for the second entry.

[Miller]

You said leave after 30 days in previous post - now you say 35 so you need a visa entry for initial stay. Use the ED visa and then obtain another visa for the second entry.

Thanks! Sorry for the confusion.

What other visa would you suggest obtaining for the remaining 49 days?

Thanks again!

[lopburi3]

Another ED if you have the paperwork - if not a tourist visa would be long enough (it does not sound as if there is formal study that would required the ED visa).

[bapak]

As I understand, if you enter on a single entry ED visa, you get a stamp for 90 days and then every 90 days just report your address to local immigration.... If you want to leave Thailand, go to Immigration and get Re-Entry Permit... If you then depart and return before the 90 day report date, your ED visa stay is still valid.

Bapak

[lopburi3]

That is not how it works - a single entry is a 90 day stay. Only if you qualify for extension of stay and obtain them do you stay in Thailand longer than the initial 90 days. For top schools you may be able to extend for one year and then you would just have to make 90 day address reports. For Thai language study they have a special 90 day extension available - you return every 90 days with proof of study and now TM.7/1,900 baht to obtain a new 90 day stay.

[bapak]

That is not how it works - a single entry is a 90 day stay. Only if you qualify for extension of stay and obtain them do you stay in Thailand longer than the initial 90 days. For top schools you may be able to extend for one year and then you would just have to make 90 day address reports. For Thai language study they have a special 90 day extension available - you return every 90 days with proof of study and now TM.7/1,900 baht to obtain a new 90 day stay.

This is from personal observation.... If you want to leave Thailand at anytime during the 90 days period, all you need is a Re-Entry Permit from Immigration (Form T8, 2" photo and photocopies of passport main page, visa page and page with latest entry stamp/ Baht 1000 for Single Entry. Baht 3800 for Multiple Entry)... As long as you return before the date 90 day expiry, your ED Visa stay is unchanged.

Procedure re extension every 90 days is school sends letter to Ministry of Education confirming that student is attending classes and will continue to do so... Ministry endorses this letter. Student takes the letter with passport to local Immigration, complete TM7, pay Baht 1900 and get new 90 days..

As I see it the original poster enters with his ED visa.. gets Re-Entry Permit... studies Thai language/culture, goes to other country for say 30 days, and return to Thailand on is Re-Entry Permit within the 90 day period.

Bapak

[lopburi3]

That is how it works for those here to study Thai language. They are not in Thailand to study language and will not be extending there stay.

[bapak]

That is how it works for those here to study Thai language. They are not in Thailand to study language and will not be extending there stay.

I do not want to get into a debate with Lopburi as he has much experience in this area... the topic was started with this statement - "I am working for an educational program that will host American students in Thailand for 4 months. The students will be applying for a Non-Immigrant Type ED visa (we have a host university etc...)."

In fact a ED Visa is not only granted to students of the Thai language but to any educational pursuit in Thailand, as long as the course has been approved by the Ministry of Education. I have witnessed it being given to a Thai massage school student, a English language student and a martial arts student.

Bapak

[lopburi3]

That is what I said - they are not here to study language. Just for a short visit (broken) over a four month period. Extensions of stay are not applicable. You provided a detailed explanation of extension of stay procedures for language study, which is interesting; but not what this thread was about.

[ubonjoe]

The options depend on the time required. 30 day visa exempt for air arrival - 15 days visa exempt for land arrival - 60 days for tourist visa or 90 days for new non immigrant ED visa arrival. Visas can easily be obtained with normal paperwork at Royal Thai Consulates in the countries around Thailand.

The program is broken down as follows:

35 days in Thailand

25 days out of Thailand

49 days in Thailand

So you're suggesting that the students get a 30 day visa exempt for air arrival. Then what can we do for the remaining 19 days? Get a new ED visa?

Thanks again!

You don't need an ED visa to study in Thailand. It can be done on a tourist visa.

Get 2 entry 60 day tourist visas valid for 6 months. These are easy to get in the states.

[niebla]

The options depend on the time required. 30 day visa exempt for air arrival - 15 days visa exempt for land arrival - 60 days for tourist visa or 90 days for new non immigrant ED visa arrival. Visas can easily be obtained with normal paperwork at Royal Thai Consulates in the countries around Thailand.

The program is broken down as follows:

35 days in Thailand

25 days out of Thailand

49 days in Thailand

So you're suggesting that the students get a 30 day visa exempt for air arrival. Then what can we do for the remaining 19 days? Get a new ED visa?

Thanks again!

You don't need an ED visa to study in Thailand. It can be done on a tourist visa.

Get 2 entry 60 day tourist visas valid for 6 months. These are easy to get in the states.

You should also be able to get a Non Imm. O, multi entry from a friendly consulate in the USA with minimal paperwork, (if you are from the USA.)

[Luxius]

That is what I said - they are not here to study language. Just for a short visit (broken) over a four month period. Extensions of stay are not applicable. You provided a detailed explanation of extension of stay procedures for language study, which is interesting; but not what this thread was about.

Very interesting indeed. Another case of ED visa fraud?

Why not change the study plan to fit the visa rules, or use a TR visa, rather than go through the obscure rules of applying for an ED visa? As previously stated, it is not necessary to have an ED visa to study in Thailand. The main cause for having one, would be if the studies are taking a long period of time - like a year. I am currently studying Thai (ใช่ครับ เขียนภาษาไทยได้นิดหน่อยครับ) over the course of one year, and am absolutely thrilled that I don't have to cross a border every three months. Unfortunately, there is a lot of fraud going on with ED visas, which might eventually phase out or make it even harder to get these.

I am not trying to point fingers, I am only trying to make a point.

/Christen Stephansen

[lopburi3]

By short visits my meaning was study for short periods. There is no fraud involved as far as I know.

[Miller]

By short visits my meaning was study for short periods. There is no fraud involved as far as I know.

I am not sure where the fraud conversation was introduced, but I work for a very legitimate program that partners with a very good university in Thailand. I am able to acquire ED visas for the students, no problem through our partner university. It was more the scheduling issues that we have with our program setup. I want to make sure we are following the rules! Someone mentioned 2 tourist visas for 60 days, didn't they just change the rules to only 30 days for a tourist visa? The students will all be Americans or Canadians.

Thanks!

[ubonjoe]

Tourist visas are good for 60 days per entry. I think you are condusing a visa exempt entry with a tourist visa,

Even a 2 entry visa with a 90 day use before date will work with the schedule you posted.

Price would be the same as a single entry ED.

[macjet]

Re Canadian Tourist Visa, for what it's worth.

As a Canadian I request and obtain a triple entry (3 x 60 days visas) good for six months (sic) to the date for final entry which means I can extend one entry visa another 30 days in Thailand, in the middle, and again 30 days before my final entry visa expires for a total of nearly eight months in country.