Ed-visa: I'm In Thailand. Must Get Ed Soon

[joeyoeyey]

Greetings again Visa gods,

First, thanks for all the previous help with getting me into the country (my first post on the forum) and getting me to the border of Cambodia and back (my second hurried post).

I'm back! All thanks to the continued antics of my employer, I have returned again with the stakes raised even higher. Here's a bit of back ground, scroll down to skip to the urgent problem.

--START BACKGROUND--

Profile: 21, USA undergrad student (3rd year), male (with a dashing smile!)

Purpose of coming to Thailand: University grant to film a documentary and intern Teaching English

Intended Length of stay: 6 months

Catostrophic ######-up: I didn't get an Ed visa (or ANY visa for that matter) before arriving on Thai soil. I take most of the blame for my negligence, yet my internship supervisor in Thailand also made NO mention of any sort of special visa needed for my stay, which is odd since such a visa requires plenty of documents from the Thai institution involved, as well as my Uni.

So it's been about 2 months and I'm here, in Thailand on round 2 of a non-visa, 30-day entry stamp. Why? 30-days in my employer assured me we could iron everything out INSIDE the country concerning my Ed visa. All she needed was a bit more time. Ok, I make a run to Ban Laem, 30 more days. Oh, and I was instructed NOT to attempt to get a tourist visa.

Employer finally comes around today crying that despite valiant efforts, neither an Ed visa nor Tourist visa may be obtained through Thai Immigration (whaddya know!).

--END BACKGROUND--

So, I have all the papers possible from my Uni, the Thai school, etc. My options, as I meager as I see them, are as follow:

1. Lao: Try to wing it and head for Ventiane. Apply for an Ed visa and pray they make an exception for me, despite their rich history of turning hoards of hopeful farangs. $

2. Penang: Fly, Train or Bus to Penang. I've heard these folks are more generous than Lao, but getting there is the problem. I believe to drive/train would involve plowing through the war zone that is South Thailand. Any idea if this is safe? Feasibly, my girlfriend and I could then stop at the beach for a day or two before continuing on to Malaysia. $$

3. Singapore or beyond: The most expensive and cumbersome choice, we buy tickets to singapore and apply for an Ed visa in Sing-city, merlions and all. I suppose it's one way to spend a weekend... and a lot of money. $$$$

Who'll offer me my best chances at obtaining an Non-Imm Ed class visa?

Non-imm B/O: No-diploma yet, Mai daai!

Tourist Visa: Sketchy, though it might be the only option if i don't get Ed.

Forgive me for the lengthy post. I plyed the archives for atleast 45 min. before dropping this one, hopefully others will benefit from my follies!

//email removed//

[joeyoeyey]

So I've narrowed it down to penang...

I wonder, has anyone experience or heard of the consulate in Penang granting an non-Imm Education visa? This is quite a rare/bizarre request to make of them, what are my odds?

Also, another rare question: It is possible to EXTEND the 30-day nonvisa pass to up to 10 days by going to immigration... anyone know how much Baht this'll run me?

Edited July 3, 2006 by joeyoeyey

[Tywais]

So I've narrowed it down to penang...

I wonder, has anyone experience or heard of the consulate in Penang granting an non-Imm Education visa? This is quite a rare/bizarre request to make of them, what are my odds?

Not sure why you think it would be odd for them. I received a non-ed from them but it was several years ago. Just the letter(s) from the school was all I needed. Of course things change and seem to cycle from easy to hard to easy. Don't know which cycle immigration is in now.

[lopburi3]

Any extension of stay costs 1,900 baht.