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Can my boyfriend return to Thailand with a re-entry stamp on his education visa and apply for a COVID extension?

Education Visa Re-Entry Permit COVID Extensions Tourist Visa Thailand Immigration Rules

June 21, 2021

3 years ago

Melissa ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi! 

So my boyfriend had to leave Thailand for a family emergency and is now looking into getting back in. He had an education visa (which expires July 24) and got a re entry permit when leaving. The questions are:

1. Can he get back in with that re entry stamp?

2. If he can, could he then get the covid extension On July 24 and how many more days would that give him? 

3. If he can’t, is it possible to apply for a tourist visa while still technically on an education visa? 

4. Any other important things to consider? (I have a work permit so I don’t know much about visas...)

Thanks so much!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The inquiry discusses options for the poster's boyfriend to return to Thailand after leaving for an emergency, specifically relating to re-entry with an education visa, applying for a COVID extension, and the possibility of switching to a tourist visa. Key points include that he can return with a re-entry permit before it expires on July 24 but would need to cancel his education visa to apply for a COVID extension upon his return. If he cannot re-enter, he cannot apply for a tourist visa while technically still on an education visa. Private language school students currently struggle to get approved for re-entry under the education visa category.

Tod *********

Okay it appears that this is just a "normal" ED visa from a private school (one that actually teaches Korean up there in CHiang Mai) called โรงเรียนจุดประกายภาษา

pay attention to what I said. AT THIS TIME <- meaning right now, people enrolled in a private language school CANNOT get approved for a Certificate to Enter the country from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office (no matter IF they have a re-entry permit or not) IF they're attending a private school they can't get in on an ED visa/extension.

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Melissa ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

yup, got it. So moving on from that we just need to know if he can get a tourist visa while that education visa is still technically in his passport. No one is answering at the consulates so we’re emailing to see...

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Melissa ***********

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Melissa ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Ok thanks everyone, so if he isn’t let back in with that reentry stamp then he needs to wait until after July 24th to apply for a tourist visa correct?

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Ellie *******

@Melissa **********

, That what he needs to ask the Thai embassy where he is. Some embassy would issue a new visa with an extension before expires. Some don't.

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Michael ********

What do you mean issue a new visa with an extension before it expires? while outside of the country?

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Tod *********

Many consulates will sell you a new visa (tourist visa) even though you still have a valid extension of stay inside your passport from the immigration office.

You just have to make sure that when you stamp IN to the country you need to make the immigration officer stamp you in on the new visa and not the old extension w/re-entry permit.

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Michael ********

Ah yes OK. A completely new visa for a different reason. Yes OK that make sense. Ellie said "a new visa with an extension before it expires?".....I think she means....just a completely new visa for entry. No relation to the old one. There would be no extension of anything involved. Got it.

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Tod *********

@Michael *******

right she meant "they can issue a new visa WHILE you currently hold a valid extension in your passport" ;)

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Michael ********

Nice one. Cheers.

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Michael ********

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Benjamin ******

@Melissa **********

If he can not use the re-entry stamp, my advice would be to wait until the re-entry stamp expires, and then either enter on a visa exempt, a tourist visa, or to talk to the school about getting another ED visa based on studying.

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Benjamin ******

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Ellie *******

As

says above, I don't think he can get CoE currently. He needs to contact the Thai embassy in his country to check if he can apply for a Tourist visa. Some Thai embassies state they don't issue any visa if you have a valid visa or extension (with re-entry permit) in your passport. Some don't state that clearly.

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Tod *********

Keep in mind IF he got that education visa extension for attending a private language school (and it's not the one at Chiang Mai University) he's not going to be able to request permission to enter on it <- meaning he can't get a certificate of entry from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office before he comes .

At this time they are not letting people on an education visa/extension enter the country if they're enrolled in a private language school, only real universities and real international school students can request entry at this time

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Barry ******

yep the maximum you are allowed outside the country is 14 days in a private language school type visa.

Which isn’t going to work with quarantine.

Because you are supposed to be studying, and there normally isn’t any large term breaks like universities.

Best to work with a tourist visa or visa exemption which is allowed in and you can still study on them.

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Tod *********

, actually that's mis-information put out by one of the schools :(

It's got nothing to do with how many days you're outside of thailand on. :/

Unless I'm mistaken you can't get a Certificate of Entry from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office to get back IN to thailand if you're enrolled in a private language schools or muay thai school or self defense school or under water basket weaving school

ONLY real uni students and international school students can request entry to thailand at this point in time

The only private language school that can get people in right now is the one run out of the Chiang Mai University campus because even though it's a private school it's run ON the uni grounds

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Benjamin ******

BUT... the OP's boyfriend got a re-entry permit, and I'm guessing they are out of the country. Wouldn't the only options be:

1. attempt to re-enter on the re-entry permit or;

2. let the re-entry permit expire and then return?

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Benjamin ******

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Benjamin ******

>Can he get back in with that re entry stamp?

Yes. However his re-entry stamp expires on July 24th

>If he can, could he then get the covid extension On July 24 and how many more days would that give him

When he returns, he will have to cancel his existing extension of stay based on studying. He will have to get a letter from his school saying he is no longer a student. He will then apply for a 60 day extension of stay based on unable to travel due to COVID-19. He can stay for another 60 days.

> If he can’t, is it possible to apply for a tourist visa while still technically on an education visa?

No, he can not apply for a tourist visa, and I doubt he will be able to enter on a visa exempt.

>Any other important things to consider?

He will have to go through a 14 day ASQ quarantine in Bangkok. I do not believe the Thai consulate will issue a Certificate of Entry that will result in him being on overstay while in ASQ.

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Benjamin ******

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