I would try talking to the education visa programs, language or martial arts. They were able to convert visa without leaving country awhile ago and probably still can !

@Brendan ****

back then they posted something about having documents in to the school for processing by a certain date. This was months ago. They probably are still able to do it if you connect with them. The education visa is able to be renewed for up to 4 years ( I am not sure how it works tho, if you have to leave country to renew when year is up or if we can just stay? Rules are likely different now.)

@Jonathan ***

hand 2 hand combat chiang Mai

You can sign up for education visa program. Do martial arts classes, visa sorted for one year.

They can now process without having to leave Thailand

Sign up for an education visa with a legit language or martial arts school. And they are charging baht immigration fee but at least they are legit. Your window to do it is closing tho!!

@Chris ****

yea I had to pay to the school and immigration fee, worth it in my opinion for the security given the circumstances. If you divide the 50k by 12 it hurts a lot less. I figure if I try to leave and get denied at any borders or have any flights cancel etc it will end up costing way more anyways.

There seems to be 100% legal ways to switch to Education Visas now for anyone interested but I think that window is closing to get an application in.

@Alice ********

if we end up needing the letters, we all can flood the embassies with emails demanding them like last time. When this all started lots of embassies originally refused to give the letters then they caved and started giving them.

@Todd ********

too true!

@Garrett **********

just FYI at Chiang Mai immigration today I was told that this is not an official rule as of today ... 🤦‍♀️