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What should I do if my Education Visa is expiring and my Elite Visa application is delayed?

Education VisaElite VisaVisa Extension
Mar 21, 2020
5 years ago
Daryl ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi everyone, seeking advice please on my situation:

I'm a UK passport holder living in Bangkok. Currently on an Education Visa. This expires 6th April. I have already applied for the Elite Visa, I applied 2 weeks ago and was told it will take at least 8 weeks to come in. So potentially another 6 weeks+ to get the Elite Visa approval letter, but current visa expires 6th April.

Phoned my embassy to ask if they can give me that "can't travel" letter so I can apply for the 30 day emergency visa extension. They said no, they won't give me any such letter unless UK closes its borders.

I had a visa run booked already, was supposed to fly to Malaysia 27th March, stay for a couple weeks, then come back. With Malaysia closed my flights got cancelled. I told the British embassy this and they said they still can't issue me a letter because it was not their border close that caused my cancellation. They said I should ask the Malaysian embassy.

Went to the Malaysian embassy in person to ask and they said nah, they will only issue letters for their own citizens.

So unless there's something I don't know, and unless the UK closes borders soon so I can get that letter, I think the 30 day emergency extension is out of the question for me?

So I think my option at this point is to wait and see what develops over the next couple of weeks. Hopefully Thai immigration sorts some sort of "stranded tourist" amnesty out before then. If not then a day or 2 before my visa expires I'll have to review my available options and make a decision.

Any advice on this situation please and do I have any other options or courses of action I have not considered?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A UK passport holder in Bangkok seeks advice as their Education Visa is set to expire while their application for an Elite Visa is still pending approval (expected in 6-8 weeks). They are unable to travel due to flight cancellations to Malaysia and have been denied a "can't travel" letter from their embassy to apply for an emergency extension. Community members suggest various options including returning to the UK to avoid overstaying, reaching out to the Elite Visa office for assistance, and exploring visa options to neighboring countries.
Tod *********
@Daryl *******
 not to be disrespectful or unsympathetic but your story reads like a slow motion train wreck :O

Good Luck with your situation, the only people that can help you are Elite, the immigration office and your consulate.

Sincerely hope it works out well for you (y)
5 years ago
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Benjamin ******
>So unless there's something I don't know, and unless the UK closes borders soon so I can get that letter, I think the 30 day emergency extension is out of the question for me?

That's correct, you can not get the extension of stay based on the COVID-19 virus unless you are unable to return to the country of your passport (which I'll refer to a "home").

>Hopefully Thai immigration sorts some sort of "stranded tourist" amnesty out before then.

I would *NOT* assume anything. You can return home.

> If not then a day or 2 before my visa expires I'll have to review my available options and make a decision.

That's correct; might be the best strategy

>Any advice on this situation please and do I have any other options or courses of action I have not considered?

Not that I can think of. I'll leave this thread open, but I don't want to hear about any guessing or speculations.
5 years ago
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Ellie *******
Some post says Thailand Elite is speeding up the issueing process for people like you. Not sure it's real or not, but I guess it's worth to talk with them directly ASAP,
@Daryl *******
..
5 years ago
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Daryl ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My situation is actually even more complicated and annoying than I had explained initially: I actually need to renew my passport before I can get the Elite Visa put in it. I only have two pages left and they need three blank pages. To renew my passport I made an appointment with the office that takes care of that in Bangkok. My appointment is on 9th April. 3 days after my current visa expires. Because originally my plan had been to do a visa run, come back in on 7th April, renew passport 9th April, then wait for new passport to come and for elite visa approval letter.

So basically because my current passport only has 2 pages, even if I were to get the elite visa approval tomorrow it wouldnt help me, because I’d still also need to renew my passport first and the earliest appointment I could get to do so was 9th April.
5 years ago
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James ********
@Ellie ******
 On a thread comment that Elite Visa appears NOW EXPEDITED issue

"I'd rather extend mine. Sounds a bit uncertain. Btw due to coronavirus these days it only takes a few days to apply for elite visa, in January waiting time for my customers was 2 to 3 months. Most elite visa applicants are Chinese"
5 years ago
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James ********
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Tod *********
The BIG question IS

Are you currently on the 90 day entry of your ED visa OR are you on an extension?
5 years ago
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Daryl ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi Robert, please refer to my comment directly above your comment for the answer to that question ;-)
5 years ago
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Daryl ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I’m on the initial 90 day entry period. My extension got botched. I was supposed to give my visa consultant my passport so she could start the process for getting the extension letter in January when I came in on the current visa. But I didn’t, and didn’t realise I needed to until late Feb by which point my consultant said it was too late to get the letter from the Education Ministry.
5 years ago
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Claire ********
My ed visa finishes on 1st May. Realistically I think it’s a watch and wait situation as it’s changing daily. Uncertain times for many people across the world.
5 years ago
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Claire ********
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Ellie *******
Why not try to talk to Elite office about your current situation again? Guess nothing downside of trying to talk with them while you seek workaround.
5 years ago
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Patrick ******
Malaysia is not the only country you can go. How about Cambodia?
5 years ago
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Benjamin ******
Because he can't get inside Cambodia with a UK passport, they'll reject him.

