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Will my history of SETVs affect my application for a Thai ED Visa?

Thailand VisaED VisaSETVVisa Application ProcessImmigration AdviceLanguage School VisaVisa ActivationTravel TipsOverstay and Extensions
August 7, 2019
5 years ago
Kyron *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi Everyone, I desperately need some advice regarding the Thai ED Visa to study Thai as a language. Last year I was in Thailand between April and June 2018 on a SETV that I got from London embassy.

This year I have been in Thailand from end of March 2019 and I am going back to UK mid September. I have been here THIS year from two back-2-back SETV’s ( London and Savannakhet )

I am going to start the application with my chosen language school when I arrive back in the UK and then collect the visa from London Thai embassy and then fly back to Bangkok and visit the language school within 7 days to activate the visa.

My question is do you think my 3 SETV’s from the past 2 years will affect my application and will I encounter any problems at Bangkok airport with my previous history? Would I be better off flying to a neighbouring country and entering Thailand by land with my new ED visa? All help would be most appreciated as I couldn’t find any answers to my exact situation... (Yes I genuinely want/have to learn Thai for a future work opportunity and I will be ready for the tests every 3 Months from immigration) Thanks again :)
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice regarding applying for a Thai ED Visa to study the Thai language after having previously entered Thailand on back-to-back SETVs. Concerns include whether past tourist visas will impact the application process, potential issues at Bangkok airport upon re-entry, and the feasibility of entering Thailand via land as a safer option. Multiple responses advise on ensuring proper documentation for the ED visa application and suggest strategies for entry to mitigate any risks related to immigration scrutiny.
Ron *******
London E visa application requirements

Non-Immigrant Type ED (To study in a basic education level (elementary, primary, and secondary school, or to study in a short course (Thai or English language) - single entry only)

Letter confirming enrollment details from school signed by authorised person together with a copy of ID card or passport of the signer

School’s registration certificate

Approval letter from concerned authority under the Ministry of Education

Financial evidence e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings, proof of sponsorship from a third party

Confirmation of legal residence in the UK or Ireland

***********************************************************************************
*****
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-Non-Immigrant-visas.html#4
5 years ago
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Kyron *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I rang the embassy in London they just want to know you have enough money to cover yourself (it cannot be in overdraft they said) = real, cleared funds.
5 years ago
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Kyron *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm not sure...
5 years ago
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Ron *******
Kyron Michael to me, it reads as just one of them
5 years ago
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Kyron *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ron ******
 Hi Ron, thanks for your wonderful advice. I've visited your link. I would like to ask your advice on something from there.. Financial evidence e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings, proof of sponsorship from a third party .......... I copied that from the London website. Could you tell me, or anyone who might know, does that mean 1 of those items is required, or all of them? Thank you in advance.
5 years ago
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Ron *******
@MU *****
 the list above is what you need to apply at the Thai Embassy in London. If you cannot supply the documents they require.....you don't get the visa.
5 years ago
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MU ******
@Ron ******
 Normally the school would know what documents we should prepare. All those documents are in Thai, most people won’t really know what’s what.

My advice would be, find a right school that have good reputation for visa stuff. Or find a school that do not give visa easily. The stricter the better.
5 years ago
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MU ******
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Kyron *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sorry
@Tod ********
 one more thing, if I entered Thailand by land would that be less risky as you mentioned earlier all it needs is one immigration officer to ask me why do I have an ED Visa in my passport after 2 SETV’s ?
5 years ago
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Kyron *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@MU *****
 hi Mu, that’s very good advice, I will make sure the airline has multiple SE destinations just incase. Thanks
5 years ago
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MU ******
@Kyron ********
 It’s definitely less risky entering Thailand by land. But Even if you decided entering by plane, you still have chance to fly to the neighboring country IF you’re denied at the airport. Just make sure to take an airways that have many flights to SE Asian cities so you can fly to these cities instead of flying back to your country.
5 years ago
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MU ******
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Tod *********
The best way to pull this off is

enroll in the school BEFORE you leave, have them get the paperwork from the MOE and give it to you before you go

Apply for the Non-ED visa from the thai consulate in London with the paperwork, get the visa, THEN come back to thailand get stamped in for 90 days, get to the school to let them copy your passport.

