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Are online classes allowed with an ED visa for studying Thai in Thailand?

ED Visa Thai Language Course Visa Requirements Immigration Rules Online Classes Newborn in Thailand Visa Compliance

May 16, 2023

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

If I do a one year Thai course and get the ED visa, but switch to online classes during the, will the visa still be valid? 

I'm keen to learn Thai but will give birth during the year, so in-person classes might not be so practical with a newborn. 

The school says this is fine, but I'm wondering if online classes are really allowed with the ED visa. Any thoughts?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The original poster inquires whether switching to online classes for a Thai language course on an ED visa would be acceptable, as they will be giving birth during the year. While the school claims it’s permissible, responses highlight that traditionally, the ED visa requires physical attendance at classes. Users indicate that online classes were only allowed during the COVID-19 lockdown, and now ongoing documentation of in-person attendance is necessary for visa extensions every 90 days. Failure to comply may result in visa expiration, thus complications for staying in Thailand.

Kool *******

No, online classes were only allowed during covid lockdown. Now that covid lockdowns have ended so has online classes for an ED visa. You must physically go to class, and your school must supply documentation every 90 days verifying your classroom attendance for you to extend your visa. Even though your visa might be for a year, you still must extend it every 90 days with documentation from the school.. At your next 90 day extension if you aren't physically going to class, your visa will expire, and you must leave Thailand.

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Claire *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

thank you this is helpful. You don't happen to know if the offical regulations are available anywhere (in thai or english), do you?

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Kool *******

the immigration office has a handout list of the requirements. That is the best place to get an accurate list.

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Kool *******

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Khun *****

If you are taking an online course then no reason to be in Thailand. Would you get caught and sent on your way? Maybe not, but it would suck for you to have to pack up with a newborn and figure out where you will go.

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Khun *****

From previous posts I have seen in this group, Immigration may very well question your motive for being here.

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Claire *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks, yes, I get what you're saying... that's why I'm wondering if the authorities would see it the same way

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Claire *******

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Carlos *********

Wait, you will give birth in Thailand? Won't that make your child a Thai citizen? How will it be admitted into your country? Just curious how that works.

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Carlos *********

Sorry for the rabbit trail. I'll go ley by my dish now.

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Carlos *********

According to this, the child born in Thailand can be a thai citizen by rights of soil. But the parents had to live here for 5 years. A list of all rights of soil countries.

***********************************************************************

%20a%20child%20is%20born,also%20be%20taken%20into%20consideration.

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Brandon ************

@Carlos ********

most countries in the world do not give citizenship just for being born there.

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Jeff ********

@Brandon ***********

my little sister was born in Singapore. She was given a choice to become a Singaporean at the age of 18. Due to the fact that she would have had to commit 2 years to "service," she chose to waive that right. It can and does happen, depending on the country.

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Carlos *********

This just created more questions

Thanks everyone for the info. Interesting

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Carlos *********

Brandon Thurkettlewhat? America sure does. If you are born in the US you are a US citizen

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Alistair **********

@Carlos ********

yeah but most of the world doesn't. It causes a lot of issues with people travelling to give birth all to gain citizenship. Commonly seen in the US

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Carlos *********

@Alistair *********

64 countries have right of soil births. Yes, that's why I got curious about it.

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Carlos *********

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Michelle ******

@Carlos ********

child only gains Thai citizenship if one of the parents is Thai

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Christopher *******

@Carlos ********

anchor babies are not a thing here. Giving birth here won't make their kid a Thai citizen

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Christopher *******

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Frank **********

I believe one of the requirements for an Ed Visa is you have to attend classes. I don't know if there is an exception.

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Maxim ***********

As long as your Thai improve a lot every 3 months (90 days) when you get tested by officer, you should be fine. The time of not going to class on ED Visa is over. They are very strict on not getting ED Visa for the practically of it.

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Alistair **********

@John *********

universities have different rules. They can obtain 1yr visas for instance, whereas regular language schools need to obtain extensions every 90 days

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John **********

@Alistair *********

gotcha. That I have no experience with. Just university.

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John **********

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Maxim ***********

As I said, the time of getting Ed Visa and not learning Thai is over, same with getting volunteer visa without volunteering. Both are heavily crackdown.

