9 weeks out of Thailand with an Education Visa: No problem!

[frimu]

Last Thursday I returned to Thailand after 9 weeks back home in Switzerland and other parts of Europe. I obtained my reentry permit in Chaeng Wattana along with my last 90 day extension of my 2nd year education visa to learn Thai.

When I came back I had a little panic due to one prior report.

But let me tell you this: I was stamped in as quickly as any normal tourist, that gets his 30 days.

No questions, no weird looks, no interrogation, no proof that I can speak Thai, no nothing.

Just felt like I wanted to add a positive report after all these reports stirring up panic.

I now tend to think, that there must be something else wrong in those cases, that had trouble.

[ubonjoe]

You have an extension of stay based upon attending school not a visa.

You have a surprise awaiting you when you get ready for your next extension. You will not get it. You will have to go out for new ED visa. New rules started on August 29th. You can only do one year total of extensions from the date you enter on a visa.

[frimu]

Hello Ubonjoe,

I know all that already because I read the forum.

And I have a one year ED visa, because I left Thailand after my first ED year and got the 2nd year visa in Savannakhet.

But thanks anyway for your advise. :-)

[ubonjoe]

The only way you could have a one year visa is if you had a multiple entry non-ed visa from an embassy or consulate and had to leave the country every 90 days.

All you have is paid up tuition for a year and approval by the MOE.

[frimu]

Well whatever...

I thought if I have a sticker in my passport, this then is a visa. But since I got the 90 days extension three times since then, I guess, I'm now on extension and currently the last one, after which I have to leave the country.

But isn't the result what counts? It allowed me to stay 360 days in Thailand, since I obtained that visa or not visa or extension or permit or whatever the heck. :-)

[ubonjoe]

A visa only allows you to enter the country and get a permit to stay. After you are in the country you are on a permit to stay not a visa. Your ED visa allowed you to get a 90 day permit to stay that you have been getting 90 day extensions of. So you are on a extension of stay not a visa.

I entered over 6 years ago on a non-o visa and have been getting one year extensions that will take me to where it will be over 7 years. Would it be correct for me to say have a 7 year non-o visa.

[Suradit69]

Well whatever...

I thought if I have a sticker in my passport, this then is a visa. But since I got the 90 days extension three times since then, I guess, I'm now on extension and currently the last one, after which I have to leave the country.

But isn't the result what counts? It allowed me to stay 360 days in Thailand, since I obtained that visa or not visa or extension or permit or whatever the heck. :-)

"But isn't the result what counts? It allowed me to stay 360 days in Thailand, since I obtained that visa or not visa or extension or permit or whatever the heck. :-)"

Sometimes it does make an important difference. In another thread someone who was here on an extension of stay for many years left the country for a holiday claiming his "visa" was valid until December 2014. He didn't have a visa he had an extension of stay. When he returned to Thailand without a re-entry permit or an actual visa, he only got a 30 day visa exempt entry. Had he understood he only had an extension of stay rather than a visa, he could have saved himself a whole lot of running around and hassle.

[gigman]

Yes, same with me...no problems leaving and coming back...under multi entry visa I have paid in Australia at Thai Embassy ...

And this is simple method and probably even cheapest. .compare to all other tricks which just a hassle in comparison

[theoldgit]

Nonsense post removed.

[ubonjoe]

A off topic inflammatory post has been removed.

[NativeSon360]

It was very nice of you to share your positive experience with others, on this forum. Thank you for that

However, gloating about it, while making a comparison with those foreigners, who may not have been as forunate as yourself, is both arrogant and judgemental. That was not very nice.

I personally know some very nice (pleasant personality) foreigners, who've had a "not-so-positive" experience with a RTI official, for some unfathomable reason. It's often just the "luck-of-the-draw", with your queue number. Kindly keep that in mind, in the future. Thank you,