ED Visa for Cooking Schools

[mal129]

I've recently been interested in Thai cooking. Does anyone have any experience with Thai cooking schools (granting ED Visas) they would care to share? Any names of schools? It can be anywhere in LOS, not just Pattaya.

 

I checked into Easy ABC and they informed me that they will be discontinuing their cooking classes. Also, a cursory Google search didn't find much either, although a couple blogs claim ED Visa can be issued for culinary schools.

 

Thanks all.

[key visa thailand]

Yes they do give ED visas for cooking, and ABC school is very good, I think it would be cheaper to get your partner to teach you though.

[Big Bad Wolf]

I've recently been interested in Thai cooking. Does anyone have any experience with Thai cooking schools (granting ED Visas) they would care to share? Any names of schools? It can be anywhere in LOS, not just Pattaya.

 

I checked into Easy ABC and they informed me that they will be discontinuing their cooking classes. Also, a cursory Google search didn't find much either, although a couple blogs claim ED Visa can be issued for culinary schools.

 

Thanks all.

 

Can you elaborate a little more as to what your plan is as I'm somewhat interested in this as well. Are you planning on like several months of studing?

[Rapid Language Learning]

If you want to stay long-term without the hassle of regular "visa runs" (the cost usually adds up to the same cost of signing up for a course anyway) is to enrol with a government-approved school or educational institution. It doesn't matter what you study, so long as the school has had it's course approved by the Education Department.

 

The important points are:

1. You must study a minimum of 180 hours during the course of the year (for a one-year visa, 90 hours for a six-month visa).
    
   
2. Even though you might get a one-year visa, you still have to go in to immigration every 3 months to extend it. But you don't need to leave the country to do a visa run! Sometimes, the visa will be extended to the full 9 months when you go apply for the first extension after 90 days. You pay 1,900 baht every time you extend the visa.
    
   
3. If you do not travel out the country, you must go into immigration every 90 days to inform them of your address. This has nothing to do with your visa. If you subsequently go out the country then you must report 90 days from the date you re-entered Thailand. There is no charge for this.
    
   
4. If you want to leave the country for any reason then make sure you get a re-entry permit (1,000 baht) otherwise your visa is cancelled and you will have to apply for a new one from scratch.
    
   
5. If you continue to study then you can stay in Thailand indefinitely. So choose a course that you can study for many years (like Thai or Chinese or a university degree). You can also change schools and study different subjects. There is usually no need to do a visa run or leave the country to renew your ED Visa.
    
   
6. You are not allowed to work at all on an ED Visa, so no private English lessons or even volunteering is allowed. (At least don't do it openly where you might get reported by a disgruntled "friend" or student.) You are also not allowed to play music for gain (but if you play regularly in a band in a public place then the police will usually turn a blind eye, so long as your visa is in order and it's an informal gathering as opposed to a regular - and advertised - feature).
    
   
7. If you do want to work or volunteer then the organization you work with must obtain a "non-immigrant" visa for you and a work permit. There are no exceptions. And you can only legally work for the organization who hire/engages you. A work permit doesn't give you blanket permission to work anywhere for anybody.
    
   
8. The legal way around this is to work independently "from home" - usually online - by selling overseas (e.g. ebay) or offering online tuition/coaching, or writing books, composing music, etc.
   

Edited November 21, 2012 by Rapid Language Learning

[key visa thailand]

Well said rapid learning but I think most members are aware of the RULES for education visas and what is allowed,

 

It is better to try and write in layman's terms as giving advice is better than selling it and help the members understand it a bit clearer

[Rapid Language Learning]

Actually, I found that many people are not aware of all the RULES and often get caught out by the little details - typically the 90-day reporting rule, the requirement for a re-entry visa and "tutoring" while on an ED visa.

 

Also, the OP is asking about Thai cooking. It's unlikely that this will be a substantial course that will entitle you to an ED visa - unless you enroll for something like a one-year (or more) hospitality diploma. ABC's ED visa programs are for studying Thai, German, English or Computers. Their professional cooking course is 90 hours, so if they are prepared to continue offering this course then that might get you a 6-month ED visa - or perhaps try the Premium Food Carving Course, which is 200 hours.

[bigbill340]

I have to be honest and say that I didn't know that you could stay in Thailand just on a ED visa for many years. I always thought it would just be for the length of your course and then you get told to leave!

 

If ever find myself wanting to try retirement there, this gives me a great option!

 

 

 

Bill

[key visa thailand]

Education visas are fairly simple to obtain if you are dealing with the right people on a daily basis.

 

There is more than one way to skin a cat and having to go to Immigration every 90 days and pay for an extensions and pay schools large fees and then have to go and get you own ED visa from outside Thailand, there must be easier ways.

 

Not everybody wants to spend time learning like they do not wish to use visa companies it is up to the individual.

 

Guess what I know how!!

 

Pesonal conversations please.

[uty6543]

 

The legal way way around this is to work independently "from home" - usually online - by selling overseas (e.g. ebay) or offering online tuition/coaching, or writing books, composing music, etc.

 

can you tell me more about working from home I thought this was illegal

[key visa thailand]

Hmm agreed so did I