Answered2 years ago

What are the risks of returning to Thailand on a student visa from a language school?

Student Visa Education Visa Thai Immigration Re-entry Permit Language Schools Visa Regulations

ضخةبقهنة ********

asked Nov 4, 2024

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Hello everyone,

Is there anyone with any idea what happens when one returns to Thailand on a student visa from a language school?

 I have seen many people commenting and making memes about my issue which makes me confused. 

My school said I  should be okay coming back as far as I get a re-entry permit.

On the other hand I don't want to loose 6900 baht for extension , re-entry permit and my ticket back to Thailand.

Answer summary

The conversation discusses concerns about returning to Thailand on a student visa, particularly from a language school. A re-entry permit is generally required, but there are significant risks involved due to the scrutiny of education visas by immigration officers. Users share experiences and advice, emphasizing the importance of having proper documentation, such as a letter from the school explaining the reason for leaving and the intent to return, to avoid complications at the airport.

13 repliesnewest first

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Terry ******

You must have a school enrollment certificate to apply for a student visa to return to Thailand. I can help you get it, and it only takes 1-2 days.

2 years ago

Michał *********

I was in the same situation last year. I had an ED visa from a language school and I left Thailand for a week, maybe a little more. I didn't have a specific reason, I just wanted to go to my home country and see my family. I was afraid to come back given all the comments and scary stories I had read in this group. I had 20,000 baht in cash with me and all kinds of documents I could get from my school.

Do you know what happened? Nothing. They didn’t ask me a single question and just let me in.

2 years ago

Declan **********

@Michał ********

on the flip side of that, I know 2 people that are on ED visas that were grilled for 15mins+ returning to Thailand through BKK in the last year alone, one was nearly denied entry. However she begged the IO to talk to the school, as she had only just started 4 weeks prior (IO didn't believe her) but had to return home for an unexpected family death and had only actually studied Thai for 3 weeks. She was granted entry but explicitly told by the supervising IO that if she was to leave Thailand again and return without the ability to understand questions in Thai and respond in Thai she would be denied entry and made to fly back to the states.

2 years ago

ضخةبقهنة ********

@Declan *********

thank you got your response. I really appreciate 🙏.

2 years ago

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

@Michał ********

I agree that it's certainly one of the possibilities. But if being denied entry is even a 5% chance, is that worth it to roll the dice?

2 years ago

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

It's VERY risky to leave Thailand if you have an education visa from a language school. Because this is the most abused visa in Thailand currently, anyone with one in their passport is almost sure to be pulled out of line at the airport and questioned. It basically comes down to this: You applied for an education visa because you NEEDED to be in Thailand to study, and you NEEDED a visa to stay to do that. Therefore you should be in Thailand studying because you needed to be there so badly that you applied for the visa. As far as the immigration officers are concerned, if you left Thailand then you didn't need to be in Thailand so badly, and you didn't need to study so badly, so you lied about originally needing a visa.

If you MUST leave Thailand, then you should get proof of why you HAD to leave, get a letter from your school stating that they know you are leaving, why you are leaving, and that you are approved to leave and when you will be returning. This letter should also include the direct contact information for the administrator of your school, that way the immigration officers at the airport can call them if they want to.

2-3 months ago there was someone who had all of the above items, and the immigration officers did call and speak to the administrator, and then they were still denied entry to Thailand and forced to fly out.

ضخةبقهنة ********

thanks 🙏.

ضخةبقهنة ********

my worst nightmare. Thanks for the information. I'm leaving Thailand for medical checkups since hospitals are very expensive here.

2 years ago

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

@ضخةبقهنة *******

If you really must leave, and it will be saving enough money, then you can look at using a service like this

************************************

It's an agent "VIP Entry" service. Not the same as normal fast track that just gives you access to a shorter line. This service is where you tell the agent your circumstances and then they will get in touch with their contacts at the airport and give you a price to guarantee that you can get into the country. I think it starts around 3-5,000 baht depending on your circumstances.

They will meet you as you exit the plane, and then walk you to immigration and tell you which line to get in so you don't experience any issues.

2 years ago

Declan **********

Do you have a re-entry permit?

2 years ago

ضخةبقهنة ********

@Declan *********

not yet. I'm waiting for answers, that's why I made this post.

2 years ago

Declan **********

We if you leave without a re-entry permit you won't have a valid extension anymore.

I hope you are actually learning Thai too because on re-entry you are going to get questioned in Thai and only Thai and if you cannot answer they will deny your entry.

2 years ago

ضخةبقهنة ********

@Declan *********

thank you for your response.

2 years ago