Can I safely leave Thailand on an ED visa and return with a re-entry permit?

METV to then Ed visa, if you were an IO, what would you think?

My gf and I went to Japan for Xmas three years ago and she got pulled for secondary investigation/interview when we returned. She had a letter from her school detailing the school break and her travel, but the IO demanded she call the school so the letter could be verified. It was after midnight but she still made my gf call the number on the letter and of course no one answered. The IO kept accusing my gf of working illegally in Thailand and then said it was stupid to stay in Thailand on an ED visa as they were all scams. They finally let her go after almost 3 hours after she showed them pics on her phone of her with her classmates at the school. They warned her not to travel again while on an ED.

She had a valid re-entry permit issued by Chonburi IO.

I got rolled up with her since we were traveling together and had to explain why I had spent so much time in Thailand that year on visa waiver entries and TR visas. I told them because my gf was going to school in Thailand which they did not like. They let me re-enter with her finally though, but warned that I needed a proper long-term visa the next time I exited and re-entered.

After all that crap we left for the Philippines after 90 days. Stayed there until DTV became a thing and now we are back. Highly recommend getting one while you still can - I have been in and out multiple times on it with absolutely no issues other than my first entry on it. The only issue then was that the IO had never seen a DTV and had to call her supervisor to help with the processing.

I would not risk it

Looks like you will have to fight someone in line to show your Muay Thai skills. If those combinations are a bit off then you might have some re-entry issues.

This topic comes up quite a bit actually

AND

There really is no way to tell IF you'd have problems comin' back in to thailand on an ED visa/extension w/re-entry permit. 😕

Some officers really look at ED visa/extension holding people with a critical eye, wondering WHY are you leaving thailand when you're supposed to be studying 😮

The main reason there is so much scrutiny on ED visa holders is that category of visa is RAMPANT with people who get those visas (often paying under the table to get a year extension) but who don't study what they got the visa for, not at all. They just use that visa/extension as a means to stay in thailand. 😡👎

It was CRAZY common during the covid lock down and just never really stopped getting flagged by immigrations when you stamp in. Some people skate right thru, BUT some get pulled aside, questioned, even denied entry 😮 😕 🙁

I know a foreigner with a Taiwanese g/f, he had a letter from his school saying he would be gone 5 days to Taiwan, that it was a term break, the school was not in session and it was okay by them for him to go.

When he came back he was pulled aside, and sadly even though he showed the letter from the school, photos of him IN class, AND called the school's liaison person when he was at passport control, he was denied entry 😮 He had to fly to KL, then Penang, then cross into thailand by land (which worked just fine)

So, I'd say if your school says DON'T do it, then don't unless you need to