Can my son activate his ED visa in Thailand after entering on a tourist visa?

Mar 15, 2024
8 months ago
Good morning,

My son just arrived from France in Thailand. He applied 3 weeks ago for an ED visa.

Today he entered at 6 am in Thailand on Tourist / Visa extension.

And now, 1 hour ago (8 30 am), we just received the ED Visa approval.

My question is : can we go immigration to validate the ED Visa ? Where ?

Any agency to help with this ?

Or do we need him to go outside the country and then come back as ED Visa ?

Thanks in advance
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user inquired about activating an ED visa for their son who recently entered Thailand on a tourist visa. Responses indicated that the only way to activate the ED visa is by exiting Thailand and re-entering with the new visa. Several commenters emphasized contacting the educational institution for assistance and also offered specific immigration office locations in Bangkok for any necessary procedures. Ultimately, the user confirmed that their issue was resolved with the advice received.
Stephane *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Problem solved. Thanks all for your adviced.
Christopher *************
I guess it depends on what you want doing? Personally I ahev found them to be pretty efficient and well organised. Information is readily given. So you may have to line up and wait until it is your turn. You get a number and hand in your paperwork. Far better than the trek to Cambodia unless of course you stay down the road for a few days at Bat---?
Christopher *************
Jomtiem Immigration.
Stephane *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Christopher ************
we would like to avoid the trek to any neighbor country (money, time...) if we can. If he can go to immigration office (but where ?) and have it done even with waiting a few hours or use any agent it would be always cheaper
Chris *********************
@Stephane ******************
to many extensions would be fround upon, that's why I'm leaving for a few days, come back to activate my visa, it's not a big expense to keep in the good books as they say.
Brandon ************
@Stephane ******************
you'll be wasting your time going to immigration.
Stephane *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Brandon ************
@Stephane ******************
because you CANNOT activate a visa you purchased at an embassy at immigration or anywhere else inside the country. The only time you can do that is when you're entering the country. They're just going to tell you the same thing at immigration and you'll have wasted 3-4 hours that you could have used to finish half of a border bounce.
Christopher *************
@Stephane ******************
It all depends on where you are?
Stephane *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Christopher *************
Immigration Bureau (Sub-Div.2, Imm. Div.1):

Address: Chalermprakiat Government Complex, 120, Moo 3, Chaengwattana Road (Soi 7), Thungsonghong, Laksi, Bangkok
*****
.

Phone: 02-
*****
89

Opening Times: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM 1.

Resolution Immigration Services (Thailand):

Address: Empire Tower, 47th Floor, 1 ถ. สาทรใต้ Yannawa, เขต สาทร, กรุงเทพมหานคร
*****
, Thailand.

Phone: 02 107 6870 2.

Thailand Immigration Office:

Address: VHJ7+7WP แขวง ทุ่งสองห้อง เขต หลักสี่, กรุงเทพมหานคร
*****
, Thailand.

Opening Times: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM 3.
Stephane *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Christopher ************
so helpful thank you very much 🙏🙏
Terary **********
From Pattaya, to go to to Cambodia and back, about 8 hours (includes break for lunch). To do anything at the Pattaya immigration office 1-3 days.
Chris *********************
I had the same problem, my visa didn't arrive on time, got 30 days on arrival, have to leave the kingdom and return to activate visa,
Carlein *******
He should have 3 months to acivate the visa
Carlein *******
Let him use the exemption up and extend then send him out to come in on visa he will get extra 2 months this way
Rachanee *************
Go to the local immigration office to the school your son will be learning at and asking them they will help if it s possible,don t go to an agency ultimately an immigration officer is the one to take proper advise from
Bob **********
Your school should answer all your questions
Adam *********
Education visa gets switched, I never left I just had to go immigration as far as I got told I was told not to leave country while on a Ed visa
Stephane *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Adam ********
thank for this answer. Any special desk at immigration office ? We do not even know where to go for immigration office 😅

Did you use any agency help ?

We are well aware he can not leave the country on ED visa.
Lisa ********************
@Stephane ******************
Adam is incorrect. Follow
@Brandon ***********
advice. He's the expert here.
Stephane *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lisa *******************
i m afraid he is right
James *********
@Stephane ******************
you're afraid WHO is right? Brandon is 💯
Stephane *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James ********
sorry i was not clear

I agree with you
Stephane *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
It s for an internship
Adam *********
@Stephane ******************
my school organise everything they just tell me when to go and they met me at the immigration the first time to help do it, the school if they organised it should be helping you if it’s a legit visa with school
Brandon ************
@Adam ********
because you applied for the education visa in Thailand from immigration. You cannot activate a visa you got from an embassy while you're inside of Thailand.
Adam *********
@Brandon ***********
I thought you can only get them in Thailand, but yea it was applied out I would say you need to leave
Declan **********
You need to leave and re-enter the country to activate a visa obtained from outside the country.
Loretta *******
I would contact his school
Brandon ************
You cannot activate the visa anywhere in Thailand and no agency can help you. The ONLY way to activate the visa is to leave Thailand and re-enter using the visa.
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