ED Visas: I don't know if this is common knowledge, but the guy said it's a fairly new rule. You can only apply for an ED Visa exactly once a year. I was denied at the consulate in Laos today and told to come back next week when the 1 year finishes up.
Extra details: My previous ED visa was issued November 13th, 2017 and I entered November 15th, 2017. After extensions I had to leave by November 9th, 2018.
Opinion: Obviously this rule was meant to stop people jumping from school to school, but there should be a grace period for situations where the intent isn't what the rule is trying to prevent.
I'll survive an extra week in Laos. I'll visit some other towns until the 16th. But it's definitely an inconvenience (and a flight back lost) that I hope to save someone else.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The rules for applying for an Education (ED) Visa in Thailand state that you can only apply for the visa once a year. A user recently faced denial at a consulate in Laos due to this new regulation, which they reported may cause confusion regarding the timing of applications. Comments from other users clarify that the supposed restriction could vary by consulate, with one stating it's based on a 'running year' since the last visa application rather than the calendar year.
