How long can I leave Thailand with a re-entry permit on an education visa during a family emergency?

Aug 31, 2024
4 months ago
Shy-Anne **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi everyone,

I am looking for advice regarding a family emergency and medical appointment. I currently have an education visa until June 2025, but I have been in a waitlist for a heart procedure in my home country Canada. I just got an appointment to do all necessary testing needed for my procedure September 17, but I just received a call informing me that my cousin is on life support but will being taken off of life support πŸ’”πŸ˜­. Can anyone please tell me how long I can leave Thailand for with a re-entry permit!?? I do not want to lose my education visa but need to be with my family and attend my appointment.

Please no rude or hurtful comments.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user, currently on an education visa until June 2025, is facing a family emergency and needs to leave Thailand for medical reasons. They seek guidance on how long they can stay outside Thailand without losing their visa. Responses indicate that while technically one can leave until the visa expires, it's critical to obtain a letter from the educational institution confirming permission to leave and the duration allowed. Additionally, users emphasize that there is no guarantee of re-entry, despite having documentation. Most advice suggests contacting the immigration office for precise guidelines.
Robert **********
Contact immigration office to get the correct advice.
Dave ********
If all else fails, go to the Immigration Office and see if they can recommend something.
Brandon ************
@Dave *******
their recommendation will be "do not leave Thailand"
Shy-Anne **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dave *******
yes I will do that, thank for your advice πŸ™πŸ½
Andy **********
Usually with ED visas, your given advice not to leave the country, Brandon has given you good advice regarding your situation, so I suppose the decision is yours, I understand your difficult situation.
Andy **********
Good luck πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡­ πŸ˜‰
Shy-Anne **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andy *********
yes I do understand that but attending my cousins funeral is very important and having a heart surgery is also important so it’s difficult decision. Thanks for your insightπŸ™πŸ½
Shayne **********
The re-entry permit is issued until the final date of the current visa. If it's a normal education Visa that means it's every 3 months. If it's a university program it's usually one year. But without seeing the passport you will know when it expires. If you're not back by the date that it expires your education Visa finishes.

It's probable that a regular 3 month extension visa will finish soon, so try to extend early.
Shy-Anne **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Shayne *********
okay thank you for you for sharing πŸ™πŸ½ Nov 3 is when my visa is stamped until.
Colleen **********
One month. But getting a letter from your school would help. Sorry to hear about what you are dealing with. That’s tough. I hope you have a safe journey πŸ™
Shy-Anne **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colleen *********
ok I will request a letter. Aww thanks so much, so tough :(.
Love *********
Does school offer online classes? I’m in Thailand on an ED visa but I never go to pantip for classes. I always do online because I had surgery back in June here in Thailand. There are ppl in my class that are in America while attending classes.
Shy-Anne **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Love ********
yes I do my classes online but unsure of the requirements to leave and ensure I am able to enter the country again.
Love *********
@Shy-Anne *********
if I were in your situation I would ask the school. My school assisted me with getting my ED visa.
Shy-Anne **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Love ********
yes ok will do!! Thank you πŸ™πŸ½
Lili ********
Sorry to hear but I have been on the wait list for 1.5 years n not scheduled yet for total knee replacement n Medicare is free but so dilute.
Robert *********
Well bud ,you have to go ,it's your heart !!!....good luck
Shy-Anne **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ********
thank you πŸ™πŸ½
Robert *********
@Lili *******
get that free health care out you mind .

It's in your tax's ....and it's way to much for way to little
Lili ********
@Robert ********
Technically I have 3 health insurance and am not getting what I need. We have Medicare free, I have Canada Life costing me $51.54 CAD per month and Government of Nunavut purchase from Sunlife an insurance for those over 65. BTW last night I paid $650CAD (16,546 Baht) to apply for DTV in Ottawa. Probably cheaper in Asia.
Shy-Anne **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lili *******
oh sorry to hear that! I hope you get scheduled soon! πŸ™πŸ½
Lili ********
@Shy-Anne *********
which province r u from? I live in Nunavut n must go to Ottawa for this kind of surgery.
Shy-Anne **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lili *******
British Columbia
Lili ********
@Shy-Anne *********
How long have you been in Hua Hin? Few Canadians there. Many Australians.
Tony ********
Technically you can stay out until the day before your visa expires, it will be mentioned in the reentry stamp. However, unless you have written permision from your school saying how long they are allowing you to skip lessons and a good idea would be the why, you could be refused entry. So if they give you 3 weeks in the letter, you have to return within the 3 weeks.
Shy-Anne **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony *******
ok, thank you for your adviceπŸ™πŸ½
Brandon ************
The truth of the matter is that there is no amount of time you can leave and be guaranteed they will let you back in. An ED visa was issued to you for attending classes inside Thailand. When you are not in Thailand, you are not attending classes like you said you would.

The most you can do is get a letter from your school stating that you have permission to leave, how long you are allowed to leave for, and why you needed to leave. Then you should also have your own paperwork supporting the reason that is stated in the school letter about why you needed to leave. The letter should also include direct contact information for the administration of your school.

But as I said, there is nothing that will guarantee you can get back in. A couple of months ago someone left Thailand with all of this type of documentation, and when they returned, the immigration officers even called the administrator of the school and spoke to them on the phone, and still denied entry to the person.
Shy-Anne **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
thank you for your adviceπŸ™πŸ½
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