That's how people usually do it when they're going to go back and get the visa in their country BUT are here now..
5 years ago
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Kyron *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 I will do just that, hopefully 5 Weeks will be enough time. Thank you for all your help,really appreciate it)
5 years ago
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Tod *********
@Kyron ********
 you're not going back until Mid Sept, so enroll now and see if they can get it before you go back
5 years ago
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Tod *********
@Kyron ********
 they can DHL or FedEx it to you. Schools do that quite a lot here..
5 years ago
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Kyron *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ok, but what will happen if the paperwork is not ready by the time I fly back to London? Will they send me the paperwork to the UK?
5 years ago
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Kyron *********
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Tod *********
Just a correction, as Robert said, when you get the visa in your passport it's "activated" already and you have 3 months from the date they stick it in your passport to enter the country when you will be stamped in for 90 days.

I think you're talking about visiting the school within a week of you getting here so they can make copies of the correct pages in your passport to get you the paperwork so you can go get your extension of stay from the immigration office a couple months after you get here
5 years ago
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Tod *********
Now as far as will you have a problem entering the country on an ED visa after you've lived here on back2-back tourist visas is anyone's guess and no one can give you a definitive answer.

It comes down to whether the officer you get when you stamp in is having a bad day or not and decides to question you about why you decided to get an ED visa now.

All you can do is have proof of funds (20K baht or the equivalent in CASH), proof of onward travel (in the number of days you will be stamped in for ) and proof of lodging and hope for the best.
5 years ago
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Robert *******
best option: start the application in the UK, when you have the Visa in your passport come to Thailand and Immigration will give you 90 days of stay. Than you visit your school to learn and before these 90 days are over you visit with them and lots of documents the Immigration Office to apply for a 90 day Extension of Stay.
5 years ago
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MU ******
@Kyron ********
 Yes, just want to repeat what Todd said, the attendance is really important for the immigration to decide giving you an extension or not.
5 years ago
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Kyron *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Right I got you, that explains why they want you there as quickly as possible once I arrive back in Thailand.
5 years ago
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Tod *********
@Kyron ********
 nope, you get stamped in for 90 days and get to the school you're enrolled in RIGHT AWAY so they can get copies of the pages in your passport they need to get you paperwork to get your extension in a couple months. It takes about 4 - 6 weeks to get the paperwork from the MOE. SO once you get here, GO to the school you're enrolled in.

Not to mention you need to start studying because the attendance sheets are also part of the paperwork you need too
5 years ago
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Robert *******
No, see the text from Tod
5 years ago
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Kyron *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi Robert, ok thanks, so once the visa is given in UK I basically have the first 90 days once I arrive, then I visit the school.
5 years ago
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Kyron *********
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Tod *********
Umm, there are NO tests by immigration for learning thai :/
5 years ago
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Josh *******
Supposedly it’s a test according to the school and the immigration officer. Apparently they can deny the extension still if they feel its not sufficient enough.

So by the sounds of it, it’s no longer officially needed but they are just enjoying their scare tactics 😆
5 years ago
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Tod *********
@Josh ******
 tested or just talked to while they're doing paperwork for your extension?
5 years ago
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Josh *******
@Tod ********
 I’m tested still now in mae Hong son
5 years ago
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Kyron *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 oh right, I see, I must of read old posts then
5 years ago
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Tod *********
@Kyron ********
 that was something done several years ago in Bangkok but not anymore. Even the Ministry Of Education doesn't require testing to get you the extension paperwork anymore.
5 years ago
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Kyron *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi Tod, I did read about this as there way of cracking down on people just applying for the ED to stay here, but that's great to hear you have not heard of this.Takes a bit of pressure off me.
5 years ago
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Kyron *********
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