ED visa for learning Thai and minimum hour requirements? (Sandee School)

[SS1]

I'm just thinking of applying for an ED visa to study Thai at the Sandee School, as the price is cheap and it's very nearby where I live.

Here are the details for their course, for which they claim to offer papers for the ED visa:

12 months course 1 year ED VISA @Bangkok

400 Lessons total 4 hours per week

Only 15,000 Thai Baht (around 500 USD) Bangkok

However, a friend of me is telling me that the minimum required hours is 10 hours per week to obtain (and maintain) an ED visa. He also says that on top of getting the extension every 2 months at Chaengwattana, you have to get tested at the Ministry of Education every three months. Is this information correct?

This course would be perfect as I am very busy with other tasks, however it seems like the offer is not legit if the new regulations are as my friend stated.

Here is the link for the school / courses: http://www.thailanguageschools.com/fees/

[Kitsune]

Actually 400 hours divided by 52 (and I doubt the school is open 52 weeks per year) is 7 hours a week

Take holidays off and you have 8 hours a week which is the required amount by MOE.

The issue is extension: They say 2 months but do their students actually get that? Go there and talk to the students!

MOE test is a joke, you pay you pass.

[bigjohn72]

Interesting find on the Phnom Penh embassy page:

http://www.thaiembassy.org/phnompenh/th/services/1435/21867-Non-Immigrant--ED.html

For informal courses, e.g. Thai language and cultural training courses, applicants must provide documents which demonstrate that the course meets the minimum requirement as follows:

- If the course is longer than 5 months, the period of study at least 5 days per week, 5 hours per day.

- Copy of Bank Statement of at least S$ 5,000

[ubonjoe]

Interesting find on the Phnom Penh embassy page:

http://www.thaiembassy.org/phnompenh/th/services/1435/21867-Non-Immigrant--ED.html

For informal courses, e.g. Thai language and cultural training courses, applicants must provide documents which demonstrate that the course meets the minimum requirement as follows:

- If the course is longer than 5 months, the period of study at least 5 days per week, 5 hours per day.

- Copy of Bank Statement of at least S$ 5,000

That is only to get a single entry non-ed visa.

To get an extension at an immigration office requires approval from the MOE and that requires a minimum of 8 hours of study a week,