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What are the visa options for a Swedish student in Thailand whose ED-visa cannot be extended due to one year residency?

ED visa visa extension Thailands immigration rules volunteer visa amnesty visa educational visa COVID-19 travel restrictions Thai immigration agencies

Dec 31, 2020

4 years ago

Sanni ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi, I would like to ask for my friend (holding Swedish passport). She has been studying and having ED-visa for a year now. She can not extend it because she has been in the country for 1 year already, only if she goes out and comes back but it is not the ideal option since Covid. What are the options for Visa now, if she does not want to leave the country? Volunteer visa? Or another options? How much does it cost? Do you know some trustworthy agencies/agent? And also what is the situation with the amnesty visa atm? Can she change to that? Thank you in advance. 

Happy new year!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A Swedish student in Thailand on an ED visa, after one year of study, is seeking options to extend her stay without leaving the country due to COVID-19. Potential options discussed include applying for a volunteer visa or getting extensions relevant to her current educational institution. There is mention that the government amnesty is no longer available and advice to visit the nearest immigration office for personalized assistance. The situation about extension requirements post-COVID is still uncertain, with some discussions about the necessity of providing evidence for not being able to leave Thailand.

Rob ******

There's no reason she can't get an extension if she is still studying. If she's at a legitimate educational institution they can give her the paperwork to take to immigration and extend. I had three years of extensions when I was a student at Mahidol.

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Sanni ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

She has been studying in the Language school. Not any fake one, really studying and attending to the courses, but the language school said that they can not extend it and support no more since she has been here with the ED-visa from that language school and for 1-year without going out from the country. It seems like that 1-year thing is the issue for them...

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Rob ******

@Sanni ***********

if they say they can't do it, then they either can't or won't. But there is nothing from immigration's side saying education visas can't be extended multiple times. Myself, and many people I know,have stayed in Thailand for years without leaving on legitimate education visas.

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Sanni ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you for the answer. She went there and paid 1900bath. Got only +14 days visa. Wondering why is that?

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Benjamin ******

@Sanni ***********

It might be an "under consideration" stamp. Take a look at what was stamped in her passport

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Benjamin ******

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Harry ***********

The first comment is correct. There’s no going back to government amnesty. Advice visit nearest immigration office now. I only know that in Nakhon Ratchasima very helpful with a USA friend that had similar issues.

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Sanni ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Harry **********

Thank you!

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Sanni ************

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Darren *******

Amnesty is long gone. Unable to travel extension is available for 60 days with the last date to apply for this being, I believe, 29 January 2021. After this no one knows what will happen but I have seen one well respected person saying on FB visa groups that in order to get future extensions you will actually have to provide evidence you cannot physically leave Thailand. That's not confirmed yet.

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Todd *********

essentially the ‘unable to travel’ hilarity is amnesty under a different name. Call it whatever you want, but you pay 1900 baht for 60 day extensions. Expect that to continue for 2021 with the only requirement being a few baht and saying, ‘ I want to stay’ while dropping off your 1900 baht

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Sanni ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi. Thank you for the answer. So basically she does not need any specific documents (from the school etc.) just need drop off 1900 baht and that’s it? Right?

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Todd *********

at this point, that is true. There is no official announcement yet as to what will happen on Jan 29, but it seems very reasonable to expect the situation to continue as is. Additional 60 day extension from that date for 1900 baht. There were initial reports of some immigration offices requiring a copy of a letter from embassy stating that the person is unable to travel. That was absolutely not the case this week on samui. Just say you want to stay another 60 days, fill out the forms and pay your 1900 baht.

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Sanni ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi, thank you for the answer. She went there (Chaengwattana) and paid 1900 baht. But got only +14 days, any ideas about that? Do you have any idea why they gave only that short period to her?

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Todd *********

@Sanni ***********

yes, she likely has a stamp, that says 'under consideration'. She can return to immigration on the 14th day and receive her extended stamp :)

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Bobby ********

Todd McGowan. I don't know why people are wasting their valuable time going to immigration and spending their 1900 baht. Why not get an agent to do it for you? And...you don't need a letter, which you don't anyway 🤣🤣🤣

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Sanni ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

So basically she does not need to pay no more, they will just stamp the +60 days extencion once she get there. If I get it right? What a process... 😄

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Darren *******

@Sanni ***********

the additional days yes, not 60 from date of return. Correct, no further payment when she returns.

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Sanni ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Okay, that explains. And she does not need to prepre anything more? No more documents? Just get there with the passport to get the stamp?

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Todd *********

@Sanni ***********

yes, she won't need anything more. Just return with passport

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Sanni ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you for your help.

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Darren *******

@Sanni ***********

yep just turn up with passport

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Sanni ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Okay, thank you!

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Sanni ************

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