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What are the alternatives to extending my visa in Thailand when considering Education, Investment, and Long Stay options?

Visa ExtensionEducation VisaInvestment VisaLong Stay Tourist VisaVisa Rules ThailandImmigration Thailand
Dec 9, 2021
3 years ago
Jack ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hey folks- I am struggling to get some clear answers and hope you can help.

My plan is to stay as long as possible. I am in the 30 day extension to my visa exempt 30 day entry. I expect to get the 60 day extension in a week or two. I tried to get some information while I was at the immigration office in Phuket but I am hard of hearing and with the noise and language barrier I came away dry. I've emailed with the Phuket Volunteers- but every answer they give me is either weirdly vague or includes something I know is wrong or isn't about the question I asked.

My Plan A is to do the language visa. Both schools I've spoken to say that they can do the conversion from exempt entry to ed visa no problem. The Phuket Volunteer said it is not possible. Any input on that is appreciated- but is secondary to my Plan B question.

Plan B is "something else". Basically I am trying to determine if there are other viable options so I can determine what is best. I am specifically curious about the investment visa and the long stay tourist visa.

Can anyone help me to understand if those are viable options? And/or if there is something else I haven't thought of?

Thank you!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking clarity on extending their stay in Thailand beyond their current visa exempt entry and is exploring options including an Education Visa, Investment Visa, and Long Stay Tourist Visa. They mention difficulties obtaining accurate information and contrast different opinions about converting their visa type, specifically the claims regarding the possibility of changing a visa exempt entry to an education visa. Various comments suggest that while converting to an Education Visa may be feasible with school cooperation, applying for other visa types typically requires leaving Thailand. The Investment Visa requires significant investment and time, while a Long Stay Tourist Visa cannot be obtained from within the country. Overall, the community provides insights based on personal experiences and various interpretations of Thai visa regulations.
Siddhartha *********
Check dm please
3 years ago
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Jack ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I had to block that Billy character twice. Sigh. Thank all of you for getting involved and sharing thoughts and experiences.
3 years ago
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Paul ********
Chok Dee??
3 years ago
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Brandon ************
Not sure how you're getting so much bad advice here.

Your plan A is completely feasible. I did a conversion to ED visa inside the country. You can get maximum 1 year this way. The only hiccup is that your school generally needs anywhere from 15-30 days to process the paperwork and get approval from the Ministry of Education. So you'd need to apply for the Covid extension first giving you another 60 days and then arrange things with your school. Don't drag your feet, get started on this ASAP.

Your plan B as far as long stay tourist visa, simply not possible unless you left the country and applied and returned. You cannot get a tourist visa inside the country. I don't know much about the other options you mentioned.

Just know that once you get the ED, you're pretty much locked into leaving in a year. You can't really switch from a non-immigrant Visa/extension to another type. But in a year hopefully it will be easy to bounce out of the country and get a tourist visa or make a border run.
3 years ago
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Jack ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
"Not sure how you're getting so much bad advice here. " It is a special gift of mine.
3 years ago
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George *************
@Brandon ***********
 I did switch the reason for my extension of stay from education to retirement. But this was about 8 years ago in Phuket. Got a one sentence stamp in my passport. Needed my school to write a letter saying I finished my classes. I met the requirements for a Non-O visa, having 800k baht in a Thai bank. I was asked by the immigration officer how much I wanted to pay for this change and I offered 1,900 baht which was accepted. Been here on retirement extensions ever since.
3 years ago
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Brandon ************
@George ************
 LOL how much do you want to pay? That's funny
3 years ago
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George *************
@Brandon ***********
 Yeah, I thought it was funny, too. I assumed at the time that the service was "free" in the sense that certificates of residence are (there's no specified formal price), but that it was also discretionary, they could do it for you or make you go outside Thailand to get the Non-O for retirement. It was a rather long process made longer by my inability to understand that I needed to get my school to say I was finished with classes when I wasn't. Couldn't wrap my head around that. Finally, it clicked that it was the easiest way to cancel my education extension so that I could get the reason changed to retirement. (Nobody cared that I would continue to attend classes as long as I was not doing so on an education extension.)

