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What are my options after my Ed visa expires in Thailand, and how can I handle border runs?

Ed VisaVisa ExtensionsBorder RunsThailand ImmigrationVisa RulesExpat Advice
Mar 19, 2023
2 years ago
Megan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hey y’all! I’m wondering if anyone in this group has any experience with this particular situation.

The visa extensions for my language school and Ed visa will be finished in 90 days, after living here on this visa for a year. Has anyone had the experience of finishing their Ed visa, and then staying here on border runs for a while afterwards? Did you ever have a hard time returning to the country when the border agent saw that you had already been here for a year? Just looking for some insight for my next steps. Thanks!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The individual is seeking advice regarding their Ed visa situation, which will expire in 90 days after a year in Thailand. They are considering making border runs to extend their stay and are asking for experiences from others who have done the same. The comments highlight concerns about current immigration policies, advising against frequent border runs due to increasing scrutiny by immigration agents. There is also discussion about the legitimacy of the individual's education visa and recommendations for obtaining proper visas moving forward.
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Gray ******
Make sure to get the paperwork for cancel the ED visa. Then transfer to another visa type.
2 years ago
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Bobby ********
Can I ask if your education visa was a genuine one, or a fake bought from an agent. The answer to your question could differ depending on this
2 years ago
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Megan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bobby *******
 seems to be something of an in between if I’m being honest? I enrolled in a school that does genuinely offer classes, but not great ones, and there’s been no checking of my attendance or testing my education in any way.
2 years ago
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Maxim ***********
@Megan *******
 There is no such thing as an "in between". Either you got it from an agent or not. From your answer, it's obv u use an agent or u would have been tested every 3 month.
2 years ago
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Megan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Maxim **********
 the place was advertised to me as a school, it is technically a language school, I enrolled believing I’d get more of a school-like experience, and they’ve since behaved much more like agents than educators. I’m not complaining, as it’s been very little hassle for me, but that’s what I mean by a funny “in between.”
2 years ago
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Maxim ***********
@Megan *******
 You don't know what you signed for, hence your "in between" confusion. You didn't enroll in a language school. Your agent used a random school as third party for you to get a "under the table" (bribery) ed visa. The agent is doing the 90 days report every time by himself to make sure that you are not tested. The issue here is not being here for a year, the issue is having a under the table visa in your passport. If you enter by land border, you won't have issue, except just avoid Poipet border, they are annoying. If you enter by air, avoid BKK airport, they are notorious for giving people on under the table volunteer and ed visa trouble.
2 years ago
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Abbie ********
@Megan *******
 what did you use I'm currently looking for a visa
2 years ago
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Abbie ********
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Tulip ********
Wonder why immigration are cracking down on Falangs, oh I know idiots like the poster.
2 years ago
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Megan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tulip *******
 girl, you’ve got three posts here asking about the same single visa for yourself— including one asking if it would be easier for you to hop in and out of Laos instead of applying for the visa. Don’t throw shade at another gal looking for info to weigh out her options. 🤷‍♀️
2 years ago
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Megan ********
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Frank **********
Get a real visa.
2 years ago
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Megan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank *********
 I guess the one I mentioned I’ve stayed on for the past year has been imaginary? Wish someone had told me so sooner.
2 years ago
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Roberto *********
@Megan *******
 What he means is it's not a legitimate visa. You've been in the country for a year under false pretenses and reading your comments you've been well aware of this but are feigning innocence. Thai immigration cracked down on these fake visas and a lot of staff were sacked or moved. Your card is marked. Neighbouring countries embassies know about the scam, so little chance of getting a visa there, and now you're thinking of living in the country by way of successive border bounces. You have to realise that Thai Immigration takes a dim view of farangs taking the piss. Perhaps return to your own country, wait a while then try the METV route.
2 years ago
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Cliff *********
@Roberto ********
 nailed it!
2 years ago
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Cliff *********
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Abbie ********
I wouldn't recommend going in and out of the country at the moment, they are being very strict about it, we were currently doing this but just yesterday we got stopped at immigration and said we need to have a proper visa to enter the country or we couldn't come back in, we had to stay for an extra hour after our flight and the only way they would let us in is if we booked a return flight out of the country ♥️
2 years ago
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Phil ********
@Abbie *******
Yes, that's what I thought, thank you for the clarification & details.

