Problems changing from ED to Tourist? Conflicting info, please help.

[bkk7]

Posting this for a friend whose computer is in the shop but is a TV regular:

I'm about to finish my first extension on my student visa. I have the option of going to MOE for a test, where if passed, will allow me to study for another 6 months (pending the good graces of CW immigration officers).

I'm thinking to scrap the whole thing, after my last horrible experience extending at CW. I'd like to choose an embassy other than Laos where I can obtain a double entry tourist visa.

Here's the wrinkle in my plan. I spoke to the Thai embassy in Paris (one of my travel choices) and they told me that coming off of a student visa, I will have to leave Thailand for 3 months before returning. Is this possible? Or just miscommunication or misinformation? I am a USA passport holder.

Please advise, your help is greatly appreciated.

[nzexpat]

Paris is known to be a difficult place to obtain a visa from.

Travel to Australia where a double entry visa will be easily obtained.

Visiting Bali could result in a triple entry visa being issued if air tickets out of Thailand ever 90 days can be shown

[bkk7]

Paris is known to be a difficult place to obtain a visa from.

Travel to Australia where a double entry visa will be easily obtained.

Visiting Bali could result in a triple entry visa being issued if air tickets out of Thailand ever 90 days can be shown

My friend's reply:

"Thanks for your advice, I'll look into those options. But I really need clarification about what I was told regarding having to leave Thailand for 3 months when switching from ED to tourist visa"

[nzexpat]

Paris inspired nonsense !

There is no such requirement.

[paz]

Paris inspired nonsense !

Nonsense up to a point. The Thai consulate in France doesn't want French of North-African origin to get an easy stay in Thailand. But they can't say it openly and then everybody is affected.

[nzexpat]

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Paris inspired nonsense !

Nonsense up to a point. The Thai consulate in France doesn't want French of North-African origin to get an easy stay in Thailand. But they can't say it openly and then everybody is affected.

I know nothing of the detail but am aware that Paris is not a good place to seek a Thai visa.

[Suradit69]

Paris is known to be a difficult place to obtain a visa from.

Travel to Australia where a double entry visa will be easily obtained.

Visiting Bali could result in a triple entry visa being issued if air tickets out of Thailand ever 90 days can be shown

My friend's reply:

"Thanks for your advice, I'll look into those options. But I really need clarification about what I was told regarding having to leave Thailand for 3 months when switching from ED to tourist visa"

"But I really need clarification about what I was told regarding having to leave Thailand for 3 months when switching from ED to tourist visa"

Embassies and consulates can, and do, set their own individual requirements for the issuance of visas. Some embassies are known to be more "difficult" than others. There is no law mandating that someone who was here on an Ed Visa (or extension of stay) must stay out of Thailand for three months before being granted a tourist visa, but if the embassy in Paris has that policy, that is their prerogative and quoting something read on Thai Visa or elsewhere won't change it.

Your friend can get a tourist visa, but it will need to be from an embassy or consulate that has no policy prohibiting it. There should be no problem in neighboring countries or Australia or anywhere else willing to issue visas, but obviously the Paris embassy would not be a good choice.

On a US passport he could fly back in getting a 30 day visa exempt entry that could be extended for an additional 30 days and during that period visit Laos, for example, and get a tourist visa.