Ed Visa - 3 Year Limit

[guillaumimoso]

Hello all,

I have read here and there that the ED visa can be extended for a maximum of 3 years. However, I see some schools offering 10 year-long stays, or even unlimited ones... Maybe these are scams, but a question comes to mind nonetheless:

An ED visa is valid for up to 3 years, but I take it this is for ONE visa? So is it possible to stay on visa 1 for 3 years, and then to apply for a second ED visa, which would also be valid for 3 years? And so on?

Would that require changing schools?

Thanks for your pointers!

[lopburi3]

The visa they are talking about is only valid for one 90 day stay. After that you obtain 90 day extensions of stay using proof of attendance/learning. Believe for same study it may be limited to 3 years total doing this so might require a change to do longer.

[bino]

I believe that the 90 day status only applies to the Thai language schools. If you are registered in a proper university / degree program, you can get annual extensions for as long as you stay enrolled and of course, attend the lessons. I did 4 year bachelor program from 2005 to 2009 and got annual extensions every year with the right paperwork from the uni.

Lopburi - naturally I defer to your superior knowledge as the go-to guy on visa matters... maybe things have changed since I did it?

[lopburi3]

The post was about the 3/10 year advertising of the part time language schools in my reading and tried to answer that - yes a one year extension of stay can be obtained for some formal school study but there is no such thing as a three year visa. It is still an extension of stay.

[guillaumimoso]

Thanks for your replies.

I am indeed enrolled in a Thai language school now and yes, I have an ED visa, single entry. I just went to Immigration to have my stay extended after the initial 90 day period, so I take it that I can get extensions on this visa for up to 3 years, provided, of course, that I keep my enrolment in that school.

My question was more concerning what happens after this 3 year period. Can I get another ED visa? Enrolling at the same school? Or a different one?

My plan is to be sufficiently proficient in Thai to be able to do the translation/interpretation program at Chula, and I doubt I will reach near native proficiency in just 3 years of studies in a language school. I will be fluent in the language, in lay man's terms, but probably not to a translator/interpreter level. Hence, my dilemma about continuing studying after this 3 year period.

Or maybe I could pass the P6 government exam and that would be enough to enrol in a University program taught in Thai? Say, a BA in Thai studies or something related, that would allow me to both deepen my knowledge of the language and the culture, and get a visa at the same time? And then, I could do the translation MA?

Any takes?

[MacWalen]

If you need more than 3 years come to Walen.

Walen School - ED visa specialists.

[sbk]

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