@Megan ****************

lived in Dubai too previously and the UK embassy is pretty quick to respond. Good luck! If no hope go the Abu Dhabi office they’re less busy

In no particular order.

Option 1. Order fast tracked new passport. Takes 48hrs. If you’re in London and it won’t be busy in winter but summer yes. Money talks and will blow away you worries

Option 2. Wing it. These things in practice are 100% at discretion of the man or woman you have at immigration

Option 3. Check with the Thai embassy. Send them an email. They are fast to reply

@David *******

last year. Yeah skipping class was totally fine. It’s on you and not monitored. They have your money you check in first day and that’s all that counts. But I’m not advising people do that but it’s something that happens. Life gets busy. You miss one class get caught behind. Or you’re advanced so don’t need to attend some. Ultimately speak to the school.

As someone who has done it I know how it works. There’s what is technically allowed and what is actually done. Like a lot of things here in Thailand. Cost is dependant on your school yes. Attendance to class is required at least for lesson 1 yes. Do you have to attend other classes physically. No. There’s no checklist that gets reported. Should you be learning Thai. Yes I’m my opinion as much as poss. Can you leave on an ed visa for holiday. Technically no but actually yes if you take that leave within your permitted term break (just work it out with your school and they provide a letter). Will this be ok at the border or airport. Maybe maybe not. Depends on who you get right?! If you state you’re travelling for emergency or to see someone who is sick that’s better than saying I’m going for a stag do. You get my point. The 1 year visa is mistakenly promoted as one year. It’s actually broken down into quarters. So it runs out and then you get it re issued and restanped and forms up to your eye balls filled in with photo of you at immigration to check you’re in the country. But don’t worry that’s why you’re paying the school to do all the admin for you. Despite all this it’s quite painless in the scope of painful things in Thailand