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How can I avoid another border run before my education visa appointment in Thailand?

Visa Extension Tourist Visa Education Visa Border Run Immigration Rules Non-Immigrant Visa Visa Application Process Overstay Regulations

Sep 24, 2023

2 years ago

Shaun **************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Greetings everyone. Your advice would be invaluable so I thank you in advance.

I'm on my 4th 30-day tourist visa extension. Nationality: S.A.

I have done 2 border runs (BR) via land (Laos and Cambodia) and 2 via air ((Laos on both occasions). My current (30-day) extention expires 30 September.

Shortly after my most recent entry into the country, I applied for an education visa with a very reputable teaching institution in BKK. I currently hold a certificate of enrollment and the company/school/agency has scheduled a visa-appointment at Changwattana for Monday, October 2nd - 2 days after my extention expires. The company has already obtained the required consent-letter from the Department of Education. I am told that my Edu Visa will commence on that same day - 2 October. 

I am now left with the unthinkable reality where I must 'chance' another BR simply in order to cover the period between 30/09 and 2/10.

I have two questions:

1. Is there any way possible in which I can avoid having to undertake another BR?

2. If there is in fact no other option available to me, do you think I can chance another entry via land (making it my 3rd) - considering purely that I hold a certificate of enrollmentment?

Many thanks and best regard.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is seeking advice on how to handle their visa situation in Thailand, facing an imminent expiration of their tourist visa extension and an upcoming education visa application. They have already completed two border runs and are unsure if they can avoid a third. The community responses indicate that the user cannot apply for the education visa from within Thailand due to having insufficient time left on their current stamp, and they must exit the country before the expiration to re-enter and obtain a new visa.

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Dave **********

Via land is a no-go. You have had your 2.

Via a flight abroad is probably OK. Take your EDU visa documents with you when you fly in case you get asked at immigration the reason for your entry why you are coming back - coming back to go to school.

2 years ago

Us *****

Oh bro, your ed visa place scammed you. They know that you need around of 60 days to process the ed visa. Listen to Tod for his advice. See if you can apply for the ed visa outside of the country.

2 years ago

Tod *********

@Us ****

It's tough because they hold a S/A passport and a LOT of the nearby consulates won't let S/A passports apply for visas at their consulate.

I think only Vientiane is okay with S/A passport holders applying for visas there

2 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

You have your wires crossed a bit

First you CANNOT apply for a Non-Imm visa inside the country while on overstay.

You mention you've already gotten the 30 day extension so you're done on the 30th and need to leave.

You also need a MINIMUM of 15 days left on your current stamp to even APPLY for the in country Non-ED visa at Chaengwattana because the processing time is 2 weeks.

The rest of your questions are sadly irrelevant because you do not have the time on this current extension stamp to even apply for the visa.

𝟭. 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗥? Nope, there is not, you can't 'break the time line' as far as the amount of time needed on your current stamp to apply for the in country visa 😕

You HAVE to exit/re-enter the country on or by the 30th of Sept

𝟮. 𝗜𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲, 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 (𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝟯𝗿𝗱) - 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁? Nope, you cannot chance another land entry, because while they'll let you OUT of the country by land you won't get back IN by a land entry if you already got two free 30 day visa exempt entrie by land since Jan 1, 2023

You have to fly back in to get a new visa exempt. Take all the school documentation, have the school write a letter addressed to passport control asking you be issued a 30 day visa exempt entry because you're already approved for the ED visa, AND have a contact number of someone at the school in case you get pulled aside flying in.

Even with those things I just mentioned I wouldn't fly in to EITHER Bangkok airport. You just run a crazy risk of being denied entry because of your entry/stay history. They aren't gonna be happy you've lived here on free entries and 30 day extensions at passport control at those airports

2 years ago

Shaun **************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

thanks a million. As always, you make it clear as daylight. Taking your advice.

Carol *******

Neal *******

Tod always tells it like it is. Straight to the point!