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Answereda year ago

Do I need to cancel my Non Immigrant ED Visa in person before applying for a DTV visa from the USA?

Paige ********
asked Oct 11, 2025
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Hello, I am currently on a Non Immigrant ED Visa (University) which expires on December 20 and I am planning to switch to a DTV (Soft Power) while I am back in the USA (October - January).

Is it absolutley necessary that I cancel my ED Visa with Immigration in person before traveling to the USA and applying for the DTV? Or will I be okay to return to the USA and let it expire on its own while I am applying for the DTV.

Thank you so much for your help!
Answer summary
The user is currently on a Non Immigrant ED Visa expiring on December 20 and plans to apply for a DTV visa while in the USA. They inquire about whether it's mandatory to cancel their ED visa in person before traveling or if they can let it expire and apply for the DTV later. Comments indicate that it's crucial to notify immigration about any changes in visa status, and failing to do so could lead to fines and affect future visa applications.
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Hillary *****
Hillary *****
If you fly out immigration at airport will stamp you out. That cancels your non ed visa right then and there.
Paige ********
Paige ********
OP
@Hillary ****
@Brandon ***********
I also was provided a re-entry permit with this ED Plus Visa. So I do believe it’s probably best to cancel ahead of time; otherwise they might think I’ll be returning to Thailand before my visa ends and would not have thought to cancel it. Probably most safe & wise to submit the correct paperwork and not take any chances!?
Hillary *****
Hillary *****
@Paige *******
that's the best bet. Clear paper trails make the most sense. I was forgetting about the rules with 90 day report extensions. Sorry about that. Since I left yesterday before my extension was due I didn't have to worry about it and my mind is still on the travel haze haha. But I'm coming back on a different non Ed visa, through a university this time. Good luck with your DTV and keep a copy of all paperwork, in case they want to see it when you apply for the new dtv.
Hillary *****
Hillary *****
However, I left before my first 90 day extension. So after the first extension you're on the hook or your sponsor is and the sponsor can write a letter saying you've left early so immigration had a clear paper trail.
Hillary *****
Hillary *****
I literally just did this...there is no fine. Once you stamp out, you're out. As long as you do not overstay your visa you are good to go.
Hillary *****
Hillary *****
If you were stamped out by Thai immigration before your visa or extension expired, you’re fine — no penalty.

The overstay clock stops the moment you’re stamped out.

But if your extension had already expired before you left, even by a day, then yes — they’ll fine you on departure, right there at the airport. The officer calculates the number of days you overstayed and charges 500 baht per day, capped at 20,000 baht. Once you pay, you can leave freely.

If you cleared the checkpoint before expiration, you owe nothing, and when you later come back on a DTV visa, you’re entering clean.

So the simple rule:

Left before expiry → no fine, no issue.

Left after expiry → fined on departure, but usually no long-term problem if the overstay was short.
Brandon ************
Brandon ************
@Hillary ****
stop giving bad information. We're not talking about overstay. We're talking about an education extension. You won't be fined at the airport. You'll be fined when you go to immigration in the future when they see you failed to meet the requirements of your extension. And an extension is not the same thing as a visa. We're talking about specific extensions here.
Hillary *****
Hillary *****
@Brandon ***********
omg get your panties out of a knot there sparky. I clarified and apologized. Get a grip.
Brandon ************
Brandon ************
@Hillary ****
that will invalidate it if no re-entry permit was purchased. But that doesn't mean it was cancelled properly and is a failure to meet the requirements that were signed when getting the extension.
Frank **********
Frank **********
@Hillary ****
read Brandon's response.
Paige ********
Paige ********
OP
Thanks so much, Brandon! That’s what I was thinking; but couldn’t find clear answers. Super helpful!
Brandon ************
Brandon ************
Work extension, volunteer extension, education extension all have a provision that you must notify immigration if the basis of your extension changes. This means even if you just let it expire, you are in breach of the documents you signed that said you would let immigration know of any change in status. All of those extensions must be cancelled with paperwork from the sponsor or else you can be fined 500 baht per day for failing to abide by the agreement you signed (up to a maximum of 20,000 baht) and can also prevent you from getting a different long-term visa or extension if immigration or the embassy notice that you failed to cancel the previous extension.
Yo***
Yo***
@Brandon ***********
understand and agreed. What if I am out of the country but can not come back to Thailand within the permit date? For example, my visa will expire 10. November 2025. And I leave Thailand today. But something happens to me in the meantime, so I can not back to Thailand to renew or extend or cancel my visa by 10.Nov.2025.because I am not able to be in Thailand in time. So, what will happen to my visa? When I am back to Thailand, let me say, January, my visa is already expired. I need to apply new visa? or shall I be back to Thailand on tourism visa and cancel it at the immigration although it is already expired? then can I apply a new one?
Brandon ************
Brandon ************
@Yo***
You will not be able to get a new long-term visa or extension from immigration (for example a new work extension) until you cancel the previous one. You would then receive the fine of 500 baht per day (to a maximum of 20,000 baht) for failing to cancel. Immigration doesn't care why you didn't do it, they just know that you did not as you agreed to.
Yo***
Yo***
@Brandon ***********
If someone has accidents or very sick suddenly, can not fly at all, even living on bed unconsciously. This happened to everyone. That is why all laws have exceptions. However, it sounds strange for me. But I understood your point. So, your point is unless you cancelled the visa that you already have. even in person in the immigration, or even expired already, You must come to Thailand to cancel it first to apply new one plus, you have to pay the fine to fail to cancel it in time. 👍

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