Education Visa Without Leaving The Country

[marlboroman]

Hi,

Some of you folks sound like you know what your talking about when it comes to visas.

I applied for an education visa recently (to learn the Thai language) and took the option of paying a fee to avoid leaving the country so the visa could be issued directly to me by the Thai immigration authorities. From what I've heard this is not the normal way to do it but its a fully legitimate option although somewhat more expensive. It's much more convenient for me to do it this way.

The information that's coming back to me now seems to be that the visa might not be available using this method although no decision has been made at the moment.

Has anyone heard of any developments in this area recently ?

Thanks

MM

[lopburi3]

Paying what fee? A non immigrant visa should cost the same 2,000 baht anywhere (subject to currency adjustments) and extensions of stay cost 1,900 baht. Language study normally requires you exit country with paperwork to obtain a visa from a Consulate and return using that visa for entry.

[marlboroman]

Paying what fee?

The fee was quoted at 15,000 Baht for the one year education visa to be issued. I'm told this is not some under the counter deal and should be fully above board and in accordance with the regulations.

I've been talking to a number of different schools over the past few months and this offer appears to be available through them all.

[Lite Beer]

Looks dodgy to me.

[falang07]

It is still available, just ask the various visa agents.

[marlboroman]

It is still available, just ask the various visa agents.

I have, however recent information (from an agent) suggests that this might not be available anymore. This is why I'm checking here in case anyone has any more details or experience with this.

Perhaps I should call immigration myself just to clarify the situation.

If I need to travel to another country it's going to be very inconvenient for me.

[Fgis]

Paying what fee? A non immigrant visa should cost the same 2,000 baht anywhere (subject to currency adjustments) and extensions of stay cost 1,900 baht. Language study normally requires you exit country with paperwork to obtain a visa from a Consulate and return using that visa for entry.

Wonder why your reply is this one when you kno exactly that Pattaya immigration converts Tourist visa to ED visa without leaving the country for a fee (you told yourself in another thread that it is called VISA CONVERSION, not just VISA).

And I am not speaking about university studies, I am speaking about learning at standard Thai language school around Pattaya.

So the OP reply is YES, but maybe not in Bangkok.

Edited December 5, 2012 by Fgis

[lopburi3]

I know no such thing - such conversions are for retirement AFAIK. Although some will do for marriage also. Almost none will do for education unless full time study. Obviously paying someone 15,000 baht is not doing it at immigration and should be a huge red flag.

[TerryLH]

"If I need to travel to another country it's going to be very inconvenient for me."

Bummer.

[saengsureeya]

You will not get an ED-visa, but your permission of stay will be changed from whatever to an ED-based permission of stay.

It is possible to do this in Thailand at any immigration, but as with non-immigrant 'B'-visa (for teaching-purposes) you will be redirected to a consulate/embassy abroad.

THB 15,000 is probably THB 1,900 extension-fee and THB 13,100 tip for the immigration-officer involved.

[ubonjoe]

You will not get an ED-visa, but your permission of stay will be changed from whatever to an ED-based permission of stay.

It is possible to do this in Thailand at any immigration, but as with non-immigrant 'B'-visa (for teaching-purposes) you will be redirected to a consulate/embassy abroad.

THB 15,000 is probably THB 1,900 extension-fee and THB 13,100 tip for the immigration-officer involved.

If possible it would be a non immigrant visa issued by immigration with a 90 day permit to stay. But if possible it would only be done at certain immigration offices that have authority to do them. Near the end of that 90 days it would be would be then extended for 90 days or 1 year dependent upon the course of study enrolled in.

[visarunner]

Obviously this can be done, but I doubt the price is right.

I would stay away from such kind of offers.

[Mario2008]

1 post removed for commenting on moderation.

[TRiP]

It's inconvenient and costs money for all of us to have to leave the country. NokAir has a nice package at about 8000 Baht to fly you to Udonthani, put you on a bus to the boarder at Nong Khai, pick you up on the other side, take you into Vientiane and the reverse on your departure. Do it! The 15,000 Baht visa conversion sounds like a scam and you can't even be sure the visa is REAL that way. There ARE "visa services" offering visas that are fake and only discovered when you leave the country and have to pay the max fine for overstay.

[frimu]

For that money I treat myself to a lovely week / weekend outside of Thailand and enjoy that much more.

Paying what fee?

The fee was quoted at 15,000 Baht for the one year education visa to be issued. I'm told this is not some under the counter deal and should be fully above board and in accordance with the regulations.

I've been talking to a number of different schools over the past few months and this offer appears to be available through them all.

[pacovl46]

Paying what fee?

The fee was quoted at 15,000 Baht for the one year education visa to be issued. I'm told this is not some under the counter deal and should be fully above board and in accordance with the regulations.

I've been talking to a number of different schools over the past few months and this offer appears to be available through them all.

It might be more convenient this way, but a visa run to Laos for example will cost you less than half of what you'd have to pay for the "special" fee. It seems like a major rip off to me. And I'm not sure if it is legit either. As far as I know the laws says you have to apply for it at a consulate or an embassy outside Thailand. While they might be able to give you fake exit and entry stamps for Thailand they won't be able to do so for any other country. Therefore it's pretty obvious to anyone who goes through your passport that you obtained it from within Thailand, which might cause some problems down the road. If I was you I'd go to the immigration office in Bangkok myself and ask them about this. Worst case scenario, they'll tell you it's illegal and you'll have to do to a visa run. If it's legit then good for you, but I'd definitely check it out first rather than believing some language schools.

[Fgis]

No fake stamp and no leaving the country. Your visa is just converted to ED visa for a small few, just few thousands.... Of course paying 15000 is stupid.

[marlboroman]

No fake stamp and no leaving the country. Your visa is just converted to ED visa for a small few, just few thousands.... Of course paying 15000 is stupid.

If this is the case why do lots of people appear to travel to a different country to get an Ed visa ?

Are you saying that my already extended tourist visa can just be converted to an Ed visa which requires extending every 90 days ?

Leaving the country will cost 2x flights (2 people) plus up to 5 days in a good apartment or hotel which will come to around 35,000 Baht plus the visa costs. That's if I combine the foreign trip with an upcoming trip to Bangkok and excludes the costs of taxis to / from Bangkok which will cost another 4-5,000. If I go anywhere it will definitely be Phnom Penh where it can take a maximum of 5 days to get an Ed visa from what I've heard.

I would rather just pay the 15,000 and stay where I am instead of having to go through the above hassle which will cost much more. In the end it comes down to convenience and comfort. I also like to work with my laptop extensively (5+ hours per day) when I travel which limits the types of hotel that I can stay in. I need a reasonably sized workdesk and living area so it normally has to be a good 4/5 star hotel or preferably an apartment type of hotel.

[Mario2008]

Conversion to an ED-visa is normally not done and requires one submit an application at a Thai consulate in a neighbouring country. Normally apply day 1 and recieve day two, but in Cmbodia it takes 4 days.