The Best Visa Story?

[eriksen]

Hi All, first, thanks to those that made this forum happen and those who support it, it's great. Without it would be like sitting in a closet!

This started out as a simple visa change and now I am very confused, any who believe they can assist, please do.

The mission: Cancel my one year visa and WP (cease work) and study Thai on an Edu Visa. (Yes, we all know about the letter and supporting docs) (I am nearly 48 too) will skip all the blah blah and

say the points:

1/ Friend says he thinks I can change/transfer my 1 year visa, or at least benefit in some way from it and already being in LOS.

2/ School1 (Phuket) says no, got to leave TH and apply with their docs for the EDU visa. (And can study up to 5 years) and every 3 months pay for stamp at imi.

3/ School2 (Phuket) Says same but now cannot extend the first letter and need a new letter every 3 months (from what I understand)

4/ Shool 3 (Bankok says Have to leave TH TWO times!! First to go to Cambodia (sounds like healthy fun) and return on tourist entry, get docs and go again and apply for the Edu Visa.

5/ Imi Phuket say cannot transfer but gave me a transfer form (I now think the use of the word "transfer" was wrong)

6/ A "company" that specialises" in this kind of thing says for a fee they simply cancel one and gets the other in the SAME DAY (Hmmm)

So after 4 days or more of full time and overtime work on this and the assosiated great "feeling" I now put it before those who have walked before me,

with wisdom of experience and many more years in LOS than I..... Please to feel free to say / ask anything you want.. I am numb anyway,

thank you all for anything you can suggest.... "Be happy".... "don't worry" ... (hmmm)

[bangkockney]

You'd probably find more help in the Thai visas, residency and work permits section.

[7by7]

Moved to there.

[ignis]

4/ Shool 3 (Bankok says Have to leave TH TWO times!! First to go to Cambodia (sounds like healthy fun) and return on tourist entry, get docs and go again and apply for the Edu Visa.

Myself No idea, but only last week a friend went to Valentine for a 'ED' Visa, they had all the paperwork from the school..

The long and short of the outcome was they could not get a 'ED' Visa because they had a '0' Visa.. They got a single FREE 60 day Visa, and were told can go back with this type of Visa to get a 'ED' Visa... can this be correct true ? I have no idea,

It would appear that you cannot get a 'ED' Visa directly after a '0' Visa.. ? Looked on a couple of school websites, no mention of this?

Anyone know if this is true? if so then would be easier to do a border run and get 15 days then go and get the 'ED' Visa... Could be the paperwork was not correct or something

Edited February 11, 2011 by ignis

[lopburi3]

If on an extension of stay for work that needs to be canceled on last day of work - you can then obtain 7 days to depart country (TM.7/1,900 baht) and obtain paperwork for the school and then travel to obtain the ED visa. Although change of status is often available do not believe this is the case of language school type requests. A simple exit/apply for ED/return seems to be the norm.

Once you have the single entry visa you can obtain a 90 day extension of stay with school paperwork. A new letter will be required to confirm attendance in school each time.

Be Leary of any company that obtains stamps without your presence. Fake stamps are occasionally found and under-counter transactions can come back on those obtaining them regardless of source.

[eriksen]

That is a great reply and thanks so much. Looking at what I see now and considering the post by Ignis saying that person could not get EDU when they had an O Visa, that sounds right as it seems I need to Cancel mine first. So you can't have 2 visas at the same time. Yes the false stamp thing sounds "wonky" so won't go there. Only thing left for me to find out is:

1/ Is the easiest way to have a flight out, so cancel my Visa/WP and fly out same day or next day? How long does one have to exit LOS? I mean

do I really need the "you can then obtain 7 days to depart country (TM.7/1,900 baht)"

2/ When I return with the EDU visa would I need to have an outbound flight ticket like when on a tourist entry / visa?

Thanks for your time and consideration with all this, I really appreciate it.

If on an extension of stay for work that needs to be canceled on last day of work - you can then obtain 7 days to depart country (TM.7/1,900 baht) and obtain paperwork for the school and then travel to obtain the ED visa. Although change of status is often available do not believe this is the case of language school type requests. A simple exit/apply for ED/return seems to be the norm.

Once you have the single entry visa you can obtain a 90 day extension of stay with school paperwork. A new letter will be required to confirm attendance in school each time.

Be Leary of any company that obtains stamps without your presence. Fake stamps are occasionally found and under-counter transactions can come back on those obtaining them regardless of source.

[ignis]

That is a great reply and thanks so much. Looking at what I see now and considering the post by Ignis saying that person could not get EDU when they had an O Visa, that sounds right as it seems I need to Cancel mine first. So you can't have 2 visas at the same time. Yes the false stamp thing sounds "wonky" so won't go there. Only thing left for me to find out is:

1/ Is the easiest way to have a flight out, so cancel my Visa/WP and fly out same day or next day? How long does one have to exit LOS? I mean

do I really need the "you can then obtain 7 days to depart country (TM.7/1,900 baht)"

2/ When I return with the EDU visa would I need to have an outbound flight ticket like when on a tourist entry / visa?

Thanks for your time and consideration with all this, I really appreciate it.

