Changing the type of visa from Ed to Tourist

[Facelessalcoholic]

Hello!

Can I change my visa from Non-Immigrant (Ed) type to tourist? Should I go to Laos or to Immigration Office in Bangkok? Thanks:)

[ubonjoe]

You cannot change to a tourist visa at immigration. You can only go to an embassy or consulate to a apply for a tourist visa (not a change).

If you going to Vientiane overland to get a tourist visa you will need a letter from your school to cancel your extension unless you are on a 90 day ED visa entry. Immigration at Nong Khai will not let you leave the country without the letter.

[Facelessalcoholic]

Oh, big thanks!!!

[gmeddy]

You cannot change to a tourist visa at immigration. You can only go to an embassy or consulate to a apply for a tourist visa (not a change).

If you going to Vientiane overland to get a tourist visa you will need a letter from your school to cancel your extension unless you are on a 90 day ED visa entry. Immigration at Nong Khai will not let you leave the country without the letter.

"unless you are on a 90 day ED visa entry."

What does that mean?

Aren't we always on a 90 day ED extension of our stay with the ED visa?

Right now we are on our 3rd, which expires mid-June, and due to the muck around changes with school regulations, our school changed from saying that we only had to do 120 hours for our 12 month visa to saying that we need to do double that to maintain our visa.

This is not only inconvenient but has caused us to use up the hours we paid for ahead of time.

So we are thinking of switching up if we can, to get through to December on a Tourist visa.

So does this phrase "unless you are on a 90 day ED visa entry." mean that we need or don't need a letter to cross into Laos? I assumed from all other comments that we did need the letter until I read that...

Oh another thought just came to me, perhaps it's possible to get a 90 day ED visa?? As opposed to the 12 month visa that you must renew every 90 days? (that's a confusing idea, but perhaps what you meant)

Thanks in advance.

[Mario2008]

The first time you enter Thailand you are not on an extension of stay but get a stay for 90 days by immigration at the border. This does not need to be cancelled. Once you go to an immigration office in Thailand to extend you stay you are on an extension of stay and need to cancel.

You will only get an ED-visa if you have the required paperwork from the school you plan to study.

[gezginrocker]

ubonjoe,

My ED extension expires on May 10 and I will go Penang to get a tourist visa. I'm planning to leave Thailand on May 7 from Sadao. Is there going to be a problem if I don't have cancellation letter from school? If there will be problem, I can leave on date of expiry as well.

Thanks

[Mario2008]

Only Nongkai is asking for the cancellation letter. You should not have a problem.

Sadao is not very friendly. On return I would use another crossing.

[nzexpat]

Who Knows ?

[gezginrocker]

Only Nongkai is asking for the cancellation letter. You should not have a problem.

Sadao is not very friendly. On return I would use another crossing.

Thanks a lot for the info.

Yes I'm aware of Sadao, that is why I opened the Penang to Padang Besar topic recently. But a user wrote that sometimes they ask for bribe at Padang Besar as well, and it is more difficult to reach than Sadao. So I haven't made my decision yet, maybe I'll return by plane if I can find a cheap ticket.

[gezginrocker]

Sorry to ask again, but because Malaysia border is problematic and I can get only single entry at Penang, now I'm also considering going to Vientiane.

My ED extension expires on May 10. If I go to Nong Khai on May 9 or 10, do I still need a cancellation letter?

Thanks

[Mario2008]

Yes, you might still need it. it might be all right, but better to go and be prepared.