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How many ED visas can one get for language school, and is it possible to switch to a Muay Thai school ED visa?

ED Visa Thailand Visa Rules Muay Thai Visa Language School Visa University ED Visa Marriage Visa Visa Extension Options

Oct 16, 2022

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

How many ED visas for language school can one get? 

Can I switch from language Ed visa to Muay Thai school Ed visa?

Currently on Thai language school ED Visa probably expiring on 22/23 January 2023. 

Looking to stay in Thailand longer due to Thai gf.

Just looking through my options:

1. Muay Thai visa (if it is even possible)

2. University ED (Heard from current language school classmate that it's possible)

3. Exit Thai and do visa exempt + extension (45 + 30) and then repeat 

4. Opening a biz with Thai friend and employing myself to get work permit

5. Elite visa (last resort)

Current thoughts 

Option 1: not sure if it's even possible 

Option 2: gotta check back again with my classmate

Option 3....I know it's not advisable to to live in Thailand under tourist visa exempt and extensions for a prolonged period of time due to old records of student visa + extensions and I might get denied entry after a few times 

Option 4: might be even more costly than elite visa and worse.. if biz not doing well then I'll be losing money recurringly 

Option 5: literally pay to win lol 

Would love to hear some opinions

Much thanks in advance

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The discussion revolves around the options for extending stay in Thailand on an Education (ED) visa, particularly switching from a Thai language school ED visa to a Muay Thai school ED visa, and other alternatives. Users suggest that one can typically hold multiple ED visas for different studies (e.g., language and Muay Thai), but switching may require applying for a new visa outside of Thailand. Other options for staying longer, such as transitioning to a university ED visa, getting married for a marriage visa, or considering business opportunities, are also explored. Concerns about the sustainability and implications of choosing various visa routes are discussed, emphasizing a need for careful planning due to potential compliance issues with immigration laws.

Steve *******

Option 5 is your best choice.

But a better one long term is Option 6: move to the Philippines where a tourist visa can be extended up to 3 years every time you enter the country.

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Jw ********

I think you can do ED visa endless. Learn Thai, then Chinese, English, french, German, last resort Russian 🤣.

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James *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

for real? This is the first time I'm hearing this lol 🤔🤔🤔

Let's say if for example you're native German can you still study German?

(Won't that be a dead giveaway when immigration takes one look at your passport and go 'damn' German guy studying German language course?)

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James *******

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Kool *******

You are overlooking the most obvious solution. Get legally married to your GF. Then you can get a type O visa extension based on Thai wife. If you are considering an Elite visa as a last alternative then you have enough money to meet the financial requirement for the marriage visa one year extensions.

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James *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

I knew I can get a Non-O visa based on Thai wife. Just thought that it isn't the time to do it. Been dating over a year+ now, met her parents and etc but still marriage isn't something to be taken lightly.

To consider marriage will mean that I have to go through all marriage procedures, heck even host a banquet and provide dowry (sinsot) 🙃🙃🙃🙃

Not sure how I'm gonna convince her mother that "hey let me just marry your only daughter on paper real quick so I could have visa and we'll host the banquet later "

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Ryan ***********

Don’t even bother with a dowry unless she has a degree regular Thai girls don’t get dowry’s only a cucked man gives into that if no degree

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James *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ryan **********

yea my girl has a degree and is from a good family. Speaks fluent English too

Def not the random bar girl 🤣🤣🤣

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Ryan ***********

ah yeah you might get lucky and not have to pay a dowry mine has a degree and from a good family as well and she is fluent in English but I dug my heels in and refuse to pay a dowry to me it’s like I’m buying her we’ve been married for 2 years now

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Ryan ***********

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Kool *******

what's wrong with that? From what you're saying that seems to be the purpose of what you are doing.

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Kool *******

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Brandon ************

Normally I'd say check with the school. But there's going to be a conflict of interest in asking them because they want your money, so they could easily say yes when it might not be possible and then take your money and you can't get into Thailand.

I'm pretty sure 1 year on language and 1 year on Muay Thai is okay though. That doesn't seem excessive.

I'm also not completely sure about university for language. If you are actively seeking a degree then you will have no problems at all with a university and can get an ED for as long as your program is, and the extensions will actually be a year instead of 90 days at a time like the language school.

Either way if you do the ED route, I expect you're going to need to leave Thailand and apply for a new ED visa at the Thai consulate in a neighboring country, as you can't "convert" from ED to ED since you're already on an ED extension.

I'd say your understanding of 3-5 is spot on.

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Steve ********

Elite is a fixed price, so I would imagine Elite pays a commission to any agent introducing an applicant to the company. As Elite deal directly with immigration there's no smoothing of the process to be gained. Like

Thurkettle I can't see the point, but obviously there must be something to be gained by the agent. Yes it appears that if your school and course are legitimate you would not be excluded from applying if you wished. I imagine OBEC would confirm this and perhaps test your language skills to ensure your course was legitimate.