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5 years ago
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Benjamin ******
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Gregor **********
you might go to Vietnam, but you can't come back to Thailand. You might go to Myanmar, but you can't come back to Thailand. You can fly back to the UK, but you can't go back to Thailand. That's a fact for the next 30 days period, as long as you have to bring "insurance and covid-19 free certificate" to be allowed into Thailand. The 72-hour old certificate is sheer impossible to get. So whoever tells you to try Myanmar or Vietnam, hasn't finished thinking what is the next step. You could STAY in Myanmar or Vietnam if their visa allow you a prolonged stay, though. But there still remains the problem that you cannot go back to Thailand in the next 30 days. This rule is going into effect in a few hours from now
5 years ago
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Nai ****
Chiangrai (autocorrect error)
5 years ago
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Nai ****
@Gregor *********
so far, the restrictions with covid med certif and insurance were only for airtravel. Read the announcement made by the authorities. Why not land? Because there are still thousands of Thai citizens and neighboring countries citizens crossings the land borders and applying it to them, right now, is not what the gov wants. I believe land borders are still open (1 per bordering province, from what I read in the news, except Chiangmai, which has border with 2 countries, therefore should have 2 land borders open) and it's possible to cross for the moment given you can get into those countries with proper visas. Lastly, you can get a test in Thailand although with Bangkok shutting up it gets more difficult. There are hospitals that do it for about 100-300 USD, now I don't know how long it takes to get the results and I'm sure it's challenging to get the certif here get out and back in within 72hrs, but then...it might be possible as for now
5 years ago
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Gregor **********
in theory . ."a flight from Myanmar back to the UK" . . sounds fair and easy in these times . .
5 years ago
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Gregor **********
you say foreigners don't need a medical or a covid19-free certificate if they want to enter Thailand by a land border? Do you have any reports from people who will have done this after midnight today . .oops sorry . .we have to await such reports. Can I borrow your crystal ball ?
5 years ago
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Gregor **********
here is the proof that he will NOT be able to return to Thailand from either Vietnam or Myanmar:
5 years ago
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Benjamin ******
Say what? Can I see some proof of this please?
5 years ago
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Gregor **********
O Gorman Trevor . thank you. This adds insult to injury . . .
5 years ago
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Gregor **********
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James ***********
Similar scenario, try contacting visa specialists in pattaya
5 years ago
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Dave *******
You do not want to be on an overstay ,especially in applying for an Elite Visa
5 years ago
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Jeremy ********
You cannot have an overstay And get the EV...good luck
5 years ago
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Richard *****
@Jeremy *******
 is this specific to EV or any Visa Including ED Visa or SETV? Thanks.
5 years ago
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Richard *****
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Scott *******
Go and talk to the people at Elite..they can speak to immigration on your behalf and may be able to help
5 years ago
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Wayne **********
Return to UK IS your only viable option at the moment which will not jeapordise you elite visa application.
5 years ago
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Michael ********
Fly to the UK.
5 years ago
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Lee *******
5 years ago
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Ivan ************
Elite may be ready quicker than the estimate. You may not be able to transfer to it in country anyway from Ed though. Only from TR or exempt. So you will need to go out anyway. Not 100% sure on this point, you might need to confirm with them.

Right now, coming back won't be possible, even with Elite (unless you get the virtually impossible Covid-19 test cert). And likely incoming flights will not be operating by that stage anyway, Air Asia and others have already cancelled all their international flights.

It's possible that between now and 6 April something will come up... also possible not. Theoretically Malaysia re-opens 1 April, but it may not.
5 years ago
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Benjamin ******
>I'm a UK passport holder living in Bangkok

As a UK Passport holder, you can not enter:

- Cambodia (UK Passport holders are banned, if I recall correctly)

- Lao

- Malaysia

You may be able to enter Myanmar. You will need to go to the Myanmar embassy and request a visa.

You may be able to enter Vietnam. You will need to go to the Vietnam embassy and ask them about the visa process.

I don't know what the latest news is about them; ask the consulates.

>Hopefully Thai immigration sorts some sort of "stranded tourist" amnesty out before then

I *WOULD NOT* hope on that at all. As the Thai government see it, you can return home. Plus, I heard rumors that everything's shutting down in Bangkok as well tomorrow except for things that are needed.

>Any advice on this situation please and do I have any other options or courses of action I have not considered?

Do *NOT* go on overstay. Once you're on overstay, your elite visa is canceled and you can not get another one. Go back to the UK if you have to.
5 years ago
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Tom ******
Talk to your elite visa agent. They sort out all this for you no? That’s what you’re paying for
5 years ago
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Ivan ************
I think they are quite limited in what they can do, they are constrained by Thai immigration rules. I wouldn't expect any sort of special bending
5 years ago
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Tom ******
Sounds like a faff. I’ve heard of different experiences from friends who were taken care of very well. Perhaps it depends on the agent.
5 years ago
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Ulrik *********
@Tom *****
 it doesn't work that way. The agents can't do anything, as it is the "security screening" that take time. The agents just send the paperwork to immigration and wait for it to return.

I was stuck in Europe for 3 weeks and lost money on several flights, while waiting for my EV to be approved.

And I was trying what I could to speed things up...
5 years ago
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Ulrik *********
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Robert *******
Sorry, but overstay will cancel your application of your Thai Elite Visa.

Not the way forward.

Find a place to relax for a few weeks or back home country as advised by your Embassy.
5 years ago
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Daryl ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yep I agree, overstaying is definitely not an option for me as I don't want to risk my Elite Visa.
5 years ago
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Daryl ********
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