Non-immigrant Application - Ed - Answers To Questions

[granuaile]

I'm going to Thailand in September with a plan to study Thai language and Buddhism, for at least one year and possibly longer. When I began completing the application today a number of questions arose in my mind, and I thought I could get answers sooner here than waiting till the Consulate in Chicago was open Monday.

Most of the form is pretty self-explanatory. I have selected non-immigrant visa and 1 entry requested, since I am planning to apply for an extension after the first 90 days and if I leave Thailand will deal with getting re-entry permits if I visit other countries.

Under occupation I put Librarian and my current employer's name and below that I put retired effective August 1, 2009, which I assume won't cause me any headaches. Under purpose I put Education (to study Thai language and culture). Proposed address is pretty straightforward, I actually plan to rent a room before I go to Thailand with the help of Thai friends and a friend has offered to let me stay at her house till I do rent one if I haven't so I will use her address.

The sections of the form where I am not quite sure what to put are:

Local guarantor and guarantor in Thailand. I was operating on the assumption that they meant a reference in the US and another in Thailand, but when I searched the forum here it seemed that perhaps they meant something else and am not sure it is applicable for an ED visa or if it is they mean something quite different.

Duration of Stay. The example image here on thaivisa.com gave 90 days and I have entered 1 year, though I expect to stay longer actually. My paperwork from the school indicates one year, and that seemed the appropriate thing but I wondered if the fact that I had put 1 under number of entries would be something to consider, since the initial visa is for 90 days and then I will start the extension/renewal process.

I understand that these questions may seem a little silly but I hope folks will understand that I'm taking a step I've never taken before and bear with me if they do.

Many thanks in advance.

[ubonjoe]

Leave guarantor blank.

Duration of stay should be 90 days because that will be how long your entry will be for.

Suggest you use one of the honorary consulates instead of Chicago they will give faster service and are easier to work with. They all accept mail in applications.

Use the pulldown menu at the top of this webpage for a list. http://www.thaiembdc.org/AboutEmb/EmbDirect.aspx

You don't need to apply for your visa so early it only takes a few days to get and it will expire 90 days from date of issue. So if you get it to early you might not be able to use it to enter the country.

[granuaile]

Leave guarantor blank.

Duration of stay should be 90 days because that will be how long your entry will be for.

Suggest you use one of the honorary consulates instead of Chicago they will give faster service and are easier to work with. They all accept mail in applications.

Use the pulldown menu at the top of this webpage for a list. You don't need to apply for your visa so early it only takes a few days to get and it will expire 90 days from date of issue. So if you get it to early you might not be able to use it to enter the country.

Thank's Ubonjoe, I have considered applying at one of the honorary consuls but I had the impression that one is supposed to apply to the consul that has jurisdiction over their state. But perhaps I should find one reasonably close to Kentucky and apply. I may wait a bit longer to get my visa, but I should be ok, I have my airfare paid already and it is less than 90 days from now.

[ubonjoe]

Only the 3 official consulates and the embassy go by the jurisdiction rule.

The honorary nearest you is porbably the one in Alabama or possibly Atlanta.