Hi everyone,

Things between my wife and myself have gone pear shaped as of late and we will be getting a divorce.

I'm currently on a Non-Imm O visa with a 60 Day extension that expires at the end of next month. I've been looking at Thai Language Schools that offer Non-Ed visas.

Will I need to leave the country to get a new visa or would I be able to convert at Immigration?

ps. I'm currently staying in Koh Samui, so I would prefer to do everything here on the island.

You can try to get the extension based on your education. You first need to select a school anyway and the school should be abe to tell you if that is a real possibility.

I am quite sure you will have to leave to obtain an ED visa for language school from a consulate but as said ask them. You will need there paperwork to obtain in any case.

the problem in the past was that the school had to apply to the Education Ministry to supply a letter requesting a visa be issued, however the ministry letter was always addressed to embassies and consulates (Foreign Ministry) not to Immigration Police (Interior Ministry) thus while the Immigration offices in Bangkok had the authority to issue such a visa they would not accept the supplied letter because it was not addressed to them and thus could not issue the visa and the schools always claimed the Education Ministry would not change their standard letter, thus applicants already in Thailand always had to leave the country to apply!

the situation may have changed by know - as advised check with your school

bkkguy

Edited November 25, 201213 yr by bkkguy1970

don't know if this helps, but I'm brand new and staying in Bangkok for a bit. I went to inquire at a language school about instruction and they started talking to me about getting my visa handled. Since I already have a visa for a year I didn't need the Education visa so I told them I didn't need that assistance.

My point is that there was a bit of evidence there that the school could be very helpful.

Thanks everyone, I'm going to go see a few language schools and inquire about doing the visa conversion.

A conversion is not required since you already have a non immigrant visa entry. You will just apply for an extension of stay based upon going to school which should not be a problem with visa entry you have now.