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How can I extend my education visa in Thailand if my gym cannot assist me?

Thai visaeducation visaED visavisa extensionimmigrationMuay Thaiexpat adviceThailand visa rules
Aug 4, 2023
a year ago
Nami ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My visa situation here is never ending I’m afraid 🥺 I need help 😩

I crossed through to Vientiane, Laos for my education visa in May. My current 3 month visa is up on august 19th. When I got my stamp, they gave me a 30 day stamp instead of my 3 month so the Muay Thai gym I went through told me to go to immigration 2 weeks ago to get it fixed.

I went and got it fixed and now my gym is saying they don’t have enough time to do my extension and that they needed 2 months (even though they only asked for my info 2 weeks ago?).

Can I do my extension myself? Should I just fly over to somewhere and come back for 2 months (I’ve been here since February and crossed over by land twice already)? Do I have to do anything to close down this visa I have now or when it expires, is that it?

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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is experiencing difficulties with their education visa in Thailand after receiving an incorrect 30-day stamp instead of a 3-month visa. They visited immigration to rectify the issue but are now informed by their Muay Thai gym that they require 2 months for the necessary paperwork. The user is seeking guidance on whether they can handle the extension themselves, what options are available given their close expiration date, and whether they need to take any action regarding their current visa upon expiration.
Michael **********
this is what happens when people try to get the short way for having a visa...
a year ago
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Us *****
Which Muay Thai school is this so I can avoid it. My language school only requires me to give them a 2 week notice fornmy first extension.
a year ago
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Nami ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Us ****
 what language school are you with? It was CM Muay Thai
a year ago
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Us *****
@Nami *******
 I am at Duke Language School. I have to go 5 days a week for 3 hours a day. They don't play around
a year ago
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Us *****
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Milan ********
maybe depends where, my language school in prachuap also want me do one 30 days extension after i arrived with visa exemp
a year ago
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John **********
Just an observation but could the issue be the fact you were on the wrong visa for most of the time?
a year ago
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Nami ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 I may be confused at your question but I have the visa I was supposed to get, they just gave me the wrong stamp at the border.
a year ago
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John **********
@Nami *******
 sounds to me like they gave you a visa exempt stamp at the border in which case you weren't inside Thailand on the correct visa despite the fact you may have had one on your passport. Did they mark your visa used or anything when you entered at the border?
a year ago
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Nami ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 it does say used yes
a year ago
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Justin *********
@John *********
Sounds to me like youre having a hard time believing the OP at their word, despite them being quite clear about what happened. Weird.
a year ago
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John **********
@Justin ****
 I don't disbelieve them at all but if you are stamped in wrongly then it's your responsibility to check the stamp and correct it if it's wrong. It's just a pity they didn't notice at the time as it does mean she wasn't on the visa until it was corrected. It happens fairly frequently so it always pays to check stamps, preferably before leaving immigration.
a year ago
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Justin *********
@John *********
 in that case.. your observation was obvious 🙃
a year ago
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Justin *********
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Brandon ************
It definitely shouldn't take your school 2 months to provide you with paperwork to go to immigration and apply for your extension.

But if they can't or won't, then you have no options. You'll have to leave Thailand when your current stamp runs out. You might or might not be able to get another ED visa. But expect to be questioned if you try to enter Thailand again as a tourist now that you have an ED in your passport. It's a huge red flag and you'll likely be pulled out of line and questioned every time due to how abused the ED visa is.

Please note: it is YOUR responsibility to check your passport after you get any stamp and make sure you received the correct stamp. You got lucky this time that they fixed it for you but it could have been much worse.
a year ago
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Nami ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 would it still be a red flag if I went to a different country for a month and then came back? Or how much time do you think I’d need to put in between?
a year ago
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Nami ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
@Chris ******
 I appreciate you for explaining. What if I go out of the country and apply for a 3 month tourist visa and come back in through one of the more lax borders with visa, flights/stay, money for length of stay, etc on hand?

Do you think they would be likely to let me in?
a year ago
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Brandon ************
Nami Hewitt impossible to say. It's at the discretion of the officer you're standing in front of. Maybe they'll let you in. Maybe they spilled their coffee earlier and are in a bad mood. Land border is better because if they say no you can just turn around and make a new plan as opposed to an airport where you have to buy a flight and they can potentially force you to go back to your home country.

I'd suggest Laos.
a year ago
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Nami ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 I’ve done to border hops via land border so far. Does the 2x limit apply if you have visa in hand?
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Nami *******
 visas are not subject to the land border limit.
a year ago
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Chris *******
@Nami *******
 no one can tell you that.

It is all up to the IO you are in front of and the rules of the day.

In many cases they will warn you first, saying things like "you need the proper visa to live in Thailand"

But not always.

Things they may check:

*****
baht or equivalent cash

Accommodation proof

Ticket out of country

You take your chances, a plan B is not always a bad idea.
a year ago
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Chris *******
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Brandon ************
@Nami *******
 it will be a red flag for years to come.
a year ago
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Nami ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 wow I’m so surprised to hear this. Why would they offer an education visa if it’s a problem? I have only use this one and it’s only been 3 months
a year ago
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Chris *******
@Nami *******
 it is because a large amount of ED visas (and volunteer)are used for stay in the Kingdom and not for legit study.

This has been publicly exposed to a larger degree lately and now is a sticky point.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Nami *******
 volunteer visas used to be how people stayed in Thailand when they shouldn't. That visa was heavily abused and after years on investigations and crackdowns is basically not even around anymore. Anyone with one in their passport will be likely be questioned every time they enter Thailand.

Now ED visa is the one being abused. Thousands of ED visas cancelled already and over 100 immigration officers fired. Now every ED is considered suspect. I was gone from Thailand for 6 months and came back after having an ED and was pulled aside and questioned for 45 minutes.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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