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Maxim ***********

@John *********

Agent, not University. You pay a premium for an agent to bribe officers.

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John **********

@Maxim **********

language Institute at Chiang Mai University is not fake though nor is it an agent. Seems like you are behind the times.

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Aaron ******

@John *********

are you taking any other classes or just learning Thai?

How much is that costing you?

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John **********

35k

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Maxim ***********

@John *********

Is it your 1st extension or 2nd? And how is your Thai? Are you close to fluent?

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John **********

@Maxim **********

it will be my 3rd. My Thai is decent. Enough to travel around without needing to look at a book to talk to people.

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Maxim ***********

@John *********

Are they charging you 35k baht for an extension?

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Maxim ***********

@John *********

The facts don't care about how you feel. The facts are that Ed Visa are heavily crackdown due to people not going to class. Therefore, once leaving the country, they can't go back to Thailand. They need to hire an agent to bribe officers just to get a chance to come back in.

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John **********

@Maxim **********

I never said anything about leaving the country. But for you to say it's not possible when it is clearly possible to get education visa without having to visit immigration every 90 days is asinine. I understand if you do it with agent shit happens but if you obtain with a legitimate school like I have just this month you are fine. Fact don't care about your false information. Take a Seay before you have a heart attack.

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Maxim ***********

@John *********

You don't know if the school use an agent or not. You don't even step foot there, you have no idea what they do. Are you even fluent? Or you speak a few words? The time of abusing Ed Visa system is over, that's my main point. That's why I ask about your Thai skill.

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John **********

@Maxim **********

correction my guy I said I never stepped foot to take a class does not mean I did not go to do the paperwork myself do not make assumptions on things that I've not said

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Clarence **********

@John *********

John, are you willing to accept full responsibility and any of the consequences if Claire follows your advice then runs into issues?

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Maxim ***********

@John *********

You do you John. I'm just saying to be careful because I personally know people like you that are now stuck in Cambodia and were speaking the way you just did. The crackdown last year was massive. Considering this is "online class" and your Thai is just "decent", these are two things that to me raise at least a yellow flag. And also your 4th year studying Thai which is unusual.

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John **********

3rd year. Not fourth. Decent as I previously stated i can travel and converse without a book.

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John **********

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John **********

@Maxim **********

not true. I've held ED visa never had to do 90 day reports. School does them for me. 🤔

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Maxim ***********

@John *********

So if you used any kind of third party to get your ed visa (fixer, agent), and didn't walk yourself to school to fill the paperwork, most likely you were getting protected to avoid scrutiny.

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Maxim ***********

@John *********

This doesn't apply to Claire as she will be online at one point. The whole crackdown of Ed Visa was because people didn't go to class and used an agent to do their 90 days report so they never had to show up to get tested.

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John **********

@Maxim **********

I've done online classes for 2 years though. Never stepped foot in a class in person. Never had to report. You just need to pick the right school

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Maxim ***********

The same with volunteer visa.

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Maxim ***********

@John *********

Most likely fake. It's no longer possible to get ed visa with agent without attending school and/or getting tested by officers.

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John **********

@Maxim **********

ok if you say so. Tell the university that 🤣

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John **********

@Frank *********

not with the price tag of 35k

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Maxim ***********

@John *********

Once again, you are inexperienced so you are not well aware of all the updates. What you did has not been possible for the last year or so.

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John **********

@Maxim **********

I just got another year extension this month online classes 🤔

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John **********

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Gordon ************

😂😂😂

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Tore *********

@Gordon ***********

why be such a douche? Get a grip and grow up

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Charlie *****

@Gordon ***********

i didnt realise you knew her personally and shes up to no good...

are you a troll?

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Claire *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

it was a serious question. Thanks to those who've answered

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Claire *******

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Charlie *****

@Gordon ***********

why do you think its funny? I think i missed the joke

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Gordon ************

Why do you think it’s not funny ???? How’s that for a question ???

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Charlie *****

@Gordon ***********

I dont really get it. She seems to be asking if shes allowed to do online classes after childbirth.... I think shes being serious, not making a joke. Im struggling to identify where the humour is...

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Gordon ************

She’s a bullshitter, thats where the humour is 👌👌👌

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Gordon ************

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The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.

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