Multiple Entry Ed Visa Near Thailand - Updates And Feedback

[pulfabio]

Dear all,

A few days back I promised to write a post with updates and feedback on obtaining a multiple entry ED visa at a consulate in Asia, without having to go back to Europe. Here it is.

I have checked out Kuala Lumpur, they DON'T issue multiple entry visas under any circumstances. I guess it's the same at Penang and Kota Bharu.

Somebody at ThaiVisa suggested Vientiane as an option. I called the embassy in Vientiane and a lady - extremely nice and helpful, she spent a long time with me on the phone and was always very kind and friendly, I was stunned! - explained me that they can issue multiple entry visas but that an interview with the consul is required prior to that. There was no way to "extort" further information such as how tough the interview can be, statistics on previous candidates or type of questions that could be asked by the consul. She could only tell me that the visa would be issued in case the applicant has "valid reasons", no further information about the "valid reasons" could be provided.

If somebody has information about the interview procedure and likely outcome please let me know.

Also, if anybody knows whether multiple entry visas can be obtained at other Thai consulates in Asia (including Honk Kong and China Mainland, such as Kunming, Xiamen and Guangzhou), please share.

Cheers

[Maestro]

...multiple entry ED visa... in Vientiane... would be issued in case the applicant has "valid reasons"...

In this context you must consider that officially the purpose of a visa is always for travel to Thailand, not for a long-term stay with quarterly day trips across the border to a neighbouring country. Therefore, a valid reason for a multiple-entry non-ED visa would be the need for you to travel from wherever you live in the world to Thailand repeatedly within a 12-month period for the purpose of education in Thailand. This could, for example, be the case where a foreigner has to travel to Thailand every two months to attend a two-day course, or something like that.

--

Maestro

[pulfabio]

Thanks Maestro.

Actually my purpose is not to go to Thailand every n months for study. It's to stay in Thailand for a year to learn the language. Perfectly reasonable, that's what foreign language students do all over the world, and what other countries allow foreign students to do. At the same time I also need to go out of the country about 4-5 times a year for short business trips (I don't work in Thailand though, my position in the country is 100% legal) and to visit my parents who are not young anymore. That's why a multiple entry visa would be much more convenient for me. Not sure why they make such a big fuss about issuing it, and why some consulates around the world are issuing them with no problem while others don't.

I was thinking that submitting copies of my previous contracts justifying my trips abroad might help. Not sure about it, as I don't know what they are looking for when they request "valid reasons".

[Mario2008]

They prefer that you get extensions of stay from immigration in Thailand, so they can be sure you are a genuine student. it would require you to get an extension every 90 days and pay 1,900 for that, on proof you have studied at least 4 hours a week.

With a re-entry permit, you could still leave the country and kep your permission to stay alive.

[jazzbo]

I think personally I would be reticent about telling the Thai Embassy PDR Laos that I am requestiong a a multiple entry 'ED' Visa for the purpose of business trips outside of Thailand regardless of how unrelated they may be IYHO to your permission to stay in Thailand.

[pulfabio]

Yes Mario, I guess that's the reason. Even though I still cannot understand why consulates in EU and elsewhere are issuing the multiple entry. If they have one policy they should stick to it everywhere.

Anyway I can add new bits to my feedback. I contacted the consulate in Hong Kong and they also are NOT issuing multiple entry ED visas. The only available option seems to be Vientiane embassy...provided one passes undergoes an interview with the consul and manages to get his approval.

As for myself I guess that, as I'm in KL right now, I will have my school send the letter from the MOE over and get a Single entry ED visa here at this point.

Cheers

PS sorry about the mistakes but I cannot fix them if I use the editor with Firefox unless I deleted and re-write the whole message.

[pulfabio]

Yes Jazzbo...I was also considering that. You never know what they might suspect. That's why I think that I'll opt for a Single entry ED at the end. And I'll try to get it here in Kuala Lumpur.

Cheers

[jazzbo]

Thanks, Kuhn F. BTW Nice Blog...

[pulfabio]

Thanks a lot, Jazzbo! Honored!

[witold]

Wait, so people who are on ED Visa in Thailand can't easily travel? They loose their ED Visa if they leave for a vacation and have to reapply every time?

[Mario2008]

Wait, so people who are on ED Visa in Thailand can't easily travel? They loose their ED Visa if they leave for a vacation and have to reapply every time?

No they can get a re-entry permit and keep their curent permission to stay alive. But still would have to qualify to the rule of studying at least 4 hours a week on avarege. They are supposed to study.