Best Visa For A 1-Year Stay -- Ed, Volunteer, Etc.

[Interzone]

Hi All,

This is a my first post here. A bit about me and my situation. I'm 50 yr old Canadian male with a small, internet based business. I'm interested in relocating to Thailand for a year, maybe longer depending on how it goes. I've visited a few times in the past and know my way around, and speak some of the language. But I know that visas can be a problem. From what I've read on the forum, I need a non-immigrant B visa that is good for a year and is renewed every 3 months. As I understand it, I can an obtain one through an arrangement with a prospective employer or school. I don't intend on working for a Thai business while I'm Thailand, but I was thinking of taking a Thai language course and/or doing some volunteer work.

I was wondering what might be the best option in terms of money and fewest hassles. I have heard there are different numbers of hours of study required in order to qualify for the Education visa. Maybe someone could clarify that. Also, I would appreciate advice on best schools. Whalen is big for the education visa (and a sponsor here) but I get the sense that they're mostly there to facilitate long term stays and maybe don't have the best reputation for teaching Thai. If I do take the language school route, I would be fairly serious about it.

Anyway, that's it for now. Thanks in advance for any replies.

[Colabamumbai]

Ed visa is good with the least hassles. I would start with 6 months. www. Thailangugagesolutions.com ask for Pormipon. I think four hours a week is sufficient. I am a Canadian 60 years old. They sent all the paperwork for me to take to the Thai consulate in Toronto for a 6 month ED. visa after I paid them thru bank transfer. The consulate asked me if I would like a one year visa, I said of course. The course was 100 hours. I wanted to study 5 days a week 3 hrs per day. The school suggested 3 days a week which I did. They will tailor a course to suit you. I finished the course in two and a half months.

[Interzone]

Ed visa is good with the least hassles. I would start with 6 months. www. Thailangugagesolutions.com ask for Pormipon. I think four hours a week is sufficient. I am a Canadian 60 years old. They sent all the paperwork for me to take to the Thai consulate in Toronto for a 6 month ED. visa after I paid them thru bank transfer. The consulate asked me if I would like a one year visa, I said of course. The course was 100 hours. I wanted to study 5 days a week 3 hrs per day. The school suggested 3 days a week which I did. They will tailor a course to suit you. I finished the course in two and a half months.

Thanks for the info. It's very helpful. So what did you do after the 100 hours was over? Did the school not have any more programs after that?

According to their ad, their 6 month program costs about 7500 and then another 13,000 for the Ed visa. About 20,000 altogether. Then do you have to pay the Thai Consulate in Toronto again when you apply?

[Colabamumbai]

Ed visa is good with the least hassles. I would start with 6 months. www. Thailangugagesolutions.com ask for Pormipon. I think four hours a week is sufficient. I am a Canadian 60 years old. They sent all the paperwork for me to take to the Thai consulate in Toronto for a 6 month ED. visa after I paid them thru bank transfer. The consulate asked me if I would like a one year visa, I said of course. The course was 100 hours. I wanted to study 5 days a week 3 hrs per day. The school suggested 3 days a week which I did. They will tailor a course to suit you. I finished the course in two and a half months.

Thanks for the info. It's very helpful. So what did you do after the 100 hours was over? Did the school not have any more programs after that?

According to their ad, their 6 month program costs about 7500 and then another 13,000 for the Ed visa. About 20,000 altogether. Then do you have to pay the Thai Consulate in Toronto again when you apply?

I paid about $450.00 Canadian Dollars for the 100 hour course advertised last year. You pay the consulate between $60 and $170, depending on the length of visa.

I paid $170 for the year visa, I think the 6 month visa was $60. The consulate in Toronto is on Isabella St. in an old house near Bloor and Yonge and they have one employee. Open mornings only, pick up following day. Visa starts from the day it is issued so be prepared to leave of have your ticked booked for as soon as possible after you receive your visa. You can trust the school as far as a bank transfer goes, your bank will charge you $70 to transfer $450. and more for a larger amount. Ask the bank manager about this because in all my experience with bank transfers from Canada all cashiers tell you $30.00, but in fact it is more, based on the amount sent. Call the RoyalThaiConsulateToronto.