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Steve ********

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James *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

thank you for the screenshot.

I'm not too sure what an official document from the office of basic educational commission is...

but if I ask my school they probably can provide it

I am attending a legit language school that conduct face to face lessons and occasionally online lessons.

Also I am very confused, whats the difference with people applying Thailand elite directly and with an agent?

Surely Thailand elite is fixed price, why would anyone use an agent? Any difference in doing that if it helps to smooth out the process?

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Brandon ************

there's no reason for anyone to ever use an agent for Thailand elite. The price is the same either way. I've never figured out why they even exist.

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James *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

yeah that's what confuses me also. If the prices are stated everywhere and widely available online, why would anyone use agent for Thai elite?

At first I was thinking maybe the agent gets like an affiliate commission from Thailand elite (official) for helping with applicants applying for elite?

I've seen agencies advertising on fb ads about Thai elite and they're like approved agency to handle etc

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James *******

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Steve ********

There was a screenshot of the elite visa application posted a week or so ago in one of the groups which stated applicants who have previous had ED or volunteer visas should not apply as their applications will be rejected and they will forfeit their application fee. It might be because many schools had legitimately supported ED visas but have not enforced the mandatory attendance at classes. It might be that Elite cannot separate the genuine cases from the dodgy ones so have introduced a blanket ban. Although many consider Elite expensive, it works out at only $10 a day.

Whilst flying in and out on exempt looks good on paper, if the entries are continually back to back you will eventually be denied entry, so it's not a good long term strategy.

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Steve ********

As I understand it, you are not eligible for an elite visa as they no longer accept applications from people who have been previously on ED visas

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James *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

how true is that? I've only heard of people having their elite visa denied due to shady volunteer visas.

Not sure why one can't switch to elite from an ED? Or maybe the ED needs to be cancelled first before applying for elite if that is what you mean.

elite would be my last resort. it's a little steep and my Thai friends all told me not to do it and all said that I'll be better off flying to nearby SE Asia countries and coming back on visa exempt

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James *******

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James *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

thank you for your reply. Especially on the clarifications on the ED to ED conversion but I think I would wanna avoid dealing with Thai consulate in neighbouring countries due to difficulties in getting appointments and etc

Do you think it is better to cancel my current language school ED when it expires and then go back to Singapore (my home country) and then maybe after 1 month come back in on visa exempt and convert to Muay Thai visa once I'm in Thailand?

Yeah I'm also worried about muay thai schools' conflict of interest and them taking my money but failing to do up the ED for the Muay Thai

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Brandon ************

They may be ending the ability to convert to ED in the country soon. It was impossible before Covid, and they made an exception since people couldn't leave the country to get an ED in another country. If they're still allowing it I'd be surprised. The old normal way was to get it before you came here, or go get one from a neighboring country. I'd rather get it in Singapore especially, since they use an online system (not the evisa everyone else uses) and you'll know if you are approved or not before you ever even go into the consulate. You could even apply and get approved before you ever left Thailand.

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James *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

thanks a lot!

learnt something new. I did not know the old normal way was to get the visa before coming into Thailand because the language school did everything for me when I applied around Feb this year.

I'm not exactly sure how to get a visa from the Thai consulate in Singapore though.

If I am going for the Muay Thai Ed route, is it pretty much that the Muay Thai school going to provide me the docs for me to apply at the Singapore's Thai consulate?

What's the process like? What if I pay the school for the Muay Thai tuition fees but they manage to screw up and no ed visa ☹️?

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Anna ************

hi James, we just came back from Singapore with our visas got from Thai Embassy.

Big pros (it also a con if you don’t have time) to apply there is that you should apply online first (they ask in 10 working days before your planning return trip to Thailand) with all documents attached and they will guide you if all docs are ok or not sufficient BEFORE your trip to Sg. Register account and apply here

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List of documents here

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If any questions after/during applying- send email with your full name, citizenship and passport number here

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The Embassy work from Mon to Thur (Fri is day off always), off days in Thai and Sg public holidays

When you got pre approval for all your documents you should come and apply IN PERSON (website has controversial info, but in reality they require in person only) 9-11am , and get your passport with visa back two working days later 2-3pm (pick up could be done by anyone who provides a pink ticket got upon passport submition ) so if passport was submitted on Monday, you got it back on Wed, Tues - on Thursday, but Wed/Thur - next Mon only.

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Brandon ************

Yes, the school would provide you with the documentation. It's a LOT LESS documentation to get outside of Thailand than inside. The packet I took to immigration was probably hundreds of pages long. It's my understanding that you only need something akin to an invitation from the school to get an ED visa outside of the country.

I've never done it myself so I can't advise exactly how it works.

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Brandon ************

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