It would have cost me much more to leave Thailand and get a Non-O visa at a Thai nearby embassy/consulate. 1,900 baht seemed like a bargain in comparison. Money wasn't mentioned at all until after they had stamped my passport. I guess it was a tip. ;-)
3 years ago
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George *************
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Karim ***************
@Brandon ***********
 the rules have been engrained into us for years, you cannot change from a visa exempt to any other visa while in country.
3 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Karim **************
 you can change from Visa exempt to ED, retirement, marriage, non-B
3 years ago
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Brandon ************
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Philip **********
Jack how old are you? Extension based on retirement an option?
3 years ago
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Jack ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Not yet, I am hoping to worm my way through the system until then. If I can somehow do two 1 year stays- maybe Education then self defense? I should make it.
3 years ago
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Jack ****************
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Nexa *******
3 years ago
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Nexa *******
3 years ago
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Bob **********
The ED visa takes a while to get approved 30 days probably isn't enough might have to

Leave and come back or talk to elite visa $18,000 US for 5 years
3 years ago
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Jeffrey ************
Look at Thai Elite Visa...
3 years ago
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Kool *******
First, you can not get any kind of tourist visa inside Thailand. The elite visa maybe, but not guaranteed. The investment visa takes a minimum bt10million in approved investments, and a background investigation. It takes about three months to get it. The education visa takes the school to provide the documentation for that extension, then has to be extended every 90 days with school documentation proving you are going to school. For the covid 60 day extension, that ends Jan 25th, has allot of people saying they need to show a paid plane reservation exiting Thailand within the next 60 days.
3 years ago
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Karim ***************
You cannot usually change a visa exempt into an ED visa. But if you use an agent, may be able to do it for a cash donation. Otherwise, fly to Cambodia, apply for new visa and fly back.
3 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Karim **************
 very very wrong. Thousands have converted their Tourist visas or visa exempt into ED visas for language schools since they changed the rules last year for Covid.
3 years ago
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Karim ***************
@Brandon ***********
 is that the law or what an agent you paid 40,000 baht told you? I’m not saying you’re wrong, I just returned after being away for 6 months but, I didn’t hear anything about that and I do keep up with Thai news.
3 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Karim **************
 no agents involved. I converted my tourist visa to ED visa in Bangkok in January and was the first person to do so in Bangkok under the new rules. It cost me 1900₿ like any extension, but my school needed approval from the Ministry of Education and have to give a large packet of paperwork. After the visa was issued they came to the school to do inspection and I had to pose for a photo with the owners.

Things change fast since Covid so it's not unusual for the way things worked 6 months or a year ago to be different but this change has been active for over a year.
3 years ago
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Nick *******
@Brandon ***********
 Whats the full cost for an Ed Visa and classes?
3 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Nick ******
 the school I went to was 8000₿ per month with a discount if you purchase multiple months. The visa was the 1900₿ at immigration same as any other Visa.
3 years ago
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Marc *******
@Brandon ***********
 Yep, done the same in feb. For 8 months ed is easy. For another 4 months you should really study bc for the test you have to be able to read thai.
3 years ago
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Karim ***************
@Brandon ***********
 it makes sense. Good move by Thai government!
3 years ago
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James ***********
@Ka***
 delete or edit your initial ~advice~?
3 years ago
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Karim ***************
@James **********
 no because those who think same as me should read through and see how I learned the changes. If I delete, it won’t make sense. Lots of people still think the old rules are still in place. They should see my discovery.
3 years ago
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James ***********
my god
3 years ago
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James ***********
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Jack ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi Karim- is that based on personal experience?
3 years ago
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Osama ************
@Jack ***************
 just to add to what
@Karim **************
 said; I live in Cambodia and I have been back and forth to Thailand:

1) 30 day visa into Cambodia cost $35

2) If you are 50+ in age you can apply for retirement visa into Cambodia. You still get only 30 days at arrival for $35 but you can get multi-entry one year added for around $300. (This means no visa sticker or $35 fee each time you enter)

3) cost of RT PCR test in Cambodia is $130 (yes US dollar)

4) You can get 60+30 tourist visa at the Thai embassy within 2 days and cost $40

So there you go, I hope this helps
3 years ago
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Jack ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
The schools are specifically saying they can convert visa exempt to ed visa. Do you think it is a ploy to get me to make the first payment and then they go like "oopsie"?
3 years ago
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Karim ***************
@Jack ***************
 yes mate. Go to a Visa agent first, they will advise on costs. If you’re not happy with the costs, then you will have to fly out of country. I suggest Cambodia as travel restrictions are more lax between the two countries now. But you will need to do a Thailand pass and PCR test to get back in. Factor in these costs when deciding between an agent offer and going out of country. All the best 👍
3 years ago
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Karim ***************
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