Hello,

Here is an overview of my experience applying for a 2nd ED Visa this week in Vientiane, just in case it is of use to anyone.

Visa Background:

I had an ED Visa for 3 years which expired in October 2013. (Yes, I attended classes regularly. No my Thai is not very good - yet)

Since my ED expired I have had 1 30 day tourist visa from Maesai, a double entry from Vientiane and a triple entry tourist visa (extended 1x) issued in the USA, all intermingled with 3 short trips back to the States of 4 to 10 days each.

4 weeks ago I was given such a hard time using my second entry of my triple entry tourist visa in Rayong that I was hesitant to even try to use the third.

I decided to apply for a second ED visa, as I need the Thai practice anyway. FYI: I am retired but a mere 48.5 years old, so I truly do not work in Thailand, only spend.

Vientiane:

I drove to BKK and flew to Vientiane on Sunday – No questions or comments from immigration when I left Swampy

On Monday morning when I turned in my paperwork, the lady looked skeptical and my heart fluttered a bit. Then she commanded – “Need new photo! Go Upstairs!”

Apparently I have change a lot in the 3.5 weeks since the other photo was taken. When I returned with my photos, she said. “Need passport copy! Go Upstairs!” I guess my passport evolved in 3.5 weeks as well, but heaven knows I was determined to be the most agreeable person ever. That satisfied her and I went inside to pay.

Tuesday afternoon I picked up my new ED Visa – arriving at 1:30 and having my number (136) called about 2:15. There were no issues and I headed for the airports.

When I arrived back in Thailand it seemed that the immigration officer at the airport flipped through my pages for an eternity. However that could just be a time warp caused by my being sure he was about to force me to move. He did not. He stamped my passport for 90 days and that was it.

Whew!

Random Notes from the Thai Consulate:

On Monday I arrived at the consulate at 8:05. The line was about 1 block long and growing rapidly.

Gates opened at 8:30 as always.

I got to the front of the line about 9:15

I was given a queue number of two hundred and sixty something. We were called to line up at the application windows in blocks of 10. My number black was called to turn in our paperwork at 11:50 am.

The line to get a queue number kept going as late as 10:15. When I left just after 12 noon the entire grassy area behind the covered chairs was filled with backpacks and people drinking beer. It looked like of a tragically boring rock concert on the green.

The highest queue number I saw was 597. This was a lady who arrived and hour later than the rest of her group, because when she crossed at the friendship bridge she had 3 days of overstay and was pulled aside by customs for an hour.

I would estimate that Tuesday’s crowd was just as big. When I picked up my visa in the afternoon there were no people in the grass, however, every single seat was full of people still waiting to turn in their applications from the morning.

One concerning point was that the man in line behind me had just finished with his 1^st work visa, was done with his jobs and decided to get his 1st tourist visa to travel around Thailand before heading back to the UK. His application was denied for not having a verification of residence. Yes, that is contrary to traveling - heads-up anyway

And finally, I would like to thank all those people dressed in utterly inappropriate clothes for a consulted. I myself opted for a mixed look of business casual/middle-aged nerd with all tattoos covered and it helped this shyer gal feel a bit more confident knowing that you were making me look like the better option. Even if it was a purely physiological boost – it helped! Cheers!

Reminder – The consulate is closed next week on the 12^th.

Hope some of this information is helpful to someone out there.

Best of luck everyone!

Were you tested during any of those 3 years?

Funny... the same thing happened to me. A lady demanded a new photo upstairs! Photo Nazi

Were you tested during any of those 3 years?

As I recall I was only asked to write my name in Thai once. I spelled it wrong - a mistake I will never make again.

sorry mate but after 3 years your thai sucks means either you aint trying or your teacher sucks

Really u are immersed in Thai, Tv Radio people around you

Nolak - Im in a similar spot to you so I have a few questions:

What school were you at for the first 3 years?

Is this new ED visa back at this same school?

Is there not a restriction on the number of years you can study Thai and/or at one school? Was this not mentioned to you by anyone?

sorry mate but after 3 years your thai sucks means either you aint trying or your teacher sucks

Really u are immersed in Thai, Tv Radio people around you

Must have bought Elite card and realized what an epic waste of money it was?

It must be terrible to go through that every 3 months!! Really feel for expats living in Thailand and feeling so unwelcome

sorry mate but after 3 years your thai sucks means either you aint trying or your teacher sucks

Really u are immersed in Thai, Tv Radio people around you

Thank you for your quick negative response. I should ignore it, but I just cannot help myself. I did not say my Thai sucks. I said I am not very good - yet. That is would be a matter of perspective and you do not know me. We are all wired differently and learn different things at different speeds. My report was made in an effort to be helpful and to give a bit of feedback about an experience many are wondering about this week. Stay on topic and please judge me only when I put up a post titled 'Please Judge Me.'

Reactions like your is why many of us shyer types (again wired differently) do not bother to post reports even when they may be of use to others. Use the info or do not, but don't be rude.

Nolak - Im in a similar spot to you so I have a few questions:

What school were you at for the first 3 years?

Is this new ED visa back at this same school?

Is there not a restriction on the number of years you can study Thai and/or at one school? Was this not mentioned to you by anyone?

