If I changed to soft power such as education in a local university in Bangkok, but I couldn't confirm to stay for 6 months now.

Though there're 9 levels to complete the whole course, each level only lasts about 6 weeks and different levels can be done on different dates throughout the year as long as there're sufficient people in the class.

At the moment, I couldn't confirm is the course really suitable for me or not, hence I've paid for 1 level and booked a hotel for 3 months stay.

I'll consider to apply for the next level only after finishing the first level.

So if I changed my application to soft power, can I just provide 3 months stay in a hotel instead of renting an apartment for 6 months?

Hi!

Just wondering where things are at with ED visas at the moment. I'm outside of Thailand at present and was studying Thai for a year previously at a language school.

Ideally I'd like to get enrolled in a year long Thai course at one of the Uni's in Bangkok if they offer that sort of thing.

Im not planning on it until towards the end of the year.

Is Thailand open for ED visas at the moment or will they be later in the year?

If anyone has any Uni recommendations, or language schools as an alternative, please do let me know.

Cheers

Is it true that since the pandemic started, a new rule has been brought in to make it impossible to get a new year of ED visa when the current visa expires, without leaving the country?

Looking at the lack of open borders, and the cost of quarantine both to get back in here and to get anywhere else before that, with the mental health implications of 28 days in isolated quarantine, am I missing something or are they trying to make sure there are no foreign students left in the country after 12 months except those who can afford investment or elite visa. I heard volunteering is the latest trend as a way around this but a senior immigration officer warned me against it because with such a flooding of volunteer applications will come tighter controls and many rejections... thoughts?