sidjameson Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 My recent visa run to Laos ended up costing 3000bt for 2 month toursist visa, extendable for a month at 1900bt Say 5k. 3 trips needed for a year stay plus the 1000bt for first visa...16k An Ed visa costs less, or even a good school costs 25k say, it seems stupid to do the visa run....am I getting something wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario2008 Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 The Ed-visa you must pay for yourself, as well as for the extensions every 90 days for 1,900 baht. The advertised prize is always the prize of the course, which enables you to apply for an ED-visa and extensions, not for the visa and extensions itself. But yes, an ed-visa can be a good choice and it certainly won't hurt to learn the language (or something else) if you want to stay in Thailand long term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terak69 Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 The Ed-visa you must pay for yourself, as well as for the extensions every 90 days for 1,900 baht. You only buy the one extension and it runs the term of the course usually up to 1 year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario2008 Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Only extensions for "normal" education and universiy are for 1 year. Extensions for language schools and such are normally for only 90 days at a time. A few exceptions have been reported recently. But those are rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terak69 Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 (edited) Only extensions for "normal" education and universiy are for 1 year. Extensions for language schools and such are normally for only 90 days at a time. A few exceptions have been reported recently. But those are rare. Certified language schools (in Phuket) get longer extensions if they produce copy of contract from school showing dates Edited June 23, 2011 by terak69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacWalen Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 You are totally right, doing all the visa runs and all the stress is worth only a little less then getting an ED visa with a reputable language school. Walen School - try us and we will not let you down Ps. with Walen it is possible to study totally for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terak69 Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 You are totally right, doing all the visa runs and all the stress is worth only a little less then getting an ED visa with a reputable language school. Walen School - try us and we will not let you down Ps. with Walen it is possible to study totally for free. Tell us how ? pls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidjameson Posted June 23, 2011 Author Share Posted June 23, 2011 So are my sums correct? Study Thai at Walen......25k for class, arrive on free entry and 1900 4 times for a visa, no other costs.......almost 33k for a year stay, never have to leave country. Buy tourist visa in home country for 1000bt, then 3 visa runs...which cheapest run to laos on say the train will cost 3700 including 1 night in cheap place. And 4 extensions at 1900 a time.....total cost say about 19k. So, 14k extra to get 180 thai class. And save lots of time on travel. (depending on whether you see this as a burden or not) That works out at roughly 80bt a class.....a bargain. If I have given you a new idea of how to promote your school Mr Walen, feel free to show your gratitude with a free course, lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario2008 Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Arival with an ED-visa means an original stay of 90 days, after that you extend every 90 days, so the first year (or 360 days actually) is only 3 extensions, the next years it would be 4 extensions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terak69 Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Arival with an ED-visa means an original stay of 90 days, after that you extend every 90 days, so the first year (or 360 days actually) is only 3 extensions, the next years it would be 4 extensions. but most ED visa's are single entry - so has to be recognised course to qualify for extension on a side note- have heard of an on-line course that is now being accepted & prices are low Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aristo Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 seems a lil bog! i was thinking of the same with you, u need no visa to laos? train cost is to lao is seems not so exp. i need visa to laos, so i wont be going there for 2nd visa run, i will go to another neighborhood countries which im free to enter, would these all cost me more than ur calculate? u say : 3700 and 1900 to visa =5600 for every 3 months. if i chose malaysia maybe could cost more?. i was thinking of both ed visa or visa runs, now im seemed to be stuck at this situation. ughh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopburi3 Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 To extend your stay for education you always require a non immigrant visa entry at a cost of 2,000 baht single entry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ignis Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 (edited) My recent visa run to Laos ended up costing 3000bt for 2 month toursist visa, extendable for a month at 1900bt Say 5k. 3 trips needed for a year stay plus the 1000bt for first visa...16kAn Ed visa costs less, or even a good school costs 25k say, it seems stupid to do the visa run....am I getting something wrong? am I getting something wrong? I would say yes.......... From where you live you have to travel to Laos > Laos Visa > Thai 2x 60day TR Visa > pickup next day = 1 night Hotel... ALL that cost 3,000 baht ?? something very wrong there to start with........ Next end of 1st 60 day + end of 2nd 60 days = trip to Immigration + extension fee of 1,900 baht each.. x 2 on each Visa = 4 in the year = just under 1 year = in my working out this is more like 26 - 28,000 baht for the year... depend if you go back to Laos for the 2nd 60day entry or go to say Burma [10$ or 500 baht]. + remember Laos limit the number of back to back TR Visa in you passport, so you would have to travel to Cambodia where there appears to be no limit.. School = pay fee + travel to the school every week 1, 2 or 4 times each week for 50 weeks.. You need the ED Visa = From where you live you have to travel to Laos > Laos Visa > Thai ED Visa > pickup next day = 1 night Hotel.... the with paperwork extension 3x for the year @ 1,900 baht per time. = more like 36 - 40,000 baht for the year. Year 2 then would change as will be just the school fee + 4x extension from Immigration... but if on TR Visa you would have to go to Cambodia [ maybe more expensive to travel depends where you live.. So I think your sums are wrong, write it all down on paper. You say '3 trips needed for a year stay' read other Post on here regards TR Visa + Laos, you will not get in Laos +++ you only need 2 trips with 2x extensions at the end of each = a few days under 1 year. Edited June 24, 2011 by ignis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terak69 Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 To extend your stay for education you always require a non immigrant visa entry at a cost of 2,000 baht single entry. Cannot convert ED into O visa (in Phuket anyway) - used to be able but not now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopburi3 Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 To extend your stay for education you always require a non immigrant visa entry at a cost of 2,000 baht single entry. Cannot convert ED into O visa (in Phuket anyway) - used to be able but not now My post was that a (Non Immigrant visa) is required before any extension of stay can be obtained. The ED is a non immigrant visa. My post had nothing to do with "O visa". (1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ignis Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Someone a few Villages away has been here 3 years on TR Visas from Cambodia, say's the total cost for the past year was 40 baht under 32,000 baht.... Lady in the next Village goes to school every week, total cost Visa + extensions + travel to school every week, just over 40,000 baht for the year.... So Visa runs V ED Visa, your missing something in the costs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario2008 Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 A tourist visa costs 1,000 baht per entry. Extensions of stay for 30 days 1,900 baht per entry. So a year (360 days) would be four tourist visa's and four extensions, that is a total of 11,600 baht. All extra cost would be for travel, hotel etc. 20,000 for that seems a lot, unless she travels by plane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ignis Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 A tourist visa costs 1,000 baht per entry. Extensions of stay for 30 days 1,900 baht per entry. So a year (360 days) would be four tourist visa's and four extensions, that is a total of 11,600 baht. All extra cost would be for travel, hotel etc. 20,000 for that seems a lot, unless she travels by plane. No travel by bus + BTS to BKK > Visa Run Bus to Cambodia [10,800 + 1,000 single supplement the Company she uses is 2 nights + they take to P.P Thai Embassy] + BTS and Bus back home x 2 for the year.... + 4 x extensions only option to get to Immigration from where she lives and Nonthaburi Immigration = Taxi, so just under 32,000 baht sounds about right. If she used the Visa van run which stays only 1 night would be cheaper, they use a Visa Agent from just inside Cambodia to take Passports to P.P...... but the pick-up time and drop off time = the only way to get there and back from out here would be by Taxi.. what is the charge at 1:30 am for a taxi + 60 km each way ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarangBuddha Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 (edited) You are totally right, doing all the visa runs and all the stress is worth only a little less then getting an ED visa with a reputable language school. Just returned from a trip to Phnom Penh with a friend who got an ED-Visa; and I agree, it was very stressful. I mean, just from all the prodding and poking from all the ladies on Streets 136, 110, 104, and 51...my arms are still sore from having to fight them all off. Add to that the week of feasting on great Southern, French, and Italian cuisine at all the riverfront restaurants, downing all those Angkor beers at sunset, and pigging out on those huge Fatboy subs...it was almost more than I could take. Think I'll go again in a few months Edited June 25, 2011 by FarangBuddha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
