Ed Visa ending; any problem to get a Tourist Visa?

[bnzgrl]

Hello,

My 1 year Ed visa is finishing on May 17. I need to report for the 90 day address notice on May 15.

I plan to go to Vientiane the week of May 9 (probably May 11) to get a Tourist Visa. I guess my question is about timing. Will there be any problem for me to get a Tourist Visa? I'm not switching/replacing my Ed to a Tourist. My Ed visa is ending and I just want to be careful I don't overstay, and now want to get on a Tourist visa. And do I still have to report on May 15? Or will the Tourist Visa override what's left of the Ed visa?

Thanks.

[BritTim]

You are on an extension of stay.

If you leave the country, (a) the extension of stay is canceled; and ( no 90-day report is necessary.

If you return on a tourist visa, that does not preclude you from continuing to attend classes.

One issue to be aware of: land borders will often prevent you from leaving with a non canceled extension of stay (unless you have an, unwanted in your case, re-entry permit). Your better solution might be to fly to Penang for the tourist visa.

[johnatong]

You never had a one year "VISA" and your picture confirms you have been staying in Thailand because you were able to secure "extensions of stay" which are not "visas"

If you leave the country without a re-entry permit the extension of stay becomes invalid.

It is not possible to "switch/replace" visas .

Your application for a tourist visa will be accepted/rejected based on Nationality and what is in your passport.

From what you say there should not be a problem but it would be wise to obtain a letter from the school which confirms the date you ceased studying.

A 90 day report is only required if you remain in country 90+ days.

[bnzgrl]

Thank you both for your replies, and also for the clarification on the terminology. Yes, I have been getting extensions and I used my last extension which is up on May 17.

I enjoy my Thai classes, and have no intention of not continuing class. Our last day of class is May 31.

As regards to what BritTim said, should I then get a re-entry permit although I am not really using it for that purpose? Should I just be altogether safe and go to Penang?

[johnatong]

Thank you both for your replies, and also for the clarification on the terminology. Yes, I have been getting extensions and I used my last extension which is up on May 17.

I enjoy my Thai classes, and have no intention of not continuing class. Our last day of class is May 31.

As regards to what BritTim said, should I then get a re-entry permit although I am not really using it for that purpose? Should I just be altogether safe and go to Penang?

If you do not have a re-entry permit you do not need one !

Read my advise about obtaining a letter which confirms your studies have ended.

You may go to Penang or Vientiene it is a matter of preference not "safety"

[BritTim]

In my opinion, your simplest solution is simply to fly to Penang (canceling the extension you no longer need), get a tourist visa, and return. You are allowed to study when on tourist visas.

Since no visa is needed to enter Malaysia, your total expenditure is approximately flight+hotel (see Expedia for a combined deal) plus 180 MYR for visa including agent fee. Vientiane is not that much less once you include the cost of the Laos visa.

[ubonjoe]

The crossing at Nong Khai no longer want a letter to cancel an extension based upon attending school. They stopped doing that some time ago.