Can I apply for a tourist visa while on a soon-to-expire ED visa in Thailand?

Question

My wife and I are Americans both on 1-year ED Visas since February 2018 in Chiang Mai. Our final reporting date is Jan 15 2019 with visas both expiring Jan 31. We are visiting the USA Dec 4 returning to Chiang Mai Jan 4. This means we’ll be reporting just 11 days after our return and then leaving the country only 16 days later. Two questions:

1) Are we eligible to apply for a tourist visa (60-day or 6-month METV) at a Thai embassy in the US while still on an active/valid/soon-to-expire 1-year ED Visa? If so, can we return to Thailand (via Chiang Mai) on the tourist visa before the ED visa expires?

2) If we forgo the re-entry permit before we depart on Dec 4, can we instead return on a 30-day visa exempt stamp?

The 1-year ED visa is the only Thai Visa we have in our current passports. We’ve been reporting and extending on schedule throughout the Visa term.

Thank you kindly in advance for any advice offered.

Ask Thailand · Answer

The poster is inquiring if they can apply for a tourist visa while still holding a 1-year ED visa that is nearing expiration. They plan to leave Thailand and return shortly after, questioning both tourist visa eligibility and the potential to enter on a 30-day visa exempt stamp. Responses clarify that they can apply for another visa, but emphasize the importance of officially canceling their current extension of stay to avoid complications with immigration.

Justin ********** · Answer

Very helpful, [mention redacted]. Not having to report on Jan15 makes things more convenient. We'll chat with the school about the cancellation procedure. Then we'll just have to decide where, if and which tourist visa we want to obtain.

Tod ********* · Answer

Now lets look at your options.

IF you took paperwork from your school to the immigration office BEFORE you are scheduled to fly out stating you are stopping studying on the date you're flying out, the immigration office would cancel your current extension of stay AND stamp you in with a new stamp until the date on the letter from the school (which should be the date you're scheduled to leave). <- That is how you officially cancel an extension of stay and when you stamp out, you're done and free to get a visa at a thai consulate before you come back OR enter on a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp.

That would be what I would suggest you do. Just exiting the country on an extension of stay does NOT officially cancel it (even though you stamp out). It can cause you problems later on because you did not follow the correct cancellation procedure..

Tod ********* · Answer

Okay, let's get your 90 day reporting cleared up first.

The way 90 day reporting works IS

IF you're in country for 90 days you report. IF you leave the country during the 90 days you don't report on the date on your paper and when you return to the country your 90 day count down clock restarts and your next 90 day report is due 89 days from the date you stamped back into the country (they count the day you arrive as day one).

This means IF you are leaving the country on Dec 4th and returning on Jan 4th you no longer are required to do a 90 day report when you were originally scheduled to. (Your next 90 day report would be due on the April 3 :O)

Tod ********* · Answer

I would say you're confusing your 90 day reporting date with the day you apply for your 90 day extensions.

AFAIK, no one up in Chiang Mai on an ED visa gets a year, instead they get 90 day extensions for the duration of the year.

Is that what you guys are on?

Michael ********* · Answer

More senior members can advise but I believe you can only hold one Visa at a time.

Steve ******* · Answer

It seems you had a 1 year extention of stay not a 1 year ED visa, in theory it should be cancelled. You can certainly apply for a tourist visa and you can return visa exempt but you may encounter questions from immigration as to why your extention of stay wasnt cancelled, and only they could give you final answer

Can I apply for a tourist visa while on a soon-to-expire ED visa in Thailand?

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