Can I get a 30-day extension on my ED visa by doing a visa run to Cambodia by bus?

Jul 17, 2019
5 years ago
Teo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello 🙂 My ED visa expires on the 27th of July and tried to extend it but didn't work in the Thai embassy. So i'm going to do a visa run to Cambodia and would like to know what is the best to do. Can I get 30 day extension by doing this by bus or does it have to be by plane? 🤔

Thank you in advance, this page is a life saver 🙃
1,051
views
0
likes
51
all likes
37
replies
0
images
5
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is inquiring about extending their Education (ED) visa in Thailand, mentioning an unsuccessful extension attempt at the embassy. They seek advice on whether they can obtain a 30-day exemption by performing a visa run to Cambodia by bus, rather than by plane. Respondents clarify that a valid extension requires paperwork from the user's school and that a 30-day visa exemption can indeed be acquired by crossing certain borders, but advise against using the Aranyaprathet-Poi Pet border due to complications.
Teo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ok great! So by bus, to Poi Pet, 30 day extension on tourist visa 👍👍👍 thank you very much!
Steven ***************
And again. It's not an extension. It's not a visa .. its 30 day exempt. Exempt= not required
Teo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Oh okaaaaaaay!! Didn't understand that the first time haha! No worries, apologies accepted 😊

Thank you so much for your help!!
Tod *********
@Teo **********
sorry I didn't mean to be so hard core, :O and just so you know Aranyaprathet is the thai city on this side and Poi Pet is the cambodian city on that side of that arm-pit of asia border crossing AVOID it at all costs.
Teo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Oh okay, I miss read : I thought "don't go to Aranyapratet" "go to Poipet". Didn't know it was same thing

Sorry 👍 thanks
Zac ********
@Teo **********
Aranyapratet Poipet border is hell on earth, use ban laem or hat lek.
Tod *********
Go to Ban Laem Cambodia OR Phu Nam Ron Burma in Kanchanaburi province for a 30 day visa exempt entry (there is no such thing as a 30 day tourist visa :( )
Tod *********
WTF is wrong with you? I went out of the way to say NOT the aranyaprathet - poi pet border <- Meaning DO NOT GO THERE.
Tod *********
NO NO NO!! 😠😠😠. can you READ do NOT go to Poi Pet?
Tod *********
Yep, you should just bounce out and back in for a 30 day visa exempt entry that you can extend for another 30 days. You can bounce out and back at a land border crossing (NOT the Aranyaprathet - Poi Pet one!! )
Tod *********
Were you on the original 90 day entry of the ED visa or had you extended it before this?
Teo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Oh wow.. but this would be to just have a Tourist visa, I won't need the ED visa for the last month in thailand
Tod *********
@Teo **********
yep it's REALLY hard to get extensions on ED visas for internship. Most people who do 6 month internships actually end up having to get TWO separate ED visas, get one come in, use up the 90 days, go get another one.
Teo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
Yeah I was on 90 days, but had to do re-entry for exams, and I think that worked as an extension.. so when I went to the Immigration office last time, they told me either I need a work permit from my company (internship) or go out of the country and back in 🤔
Tod *********
What is your nationality?
Teo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
I have French nationality 😊
Steven ***************
You need paperwork from your school to extend an Education visa. Only way. You must have proof you are continuing study. And it's done inside thailand at immigration. Not at an embassy

Please correct me if I'm wrong
@Tod ********
Teo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks so much guys! 👍
Steven ***************
They're getting really anal about these things recently, especially back to back entries on exempt/short term visas. I've heard about more denials in the last 3 months than the 3 previous years.
George *******
yep. better safe than sorry. Im sure if I didnt have that ticket, they'd definitely ask me for it. :))))
Steven ***************
Still a ticket out. And $9 well spent.
George *******
I'm just getting job offer here and then do visa run to get Non-B and back.
George *******
@Steven **************
that was fake ticket anyway, bought on "fly onward" website for $9.00usd. :)
Steven ***************
@George ******
. They can ask you or not. It's their discretion. If they ask and you dont have one,they can deny you entry. If you prefer not to follow the advice you mentioned that you received ,then you do so at your own risk of being denied.

You didn't waste a return ticket unless you were planning on never leaving and that requires a lot more than a visa exempt entry 😉. Try getting into most western countries without a return ticket and/or visa.
George *******
@Teo **********
it doesn't matter whether you do visa run by bus, car or plane. What matters is that you have to cross the border and re-apply from outside of the Thai border. And yes, it better to have Thai hotel booked in advance, to show the you have place to stay. Not sure about money to show, or return ticket, but better be safe and have it just in case.
George *******
@Steven **************
I also read and was told to have paid ticket showing Im leaving Thailand within 30 days (when I entered first on 30 day holiday visa) but no one in Thai customs anywhere have ever asked me or mentioned anything about it, I just wasted return ticket (although it was very cheap).
Teo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ok, well I'll make sure to have that, thank you very much
Steven ***************
How do you expect to stay in Thailand for a month without 20k baht to your name? That's why they ask.
Teo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ok! Oh wow 20k cash (I'm a poor student haha) is that necessary?

Ok can do for the redt
Steven ***************
Have equivalent of 20k baht cash , accommodation booked and a paid for ticket showing you leaving thailand within 30 days of entering. Or they can deny you entry on exempt
Steven ***************
You have to leave and re enter on exempt.
Steven ***************
@Teo **********
. Visa exempt means you dont need a visa at all to enter for up to 30 days as a tourist. Because you're from one of the countries granted it.
Teo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ok cool, so I can just do Visa run by bus and have 30 days on tourist visa? 😊
Steven ***************
Then you should be entitled to 30 day entry visa exempt
Teo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Steven ***************
Teo Rodriguez . What nationality are you? (Passport)
Teo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I just need to have a Tourist visa to be able to go back on 24 august 😊

I would have finished my internship by then and the lady from Immigration, when I went to extend my ED visa for 30 days (didn't work) said "you can go out of my country, and come back in my country" 😊
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else