Changing O-Type Visa To Ed Visa?

[regretterien]

Hello, all. American here. I came into Thailand as a dependent on my father's visa, which expires 20 October, and he has since left the country. I'm studying in Bangkok, though, so I need to get an ED visa. At immigration (Chaengwattana), the officer told me that I need to go to Rayong and cancel the visa before it expires and then apply for the ED visa. However, in true Chaengwattana fashion, the "answers" I received were a little unclear.

So, my questions are:

- Will I have to leave the country at any point during the process? If so, where will I have to go, and approximately how much will it cost?

- What's the best way to get to Rayong immigration from Bangkok? From what I remember, it's in the middle of nowhere....

That's all I have for now, but any general advice would be welcomed. I really have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to anything besides the most basic of visa work.

Thanks in advance.

[regretterien]

I mean to say that my visa expires on the 20th of this month, not his.

[Mario2008]

You are a dependent of your father and as such, when your father's permission to stay ends so does yours. Since he has left the country, you might find that you are on overstay at 500 baht a day, with a maximum of 20,000 baht.

If you are on overstay, you will need to pay and leave the country to get an ED-visa. If not, they might allow you to change your reason for staying in the country to studying. But that means cancelling in rayong and applying in BKK.

For a new persmiion to stay you will need documents from the school, confirming that you are registerd with them. The school will now what documents are needed. if you need to elave the country and apply abroad, the school will also know which documents to give you.

[regretterien]

Thanks for your quick reply.

At Chaengwattana, they assured me that my visa did not automatically end when my father's was cancelled. I made a visit a couple of weeks prior to his departure, just to be sure.

As of now, my plan is to cancel the visa in Rayong and then take a trip to Laos to get the ED visa. Is this usually a relatively simple procedure?

And again, to anyone familiar with the area, what's the best way to reach Rayong immigration from BKK?

[Mario2008]

Good that it will not be a problem with overstay.

It seems they advised you to get a new visa from abroad, yes it is a relatively simple procedure. Just talk to the school and they will give you all the required paperwork to apply and can even tell you where you can best apply. No paperwork is no Ed-visa.

Lot's of busses to rayong, but not sure where immirgation is there. I believe it is a bit out of town in the industrial area. Someone else can better advise you regarding that.

[regretterien]

The advice actually came from a few of my fellow international students, who all seem to be more helpful when it comes to immigration matters than most of the actual immigration officers, haha. Glad to hear the trip isn't so bad, though.

Thanks again!

[Mario2008]

Here you can find some reports on getting a visa in the region: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/189375-latest-reports-of-getting-a-visa-in-the-region/

Look for Ed-visas and Laos.