ED Visa extension of stay

[bbi1]

I've just been stuffed around by my language school & their Visa Consultant. Originally I was meant to go to the MOE in the next few days for the 6 month MOE test but when I emailed that person I was told she has left & another lady will be looking after me. Then I was told that I need to buy an extra 200 hours of lessons otherwise they can't do the paperwork for the MOE test & the next extension of stay. There is no way I'm going to buy more lessons again now so I'm thinking to go to a Double Entry Tourist Visa.

My current extension of stay expires at the end of the month, but I've already booked a flight back to my home country to see my parents 5 days after this. Originally I was going to do the next 90 day extension & get a re-entry permit.

1. If I won't continue on the ED visa & will apply for a tourist visa, do I need a letter from my school or is this only for lang crossings at Nong Khai?

2. Since my flight is 5 days after my extension of stay expires (including the weekend), should I just overstay & pay the 500 baht a day overstay fee at the airport? Do they count weekends? Will it affect getting a tourist visa?

3. Should I worry about the 90 day reporting of address or it won't matter when flying out of the country? I would be 7 days late on the day I fly out.

4. If flying out to a nearby country to activate the next Tourist Visa, which country is best & cheapest to fly to? Which airlines?

5. Is the maximum time on an ED visa now only 1.5 years? 6 months each on Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced?

[Mario2008]

1. Only needed when exiting at Nongkhai.

2. Overstay is never a good option, but won't be a problem in getting a tourist visa. (yes, they do count weekends). You could do a simpl border run to Cambodia.

3. Yes, you must report.

4. Look at sites at airasia, nok air etc. Alternatively you can just do a border run by bus.

5. No, the maximum time depends on the course and is set by the MOE.

[bbi1]

1. Only needed when exiting at Nongkhai.

2. Overstay is never a good option, but won't be a problem in getting a tourist visa. (yes, they do count weekends). You could do a simpl border run to Cambodia.

3. Yes, you must report.

4. Look at sites at airasia, nok air etc. Alternatively you can just do a border run by bus.

5. No, the maximum time depends on the course and is set by the MOE.

2. Yes I know overstay is not good but the school has stuffed me up. I think I could still go to Chaeng Wattana & get an extra 7 days extension for 1900 baht, correct? If I overstay it would be 2500 baht & I don't have to waste nearly a whole day there.

3. 90 day reporting gives you up to 7 days after to report, correct? The 7th day after would be the date I go to the airport to fly out. Will the airport care about the reporting since I'm flying out anyway?

5. The Thai course at my school has 4 levels but with the MOE it's 3 levels only, therefore it's 1.5 years only. Are other schools getting more than this?

[Kitsune]

The MOE test is just another way to say "we want more money ".

everyone that pays passes.

You don't pay, no visa.

2) Yes they used to give 1.900THB extension without paper at Immigration, I have not heard of any report recently and things change fast.

3) 90 days reports is 7 days after when you are reporting late, I think. If you don't report and just leave I reckon it's 200B/day.

4) Yes I read some schools in Chiang Mai are still on 3 year course. But BKK could well be on 18 months or less, you can call each school and check.

[Mario2008]

2. Yes, you should be able to get 7 days for 1,900 baht.

3. You still need to report, but at the airport they don't check it.

[nzexpat]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The MOE test is just another way to say "we want more money ".

everyone that pays passes.

You don't pay, no visa.

2) Yes they used to give 1.900THB extension without paper at Immigration, I have not heard of any report recently and things change fast.

3) 90 days reports is 7 days after when you are reporting late, I think. If you don't report and just leave I reckon it's 200B/day.

4) Yes I read some schools in Chiang Mai are still on 3 year course. But BKK could well be on 18 months or less, you can call each school and check.

I have asked in the past and Never received a reply .

Where is the evidence to be found which supports these wild accusations ?

Who is making complaints AND who are the complaints being registered with ?

Edit

This is bad and inaccurate information

3) 90 days reports is 7 days after when you are reporting late, I think. If you don't report and just leave I reckon it's 200B/day.

[bigt3116]

There is NO Ministry of Education test, someone is lying to you.

[Mario2008]

Flame removed.

