Change Ext.of Stay from BOI (non B) to ED - without leaving

[lunakanoa]

Hi everyboday,

I tried to find an answer, but I'm still not sure about my case:

The facts:

I now have a Non B- Visa (exp. End of this month), and I have an extension of stay - BOI (exp. July next year), cause I'm working at BOI-Company.

I will quit my work, so my workpermit and the reason for extension is not valid anymore.

I have heard, that it is possible to change the "reason" for extension of stay to another "reason" (in my case education) without leaving the country, just to go to immigration office. (I dont mean change Visa to Visa, just extension of stay.)

Is that right? Or do I have to leave and apply for an ED-Visa outside?

Some experience about that?

Thanks for all helpful comments :-)

[ubonjoe]

It could be possible but getting the documents from a school that would be needed can take several weeks to get now.

If you had the documents to do it you would have to cancel you current extension of stay and apply for the one based upon attending school on the same day. If you got the extension at the one stop center that would mean canceling the extension there and then going to Chaeng Wattana to apply for the new one on the same day.

[lunakanoa]

Thank you ubonjoe

I forgot to tell, that I stay in Chiang Mai. I never heard about a "one stop center". Is something similar here in Chiang Mai? Just thought it is immigration office, I have to go...

So, if I got all the papers from school (they said, they will need 2 weeks), I can quit on that day and go - the next day - to "one stop center" for the changing process?

Did I understand that right?

Thanks again :-)

[paz]

Thank you ubonjoe

I forgot to tell, that I stay in Chiang Mai. I never heard about a "one stop center". Is something similar here in Chiang Mai? Just thought it is immigration office, I have to go...

So, if I got all the papers from school (they said, they will need 2 weeks), I can quit on that day and go - the next day - to "one stop center" for the changing process?

You can certainly try at CM immigration but I would not be optimistic. They may insist that you have a new non-imm ED visa to give an extension for reason of study.

[ubonjoe]

Thank you ubonjoe

I forgot to tell, that I stay in Chiang Mai. I never heard about a "one stop center". Is something similar here in Chiang Mai? Just thought it is immigration office, I have to go...

So, if I got all the papers from school (they said, they will need 2 weeks), I can quit on that day and go - the next day - to "one stop center" for the changing process?

Did I understand that right?

Thanks again :-)

The one stop is only in Bangkok.

You need to make sure the school gives you documents for an extension of stay not a visa from the embassy. The requirements are not the same.

You will need a letter from the company with a date that your job will end. You can go to immigration a couple of days before that date to have your extension cancelled and then apply for the new extension.

[Mario2008]

Suspect you will have to leave the country. The rules suggest you can stay on an ED-visa for a maximum of 1 year from date of entry. So I would prepare for the case you have to leave the same day you cancel the WP and permission to stay.

Getting the right paperwork from the school is utmost important, you will get nowhere without it.

[lunakanoa]

I tried to explain this to my school, but they did not hear about this before, so they didnt know how they can help me.

I plan to take all the papers from school (which they prepare for ED Visa) and go to immigration office and just ask for changing the extension of stay. If they can not change it that way, I will have enough time to leave the country, because I'm still working the next two weeks.

I will let you know, what happened...

[paz]

I tried to explain this to my school, but they did not hear about this before, so they didnt know how they can help me.

I plan to take all the papers from school (which they prepare for ED Visa) and go to immigration office and just ask for changing the extension of stay. If they can not change it that way, I will have enough time to leave the country, because I'm still working the next two weeks.

I will let you know, what happened...

Be aware that the school papers supporting a visa application are slightly different from these for an extension of stay. To begin with, the petition letter is addressed differently.

[lunakanoa]

Hm, I expected this.

But the woman at my School had only questionmarks in her eyes when I ask about my case, so I decided not to complicated and just let her do the way she know and have a try at immigration later.

Then I have to bite the bullet and go to Laos, I think :-(