Here's the thing:

Best to have the 3 proofs in whenever entering visa exempt AND even with a TR tourist visa...

Required:

hotel booking for a few days

& onward travel reservation within your allowed days,

& 20,000 thb or equivalent in $ £ € in CASH is needed.

Lack of funds is the most common reason cited for denying entry, but in your case it was lack of onward travel...

Welcome back to LOS 🙃

TIT
2 years ago
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Phil ********
@Abbie *******
Sorry to hear of your troubles and crying child.

Do you mean to say you were first trying to enter without any ticket leaving Thailand within the permitted 45 until days ?

Did you travel in on a one way ticket?
2 years ago
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Abbie ********
@Phil *******
 we travelled on a one way ticket, we came to Thailand late December around the 31st then extended for 30 days then went to KL came back on a one way ticket but they wouldn't let us in so had to book another flight so they would let us in, we are now looking for a visa so education visa for myself and my partner
2 years ago
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Phil ********
@Abbie *******
How's 4-5 days per week studying Thai seriously.

Please realize you'll not only have to attend but also make progress?

Are you aware you'll also be interviewed in Thai by the immigration officers to confirm such proficiency progress each quarter, as they review your request to extend?

Finally, most "good" schools are booked up for the intro/basic levels already.

The top three schools in Bangkok listed here in alphabetical order.

Look into ALA, Duke, and Rak Thai schools.

YouTube background music is for extraneous entertainment

🙃 555

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2 years ago
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Abbie ********
@Phil *******
 of course I'm aware 🤣 it's fine I already know some basic Thai anyways
2 years ago
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Abbie ********
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Megan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Abbie *******
 this is the story I keep sadly hearing 😕
2 years ago
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Abbie ********
@Megan *******
 it was the worst experience ever I have a 3 year old son too and he was crying the whole time it was awful, I really wouldn't recommend doing it at all, they are getting so strict
2 years ago
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Roberto *********
@Abbie *******
 They are only getting strict with people who are trying to scam the system. Unfortunately this makes it harder on those of us with proper visas doing the right thing because everyone gets tarred with the same brush. I don't know why people just don't get proper visas which represent what they are doing in Thailand.
2 years ago
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Roberto *********
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Steve ********
How long is "for a while"?
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Megan *******
 If you go back to your home country and apply for a ME Tourist Visa you can get almost nine months with two strategic border bounces. I can't see you being denied entry on that. The criteria for the visa is a bit tight, but you'd be 99.9% assured of entry.
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Megan *******
 Why is it sadly? You can easily get 6-9 months on a tourist visa. How long do you believe a tourist should stay in Thailand, before they're no longer a tourist? You are aware that most other countries limit the time on tourism? Such as US, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand
2 years ago
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Megan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 not sadly at all if I can stretch 6-9 months! The “up to their discretion” is the part I’m referring to—where maybe I could make it work for that amount of time, but maybe someone turns me away and I can’t.
2 years ago
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Megan ********
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Megan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 that’s a bit open ended at the moment tbh, but the longer I could continue to reside here by just flying in and out of the country here and there, the better. I know many people get by this way, I’ve just yet to meet anyone who has done so, while also having already completed a one year Ed visa.
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Megan *******
 It's one of those "discretionary" decisions which immigration make at the time of your arrival. I can't see any problem with you doing this in the first instance, but continuing to live on Thailand on a succession of tourist entries could eventually end in denial of entry
2 years ago
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Megan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 yeah, what I’m gathering is that it really is up to how much I want to try my luck, sadly. 😅
2 years ago
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Megan ********
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