ED-visa: Changing Private Language Schools + Applying for 7-day extension

[blacksuitdandruff]

So it's that time of the year again where I have to pay a lump of money for a 12-month language class + visa.

Thing is I want to change schools.

Now I know that nowadays it take anywhere from 3-6 weeks to get the letter back from MOE, yes?

But I'm about a month out from the expiration of my current extension.

So I'm cutting it a bit close.

If so, my questions is this...

1) Will it take longer to get the letter back from MOE if I change schools versus staying at my current school? If so, how much longer potentially.

2) I heard of getting a 7-day extension if it looks like I cannot get the letter back in time - how does one do this? And what are the odds of the immigration officer granting me such an extension?

3) What documents will I need to change schools? I'm from the States btw, so I don't need the police certificate..

Another post on thaivisa stated...

1. Reference letter from last school.

2. Resignation letter from last school

3. If your visa expired before Thai course finished, you have to ask the documents from last school to extension at immigration.

Regarding #3 above, my visa expired July xx, 2013 but I got an (my last for the year) extension on that date....so do I need these documents? Are they the same documents that I need every 3 months to extend?

4) Lastly, (optional) why does it specifically take longer now to get a letter from MOE as opposed to say a year back? What happened? Backlog from too many students applying now? Or just a mystery?

Thank you.

[Mario2008]

Can only answer your question2:

Just go to immigration with your passport, (+copy) arrival card and passport photo and 1,900 baht to get an extra 7 days. Just ask for an extra 7 days. (Formerly it is not an extension, but you get 7 days in which immigration will decide that they will not give you an extension).

[ubonjoe]

The only difference in the documents you need for the extension is a letter from old school stating that you are no longer enrolled at their school on the date you plan on doing extension.

[blacksuitdandruff]

Can only answer your question2:

Just go to immigration with your passport, (+copy) arrival card and passport photo and 1,900 baht to get an extra 7 days. Just ask for an extra 7 days. (Formerly it is not an extension, but you get 7 days in which immigration will decide that they will not give you an extension).

Do the officers usually easily grant the extra 7 days or is it a crap shoot?

[ubonjoe]

Yes

Just explain to them what you are doing.