If on an extension of stay for work that needs to be canceled on last day of work - you can then obtain 7 days to depart country (TM.7/1,900 baht) and obtain paperwork for the school and then travel to obtain the ED visa. Although change of status is often available do not believe this is the case of language school type requests. A simple exit/apply for ED/return seems to be the norm.

Once you have the single entry visa you can obtain a 90 day extension of stay with school paperwork. A new letter will be required to confirm attendance in school each time.

Be Leary of any company that obtains stamps without your presence. Fake stamps are occasionally found and under-counter transactions can come back on those obtaining them regardless of source.

Fly out come back the same day you will get a 30 day stay stamp...

Looking at some of the schools they need 3 to 5 weeks to get all the paperwork, has to be stamped by ED Ministry etc before you can go to get the 'ED' Visa

Edit: would be a waste of money to get a 7 day extension unless you have all the paperwork from the school and Education department approved stamps

Edited February 12, 2011 by ignis

[lopburi3]

1. If on an extension of stay for work that needs to be canceled at immigration office with a letter from employer under the new procedure, on last day of employment. You can then depart without the 7 day extension - but if the 7 days would allow you to obtain the ED paperwork it is an option. Believe flight next day is acceptable.

2. You do not need an outbound ticket for any visa entry - but some Consulates require it for visa issue. It should be be asked for a non immigrant visa.

[Tod Daniels]

This is anecdotal only (as it runs contrary to other posts); I was on a multi entry non-O visa which I had obtained in the US 3+ years ago. It was my last 30 days of the final 90 day stamp, after border running for the year (so I was on my 15th month). I took the paperwork from the language school I was going to attend out to Suan Plu to convert the visa from a type-O to a type-ED. Nope couldn't do it, as the paperwork issued by the MOE for private thai language schools is addressed to a thai embassy or consulate and NOT thai immigrations. (BTW: there is NO thai embassy or consulate inside thailand, lol)

I ended up taking a visa run company to Vientiane and received a single entry non-immigrant type ED visa without hiccup from the thai consulate there; even though in theory, I had a non-O at the time. Now whether they did this because my actual non-O visa had expired, and I was on the last month of the final 90 day "permitted to stay until" stamp or what I dunno. As I said, this was several years ago; now they may or may not do it. I wouldn’t wanna waste a trip to find out they won’t do it though.

I concur with other posters insofar as the best course of action seems to be;

• canceling your current visa at immigrations
  
• purchasing a 7 day extension (although possibly not needed)
  
• going to a thai embassy in a neighboring S/E Asian country
  
• applying for a single entry non-ED visa with the documentation from your school
  

That seems to be the safest way and certainly only involves a single trip outta the country. In fact some private thai language schools can do a 'rush' paperwork (for a fee of course) and get you the documentation from the MOE in a week or less.

I wholeheartedly agree, those "we'll get you the stamps you need" kinda services, can & do come back to haunt people later. I'd steer clear of them. ..

[eriksen]

Wow, you guys are great, yes, there is no need for "work that needs to be canceled" if I understand you. I can leave any time I want, and I have months left on my Visa and WP. "Outbound ticket" A little unclear on that, every time I have flown to LOS without a Visa (ie just a 28 day visit) the airlines have check to ensure I had an exit flight quoting I would not be let in otherwise.. (same when I visited Japan) I plan to fly to KL if this info helps... So cancel Visa and WP and fly to KL as soon as I can (yes with all the School papers ready) Get the EDU visa and return to LOS >> there I need to know for sure they will let me enter with the EDU visa???? This is the big question. I see it is said here that no out ticket is needed for ANY visa entry thanks, are you 100% sure? I am thankful for your experience but I really need to be sure about this point. Also the letter from the employer to cancel the WP? Does that mean if I dont have one I cant cancel? That sounds strange.. I mean so I get to have a free WP for the rest of my life and beyond? (There is probably a fee for that too..) Thanks again...

1. If on an extension of stay for work that needs to be canceled at immigration office with a letter from employer under the new procedure, on last day of employment. You can then depart without the 7 day extension - but if the 7 days would allow you to obtain the ED paperwork it is an option. Believe flight next day is acceptable.

2. You do not need an outbound ticket for any visa entry - but some Consulates require it for visa issue. It should be be asked for a non immigrant visa.

[Mario2008]

With an (ED-) visa no ticket out of the country is needed.

If the employer doesn't cancel with a letter, do it yourself.

A WP is only valid till it expires and for the job at the employer mentioned in the WP.

[eriksen]

Ok great, I will come back without an exit flight ticket...

I know it's petty but you know how sometimes you get annoyed by these things.. like

this WP cancellation.. why not let it expire? (end of May this year..) itself?

If I do have to cancel it then it's at the dept of labor right? (not imi) is there a cost?

Thanks all

With an (ED-) visa no ticket out of the country is needed.

If the employer doesn't cancel with a letter, do it yourself.

A WP is only valid till it expires and for the job at the employer mentioned in the WP.

[Mario2008]

You are required to cancel it, at the labour office. There are no costs involved.

Just prepare a letter stating on what date you terminate you employement.

[eriksen]

You are required to cancel it, at the labour office. There are no costs involved.

Just prepare a letter stating on what date you terminate you employement.

Very good, thanks.

Edited February 12, 2011 by Mario2008
fix quote