Answered5 years ago

Can I switch from an ED visa to a Volunteer visa in Thailand without leaving the country?

ED Visa Volunteer Visa Visa Extension Immigration Rules Thailand COVID Visa Policy Non-O Visa

asked Feb 1, 2022

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Hi all, I have received conflicting information. 

My ED Visa is expiring in April. I was hoping to switch to Volunteer under my foundation. Under normal circumstances, I know I would need to exit the country. My school is saying I will not have to exit the country, but the foundation is saying I will. I know because of Covid, the rules are constantly changing it seems.  I came in on TR Visa and switched ED Visa, in country. So is there any option for me to switch from ED to Volunteer without leaving? I couldn't find relevant info in the search that is from the last few months. Are there any options for me to not leave in April? ED to ED? ED to Volunteer? ED to Covid?

Thank you!

Answer summary

The user is seeking clarity on whether they can switch from an ED visa to a Volunteer visa without exiting Thailand, given conflicting information from their school and foundation. Comments indicate that the general consensus is that one may need to leave the country to switch to a Volunteer visa, although some suggest that it might be possible to change the reason for the current extension based on volunteering instead.

13 repliesnewest first

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Noah **********

If you find out otherwise, will you please update and let us know?

5 years ago

Noah **********

I'm in the same boat, Hunter. I have talked with 2 different immigration officers at Chaeng Wattana Immigration on 2 different occasions about switching/extending to a volunteer visa and was told both times that I need to leave the country to apply for a volunteer visa.

5 years ago

Noah **********

@Tod ********

Great information. Thank you again for the help. I will talk with the visa person from my volunteer organization and see what she thinks. If I decide to go this route I will update the group to let you know how it works out.

5 years ago

Noah **********

@Tod ********

I'm on an ED visa/extension right now. I have not canceled my ED visa. The last time I extended my ED visa in Section N, on Jan 27, I asked the immigration officer about changing from an ED to Volunteer visa. He brought me to another immigration officer in the same section. I showed her my foundation documents and asked about changing from an ED visa to a Volunteer visa. She told me I will need to leave Thailand to apply for a volunteer visa. I also talked with the immigration officer in another section when I changed from a TR visa to an ED visa. She told me that it is not possible to change from an ED visa to a Volunteer visa in country.

5 years ago

Noah **********

*cancel my ED extension

5 years ago

Noah **********

@Tod ********

Thank you for helping me think through this. If you are right, I will add you to my list of heroes. My ED visa will run out on March 17 so I think it is worth a shot to try to cancel my ED extension on March 12 and ask them to change it to a volunteer extension. Once I cancel my ED visa I will receive a 7 day stamp saying I need to get out of Thailand, correct?

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Noah *********

nope, you will not and IF you do take that 7 day stamp you're done and you can't change it to anything and you WILL have to leave.

You get documents from your school stating you stop studying on the date your extension runs out, you get documentation from your foundation saying you start the date the extension runs out, you go to the immigration office a week or so early cancel the ED extension and then immediately apply for a new extension based on volunteering.

I'd sure take someone from the foundation with you AND make sure they know you don't want to get a Non-O VISA, but only change the reason for your extension from education to volunteering.

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Noah *********

and again I think you're having a lost in translation moment because you're NOT on any visa right now you're on an extension of stay based on education

AND

you wouldn't be applying for ANY visa based on volunteering either you'd be changing the reason for your extension from one based on education to one based on volunteering.

I think they are telling you to get OFF the ed visa extension you cancel it, then exit/re-enter the country and apply for a new Non-O visa based on volunteering.

I honestly believe you don't have to do that and you can simply cancel your ED extension and immediately apply for a new extension based on volunteering with the documents from the foundation.

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Noah *********

and what type of stamp are you on now? Were you on an ED visa/extension, did you cancel that and take covid extensions?

The people you'd talk to at Chaengwattana are in Section N <- they do the ED extensions AND the volunteer extensions for foundations/organizations

5 years ago

Tod *********

First off you need to realize that you are NOT on any visa right now, and instead you're on an "extension of stay" <- just like the stamp in your passport states 😮

You got that extension because you HAD a 90 day Non-ED visa.

Now as far as what you want to do, you would not be applying for any Non-O visa or Volunteer visa. Instead you'd be cancelling the extension you have now based on education (with documentation from your school) and then immediately applying for a new extension based on volunteering (with documents from the foundation).

I think what has the foundation messed up is them thinking you need to get a volunteer (Non-O) visa, which you do NOT need, all you really are doing is changing the reason for your extension from one based on education to one based on volunteering. AND whether you can or can't do that is totally up to the immigration office where you will be cancelling the ed extension and trying to apply for the extension based on volunteering

5 years ago

Hunter *******

@Tod ********

thanks for explaining. I already extended for the full year, so do you think it’s possible to extend again?

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Hunter ******

you are NOT extending for the same reason (education) you're changing the reason to volunteering.

My advice is get someone from your foundation and slog on over to the immigration office and ask.

All you're wanting to do is cancel the extension based on education with documents from your school and immediately apply for a new extension based on volunteering with documents from your foundation.

5 years ago

Hunter *******

@Tod ********

question, if I cancel the ED extension and get the Non- O extension successfully, is that a 90 day? After that would I then need to leave the country for the following extension? Also in order to volunteer you must also get a work permit, will they grant you a work permit if you’re on an extension vs. a visa?

5 years ago