Answered2 years ago

Why was my son questioned at immigration after completing an education visa in Thailand?

education visa Thai immigration visa issues expat experiences travel restrictions Thai language study

Sue **********

asked Mar 29, 2025

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My son completed 11 months of a 12 month education visa for Thai language. I was on a retirement visa for a year. My visa expired a month before he was due to finish ( I got it through the Canberra embassy and it arrived faster than I thought). So he got a letter of early finalisation apparently required from the language school in CM. We then departed for another country on the day my visa finished and were gone a month. We checked everything face to face with CM immigration about leaving and then coming back on a tourist visa, returning for 3 weeks before heading home to Australia. We arrived back at Suvarnabhumi airport and no problem I was stamped through. Then they stopped my son and I came back with him and he was given a hard time about not finishing his course. He had the letter. He was asked one question in Thai and the officer was saying he hadn't studied. We had just come off a night flight without sleep. Then the officer said he cannot come back on an education visa. There were three officers. They were pretty rude and officious but then did allow him to be stamped in as a tourist. We did all the right things according to CM immigration requirements but Bangkok were upset. They also said we cannot come here to live etc. Never said we wanted to!! I love Thai people in general but is this usual?

Answer summary

The user describes their experience with Thai immigration upon returning to Thailand with their son, who had been on an education visa for studying Thai language. Despite holding a letter of early finalization from the language school, the son faced scrutiny and questioning at the airport regarding his ability to speak Thai, leading to complications in his entry. The user highlights the challenges faced by education visa holders, noting that such visas have been subject to abuse in the past, which may lead to increased scrutiny by immigration officials.

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Michael **********

well, if after 11 months of studying thai your son was unable to answer any simple questions that the officers made him then they got all the rights to be suspicious. Everyone knows that ED visa were abused and it was the was that most of tourists used to live long term in thailand. I wonder what the immigration of the USA or the UK would say if someone from thailand tries to enter the country after 11 months of studying English and actually can't say a word at all...

2 years ago

Dwayne ********

@Michael *********

well America doesn’t care multi-million illegal Mexicans live in the country and can’t read, write, speak English even if their lives depended on it but they’re given drivers licenses, free healthcare, free college tuition, reduced housing costs and government general relief payments. I don’t know UK.

2 years ago

Dwayne ********

Yeah they’re rather strict with education visa. I had one over 12 years ago, it’s the most abused visa. Languages never stick with me even most my life in Los Angeles & San Diego, I still can’t speak Spanish.

2 years ago

Jordan *****

@Dwayne *******

yeah, but you never tried learning it either whereas the person mentioned in the post took a one year course and apparently does not know any Thai. The fact that he just got of the plane after a long flight is no excuse.

2 years ago

Sue **********

@Jordan ****

harsh, judgemental and unhelpful. "Does not know any Thai" don't be ridiculous.

2 years ago

Dwayne ********

@Jordan ****

I agree, I got bombarded with questions 12 years ago but was able to talk my way through it using good ol’ English intellect. If it doesn’t stick, you can’t be blamed. Obviously the kid wasn’t smart.

2 years ago

Sue **********

@Dwayne *******

duh!!!! You were the one who said "languages never stick with me" and know no Spanish. Then you join hands with Michael Bramieri and Jordan Ptz who are without doubt both fluent in Thai and then say "obviously the kid wasn't smart". You guys just make up your own storylines. My question was directed to people who have an IQ over 10 and it was answered.

2 years ago

Sue **********

@Dwayne *******

rude, judgemental and unhelpful.

2 years ago

Garrett ***********

So basically nothing happened right? Great...

2 years ago

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

Wow

2 years ago

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

Normal. Education visa was the most abused visa for many years. Just having one in your passport means you have a higher chance of getting pulled out of line and interrogated for years to come. And leaving Thailand from an education visa and returning immediately without a new visa is asking for trouble.

I cancelled my education extension and was gone for almost 6 months and got pulled out of line and interrogated for 45 minutes by 3 officers.

2 years ago