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Can I apply for an STV visa from the UK before returning to Thailand?

Thai Visa STV Visa Education Visa Visa Application Process Elite Visa Immigration Rules

Nov 9, 2021

3 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

I have already had this conversation with Embassy but after 2 replies they still went around my question haha.

So basically I have been here on an ED visa learning Thai. I am limited to my options to extend. Really I would like to continue my studies but I don't think that is an option with ministry of ed. I will eventually probably get an elite visa but prefer next year.

So my plan is to return to UK and come back on a STV. It doesn't matter too much that I can't change that visa to anything as I can do that when I leave and come back again after the 9 months is up.

My question is...I want to minimise the amount of time I need to be in the UK. I want to see family but equally don't really want to stay too long! So can I apply for the visa before I get back? I see in UK they have changed most of the visa approvals online now and you don't need to send your passport back so I am assuming I would be able to?

Not sure if anyone can answer this or if I have explained it properly haha. Thank you in advance for any help.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is currently on an Education (ED) visa in Thailand and plans to return to the UK briefly before applying for a Short-Term Visa (STV) to come back to Thailand. They inquire whether it's possible to apply for the STV before they actually return to the UK. Responses indicate that while there might be concerns about visa status in relation to exiting Thailand, it is technically possible to apply for the visa remotely, especially if applying online. Several comments also suggest alternatives to the STV and discuss the possibility of changing to an Elite Visa without leaving the country.

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Jonas *************

I don't know about Thailand but in China for example you cannot hold two visas at the same time. If you're issued anew visa the old visa becomes invalid and if you happen to be inside the country at that time you're there illegally unless possibly if your new visa covers the current date. But even so they usually have to be activated with a stamp, and that's something the immigration only can do.

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Jonas *************

Well I would not drill out on it You better check beforehand. I did have a two-time entry Chinese tourist visa. And I was going from Hong Kong to Shenzhen and there at the border you can get a 5-day visa.. But last time the informed me that I ordered ahead of two his visa and if I got there five days it would invalidate my tourist visa entry. It works before but it didn't work that time and since then. Actually for China the visas have become quite expensive and short and only two times entry but it's almost not worth the trouble. I once had a 2-year multiple entry 90-day tourist visa which doesn't actually exist but that's what I got. Before covet I would just use the 144 hour transit rule. In some airports if you fly from one country region territory to another then you do not need a visa but you get a 144 transit visa for free when landing. Hong Kong and Macau water not considered same. You can only enter from one but you cannot return to the same one. It is possible to combine with train but you need to have tickets beforehand.

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Ադամ ********

@Jonas ************

I have a China visa for aircrew. Our mob was first told we would have to apply for a second passport for purpose of application for a China Tourism visa. Then the company said we COULD hold two China visa at the same time in the same passport.

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Ադամ ********

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Phill ******

you can come in on any visa you want , you can change to elite with out having to leave the country .

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Ryan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

stv i thought was unable to change to any visa?

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Phill ******

, wrong . you can get an elite visa any time without leaveing the country .

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Ryan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

ah cool. I think I need to pop back anyway.

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Ryan ********

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

If you are only leaving because you "have to" rather than "want to", then just use an agent to stay for now and get Elite Visa next year.

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Shayne **********

Don't get the STV

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Garrett ***********

Way to much information for such a simple question. You probably couldn't get a straight answer because they stopped listening after the first 15 minutes of you talk. "Can I apply for a visa at the Thai Embassy in the UK if I'm not in the UK yet" - Yes, if they're using the E-visa.

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Ryan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Garrett **********

somebody already gave me an answer though 🤐

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Garrett ***********

Then why did you ask here?

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Ryan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Garrett **********

what? I'm literally saying somebody here has given me the answer. The reason there was an explanation about everything is incase any of the elements in anyway changed the answer I need. Perhaps you should change the rules to your only allowed one paragraph? Not really sure why this is such a big issue 🤣 helpful group though none the less. Have a good day.

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Ryan ********

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Wannikea *********

You talking about applying now for STV, why not, tho you need police clearance etc. Also consider you have 90 days from the time the visa is issued to make your entry into Thailand before it becomes invalid. Thailand pass is accepts multiple future entry requests for instance a travelling salesman.

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Johnny *******

From what I was told a couple years back when I was on a Education visa, is that you are not allowed to take the same course again but if the school offered a different language course that you could take that one and extend. Not sure if things have changed because of covid.

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Chan *************

stv is one way visa. once you hv that, you cant change to other visa.

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Phill ******

@Chan ************

, bullshit . you can get an elite visa any time , and you dont have leave to do it . get your facts right .

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Ryan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I know I literally said that lol. And not my question but thank you :)

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Ryan ********

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

You can apply, as they have no way of actually knowing where you are. But if they look closely enough at your passport they'll be able to see that you were never stamped out of Thailand so it may come up. Only way to find out is apply and see what they say, and if they reject it, try again when you arrive back.

One of the questions on the application is to upload every page of your passport that has a stamp from within the last 12 months.

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

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