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Student Visa Extension: 7 days to leave+renew with new school?

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Hi all,

I have been in the Kingdom on a student visa studying Thai at Chulalongkorn University since October, which I have extended one time. I decided as of mid January to switch to a private school for the next three months before I leave Thailand in May for a three-month visit to Europe. Long (frustrating) story short, I found out last night that the new school needed to start the process to gain approval from the Ministry of Education for them to sponsor the extension two weeks ago, and so now it is probably too late to get that sorted before my visa expires on February 20th.

The school is hoping for the best, but they won't know if it will work out until the 19th-the day before I'd have to leave if I can't go to immigration as planned. Going to Laos to start over with a new visa at the last minute is an expensive hassle and I want to avoid it, but the only thing I can think of to be able to manage the fiasco in country it if they can't get my supporting paperwork done in time is:

1. Go to Chaengwattana apply for a 7-day grace extension with my visa cancellation letter from Chula in hand (if that's still a thing that I can do on a student visa)

2. Then, when I do get the paperwork the following week, which is pretty much a sure thing, go back and properly extend my visa with the new school's sponsorship.

Will that work? Does anyone have a better idea?

Other background information that might be relevant: I've lived here for four years, and until Sept. 30 last year I had a non-B visa and work permit from the same employer. Since leaving that job, I've followed the letter and spirit of the law as a Thai language student. I plan to get another job in the fall when I come back from Europe and so I don't want to do anything dodgy that might make my passport look suspect, or reduce my chances of getting the extension (like overstaying and just paying the fine when I go in with the right paperwork).

Thanks a lot! I really appreciate any advice or links to information.

I think that your best choice is to get a double entry tourist visa at this time. Extensions based on studying at a private school have become expensive and hassling. The normal destination for the visa is Vientane or Savannakhet Laos. You can continue studying at your own pace while on a torusit visa.

Edited by paz

Forgot to mention

1. Go to Chaengwattana apply for a 7-day grace extension with my visa cancellation letter from Chula in hand (if that's still a thing that I can do on a student visa)
2. Then, when I do get the paperwork the following week, which is pretty much a sure thing, go back and properly extend my visa with the new school's sponsorship.


When you have received a 7 days extension, no further extensions will be granted. Check 2. below

NewRegulation_en.png

Edited by paz

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