Yes I could have stayed at the school and taken more courses and they would have looked after the paperwork every three months you fo and pay immigration here Bhat 1,900. for a 3 month extension and you do not have to leave the country. The same with a six month visa the school will give you the paper to take to Thai Immigration after 3 months.

[mizzi39]

Another option is to go to your nearest Thai consulate and get a tourist visa PLUS 2 re entries (assuming that you wont be working while here). Each entry is good for 60 days which can be extended for 30 days bringing you to 9 months. At that point you could go to Lao and secure another tourist visa. Even if they only give you a single entry in Lao, it is still good for 60 days and again can be extended for 30 more days bringing you to 1 year.

[Interzone]

Ed visa is good with the least hassles. I would start with 6 months. www. Thailangugagesolutions.com ask for Pormipon. I think four hours a week is sufficient. I am a Canadian 60 years old. They sent all the paperwork for me to take to the Thai consulate in Toronto for a 6 month ED. visa after I paid them thru bank transfer. The consulate asked me if I would like a one year visa, I said of course. The course was 100 hours. I wanted to study 5 days a week 3 hrs per day. The school suggested 3 days a week which I did. They will tailor a course to suit you. I finished the course in two and a half months.

Thanks for the info. It's very helpful. So what did you do after the 100 hours was over? Did the school not have any more programs after that?

According to their ad, their 6 month program costs about 7500 and then another 13,000 for the Ed visa. About 20,000 altogether. Then do you have to pay the Thai Consulate in Toronto again when you apply?

I paid about $450.00 Canadian Dollars for the 100 hour course advertised last year. You pay the consulate between $60 and $170, depending on the length of visa.

I paid $170 for the year visa, I think the 6 month visa was $60. The consulate in Toronto is on Isabella St. in an old house near Bloor and Yonge and they have one employee. Open mornings only, pick up following day. Visa starts from the day it is issued so be prepared to leave of have your ticked booked for as soon as possible after you receive your visa. You can trust the school as far as a bank transfer goes, your bank will charge you $70 to transfer $450. and more for a larger amount. Ask the bank manager about this because in all my experience with bank transfers from Canada all cashiers tell you $30.00, but in fact it is more, based on the amount sent. Call the RoyalThaiConsulateToronto.

Yes I could have stayed at the school and taken more courses and they would have looked after the paperwork every three months you fo and pay immigration here Bhat 1,900. for a 3 month extension and you do not have to leave the country. The same with a six month visa the school will give you the paper to take to Thai Immigration after 3 months.

OK. So you only paid $450 for the course + $170 for the year visa. So a total of $620 for the whole thing? The Thailanguagesolutions website is a bit confusing because they mention that the ED visa is 13,000 baht and then they quote another lesser figure for the course. I guess the $450 that you paid is the 13,000 Bt.

So how is your Thai now? Was the school useful?

[Interzone]

Another option is to go to your nearest Thai consulate and get a tourist visa PLUS 2 re entries (assuming that you wont be working while here). Each entry is good for 60 days which can be extended for 30 days bringing you to 9 months. At that point you could go to Lao and secure another tourist visa. Even if they only give you a single entry in Lao, it is still good for 60 days and again can be extended for 30 more days bringing you to 1 year.

OK, I wasn't aware of that possibility. So after the first 60 days, you would have to go to an immigration office in Thailand to extend it, and then go again in 30 days, and then again in 60 days...? If I understand you correctly, it's only after 9 months of renewals in country that you would have to leave the country to apply again.

