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Can I switch from an amnesty visa to an ED visa in Thailand, or are schools operating a scam?

ED VisaVisa ApplicationImmigration RulesThailandExpatsLanguage SchoolsMuay Thai SchoolsVisa FeesVisa ScamsChiang Mai Immigration
August 1, 2020
4 years ago
Johan **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi everyone, I have a question about applying for a ED visa in these times. I understand from immigration that it is NOT possible to switch from amnesty to ED. I asked the immigration office in Chiang Rai and called the hotline. They say the same thing, not possible.

BUT when I contact schools (both language and muay thai) then they say that they can get the ED visa inside the country without any problem but they say the cost of it is much higher (20 000 just for immigration fee, one of them actually called it a tip for immigration). Three different schools say the same thing. These schools are all located in Chiang Mai.

So what is this? Are they running a collective scam or can they really switch my visa? Perhaps the rules in Chiang Mai are different??

It would be really awesome if someone that did this already (on amnesty!) could reply and let me know if it is really possible.

Thank you in advance and I wish everyone a great weekend!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post raises concerns about the legitimacy of obtaining an Education (ED) visa in Thailand while on an amnesty visa. The original poster states that Chiang Rai immigration officials confirmed it is not possible to switch to an ED visa from an amnesty. However, several schools in Chiang Mai claim they can facilitate the visa switch for a significant fee, leading to suspicions of a scam. Comments from community members discuss their experiences, noting the prevalence of unofficial practices related to 'tea money' or bribes and the potential for legitimate pathways through certain institutions, despite conflicting guidance from immigration authorities.
Austin *********
Sounds like a collection scam
4 years ago
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Peter ************
Happens often: immigration says no so as to enable others to make money. It will take you a long time before you get your investment back, at least in education. During these days of growing anti foreigner sentiment, play it wise.
4 years ago
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Addy ***********
Why you talk about this people for you a help and the police how do this even when it's a scan shut your mounts because we the now you talk about this mayby the stop this...
4 years ago
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Nick *******
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
@Addy **********
. Can we get that in English please? 🤣🤣🤣
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
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Jaye ********
They really need the money there too. Is that for a year?
4 years ago
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Shelley ********
^^ in krabi
4 years ago
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Shelley ********
I just got my son a Ed visa from amnesty at immigration. The impossible was possible for
*****
baht
4 years ago
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Mijin ******
can I ask which school / institution (does not have to be the actual name. ex. private int'l school / thai language school etc.) issued ED visa for your son? I am searching for the one that can issue my son's ED visa as well. TIA
4 years ago
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Shelley ********
@Mijin *****
 they didn't issue it, just gave me the paperwork to do it myself at immigration. Its a international Canadian school. Just like a primary school 😊
4 years ago
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Mijin ******
@Shelley *******
 can i DM u?
4 years ago
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Shelley ********
@Mijin *****
 sure x
4 years ago
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Shelley ********
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Bobby ********
@Shelley *******
.
*****
baht above the normal price. Hmmmm.
4 years ago
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Jesse *********
did you go thru an agency for that?
4 years ago
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Shelley ********
@Jesse ********
 no
4 years ago
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Shelley ********
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Matthew *******
Watch what everyone says regarding a scam, my partner and I recently went through a horrid experience with a Language School in Chiang Mai, after they took our 25k THB my partner posted a google review to warn others; , we were threatened with their cyber crime laws and further money was attempted to leave our fingers. We sought a Lawyer, they did some digging, it was all a sham and we promptly left.
4 years ago
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Francis ********
The same thing happened to me for my Muay Thai school in chiang mai. Ironically I’m

