Long shot, I know.

But living far from any big cities there isn't any language school nearby so I was wondering if it was somehow possible to study thai (or anything else for that matter) online and still get an ED visa ? Or would it be possible to get an ED visa through a language school in Bangkok without attending the classes ? I know some schools let you do that in CM.

My second option would be to get tourist visas (maximum of 4?) then change my passport and do it again and again. Does it sound possible to you ?

Anyway, it seems really complicated to live a long time in Thailand when you can't have a retirement visa and don't live near any schools...

Cheers.

i wish you luck with your multiple issues

Since the last changes to the requirements to get extensions of stay studying online is no longer possible. They also want proof of attendance to get them.Those changes also eliminated one year extensions for informal schools which language school and a few others are. Extension are only for 90 days now. Only university studies get one year extensions now.

There are some university that offer distance learning that only require attending classes for some lectures and exams. I have heard of people being able to get extensions for attending those universities.

One option is the 5 year Thai Elite membership that allows you to get a PE visa valid for 5 years that allows unlimited one year entries until it expires. The membership costs 500k baht. See: http://www.thailandelite.com/glimpse.php

Since the last changes to the requirements to get extensions of stay studying online is no longer possible. They also want proof of attendance to get them.Those changes also eliminated one year extensions for informal schools which language school and a few others are. Extension are only for 90 days now. Only university studies get one year extensions now.

There are some university that offer distance learning that only require attending classes for some lectures and exams. I have heard of people being able to get extensions for attending those universities.

One option is the 5 year Thai Elite membership that allows you to get a PE visa valid for 5 years that allows unlimited one year entries until it expires. The membership costs 500k baht. See: http://www.thailandelite.com/glimpse.php

Do you by any chance know the name of these universities ? It could definitely be a viable option for me.

Great input anyway, thank you sir !

Since the last changes to the requirements to get extensions of stay studying online is no longer possible. They also want proof of attendance to get them.Those changes also eliminated one year extensions for informal schools which language school and a few others are. Extension are only for 90 days now. Only university studies get one year extensions now.

There are some university that offer distance learning that only require attending classes for some lectures and exams. I have heard of people being able to get extensions for attending those universities.

One option is the 5 year Thai Elite membership that allows you to get a PE visa valid for 5 years that allows unlimited one year entries until it expires. The membership costs 500k baht. See: http://www.thailandelite.com/glimpse.php

Do you by any chance know the name of these universities ? It could definitely be a viable option for me.

Great input anyway, thank you sir !

Here is one --------------http://www.academic.chula.ac.th/eng/Distance/Dis_Education.htm.

You will have to make contact to ascertain details, costs and whether they would support you getting an Ed visa and subsequent extension of stay.

Others can easily found by using a search engine.

Edited May 26, 201610 yr by ubonjoe
corrected error in posted link

I had a look a while ago at these universities (the good ones -where I belive Immigration will happily give you 1 year extensions), the only thing was, to cover 1 year of study you had spend 200-300K baht.

Even if cheaper ones could be found, I don't think they are a viable option just to secure a stay in Thailand, unless one is really interested in attending and will benefit from those courses in some way.

Edited May 25, 201610 yr by lkv

Its depends which school you go to. I have first hand knowledge of language schools that will sign you up for 1 year for 30K and take care of each extension for 2K.

Don't have to attend any classes and extensions are taken care of.

I think if you look around and ask you'll find this being offered.

Its depends which school you go to. I have first hand knowledge of language schools that will sign you up for 1 year for 30K and take care of each extension for 2K.

Don't have to attend any classes and extensions are taken care of.

I think if you look around and ask you'll find this being offered.

That may of been true in the past. Since late 2014 things have changed a lot.

No more one year extensions for attending language schools only 90 extensions are possible now and after one year of total stay you have to get a new visa to start the year again.

Quote: "My second option would be to get tourist visas (maximum of 4?) then change my passport and do it again and again. Does it sound possible to you ?"

Why would you be limited to a maximum of 4 tourist visas? You can get 3 from Laos and 2 from Penang at a minimum. Some say if they are not back-to-back from the same country, you "break the chain" and you can get more. The latest report from Phnom Penh says they will give you up to 3 total, but they are reported to count tourist-visas from any Thai-consulate in any country in that number. The other "more difficult" consulates in the area will give you at least one on a fresh passport.

Ideally, you should be able to go 2 years or more on each passport. Based on my logs, using VIP buses, inexpensive flights, and decent hotels (not fan-rooms), my costs are between 30K and 40K Baht / year using this method.

Beware that having a used "ed" visa in your passport may incur additional scrutiny when entering Thailand at some border-crossings and at airports.

In general: Always have 20K in cash when entering, which removes the easiest excuse for denying entry. Just to be on the safe side, I never enter at airports, where you could be forced to buy a last minute ticket to your home country, even if you have a valid visa.

Quote: "My second option would be to get tourist visas (maximum of 4?) then change my passport and do it again and again. Does it sound possible to you ?"

Why would you be limited to a maximum of 4 tourist visas? You can get 3 from Laos and 2 from Penang at a minimum. Some say if they are not back-to-back from the same country, you "break the chain" and you can get more. The latest report from Phnom Penh says they will give you up to 3 total, but they are reported to count tourist-visas from any Thai-consulate in any country in that number. The other "more difficult" consulates in the area will give you at least one on a fresh passport.

