Hello to all, this is a informative post. Since I had several peoples asking me the same things about the ED visa. I though It's could be nice to give you a resume about the process I've been through :
1. Came from France (Paris - CDG) without any visa (visa exemption). For that you need a CoE (ask online to a Thai embassy), a covid-19 insurance (for 90 days), a booking in an ASQ (not sure how long : now it's depend your destination, your origin and if you had the vaccine already), and a ticket plane (go and back, even if "back" can be for another country : Malaysia for example), and also a negative covid-19 test (just before to take your flight).
1. Arrived in Bangkok, the immigration stamped me 45 days (got a warning because I had to many previous stamps from Thailand in my passport but just smile, say "ok krap" to everything the officer says and it's good to go).
1. Do your ASQ time.
1. The next day after being out of ASQ I've been to muang thani immigration office for : extend my exemption of visa by 30 days (normal extension : just take your passport, fill a form and pay 1900bht) AND make the TM30 (website still down at this day). The TM30 is important for later!
1. Register myself to Duke Language School. See with them about the price but basically it's 8.000bht per course (1 months , 60h) and you have a discount if you take a package of course. Personally I took 5 courses that's will give me 8 months of ED visa (I can buy more course later). Note that : the ED visa will be maximum 12 months long.
1. Once you paid the school (and fill their form and give them a bunch of ID picture). They will contact you again when they finish to get all the paper you need for go to the immigration office in Chaengwatanna. One of the school staff will meet you there and you have nothing to do, just follow the instruction, bring the good documents (that the school already have prepared for you and also your TM30 and of course 2.000bht). Usually they contact you 2 weeks after your registration at the school.
1. The next day or a bit after : an officer of the immigration will come to the school for take a bunch of picture of you at school with the teacher, just be there.
1. Around 2 week later, you will have to go to the immigration office in Chaengwatanna again for get your ED visa. You go alone, nothing special to do (you show your receipt from the first visit and wait a bit). Your ED visa will be 90 days long, start from the day you apply (step 6).
1. Go to school and learn Thai. You can extend your ED visa (by 60 days) up to 12 months IF you keep studying at the school (note : basically 1 course give you 2 months of ED visa). I still did not make any extension so I don't know if the officer will ask you a lot of things in Thai when you go apply for a extension but it's seems that it's better to be prepare if you don't want any issue.
1. Enjoy Thailand and don't be an asshole here.