membob Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Visas for me the last 16 months... Loas 5000 x 3 = 15000 3 days travel and stay = 9 Cambodia 2000 x 3 = 6000 1 day = 3 Immigration 1900 + 250 taxi x 3 = 6450 half a day = 1.5 Total cost: ~27450 Total days: 13.5 days I'm bored of wasting days and travelling so this time I spent 19000 for the ED and 6500 for the visa+laos trip, 25500 and it'll take 4.5 days out of my year. For me it's working out about the same but more in favor for the ED. Numbers might be off here and there but you get the idea I hope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattaya46 Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 I'm bored of wasting days and travelling so this time I spent 19000 for the ED and 6500 for the visa+laos trip, 25500 and it'll take 4.5 days out of my year. Looks like you will "waste" a lot of more than 4.5 day to meet the 150 hours required and the many travel to/from school... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imkah Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Take a "casino-bus" to Aran from Lumpini og BangNa Central, (from Bang Na less than 3 hours in comfortable seats), 100B or free if you buy B2.000,- of dead chips. Check in to one of the casinos: for B20.000,- in dead chips you get a free, nice room, free meals, drinks and cigarettes that will make your throat burn. After check-in send off your passport, win back your money (you can also sell the dead chips for -10% if you don't trust your luck) Eat, drink and be merry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
membob Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 I'm bored of wasting days and travelling so this time I spent 19000 for the ED and 6500 for the visa+laos trip, 25500 and it'll take 4.5 days out of my year. Looks like you will "waste" a lot of more than 4.5 day to meet the 150 hours required and the many travel to/from school... Who said I needed to go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard4849 Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 I'm bored of wasting days and travelling so this time I spent 19000 for the ED and 6500 for the visa+laos trip, 25500 and it'll take 4.5 days out of my year. Looks like you will "waste" a lot of more than 4.5 day to meet the 150 hours required and the many travel to/from school... Who said I needed to go? This thing with getting ED visas and not actually studying is a prime target for a future crackdown (and with good reason, IMHO). Enjoy it while you can, boys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
membob Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 This thing with getting ED visas and not actually studying is a prime target for a future crackdown (and with good reason, IMHO). Enjoy it while you can, boys. Yeah you're right but the loop hole is there so I'm taking it while I can Also I see it as a way in the future to get a better visa if possible. I don't plan to be doing these loops holes forever. I would imagine visa runs will probably be a "prime target" too as they're about the same cost and the outcome is the same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard4849 Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Yep, it's coming. And if I were running a Thai language school, I'd be putting pennies in the bank for the time when this fraudulent business is all going to dry up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ignis Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Yep, it's coming. And if I were running a Thai language school, I'd be putting pennies in the bank for the time when this fraudulent business is all going to dry up. I think I read in one of the Post every so often they do a basic Thai test when people go for there extension, that would appear the easy solution, if you have a few extensions you should be able to speak Thai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Postmaster Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 You are totally right, doing all the visa runs and all the stress is worth only a little less then getting an ED visa with a reputable language school. Walen School - try us and we will not let you down Ps. with Walen it is possible to study totally for free. How can you study for ' free' at a commercially run school? I want to learn to speak Thai better. Where is the school and how much does a continuing course of Thail language lessons actually cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
membob Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Yep, it's coming. And if I were running a Thai language school, I'd be putting pennies in the bank for the time when this fraudulent business is all going to dry up. I think I read in one of the Post every so often they do a basic Thai test when people go for there extension, that would appear the easy solution, if you have a few extensions you should be able to speak Thai They don't do the tests, as far as I've been told. Maybe someone here knows for certain? I met a guy who had been here for 2 years and just learnt "Sabadee mai" so I'm sure some people (should) trip and fall if they are tested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michemiche Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Yep, it's coming. And if I were running a Thai language school, I'd be putting pennies in the bank for the time when this fraudulent business is all going to dry up. I think I read in one of the Post every so often they do a basic Thai test when people go for there extension, that would appear the easy solution, if you have a few extensions you should be able to speak Thai They don't do the tests, as far as I've been told. Maybe someone here knows for certain? I met a guy who had been here for 2 years and just learnt "Sabadee mai" so I'm sure some people (should) trip and fall if they are tested. sorry but they make tests. Simple one but they do it, and for 2nd year u have to go for an interview at ministry of education. I dont see the interest to pay for a thai language school for learning to speak thai and not doing it !. About the times passed to go to school every week with walen school, u can have class, via skype 2 times a week and its working perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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