Can I convert my active Thai education visa to the DTV visa or should I leave, cancel my education visa when it's finished (becoming a tourist visa on re-entry) and then apply for the DTV?

# Update in 2024 on Education Visa and Traveling abroad: Has anyone with the ED visa while living in Thailand travelled abroad recently? Any problems when coming back into Thailand? If so, how do I ensure it is smooth when I come back?

Background

1. I might have to travel abroad to USA for a Funeral of my Uncle - maybe 1 week. Then maybe to China as we have family there too, 1 week. So perhaps 2-3 weeks away before returning back. I am about 3 months out of 1 year into my ED Thai Language Study Visa.

2. My University delivers its coursework online. My agent and the school assured me that this is fine and stated that I could travel abroad if I decide to do so - I confirmed this prior to applying for the ED Visa. They can write me a letter stating I'm a current student. I have my student ID and coursework on my phone in PDF format as well

3. I believe that my Thai is better than 90% of students who have studied the same time I have (3 months). This is because I do daily immersion lessons on my own (outside of class). I can explain exactly why I had to leave the country in Thai. I need to learn a few vocabulary words though.

4. I'm aware I need a Re Entry Permit prior to travel

Hi. Currently in thailand from the uk on a multi entry visa which gives me 9 months with extensions and visa runs. After this I want to stay but understand that if playing by the rules I have to leave. How long do I have to leave for before I can come back ?

Hi,

I need your help. About Thai education visa. I am holder of education visa, initial 90 days and school terminated it with today date ( because I wrote 3* review). What's are my options? When I need to go to immigration? How long I have to leave country? Can I start study in different school?

Do you have recommendation for Thai language school in some smaller city in isaan or north Thailand?

Currently I am In chiang mai, but I don't like this city.

Hi!

I’m just wondering if any fellow Australians have successfully applied for a Thai Education Visa in Australia, through the Thai Embassy in Canberra? (I would have to apply via post)

What was your experience?

Specifically, was the 90 day wording on your passport ok - did you have any problems getting the next 90 day visa when you were in Thailand?

I’m heading back to Oz anyway so I’m hoping to just apply there - but if it’s easier I will just come in again on a Tourist Visa and apply while I’m here and apply in Vientiane.

Thanks very much!

Cheers

Ali

Hi! I’m currently on an education visa that ends August 31. I’m planning on leaving Thailand at the end of November. Is the best way to stay for 3 more months to leave Thailand August 31 come back in on a VOA (15 days right?) and then get a tourist visa for 60 days? (if needed extend it for 30 days)

Despite the meant reasons my language school visa experience was a bit shady, I find myself feeling tempted again.

I was told I could only do one Ed visa once. The school is telling me there is a program where they can do a 15 month program for someone who has already done 12 months.

Any knowledge of this?

So I'm on a education visa and was told that every time I go to renew visa (60 days or less) that would reset my 90 day reporting. Come to find out not true. I was supposed to report today, but I had to clue till the school informed me. I will not be able to make it to immigration till Monday due to holiday. What penalty should I expect when I go to immigration, and will this cause me any issues getting a retirement visa in 2 weeks when I turn 50? Thank you so much as always.

For those of you who got an education visa to learn Thai, how long did it take to get the visa completed? From what I’ve seen, most schools say 3-4 weeks.

I’ve got a friend now who applied for a Thai language Ed visa while in Thailand and is 2 1/2 weeks into the process and they were just told the “school needs more time”.

Does the school do all their paperwork up front and hand it over to immigration or is there some back and forth between the school and immigration?

If the school just summits everything and the rest is up to immigration, it seems strange it would take 3 weeks or more for a school to produce the needed documents.

I assume most of the time would be spent waiting on immigration but don’t know what the actual workflow is.

He’s trying to see if maybe there’s some issue the school is not being up front about or if this is normal.

Does anyone know what the actual steps are between the school and immigration?

Thanks for any insights you might have.

Does anyone have any experience with the Thai Language learning Education visa (bonus points if your experience is in Koh Samui)? Is it pretty straightforward forward or is there anything I need to look out for? I'm hoping to come on a 14-month language learning visa.