How can I stay in Thailand for a year while learning Thai if the course is only 20 hours?

February 25, 2018
7 years ago
Leanne *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi,

We are moving over this year and I want to learn Thai so that I can help my daughter learn it, speak to her friends parents and hopefully be accepted more by the locals. I can only find courses that are 20 hours. That’s not going to be enough for me to learn it well enough I don’t think. Also as far as the visa. How will I be able to stay for year (my daughter will be schooled so I need the year) if the course is only 20 hours? TIA
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat seeking to learn Thai for personal and familial integration is concerned about the adequacy of a 20-hour language course. They inquire about visa options to stay in Thailand for a year while their daughter attends school. Comments highlight that if the daughter holds an education visa (ED), the parent can apply for a visa to support her, requiring a financial proof of 500K baht for 30 days prior to application. Alternatively, it's suggested to look for schools offering a full-year Thai language program that may provide suitable visa options.
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Tod *********
IF your daughter is on an ED visa in school you can get a visa based on being the parent that supports her. It would require 500K baht in the bank for 30 days before you apply for the first yearly extension.

If you don't want to go that route, you could find a school that offers a one year program and an ED visa.

There are some good schools out there and there are some visa mills (schools that just sell ED visas).
Tod *********
@Jas****
, last time I checked Phuket is pretty far from Hua Hin ;)
Jasmine ***********
I have a school in Phuket that can help you with one year ed visa. Contact me if you have a plan to live here.
Leanne *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
ok that’s great, going to Hua Hin. Just out of interest, is it easy to spot the visa “mills” as apposed to a reputable. I notice most of the sites say they are recognized by the ministry. ......
Tod *********
@L**
, If you're going to a reputable school you're highly unlikely to get denied an extension of stay based on studying thai.
Leanne *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My husband will go on the guardian visa (my understanding, it’s 1 visa per child) but I don’t want to be worrying about doing visa runs and I would like to learn the language so thought my own ed visa would be better. But I’m scared that I get refused entry when extending and then we are all stranded in different places so to speak.
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