Keep Non-b Or Get Education Visa?

[lukeskywalker]

Hello,

I currently have a work permit and a non-b 1 year multi-entry. However, I have just enrolled in a university to obtain my IMBA degree and the school can get me an educational visa.

My questions is, should I get the educational visa when the non-b expires? With the non-b, I have to do a border run every 90 days (not such a bad thing but still a small hassle). With the ed. visa, I would only have to report to the immigration office every 90 days, no border runs.

The cost of the non-B is about 6,000 baht and requires a trip to an embassy or consulate outside of Thailand. I'm not sure what the cost of a education visa is. As well, I have 5 years to complete my MBA so I could drag it out to continue the benefits of the ed. visa.

The "work" that I do is very low-key and I am in no way worried about getting caught working without a work-permit/Non-b.

What do the wise sages of the TV members have to say about this?

Thanks in advance!

[Maestro]

Only getting caught working without a work permit would be problem, not getting caught working without a non-B visa.

The employment department will perhaps not renew your work permit when it expires if at that time you are on a non-ED visa, respectively on an extension of stay for study. There have been reports that they refuse to issue a work permit in such situation, except perhaps for work in the educational field.

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Maestro

[ubonjoe]

To be safe and not have the worry of working without a work permit it would be best to stay with the B visa and make border runs.

[lukeskywalker]

How much will I have to pay immigration for the education visa? The Non-B is almost 6,000.

[ubonjoe]

A single entry ED will be 2000 baht at a embassy or consulate immigration does not issue visas. If you could get a mulitple entry visa it would be 5000 baht (same as B ).

If the school qualifies and can give you the required documentation you can get an extension of stay at immigration for 1900 baht. You may only get an extension of 90 days each time. You would not have to get a new visa to get the extension you can extend any of your non-b entries within the last 30 days of the 90 days you get.