Your post comes across as angry, do feel free to explain what's upset you; information comes from multiple sources and I am happy to explain any of my decisions. Having discussed with Bumrungrad the medical visa would probably only have given us a fortnight, and is not listed on the Laos Thai embassy page, and they were unwilling to discuss today. We are not rich, bear in mind an Elite visa costs 60 times the average annual salary in Ethiopia, so the Elite visa is prohibitively expensive, but I did mention it as an option here. Ethiopia is currently throwing people in concentration camps, outside which the bbc has documented mass graves. So check your privilege. Helpful advice gratefully received.

Not at all, I'm emailing the school, will work on Cambodia, thanks very much for the ideas!

Thanks John yeah looking likely. On basis of a recommendation below, the Thai embassy in Cambodia does offer Ethiopians tourist visas, so while Elite progressing might give that a final go to then get on education visa. Need somewhere for the elite delay anyway, heard of the mythical beaches and haven't been before.

Yeah repeated VOAs definitely a concern, a refusal at the border would be a major headache, not sure where I and our baby would stand, a forced return to Ethiopia would be very, very serious, we can't risk that at all.

I'm 46 and counting the days..!

This is looking possible. Do you know whether you must leave your passport with the Thai embassy in Cambodia during the application?

They do process visas for Ethiopians, thanks! Takes "at least a month" and Cambodia visa for Ethiopians seems to last a month, but hypothetically possible. I wish the embassy in Laos had said they don't on their website!

Thanks I'll look into it

Or living in Cambodia?

You mean the Thai embassy in Cambodia?