What are my options for extending my 45-day visa in Thailand to a year?

@Maria *****

I looked into this and got in touch with a couple of language schools in Chiang Mai, they told me I would need to apply through my home country's embassy as they weren't allowed to issue them.

@Maria *****

of course you have to attend. Stupid question.

@Maria *****

I second the recommendation of an ED visa to study Thai. I did this, and the pace of the course was much slower than what I was motivated to study myself just to make life easier in Thailand.

@Maria *****

I have. When I read 'stuck here' during the lockdown and got an education visa instead of just relying on the hope of a cubic extension.

But that was then. Not sure if education visas are even available now (I heard a few months ago they were suspending and reviewing the original,) but the chances are even if they are still available they might expect you to apply from your home country.

But it won't hurt to go check out a reusable school and see what they say. They would know next.

I also wouldn't count on a school allowing you to 'not attend classes'. That's probably a thing of the past, I know when I was attending they had an 80% attendance requirement and took attendence every day (4 days per week, 3 hours/day) and had to provide the ministry with weekly class photos.

@Maria *****

there are attendance requirements yes. Contact a language school.

@Maria *****

Go talk to a language school in your area, they can give you necessary paperwork and answer your questions.

@Maria *****

with a 45 day visa that implies your re from a visa exempt country. So you can do a 45 day visa exempt, extend for anything 30. Then leave and come back and repeat the same process... You probably can do this 3 times before they start to question you ... There's no guarantee that they will allow the 3 trips (but there's a good chance they will) and Especially no guarantee that they will allow more than 3 (although they might, that's not or miss.)

Also, the 45 day visa exempt may not be in effect much longer and revert back to the 30 day visa (with another 30 day extension.)

@Maria *****

Go on to sky scanner and book a return flight then come back

@Maria *****

get an ED visa for learning Thai and make sure you know how to answer "Poo Thai Mai?" at border control.