[skatewash]

1. Only needed when exiting at Nongkhai.

2. Overstay is never a good option, but won't be a problem in getting a tourist visa. (yes, they do count weekends). You could do a simpl border run to Cambodia.

3. Yes, you must report.

4. Look at sites at airasia, nok air etc. Alternatively you can just do a border run by bus.

5. No, the maximum time depends on the course and is set by the MOE.

2. Yes I know overstay is not good but the school has stuffed me up. I think I could still go to Chaeng Wattana & get an extra 7 days extension for 1900 baht, correct? If I overstay it would be 2500 baht & I don't have to waste nearly a whole day there.

3. 90 day reporting gives you up to 7 days after to report, correct? The 7th day after would be the date I go to the airport to fly out. Will the airport care about the reporting since I'm flying out anyway?

5. The Thai course at my school has 4 levels but with the MOE it's 3 levels only, therefore it's 1.5 years only. Are other schools getting more than this?

Some comments:

2. The main reason overstay is not a good idea is that it makes you vulnerable to some fairly bad consequences if you are caught on overstay (for example, by an immigration officer asking to see your passport), which include things like arrest, detainment, and deportation. It's not the way you would want to leave the country. The word unpleasant comes to mind. Perhaps the chances of this happening to you are remote. maybe very remote, but it does happen. I suspect the people who have been caught thought the chances of it happening to them were very remote, too. They gambled and they lost. Up to you. Understand the risk and make your decision.

3. You know you can now do the 90 Day Report online, right? I would certainly give that a try. If that doesn't work (and it doesn't for some), then you may be able to file by mail. Neither of those options are going to require you to waste a whole day at immigration. You're right that you are given a 7-day grace period after your due date to make the 90 Day Report. But you actually have to make the report during that period to be considered in compliance. If you have spent more than 90 days in Thailand, then you have to file a 90 Day Report (leaving the country at that point doesn't erase the fact that you have spent more than 90 days in Thailand). If you leave Thailand before 90 days, you don't.

The fee for not filing a 90 Day Report is 2,000 Baht. They will not charge you that fee at the airport. But it sounds like you intend to come back to Thailand at some point. If so, when you come back to Thailand and have to visit the immigration office for whatever reason (extension, residency certificate, 90 Day Report, etc.) should they be interested in checking, they would be able to tell that you stayed in Thailand for more than 90 days and did not file a 90 Day Report. They could fine you 2,000 Baht for not doing so. Will they check? Maybe, maybe not. But they could. Again, up to you.

[Kitsune]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The MOE test is just another way to say "we want more money ".

everyone that pays passes.

You don't pay, no visa.

2) Yes they used to give 1.900THB extension without paper at Immigration, I have not heard of any report recently and things change fast.

3) 90 days reports is 7 days after when you are reporting late, I think. If you don't report and just leave I reckon it's 200B/day.

4) Yes I read some schools in Chiang Mai are still on 3 year course. But BKK could well be on 18 months or less, you can call each school and check.

I have asked in the past and Never received a reply .

Where is the evidence to be found which supports these wild accusations ?

Who is making complaints AND who are the complaints being registered with ?

Edit

This is bad and inaccurate information

3) 90 days reports is 7 days after when you are reporting late, I think. If you don't report and just leave I reckon it's 200B/day.

I'm sorry which accusations?

What complaints?

I am just trying to help the OP, if you want to complain please contact moderation.

[bbi1]

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There is NO Ministry of Education test, someone is lying to you.

I doubt that the language school was lying about the test if they had made a time for some students to meet at the school & someone from the school to go there with us for the test.

2. Yes, you should be able to get 7 days for 1,900 baht.

3. You still need to report, but at the airport they don't check it.

For the 7 days extension, does the school need to give a letter stating that I won't continue on an ED visa or it doesn't matter, just go to Chaeng Wattana & tell them I want extend for 7 days extra?

I will give the online reporting of address a go. Is it up to 14 days before the report date that you can do the online reporting? Same as in person?

[Mario2008]

If you go just a few days before the permission to stay ends no need for a cancellation letter.

Yes, 15 days even. Try online, if it doesn't work just do it by registered mail.