Extension Possible For 3 Month Ed Visa?

[simon43]

Whilst waiting for my new hotel project to be completed, I signed up for Chinese (Mandarin) language lessons a few months ago and obtained a 3 month ED visa from the Vientiane embassy.

Now the 3-month period is complete in a few weeks, but I'm still taking language lessons and not yet ready to switch to a business visa/WP for my hotel.

Can I obtain a 3 month extension to this ED visa in-country, (at Phuket Immigration)? What documents will they need to see?

Or do I need to go to Vientiane again and obtain a new 3-month ED visa?

BTW, if you already speak/read Thai, learning spoken Mandarin seems relatively easy. My teacher teaches me in Thai, writing the Mandarin words in Thai script which makes it easy for me to read and pronounce the correct tone for the word.

Thanks

Simon

[bapak]

Your current school should be able to give you documents to take to Immigration for 90 day "Extension of Stay"..

[Mario2008]

Per above. Talk to the school and they will give you the correct paperwork for an extension of 90 days.

[simon43]

My school told me that for a 90 day ED extension, not only did they have to provide me with a letter from the school that confirmed I am still studying, they also had to apply for a letter from the Ministry of Education in BKK, (as per my original visa application in Vientiane), and that this costs 8,000 baht.

I suspect this is not correct, and I'll pop down to Phuket Immigration and ask if they really need this expensive letter from BKK...

Simon

[lopburi3]

Perhaps they do not have Education Ministry approval for your course of study so the 8k would be to obtain it and be able to supply you the letter? What did they supply for your visa?