Ideally, you should be able to go 2 years or more on each passport. Based on my logs, using VIP buses, inexpensive flights, and decent hotels (not fan-rooms), my costs are between 30K and 40K Baht / year using this method.

Beware that having a used "ed" visa in your passport may incur additional scrutiny when entering Thailand at some border-crossings and at airports.

In general: Always have 20K in cash when entering, which removes the easiest excuse for denying entry. Just to be on the safe side, I never enter at airports, where you could be forced to buy a last minute ticket to your home country, even if you have a valid visa.

Yeah I always thought 4 tourist visa was the maximum, then you start having problems.

If what you say is true, it's great. Are you sure of it ? Has someone here already done it ?

Thanks everyone for your answers, this forum is a great source of info !

Its depends which school you go to. I have first hand knowledge of language schools that will sign you up for 1 year for 30K and take care of each extension for 2K.

Don't have to attend any classes and extensions are taken care of.

I think if you look around and ask you'll find this being offered.

That may of been true in the past. Since late 2014 things have changed a lot.

No more one year extensions for attending language schools only 90 extensions are possible now and after one year of total stay you have to get a new visa to start the year again.

Sorry mate, I'm not trying to start an argument but there are still schools who, for a fee, take care of your 90 day extensions and you do not have to attend classes.

I had a close friend recently sign up and pay for this service (2 weeks ago).

When he walked into the school it was offered immediately as an option.

The point I'm trying to get across is that with this it's technically a 1 year ED visa as you don't have to leave the country

Edited May 31, 201610 yr by MadMuhummad

Quote: "My second option would be to get tourist visas (maximum of 4?) then change my passport and do it again and again. Does it sound possible to you ?"

Why would you be limited to a maximum of 4 tourist visas? You can get 3 from Laos and 2 from Penang at a minimum. Some say if they are not back-to-back from the same country, you "break the chain" and you can get more. The latest report from Phnom Penh says they will give you up to 3 total, but they are reported to count tourist-visas from any Thai-consulate in any country in that number. The other "more difficult" consulates in the area will give you at least one on a fresh passport.

Ideally, you should be able to go 2 years or more on each passport. Based on my logs, using VIP buses, inexpensive flights, and decent hotels (not fan-rooms), my costs are between 30K and 40K Baht / year using this method.

Beware that having a used "ed" visa in your passport may incur additional scrutiny when entering Thailand at some border-crossings and at airports.

In general: Always have 20K in cash when entering, which removes the easiest excuse for denying entry. Just to be on the safe side, I never enter at airports, where you could be forced to buy a last minute ticket to your home country, even if you have a valid visa.

Is changing your Passport every 2 years something that is plausible and assuming that you are from the UK will not lead to difficult questions from the UK Government as to why you are applying for a new PP every 2 years?

This is not a pop at you but I am in the predicament of being unable to apply for most visas and am currently on the Tourist Visa route, got 5 more years until I can apply for a retirement one

Quote: "My second option would be to get tourist visas (maximum of 4?) then change my passport and do it again and again. Does it sound possible to you ?"

Why would you be limited to a maximum of 4 tourist visas? ...

Yeah I always thought 4 tourist visa was the maximum, then you start having problems.

If what you say is true, it's great. Are you sure of it ? Has someone here already done it ?

Thanks everyone for your answers, this forum is a great source of info !

I had more than 4 in my last PP, all from Laos, but did not take advantage of Penang before getting a new PP after Laos said "no more," so could have gotten 2 additional there.

Even more Toursist Visas were possible in that Passport if I had started with the "more difficult" consulates with my last fresh passport (where they count visas from other consulates against you, ask for air-tickets, etc), then moved on to Penang and Laos.

I cannot vouch for the "break the chain" method, though am currently testing it by seeing how many I can get from Laos and Penang by alternating from one to the other. I will post here when I get the first red-stamp or refusal with the details / totals.

Personally, I would not do the "no attendence" school / ed-visa option, as this is explicitly breaking the rules. There is no stated limit on how many Tourist Visas you can have, or how long you can stay in Thailand on Tourist Visas, so I prefer to go the legal route. It is unfortunate that consulates "add unofficial rules" to deny future Tourist Visas based on subjective, varying criteria, but no laws/rules are broken by obtaining a new passport.

Quote: "My second option would be to get tourist visas (maximum of 4?) then change my passport and do it again and again. Does it sound possible to you ?"

... Ideally, you should be able to go 2 years or more on each passport. ...

Is changing your Passport every 2 years something that is plausible and assuming that you are from the UK will not lead to difficult questions from the UK Government as to why you are applying for a new PP every 2 years?

This is not a pop at you but I am in the predicament of being unable to apply for most visas and am currently on the Tourist Visa route, got 5 more years until I can apply for a retirement one

I'm not from the UK, so not aware if they are uncooperative, in this regard. AFAIK, loosing a passport, especially repeatedly, is what they do not like, as those lost passports may be altered and used by unauthorized 3rd parties. If you show up with your old passport, allowing them to cancel it before providing a new one, this is not a problem for most nationalities.