Still in the Uk and they told me I need to pay thay also which I did. I thought that means I can enter country but I still can’t
4 years ago
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Frank ******
Back door visa, not legit as tea money given to immigration and the middleman
4 years ago
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Jesse *********
idk I've never heard of anyone getting punished for having paid an agency for services, they are legal businesses and any fault would be on the officers issuing the tea money visas
4 years ago
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Frank ******
@Jesse ********
 ok use back door and pay
4 years ago
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Frank ******
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Jesse *********
why is the visa not legit? just because it involves tea money doesn't mean that visa is fake
4 years ago
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Frank ******
@Jesse ********
 if caught it is your fault, cannot point or blame service to immigration, they know these services exists but blind eye until caught and then lot more tea money
4 years ago
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Frank ******
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Todd *********
As noted recently in the news, there was immigration official in CM caught taking a bribe. How many times does that happen around the nation? What makes either visa more or less 'legit'?
4 years ago
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Frank ******
@Todd ********
 they sorry when caught, Thailand is nation with culture and mentality of tea money bribes thruout society, look how ex pats complain about illicit no meter taxis, ripoff tuktuks,
4 years ago
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Frank ******
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Felix ****
Depends how you define a scam? You get what you pay for but obviously it is a greyzone. Also 20,000 doesn’t sound like much considering that Quarantine alone will cost you 60,000+? once you can come back.
4 years ago
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Steve *********
Tea is expensive for officials🤣
4 years ago
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Jesse *********
Anyway what long term visas did the hotline tell you were allowed to switch to from amnesty?
4 years ago
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Johan **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jesse ********
 I didn't ask that question to the hotline. I only asked about Ed as that is the only one i'm really interested in. The Immigration office funnily enough told me I could switch to and Elite visa.
4 years ago
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Oliver ********
@Johan *************
 yea Well there a Big Money difference between Them
4 years ago
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Oliver ********
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Jesse *********
Bkk has no idea everything that local offices are doing so probably all the schools nearby you have the same "inside guy" at CNX immigration running this. The visa etc might be legit but Bkk probably told offices not to do this...
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
A 20,000 baht "fee" for a 2,000 baht visa and you're asking if it's a scam? There are plenty of people on illegally obtained visas in Thailand, which is fine, until you are caught. Then it's curtains. Arrest, detention, deportation, life ban. And no embassy will be willing to help you. Those things have to be considered
4 years ago
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Steven **************
Mogens Nygaard if you illegally obtain something it's not legal.... When that stamp is " bought" it is illegal.. go to another immigration office tell them how you got the stamp and ask if it's legal
4 years ago
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Todd *********
what are illegally obtained visas? The numerous agents handling visas for a fee is clearly big business in Thailand. But the visas obtained appear to be fully legitimate and a means of maneuvering around the complexities of the system. Asking for purpose of clarity
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
@Todd ********
**************************************************************************************************
4 years ago
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Todd *********
@Bo***
 yes, that's the one I was referring to. Thx
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
@Todd ********
. It's all good IF you don't get caught. If you do, you kiss Thailand goodbye. It's a risk I would never take. Mogens is correct that immigration officers have "discretion" but it comes at a price. That's how my cousin was caught. First the IO was rumbled then they analysed all their work for the past 12 months. They simply asked my cousin for his bank book. A bank book with nothing in it. Game over
4 years ago
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Todd *********
@Bobby *******
 fair enough I get that. 4 years is a pretty good deal though lol. Discretion at a price.... and interesting story about how it occurred. The investigation was an internal immigration problem. Thank for the perspective
4 years ago
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Todd *********
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Geoff **********
@Todd ********
 visas obtained for people who do not meet the formal requirements for the visa. For the extra fee the rules are bent and you can get a visa that is "real" but if ever investigated by immigration in the future you can have lots of problems since the visa was not obtained legally.
4 years ago
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Todd *********
@Geoff *********
 why/how would immigration investigate a visa that their own staff placed on a passport? I get what you are saying, and agree that they are 'real'... and if immigration truly frowned on this practice, they have the resources to close that down in a hurry.
4 years ago
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Chester ********
@To**
 say you had a car accident, police arrive, look into ur visa ... hmmm ED... what school, hmmm u dont regularly attend/know f all thai.. come with us
4 years ago
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Todd *********
@Chester *******
 wouldn't be worried a bit. The visa is the exact same as one obtained by you at immigration.
4 years ago
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Chester ********
@To**
 yeah, i think with agency if something was in question they would be able to smooth things over alittle easier. Either way for me it's only 1 year then ill get non b and start working. I deserve a year off to integrate into the country and learn the language lol
4 years ago
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Todd *********
@Che****
 haha, good point!!! Enjoy :)
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
@Todd ********
. I have personal experience of an illegally obtained visa. My cousin in Chiang Mai paid 15,000-20,000 baht for a retirement visa to avoid having to put 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account. It worked for four years, until the knock on his door at 10.00pm one night. Arrested and put in detention centre until he could organise a flight out on account of a deportation order. He was also given a life ban. The agent scurried for the hills, and as usual in Thailand, it's the farang at fault. My cousin could not even return to his condo to get his belongings. He had to get friends to pack it all up and send on to him.
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
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