I want to apply for an educational visa. I am living in Phichit with my thai GF but am new to the area(only here a month) and don't know any forangs here yet :-o. Phichit is within driving distance to Phitsanulok and i assume i would have to go there to enroll in thai language school as the part of phichit i'm staying in is very rural. I know all about how the education visas work already from advice i've recieved from expats i know in samui. But unfortunately i am not very well connected up North and was hoping somebody could advise me on an honest thai language school in phitsanulok or phichit where i could apply for an educational visa. I've been coming to thailand for 5 years so know a reasonable amount of thai already. So am really looking for an educational visa with a language school for the usually 4 hours a week without having to leave Thailand every 90 days. Any advice would be much appreciated...

I don't think you will find a Thai language school there. The only schools that I know of are in major cities with a large expat population.

You could check the website of the schools that sponsor this forum. Some offer classes by Skype or online but you might have to make to trips to Chiang Mai for some classroom study or exams.

I am not aware of any Thai language schools in Phitsanulok but Norman at AUA Language (teach english) school may be able to recommend a place. Google them and give him a call.

Marry the GF, problem solved

Keep in mind that you are not limited to studying Thai, as long as the course is recognized (which the school can tell you).

Thanks for all the advice guys. I will try ask Norman from AUA Language.and if that fails look into doing a non-thai language course, it's a shame i would really like to improve my thai. Does anyone know someone that has done a non-thai language course outside of the large cities for the purposes of an Education visa? will it have a simlar amount of hours like 4 hours a week and a similar cost of 20-25k?

With regards marrying the thai GF. this could be on the cards for further down the line however it seems from what i've read a marriage visa doesn't make things very easy to stay in Thailand at all. I'm living off savings at the moment, my GF's house has not been officially changed to her name. So can not show a proper joint income or house book, i think? also it seems you have to leave every 90 days even with a marriage visa, no? Unfortunately i'm a long way away from being valid for the retirement visa too

You can obtain a non immigrant O visa for marriage, single or multi entry, but have to leave every 90 days for a new 90 day entry. If you have 400k in your name in bank account two months you can then extend for one year periods and no exit required - or if working proof of 40k per month income. It is not joint income in any case. Your GF will be on a housebook somewhere (most likely parents) and that is all that is required for marriage extensions in that regard - she does not have to own her own house.

For marriage to a Thai there are two options. There is no such thing as a marriage visa.

The best is a one year extension of stay upon marriage to a Thai lady. You have to be able to show an income of 40K baht a month or have 400K baht in a Thai bank for 60 days. The income can only be yours and money in bank must be in your name only. The wife does not have to have a house book of her own. She only needs to be listed as a resident in on a house book.

2nd option is getting a multiple entry o-visa based upon marriage from a Thai embassy or consulate. This visa would require you to make border runs every 90 days for a new entry.

Edited April 19, 201313 yr by ubonjoe

OP, Naresuan University in Phitsanulok may have something of interest.

Ok thanks alot for the good advice. Before hand i thought the 400k in a thai bank account was only for retirement visas didn't know this was an option instead of having the 40k monthly income for a visa based upon marriage.

Will look into OP, Naresuan University also. What does OP stand for?

Think i will have to try getting one more tourist visa as i only have a month left, including the extension. This will give me more time to consider my options and then organize either a education visa or try an arrange to have 400k in my thai bank account for 60 days to apply for a one-year extension based on marriage

Ok thanks alot for the good advice. Before hand i thought the 400k in a thai bank account was only for retirement visas didn't know this was an option instead of having the 40k monthly income for a visa based upon marriage.

Will look into OP, Naresuan University also. What does OP stand for?

Think i will have to try getting one more tourist visa as i only have a month left, including the extension. This will give me more time to consider my options and then organize either a education visa or try an arrange to have 400k in my thai bank account for 60 days to apply for a one-year extension based on marriage

OP = Original Poster, the person who started the thread.

You can get an extension of 60 days based on visiting Thai wife without showing funds in bank.

I'm located in Phitsanulok and I'm not aware of any private schools that are providing Thai language courses for foreigners...but they might be.

As another member specified previously, I think the best option would be to contact Naresuan University in Phitsanulok. Maybe Naresuan University offers Thai language courses for foreigners or can provides you some information. I know they offer Thai cooking courses and Thai massages courses for foreigners so they're chances they offer Thai language courses as well.

Good luck with your search