Visa Exempt Tourist To Non-Imm O Education Visa

[Sheryl]

Does anyone have experience getting an non-imm visa on education grounds while in Thailand on a visa exempt tourist entry?

Due to the floods my niece, who is a student at Mahidol, could not extend her visa (couldn't get letter from the school because it was shut down) so left the country and returned on a visa exempt stamp (should have gotten a tourist visa while out of the country, but that's water under the bridge).

School admin offices finally reopened, she got letter from the school and went to immigration today but was told it is impossible to convert from a visa exemption to a non-imm 'O-ED' . This was at the (temporarily reolcated) immigration office at Nakhoin Pathom and we're trying to decide if it is worth trying in Bkk on Tuesday in case they didn't know what they were talking about or if she should just leave the country now. Her visa exemption expires Tuesday so if she met with no luck in Bkk she'd have to leave at once.

Either way she'll miss the start-up of classes but will miss the least if she goes to Bkk and is successful, the most if she goes to Bkk and they also say no., with leaving now & coming back in on a new non-imm visa falling in between... and, of course, the leaving the country/returning option will also be costly.

Appreciate hearing of any experiences, successful or otherwise, on converting to an O-ED from a visa exemption status

Thanks!

[Maestro]

I know that the "change of visa" is never done to a non-Ed for Thai language study but I seem to remember a post saying that Bangkok Chaeng Watthana did it for a degree course at a government university, which Mahidol is. I'm not sure, though, whether that poster converted from a tourist visa. The best thing, I think, would be to call Chaeng Watthana, number 1178 or 0-2141-9889, for confirmation.

[Mario2008]

Agree with Meastro. Mahidol is a respected university and there is a very, very good chance they will convert. Especially with a letter from a the university, explaining the problems with the extension because of the flood.

[ignis]

...........(should have gotten a tourist visa while out of the country, but that's water under the bridge)..........

Should have asked 1st maybe.... I asked 1st, reply was can carry on with ED extensions after a Visa

............ and, of course, the leaving the country/returning option will also be costly.........

That depends went to KL, flight with Royal Jordanian Air = 1,500 baht each way + tax, total 6,250 baht, really 1st class + excellent meals. Hotel so so via Agoda.com 700 baht with breakfast x 2 nights, Single Visa RM 110, about 1,000 baht, on meals + train from airport to KL + underground trains total cost about 10,000 baht.. very short walk from underground station to Thai Embassy.. All easy and straightforward. Booked everything the day before [hoping the paperwork from school would arrive to be able to pick up]

Other option Visa Mini Bus from On Nut, stay overnight in Cambodia just under 7,000 baht..

Single Visa is 60 days, you can do the extension up to 30 days before end of Visa.

For me School is still closed [must be now totally refurbished] but paperwork is ready yesterday,[to late, as my last day was 6th] they will send on Monday, Post restarted yesterday in my area, so will go next month for the 90 day ED Extension

[Sheryl]

...........(should have gotten a tourist visa while out of the country, but that's water under the bridge)..........

Should have asked 1st maybe.... I asked 1st, reply was can carry on with ED extensions after a Visa

Yes, I know this could be done if she had a visa. Point is she does not.

Thus far I have not heard a single confirmed case where someone on visa exempt was able to convert to ED.

Anybody else out there with experience (successful or otherwise) with this?

Another alternative would be just to convert to a tourist visa as that would give her enough time to complete the trimester and then leave the country to get a non-imm during the trimester break. Any experience doing that for a Cambodian national?

(Appreciate efforts to help with info on logistics of a visa run but not needed, we know all that. Just trying to decide if the cost plus sacrifice of what will amount to the first week of school is unavoidable).

[lopburi3]

There is no path to convert to tourist visa - only conversions allowed are to non immigrant entry in the process of obtaining extensions of stay. Unless qualified (or will be within time of visa) for extension of stay visas are not issued by immigration.

[Sheryl]

I see. Well, she'll be qualified for an extension of stay of she gets a non-imm visa, no question about that. So I guess the question goes back to whether or not she can convert to a non-imm visa from a visa exemption for reason iof study in a degree program at a government university.

The program she is in (international college of Mahidol) is very intense and operates on a trimester system of which there are 6 weeks of class left and to miss a full week of that would seriously set her back academically,. this is why I would like to avoid her leaving the country unless it is absolutely essential.

[Sheryl]

Just to update:

It is impossible, regardless of the circumstances, to convert a TVE to an ED visa.

She had to leave the country and get a new visa.

We considered Laos first as PP Embassy is slower, but after consulting a company which does visa trips to Laos were advised against it as they were unsure the Embassy in Ventiane would issue a visa for a Cambodian. (Appreciate very much their honesty and helpfulness!). So she came to Cambodia.

Through a Cambodia-based expat internet group, located an expediter able to get it done in 24 hours. If anyone needs the details, PM me. It does cost a bit extra, of course, and all it does is speed things up for people who meet all criteria for whatever type of visa they are requesting.