Hi Dave,

On my pervious ED Visa I went to the most popular chain school in Chiang Mai (not naming names) the first year and Pro Language the 2nd 2 years. Pro Language's teaching style and environment was a better fit for my personal learning style. To each their own. I now live in the south and am registered at a school in Hua Hin that was recommended by my neighbor. As for current restriction on years, like you I read and hear all sorts of rules, but have no first hand knowledge so I will not ad to the confusion of the changing regulations. I can say that during my trip to Lao, no one mentioned the change. Of course the consulate and airport was very busy and loud. I think it is a conversation best had at both the immigration and the school of your choosing.

I hope it all works out for you.

Were you tested during any of those 3 years?

Funny... the same thing happened to me. A lady demanded a new photo upstairs! Photo Nazi

I was told to go upstairs for a photo too, by an elderly lady. Had to wear a white shirt, another method for extracting more money.

Unfortunately, I think you have to do the trip again in mid October. Everybody has to now reapply after the next 3 month renewal date after 29th of August. My school started the paper work today for me. So if you just got your ED last month, you have to do the trip again late October.

sorry mate but after 3 years your thai sucks means either you aint trying or your teacher sucks

Really u are immersed in Thai, Tv Radio people around you

The funny thing about this comment is that is copied verbatim from another one on a similar subject yesterday.

Try to be fastidious with more originality a next time,

Excellent info. Thanks for sharing

Unfortunately, I think you have to do the trip again in mid October. Everybody has to now reapply after the next 3 month renewal date after 29th of August. My school started the paper work today for me. So if you just got your ED last month, you have to do the trip again late October.

Just got the visa yesterday, but if that is the case it would be truly disappointing.

Edited August 6, 201411 yr by NolaK

Unfortunately, I think you have to do the trip again in mid October. Everybody has to now reapply after the next 3 month renewal date after 29th of August. My school started the paper work today for me. So if you just got your ED last month, you have to do the trip again late October.

No, only people with a visa older than one year must renew it.

Unfortunately, I think you have to do the trip again in mid October. Everybody has to now reapply after the next 3 month renewal date after 29th of August. My school started the paper work today for me. So if you just got your ED last month, you have to do the trip again late October.

No, only people with a visa older than one year must renew it.

Thank you. I suspected as much, but as fast as things change here I just go and do what needs done. (My older sister is getting quite a kick out of me wanting desperately to turn 50.)

I was told to go upstairs for a photo too, by an elderly lady. Had to wear a white shirt, another method for extracting more money.

From my experience this is just common practice, even for Thais:

Students in photos for student related documents are always required to wear a white shirt...?

Edited August 6, 201411 yr by alex_4000

NolaK

Good report with relevant and concise information.

Thanks for taking the time out to share. I for one appreciate it.

I am staggered some guys on TV somehow feel the need, to use good posts such as these as target practice.....

Good job Nolak, thank you.

When and where in the States did you get a triple?

Unfortunately, I think you have to do the trip again in mid October. Everybody has to now reapply after the next 3 month renewal date after 29th of August. My school started the paper work today for me. So if you just got your ED last month, you have to do the trip again late October.

Just wondering why most people have the school do paperwork for them. Is it difficult or need to be written in Thai? I often see "free Ed visa with extended tuition" offered but in reality, what are they doing for you that is not free already? And why would the paperwork only be "started today" and not completed in fifteen minutes or an hour of however long it takes. Does it take days to complete? Weeks? Is there a minimum length of payed tuition that must be paid before applying for an ED? I am considering schools now and this information might be useful.

Thanks in advance.

Just wondering why most people have the school do paperwork for them. Is it difficult or need to be written in Thai? I often see "free Ed visa with extended tuition" offered but in reality, what are they doing for you that is not free already? And why would the paperwork only be "started today" and not completed in fifteen minutes or an hour of however long it takes. Does it take days to complete? Weeks? Is there a minimum length of payed tuition that must be paid before applying for an ED? I am considering schools now and this information might be useful.

Thanks in advance.

They sent the papers to ministry of education and it takes 2-3 weeks. The application needs school related officially approved papers, so you cannot just do it yourself.

sorry mate but after 3 years your thai sucks means either you aint trying or your teacher sucks

Really u are immersed in Thai, Tv Radio people around you

He is dyslexic perhaps, KO!

I know plenty of people who did Math(s) at school for 10 years who still can't add nor recite a 12x table.

Also being immersed!

I myself managed a few years of French schooling and only achieved 'useless', Je ne sais pas pourquoi.

The topic is really about getting a visa.

When and where in the States did you get a triple?

I got my triple a the Denver Consulate. Their was a great lady there who has apparently been working at that consulate for a long time. Unfortunately she was about to retire. I hope someone just as helpful and quick came in to replace her.

One thing I did not mention above was that I was not asked to show verification of funds at any point during my visa trip. That does not mean you should not be prepared, but I may have gone overboard. My son and his wife were asked to show 30k at Maesia the week before so I had cash, credit cards and bank books in hand. I do not feel particular safe traveling with it all in one place, then I was never asked. In addition the airport did not have any signs up, like Maesia does, warning travelers to expect to show the funds.

Big ques in vientiane? ?

Mostly on Thursday and Monday

I went on Wednesday and had small queue but when i picked up passport on Thursday the queue from morning was in the 600 hundreds, so looks like i picked the right day, mine was like 100 people and i was 11th in line at 730am

What would be reasonably good time to turn up on monday to apply? 7am?

They open it at 8am right?

Were you tested during any of those 3 years?

Funny... the same thing happened to me. A lady demanded a new photo upstairs! Photo Nazi

I was told to go upstairs for a photo too, by an elderly lady. Had to wear a white shirt, another method for extracting more money.

Do they gave u white shirt?