Waiting for ED Visa

[marcooos]

I applied for an ED Visa through a concierge service in CM 7 weeks ago. I was told it would take 2-3 weeks, but I'm still waiting. They say they are waiting for the letter from the Ministry of Education still.

 

My tourist visa expires tomorrow so I am leaving for Laos.

 

Does anyone have any experience with this? Fair enough if it's denied, but how long does it usually take to be denied? I'm worried about getting my money back from the concierge service and I'm also paying for an apartment here..

[ubonjoe]

Not sure how the concierge service could get the paperwork from the ministry of education. Only a registered school could get it.

Did you pay for a course of study or just a fee for them to get the paperwork?

I have heard of it taking a month or so to get the paperwork.

If you qualify for a 30 day visa exempt entry it might be best to go to Mae Sai and do a border hop for one unless you have done 2 of them at a land border crossing this year.

[marcooos]

Yea sorry I mean the concierge service is getting it from the school which is getting it from the ministry of education.

 

I paid for the course and the fee, 35k in total. 

 

Yea that might be a good option, I could do the same from Laos couldn't I? I'm flying to Udon Thani and then coming overland into Vientiane. No overland stamps in my passport but I do have 2x 60 day tourist visas with extensions over the last year. May be why I'm having trouble?

[ubonjoe]

Not sure why you are not dealing directly with the school.

I suggested Mai Sai since it is much closer than Vientiane.

You could do the visa exempt entry at the crossing in Nong Khai but it you are that close it might be best to get another tourist visa. You can attend school with a tourist visa entry.

The reason the MOE would deny the application to get the paperwork is if the school does not qualify or if you have reached the limit on studying the course you are are enrolled in.

[marcooos]

Just because I was suggested to use this company by a friend and didn't know any better.

 

Ok, but I already have the flight booked to Udon Thani and the hotel booked in Vientiane. There are no problems getting visa exempt stamps at Nong Khai at the mo?

 

I think I'll come back in on a visa exemption and stay at my apartment for the 30 days, then I can wait it out. Thanks for the info that's a big help.

[ubonjoe]

No problem to get the visa exempt entry.

You can extend the visa exempt entry for 30 days at an immigration office if needed.

[marcooos]

Thank you Ubonjoe I really appreciate the help.

[lordblackader]

Without naming names I can guess both the service and the school you're signing up for. I have a friend who applied directly with the school and had a similar 6-7 week delay whereas I signed up a month before him (same school) and the paperwork was done in two weeks. There has apparently been some change with the local office of the Ministry of Education causing a serious backlog/ delays, my friend got his paperwork last week (eventually) yours might not be far away. 

 

Have you extended you tourist visa yet? if you - 1,9000 baht, TM7, form, photocopies and pics and a trip out to Promenada. If you already have Mae Sai is your best bet. Catch the Green Bus from Arcade Bus station, ~600 return for the VIP seats, get an early morning bus up, cross the border (US$10 or 500 baht to enter into Myanmar) then come back across and travel back. 

[marcooos]

Yea I just came back to this post to divulge that info for anyone else who might be reading!: just got off the phone to someone who actually knows what's going on, they expect the backlog to be cleared within 7-14 days.

 

No doubt it's the same company! 

 

Unfortunately I've already extended but thanks for the info. Hopefully Vientiane is nice this time of year