Tourist Visa & ED Visa

[LWHalket]

Hi,

I'm looking for a bit of advice regarding my tourist visa and the possibility of a educational visa.

I am british, 26 years old and currently here in Thailand on a 60 day tourist visa (looking to extend that to a 90 day) but I am looking to study here.

Should I try extend my tourist visa to the 90 days and then look into getting a ED visa or should I just try to get an ED visa now? Also if and when I extend my current visa from the 60 to the 90 days do I need to do a run......same goes for if and when I change from a tourist visa to a ED visa?

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you.

[lopburi3]

You need the school paperwork to obtain an ED visa so if that will not be available extension for 30 days may be your best option. But if available an exit to obtain the visa might be better (assume you do not mean full time study at major university that might allow conversion inside Thailand).

[LWHalket]

I am currently just starting to looking into where to study etc so I'm not sure yet although no i wasn't thinking about full time study at a major university initially, but it's not out the question, what would that gain me......visa wise?

I'm 30 days into my 60 day visa so far so I just want to get this sorted ASAP.

[ubonjoe]

You do the 30 day extension at immigration.

You have almost 2 months without needing to leave for another visa so you have a lot of time to decide.

Visa wise study at a university would gain you nothing. But for extensions of stay it could mean a 12 month extension vs a 90 day.

[lopburi3]

For only visa you likely only want part time study - University study could be advantageous for lifetime and social and can sometimes allow conversions within country and normally each extension would be for one year - part time is normally only 90 day extensions.

[LWHalket]

I am looking to be here long term so an 12 month extension is appealing to me, gives me more time to look for work for the future as well.

Thanks for the information guys, I appreciate it.

If I were to part time study and get an extension of 90 days, how many extensions can I get, consecutively or not?

[lopburi3]

It depends on the study/school qualification but normally counted in years and a change of study could change that count.

[LWHalket]

Ok, thank you.

I will have to decide on what I am going to study first before I make my next move.

Thanks again.