[Colabamumbai]

Skype Pormipon at the school and enquire about the 100 hour program if they still have it. Yes very useful but I attended all classes and went out after class and took my Thai to the streets to learn it. My Thai is very good I get compliments, I do not read or write Thai, just conversation. All the figures I Quoted you are correct at about 30 Bhat to the dollar. Now I have been offered a job managing a Hotel and Resort. I am in the process of getting a work permit and then will have to go out of Thailand and change my visa type, and I will be able to work in Thailand. Good things can happen here, but learn Thai first.

[lopburi3]

1. Non immigrant visas are either single entry valid for 3 months and providing a 90 day stay to multi entry valid for one year and providing unlimited 90 day stays.

2. If you intend to attend course for full year there is no need for more than single entry as you can extend your stay at Immigration every 90 days for 1,900 baht which is easier/cheaper than leaving country and returning.

[BWPattaya]

As you are over 50 years old it is probably easier for you to get a one year retirement visa. You could then enrol with a school of your choice in the location of your choice when you arrive here and after you have selected where to live. If you get an education visa linked to a scholl you may decide that you don't like living in that area.

Please consider that many people start out learning Thai at schools but drop out very quickly as they find it difficult.

[Interzone]

Skype Pormipon at the school and enquire about the 100 hour program if they still have it. Yes very useful but I attended all classes and went out after class and took my Thai to the streets to learn it. My Thai is very good I get compliments, I do not read or write Thai, just conversation. All the figures I Quoted you are correct at about 30 Bhat to the dollar. Now I have been offered a job managing a Hotel and Resort. I am in the process of getting a work permit and then will have to go out of Thailand and change my visa type, and I will be able to work in Thailand. Good things can happen here, but learn Thai first.

Congrats on the job! I can read and write a little, but my conversation is pretty basic (more like stunted). That's for the Skype tip.

[Interzone]

As you are over 50 years old it is probably easier for you to get a one year retirement visa. You could then enrol with a school of your choice in the location of your choice when you arrive here and after you have selected where to live. If you get an education visa linked to a scholl you may decide that you don't like living in that area.

Please consider that many people start out learning Thai at schools but drop out very quickly as they find it difficult.

OK although I think I would have to carry a large bank balance (800k) in Thailand. Alas, I don't have that kind dosh right now. I've taken some Thai classes before so I know the score there. It's hard but still doable with some effort.

[Interzone]

1. Non immigrant visas are either single entry valid for 3 months and providing a 90 day stay to multi entry valid for one year and providing unlimited 90 day stays.

2. If you intend to attend course for full year there is no need for more than single entry as you can extend your stay at Immigration every 90 days for 1,900 baht which is easier/cheaper than leaving country and returning.

Very much appreciated info.

[Interzone]

Hi again,

How easy is it to get an ED visa from Laos? I'm wondering if it would be possible to come on a regular tourist visa and then get an ED visa once I've settled in. I gather there is some uncertainty about converting from a tourist visa to ED visa and whether or not one has to leave the country.

[lopburi3]

It is not a problem taking paperwork to a nearby Consulate to obtain the normal single entry ED visa.

[Interzone]

It is not a problem taking paperwork to a nearby Consulate to obtain the normal single entry ED visa.

Yes, I'm sure it's quite straight forward. I was just thinking in terms of greater flexibility. I could conceivably arrive on a tourist visa and get the ED visa here. I was trying to weigh the pros and cons of both approaches. While I would like to stay in TL for a longer period, there is always the chance that work or family demands may force me to come home early. In that case, I was considering the option of waiting until I arrived and get settled before making the money commitment to a 6 or 12 month language course.

[lopburi3]

And my answer was that it should not be a problem doing that. Just be sure to have a tourist visa for entry if you do not have outbound ticket within 30 days to avoid any airline boarding issues.

[Interzone]

And my answer was that it should not be a problem doing that. Just be sure to have a tourist visa for entry if you do not have outbound ticket within 30 days to avoid any airline boarding issues.

OK Thanks for your help.