What should I expect when re-entering Thailand on an ED visa for Thai language studies after traveling abroad?

Aug 14, 2023
a year ago
Nicholas ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi All - Has anyone with an ED visa for Thai language ever had problems re-entering Thailand? Or have any recommendations?

I have a 1-year ED visa that began in April. Next month I intend to travel outside of Thailand for 3 weeks. This will be my first time traveling outside of Thailand with ED visa. (Will have re-entry permit + letter from language school)

Have heard different stories about Immigration not allowing some on language ED visa to return. Thanks!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses concerns regarding re-entering Thailand on an ED visa for language study after traveling abroad. The author has a 1-year ED visa and plans to leave Thailand for 3 weeks. Responses reveal that many people have faced problems re-entering Thailand on an ED visa, even with re-entry permits and letters from their language schools. Key advice includes remaining calm, having supportive documentation ready, and anticipating scrutiny from immigration officers, who may question travel outside of Thailand. Several users recount experiences of being delayed or questioned about their study status upon returning.
๋งˆ๋ฆฌ์˜ค ***
Yah, my gf got pulled for secondary screening at BKK when we came back from Japan. The IO basically said all ED visas from Pattaya are fake and demanded proof she was actually attending classes. Asked for a school ID and class photos. Fortunately she had some photos on her phone.

IO also asked her to call the school (at midnight???).

They ended up stamping her back in after a couple of hours. She was was warned to not travel outside Thailand again on the ED visa.

This was with a Re-entry permit and a letter from the school. No Covid extensions or back-to-back arrival/exit stamps either.
James ********
@๋งˆ๋ฆฌ์˜ค **
this confirms what has been said... DO NOT TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THAILAND when you have a current ED VISA (OR VOLUNTEER VISA) in your passport.
James ********
Suggest you read this recent post about Ed Visa and DENIED entry at the airport.

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My advice... DO NOT LEAVE THAILAND WHEN YOU HAVE AN ED VISA OR EXTENSION IN YOUR PASSPORT
Justin ******
I had a few problems, my advice would be to stay calm and be polite throughout.
James ********
@Justin *****
Best to stay in Thailand if you have an Ed Visa which is still valid
Tod *********
๐—›๐—ฎ๐˜€ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜†๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐˜„๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—˜๐—— ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฎ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ถ ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ด๐˜‚๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ฑ ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฏ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—บ๐˜€ ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ-๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ

Yep many MANY people have had issues re-entering the country on ED visa extensions.

I would say you do NOT have a visa that's valid for a year, you have a stamp in your passport that says extension of stay and has a date.

Even with a letter from your school saying they know you will be leaving the country and it's okay, you can expect to be grilled about why you left, when you come back.

Plenty of people on valid ED visa extensions from private schools <- the ones who get extensions every 90 days had problems re-entering the country.

There is no recommendation, other than have the letter from your school AND have a contact number for someone at the school that can pick up the phone if you get stopped at passport control.

It appears that the Thai immigration officers at passport control are of the mind you should be IN country IN school, not traveling around..

Good luck with it,
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