ED Rules being Applied to Chiang Mai at least for my school

[kevindorian]

Well I was hoping the 8 hours a week and so forth would stay away from Chiang Mai but today found out that it hasnt:)

School told our class today

1. Classes will now be 8 hours a week - which is fine for me, as I was actually doing some private lessons, but will probably have to drop them

2. After December 11th I believe she said, any New Visa created will only be 6 months now, so a trip out of the country to reset your visa every 6 months instead of a year. School said that any visa before the 11th will be grandfathered and still will be legit up to a year, but the 8 hours has to start , so starting next week its 8 hours for me.

3. There is also suppose to be more on the spot checks of the schools, surprise visits etc.

She mentioned (the school) that immigration is moving to 8 hours cause they think it will deter people from working in Thailand, making them go to school for 4 days a week etc, means you are a real student and it would interrupt your work flow to much if u not a student.... guess that will be the case for some people.

It is going to be tough on the teachers at least in my school my teacher has to add 4 hours to 6 different groups somehow, she says she have a massive headache trying to figure this out... as mentioned before this will surely kill a lot of schools and making the ED visa not as attractive for those using it as strictly a visa source

will wait to see what new rules can see next, 40 hours a week? 1 week visas:) who knows

Personally this will not effect me to much, but as i stated before just tired of ever changing rules

[ubonjoe]

The part about needing to go out for another visa after 6 months is a misunderstanding. You will be able to get the paperwork for another 6 months of study and get the remaining 6 months of extensions to get the full year.

[bbi1]

She mentioned (the school) that immigration is moving to 8 hours cause they think it will deter people from working in Thailand, making them go to school for 4 days a week etc, means you are a real student and it would interrupt your work flow to much if u not a student.... guess that will be the case for some people.

I don't see how this would really deter someone who really wanted to break the law & work on an ED visa (even if they should be banned from Thailand if they do that IMO). Going to class 2hrs a day for 4 days can easily be done for someone who has a 9-5 office job. 2hrs of study can be done at night. I see Thai students studying English at language schools who look like they've been at work during the day, and foreigners who have work visas come to study at night.

[bbi1]

The part about needing to go out for another visa after 6 months is a misunderstanding. You will be able to get the paperwork for another 6 months of study and get the remaining 6 months of extensions to get the full year.

How is that a misunderstanding? Lots of schools around Thailand have said that to students who've reported on ThaiVisa those things already. Phuket, BKK & now Chaingmai. Are many schools around the country misunderstanding things? I was told by the manager of my school after they met with immigration that this was unfortunately the case. Doesn't matter if you have an unlimited hour package & they also told me there wasn't any grandfathering for current students.

[paz]

I don't see how this would really deter someone who really wanted to break the law & work on an ED visa (even if they should be banned from Thailand if they do that IMO). Going to class 2hrs a day for 4 days can easily be done for someone who has a 9-5 office job. 2hrs of study can be done at night. I see Thai students studying English at language schools who look like they've been at work during the day, and foreigners who have work visas come to study at night.

The deterrent is substantial also because more hours means a lot more cost and fatigue. If kept continuously enforced it will indeed impact drastically on the number of students and schools, with people resorting to other types of visa to stay in country, and possibly working illegally.

[ubonjoe]

The part about needing to go out for another visa after 6 months is a misunderstanding. You will be able to get the paperwork for another 6 months of study and get the remaining 6 months of extensions to get the full year.

How is that a misunderstanding? Lots of schools around Thailand have said that to students who've reported on ThaiVisa those things already. Phuket, BKK & now Chaingmai. Are many schools around the country misunderstanding things? I was told by the manager of my school after they met with immigration that this was unfortunately the case. Doesn't matter if you have an unlimited hour package & they also told me there wasn't any grandfathering for current students.

It is a misunderstanding by the school misreading the info they got from the MOE.

Immigration has not changed it's rules. The MOE does not do extensions.

Unofficial translation of a letter from the MOE.

28 November 2014

Subject : To change Study schedule

Attention : License Holder of all Non Formal Education Schools, teaching Thai Language course for

Foreigner and other courses

As now we have many of foreigners enrolled to study Thai Language course and others to improve the

skills for their occupation. These may lead to an opportunity of creating criminal or drugs by using the

type of Non-Immigrant ED VISA to study in the Language School.

The Non Formal Education Committee has considered and agreed to ask for co-ordinate from all Non

Education Schools that open the Thai Language Course to Foreigner and other courses to change study

schedule of the courses, to study not less than 4 days, 2 hours session, and to finish each curriculum not

longer than 6 months. If any school does not submit an official form to change of study schedule to your

local Education Commission by the 30 December 2014, then we need to cancel application to apply for

Non-Immigration ED VISA to your student.

Your sincerely

Director

Office of Elementary Education Prachaubkirikhan

District2

The part in bold is what has been misread.

[Maestro]

See also here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/781533-new-rules-for-ed-visa/page-5?p=8781067#entry8781067

[Maestro]

This topic is already running here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/781533-new-rules-for-ed-visa/