Can A Tourist Visa Be Converted To A Ed Permit To Stay

[bapak]

Pardon me, Gurus, I have seen mention of this previously on the Forum but cannot pick up details on Search.

Can a Visa on Arrival or Tourist Visa be converted to a ED permit to Stay? If so, what are the requirements assuming that have already the necessary Education Department documents.

[Atmos]

Unless it has changed since 12 months ago - no.

I was here as tourist around this time last year, to get ED visa had to return to my home country - at the time this suited me as needed a couple of weeks to 'sort things'.

The school here emailed me the documents for me to take with my passport to the Thai Embassy, easy for me as it is in my home town.

I had to use (ie arrive back in Thailand) within 3 mths of issue.

[monty]

No, you normally cannot convert to Non immigrant ED status.

In general, to be able to convert to any non immigrant status you must qualify for a 1 year extension.

The ED visa, based on language studies, does not give you a 1 year extension, but rather consecutive 90 day extensions based on proof of attending classes.

It might be possible when enrolling full time at a university, as in that situation you'd qualify for a 1 year extension.

You do not have to apply for the visa in your home country, neighboring countries will issue if you have the proper documentation, applied for by your school and issued by the education ministry.

In a neighboring country you will receive a single entry visa, when applying in your home country there is a good possibility you can get a multiple entry version.

[Atmos]

re my post #2 - happy to be corrected I just went on what language school told me re 'own country'. As I mentioned this was not an issue for me at that time. I was granted a single entry visa and made numerous trips and 1000 baht payments for re-entry permits.

My first extension was, oddly, six months. I attended Phuket Immigration accompanied by the admin person from the school who had prepared my paperwork as part of their fee, expected 3 months but got more, same price 1900 baht. She was more surprised than me, we didn't question, just left (the course I was enrolled in did exceed three months - part-time, but she said 3mths was all they'd give). Who knows?

I still had to go back for my 90-day report withing that time.

[thairookie]

In a neighboring country you will receive a single entry visa.

What if I really need to go out of Thailand for a holiday, and I'm stuck with a single entry Visa ?

[Mario2008]

Get a re-entry permit, and your permission to stay will remain valid when you leave, as long as you re-enter before your permission to stay ends.