The Visa Timer

[neverdie]

Thank you, Maestro. I can't imagine taking a leap this big without all of the organization and planning. I don't know how people just up and move half way around the world on a moments notice. I've been planning this for the better part of a year now.

Failing to plan is like planning to fail.

Good luck with you upcoming adventure & complete change of lifestyle. It will be great thing for your son to experience. Keep us updated on how it all goes.

[Bellacissa]

So, despite my meticulous planning, I've been caught up in the ED requirement changes. I just received this from my school when I asked about the new 4 days x 2 hours requirement:

"In the document with Thai Course outline we made it 2 hour per day, 2 days per week and period 200 hour with ED Visa 1 year and approved by Ministry Of Education. This is standard for Private School. We used it long time ago for ED Visa. We can not change it easy and quickly. So, if consulate they not give a Visa. You must come to Thailand first then go to get ED Visa in Laos. But you need to bring document back with you to Thailand. Don't worried about that just try and let see."

So, the question becomes, if when I go to the consulate here in Dallas, they deny the visa based on the requirement changes, what kind of visa do I need to get? Keep in mind that this is for myself and my 13 year old son, so I want to be sure that whatever happens, I don't do anything that will jeopardize us legally getting to or staying in Thailand long enough to get this all sorted out.

So, do I get a tourist visa for us both while I'm at the consulate? Just get a visa exempt stamp on arrival (this might be complicated by the fact that we won't have return tickets)? Some other visa I don't know about yet?

[paz]

Most likely the consulate in Dallas have not changed their regulations.

You other best alternative would be a triple entry tourist visa.

[Bellacissa]

Thanks, paz. So the triple entry can be converted to a Non-O with a border run to Laos once the paperwork is straightened out, right?

[ubonjoe]

Most embassies and consulates will not be applying the requirements to get an en extension of stay that immigration or the MOE sets to get a single entry ED visa. They will leave that up to immigration to enforce.

Most do not even ask for the hours of study now and will not be changing it.

[Bellacissa]

Most embassies and consulates will not be applying the requirements to get an en extension of stay that immigration or the MOE sets to get a single entry ED visa. They will leave that up to immigration to enforce.

Most do not even ask for the hours of study now and will not be changing it.

Excellent. Dallas is known to be one of the "nice" consulates, so hopefully it will all work out. Will it affect my first extension of stay, though? Nothing like having trouble at immigration to ruin your day.

[paz]

Thanks, paz. So the triple entry can be converted to a Non-O with a border run to Laos once the paperwork is straightened out, right?

No conversion, with a tourist visa you can stay almost 9 months in country, after these are done you would need a new visa.

Otherwise you can ask if can receive a multiple-entry ED visa.