1 Year ED Visa - TM7 90 day extension versus visa run?

[wattymo]

I am Australian here on a 1 year ED non-imm visa (I am sponsored by a university here) but am quite confused in relation to the 90 day/extension of stay rules.

Arrived on 17 January 2014 and my 1 year must begin from this date I am assuming; I plan to remain resident within the Kingdom for the full year.

I am assuming that I can either apply for an TM7 Extension of Stay every 90 days, or just go out and back in ("visa run") every 90 days to keep my residency entitlement? When I applied for the visa in Australia, the consular staff said I must leave every 90 days.

Are these two options completely mutually interchangeable from a rules and regulation standpoint? Obviously it's more expensive and time consuming to do the visa run, but I am planning to be away in April in any case so for the first 90 days this might make sense.

But at the same time, do I need to still get the TM7 Extension at Immigration Office even if I do the visa run?

In the subsequent 90 day stint (April-June) I don't necessarily want to have to do the visa run if I don't have to. I'd like to just apply for the extension in this period. Can I "mix and match" approaches on this across the year?

Also, do I need to register my residency in some way? People keep saying you need to register within 90 days but I can't find any information to that effect on the Forum.

Thanks :-)

[Mario2008]

With your current visa you have to lave Thailand every 90 days and can return the same day.

But on any 90 day entry you can apply for a 1 year extension of stay and that would allow you to stay for 1 year without leaving the country. For the extension you would require paperwork from the university (which your university should be familiar with). You apply for the 1 year extension during any last 30 day of a 90 day entry.

You can get a re-entry permit on that, allowing you to leave and return to Thailand while keeping your 1 year extension intact.

[ubonjoe]

You could apply for a one year extension of stay at immigration with documents from the University during the last 30 days of your current entry or any of your 90 entries. Then you would need to get a re-entry permit to keep your extension valid. You can get a single for 1000 baht or a multiple for 3800 baht.

You would also need to 90 day reports if you remain in the country that long.

You cannot mix the visa entries with the extension because you would loose the extension if you left and used your visa for an entry.

[aquario33]

usually you get either one year ED Visa in advance from Thai Embassy or Consulate so you MUST leave the country for every 90 days , but there is also another type that you get first 3 months after receiving you get extension another 3 months , then 6 months.Some institutions have agreements to get ONE YEAR straight from begin .You should ask the details refering to your ED Visa at the University and always get Re- Entry Permit before leaving Thailand otherwise you loose the whole Visa.

[Sophon]

Arrived on 17 January 2014 and my 1 year must begin from this date I am assuming

I'm afraid your assumption is wrong. The validity of your visa started on the date it was issued not when you first arrived in Thailand. The visa has an "Enter before" date stamped on it, and you cannot use the visa for entry into Thailand after that date.

Sophon

[cocopops]

It works like this:

1. The stamp in your passport that you paid $200+ for at the consulate or embassy is a visa. Your visa lasts for 1 year, starting from the day you obtained it.
   
2. If you attempt to enter Thailand while holding this visa, you will be granted a 90-day "permission to stay". Which means, as a university man like yourself will have surmised, that you have permission to remain within the Kingdom for 90 days. Starting from the day you entered.
   
   This works for as long as the visa is valid. So once you near the end of the first 90 day period, you could leave the country and re-enter. Upon re-entry you would be given another 90-day "permission to stay". Doing this is sometimes called a border run.
   
   So one option for you is just to make a few border runs during the year. You can make a border run on the last day of your visa's validity and still receive the full 90 days.
   
3. You can also apply to have a "permission to stay" extended. This requires taking a bunch of documents to immigration that your university will supply. They might extend it by 90 days, or they might extend it by a year. This is the only way to stay in the Kingdom without border runs.
   
   Tip: If there is somebody at your university responsible for preparing documents and helping you with immigration, liase with them early and give them lots of notice when you want to get the extension of stay. It can take surprisingly long to get docs from the Ministry of Education (if they have to do that) and it's best to book appointments with immigration literally months in advance.
   
4. No problem doing a few border runs then switching to getting an extension.

Confusion comes from missing the distinction between the visa and the permission to stay. The permission to stay is what matters in the end - the visa is really just a non-binding commitment on behalf of Thai immigration to give you a 90 day permission to stay when you show up at the door.

[wattymo]

All of these replies in their different ways are incredibly helpful, so thank you.

Especially helpful are the clear distinctions between visa and permission to stay which I think on the face of it must be a little confusing to all newbies in Thailand. The important differences are now really clear to me which is great. Thank you all.

Since I paid already for the multi-entry one year ED Visa, and since I want to take some time to travel to Laos and Cambodia etc, it seems the most efficient/effective way is to just leave and return every 90 days and activate a new 0- day permission to stay each time.

Thanks!

[mataleo]

Hi. I hear from people they get 1 year extensions. I got friend in samui she had to show 100k in bank and she got 1 year extension and not need leave thailand or go to immigration every 3 months.

ED visa.

In pattaya i was told that extension like this cost 14k

And my friend in samui paid 5k

Can someone tell what is it and how much?

[ubonjoe]

If you enroll in a course of study that has enough hours to be considered full time you can get a one year extension of stay. Those attending classes at a University get one year extensions.

The 5000 baht fee for an extension in Samui is often is asked for. People that are aware that it is not proper fee do not pay it.

The 14k in Pattaya sounds like something paid to an agent.

[mataleo]

If you enroll in a course of study that has enough hours to be considered full time you can get a one year extension of stay. Those attending classes at a University get one year extensions.

The 5000 baht fee for an extension in Samui is often is asked for. People that are aware that it is not proper fee do not pay it.

The 14k in Pattaya sounds like something paid to an agent.

U big help mate. .. bless

thats what school in pattaya says that for 14k they able to get immigration give 1 year stamp...

And its big school.

So normaly i could go to immigration jomtien and apply for it myself and pay immigration fee?

friend in samui paid 5k to school so i guess school toped it up...

But 14k sounds expensive isnt it

[ubonjoe]

If you enroll in a course of study that has enough hours to be considered full time you can get a one year extension of stay. Those attending classes at a University get one year extensions.

The 5000 baht fee for an extension in Samui is often is asked for. People that are aware that it is not proper fee do not pay it.

The 14k in Pattaya sounds like something paid to an agent.

U big help mate. .. bless

thats what school in pattaya says that for 14k they able to get immigration give 1 year stamp...

And its big school.

So normaly i could go to immigration jomtien and apply for it myself and pay immigration fee?

friend in samui paid 5k to school so i guess school toped it up...

But 14k sounds expensive isnt it

If the documents from the school and the MOE meet the requirements for a one year extension immigration will grant it. And you would pay1900 baht fee.

I have no idea what 14k is for. It does sound high but it depends upon what you get or it. Perhaps it is for more hours of study.