5 days a week, 4 hours a day studying to get ED Visa?!

[tempt90]

Hello,

I just got off the phone with the Thai Embassy in Germany.

I asked them about the procedure to get the ED visa, where the person told me I have to study at least 4 hours everyday, 5 days a week.

When I told her I have problems finding a school that offers this, I was told it is at least 5 hours a day for 3 days a week.

Now my question is:

Am I being lied to? Why?

Is a school available to study that much? (I would be willing to do it, because I actually want to learn thai)

If so, do you have any recommondations?

Sincerely,

a guy that wants to live at least a year in bangkok.

[Mario2008]

Embassies and consulate often set their won rules, apparently they have set this rule to prevent abuse of the ED-visa.

Other Thai consulates are much less strict and I would suggest contacting one of the honorary Thai consulates.

Immigration in Thailand will give an extension if you study 4 hours a week.

[rgs2001uk]

UTL language school Times Square Bkk, opposite Robinsons Suk soi 19, is just school off the top of my head.

There is another in The Trendy building Suk soi 13 offers the same.

How hard have you actually looked?

Both these schools charge about 6k per month, works out at 100 baht per hour.

I have studied at both of them, well worth it, if you are serious about learning Thai.

If you just want a visa, there are probably better/cheaper alternatives.

[craigp]

Why don't you just apply for a tourist visa in Germany, then sort out a school when you get here, apply for the ED visa, (The school will do almost everything for you) and then you only have to study 4 hours a week. That's what I did.

[arthurwait]

Can you join 2 schools ?

[tempt90]

UTL language school Times Square Bkk, opposite Robinsons Suk soi 19, is just school off the top of my head.

There is another in The Trendy building Suk soi 13 offers the same.

How hard have you actually looked?

Both these schools charge about 6k per month, works out at 100 baht per hour.

I have studied at both of them, well worth it, if you are serious about learning Thai.

If you just want a visa, there are probably better/cheaper alternatives.

Thanks for the recommondations. I wrote them an email and will see how much they can help me.

Embassies and consulate often set their won rules, apparently they have set this rule to prevent abuse of the ED-visa.

Other Thai consulates are much less strict and I would suggest contacting one of the honorary Thai consulates.

Immigration in Thailand will give an extension if you study 4 hours a week.

I will contact one of the honorary consulates, thank you.

Why don't you just apply for a tourist visa in Germany, then sort out a school when you get here, apply for the ED visa, (The school will do almost everything for you) and then you only have to study 4 hours a week. That's what I did.

Did you do the same? I heard I have to leave Thailand to get my ED Visa after I entered it with a Tourist visa, and I am scared that the whole visa crackdown will deny me entry if I try that (because it will be certainly after the 12. August).

Can you join 2 schools ?

I dont know. Can I? I probably can, but is the consulate happy with it? Because it seems like I would be probably learning the same stuff, as I am a beginner with the thai language, it doesnt make sense to have 2 different courses.

[ubonjoe]

Were you asking about a single or multiple entry ED visa? This page on embassy website mentions nothing about needing anything more than a letter from school and does not mention any number of hours needed.. http://www.thaiembassy.de/de/menu-consular/how-to-apply-for-a-visa

Coming in on a single entry tourist would be enough time to get enrolled in a school and then you would go out for a ED visa. Don't be concerned about the "crackdown" unless you have a long history of multiple visa exempt entries or tourist visas from nearby locations.

[MikeN]

Why don't you just apply for a tourist visa in Germany, then sort out a school when you get here, apply for the ED visa, (The school will do almost everything for you) and then you only have to study 4 hours a week. That's what I did.

Did you do the same? I heard I have to leave Thailand to get my ED Visa after I entered it with a Tourist visa, and I am scared that the whole visa crackdown will deny me entry if I try that (because it will be certainly after the 12. August).

this is what I did...come on a tourist visa, check out the schools (it's no good judging them long distance!), get your chosen school to fill out the paperwork, then just go to Vientianne for a couple of days, get the visa and return. If you have all the paperwork from the school, with MOE approval, then no worries about the visa

[craigp]

Why don't you just apply for a tourist visa in Germany, then sort out a school when you get here, apply for the ED visa, (The school will do almost everything for you) and then you only have to study 4 hours a week. That's what I did.

Did you do the same? I heard I have to leave Thailand to get my ED Visa after I entered it with a Tourist visa, and I am scared that the whole visa crackdown will deny me entry if I try that (because it will be certainly after the 12. August).

this is what I did...come on a tourist visa, check out the schools (it's no good judging them long distance!), get your chosen school to fill out the paperwork, then just go to Vientianne for a couple of days, get the visa and return. If you have all the paperwork from the school, with MOE approval, then no worries about the visa

MikeN is right. You will need to leave the country, but only for two days as he said. Then you'll have your ED visa when you return to Thailand. Ask Walen for all the information if you're unsure.

[tempt90]

Did you do the same? I heard I have to leave Thailand to get my ED Visa after I entered it with a Tourist visa, and I am scared that the whole visa crackdown will deny me entry if I try that (because it will be certainly after the 12. August).

this is what I did...come on a tourist visa, check out the schools (it's no good judging them long distance!), get your chosen school to fill out the paperwork, then just go to Vientianne for a couple of days, get the visa and return. If you have all the paperwork from the school, with MOE approval, then no worries about the visa

MikeN is right. You will need to leave the country, but only for two days as he said. Then you'll have your ED visa when you return to Thailand. Ask Walen for all the information if you're unsure.

Thank you guys! But what about the price for the whole ordeal? When I arrive im on a pretty tight budget the first month. I have planned about 25k baht for the school and another 15k~ for the travel to Vientianne.