Easy Life in Thailand and ED Visa

[Wanporn]

Hello Everybody!

Anybody has an experience of staying in Thailand for year (s) and studying Thai?
Any problem with your ED (student) Visa? If so, let's share.

Please don't hesitate to tell me more about your life in Thailand.
How do you live and where do you like to go in Thailand?

What are you afraid the most while living here in Thailand.
Don't forget to let me know in what province you are now.

For those are planing to come to Thailand.
You might be wondering about cost of living in Thailand.
Belows are some info for you (my research in BKK):
Normal Standard of Living per month
Accommodation: THB 4,000 - THB 10,000
Note* Most accommodation at good prices are in Ratchada and Rangnam areas.

Food: THB 3,000 (3 meals, local Thai food on streets)
Note* There are so many food shops along streets and it's cheaper to buy food than to cook at home, generally.

Transportation: THB 2,500 - THB 4,000
Note* Bus fee is about THB 8 and BTS or MRT fee starts from THB 16 and Taxi is only THB 35 (for 1st km) and after THB 2 per km.

Entertainment: Movie ticket THB 80-160 (normal seats), Cocktails THB 120-160 (good standard pubs and bars)

Cloths: Female dress THB 80-300 (shops in Pathunam area), Male shirs/plants THB 150-500

Internet Cafes in local Thai shops (in Soi, small streets): THB 20-30 per hour
Note* Internet cafes in department stores starts a price from THB 60 per hour.

Medical Care Fee (local clinics in soi): THB 80-200 when you got Sore throat, for example.

Remarks for those wanting to live in Thailand with non-immigrant ED Visa, they need to pay for extension fee for every 90 days at an immigration office in Thailand. The fee is THB 1,900. A re-entry permit fee THB 1,000/time will be required when those people (holding single type) need to leave Thailand for other countries.

Please keep visiting this forum. I will add and update some more useful information again soon.

Thank you + Take Care!
Wanporn, BKK

[Wanporn]

You can open a bank account in Thailand if you have a non-immigrant visa (any type).
Local banks in Thailand will require you to show the original passport and the visa.

If you are a student holding non-immigrant ED visa, you can have a certificate letter from your school for opening a bank account.

You can have a debit card (Visa/Master Electron). Fee is about 150 bht per year.

[King Silk]

Welcome to the most civilised Thai Forum.
May I suggest that you read through all the previous posts.
There is a mass of interesting info there........

[Wanporn]

Thank you very much King Silk!
I will check it out =) Regards, Wanporn

Originally Posted by King Silk

Welcome to the most civilised Thai Forum.
May I suggest that you read through all the previous posts.
There is a mass of interesting info there........

[frogblogger]

Hi Wanporn, nice to have a Thai national on the forum

Has peace returned in Bangkok, now the demonstrations are over? Will the redshirts be back? Are the farangs still avoiding flying to Thailand because of all the political problems? - and now with swine flu too, I wonder if even less people will want to fly.

Chiang Mai is still very quiet, many hotels have been struggling. I suppose it is the same in Bangkok.

[Wanporn]

Thanks all to welcoming me to the forum =)

Lots of rain in previous days in BKK. BKK is a bit quiet than before.
But the weather is so freshly after rains and less polution.

The red shirted people are allowed to do meetings in limited areas like Sanam Luang.
BKK is sabaidee (fine). Things are going well. Hope it will be better than before soon.

Some people in BKK cancelled flighted to western side of the world regarding to swine flu.

Anyway, how long have you been in Chiang Mai? I have been there only 1 time in my life hehe even I am Thai. Wanna visit there again soon.

Originally Posted by frogblogger

Hi Wanporn, nice to have a Thai national on the forum

Has peace returned in Bangkok, now the demonstrations are over? Will the redshirts be back? Are the farangs still avoiding flying to Thailand because of all the political problems? - and now with swine flu too, I wonder if even less people will want to fly.

Chiang Mai is still very quiet, many hotels have been struggling. I suppose it is the same in Bangkok.

[frogblogger]

Two years in Chiang Mai, in France now for a few months. Fly back to Thailand in June. Can't wait!

Were you born in Bangkok? Your English is very good.

[Wanporn]

I was born in central Bangkok...
Thank you for your complement =)
Seems you travel to Thailand often =)

Originally Posted by frogblogger

Two years in Chiang Mai, in France now for a few months. Fly back to Thailand in June. Can't wait!

Were you born in Bangkok? Your English is very good.

[frogblogger]

Originally Posted by Wanporn

I was born in central Bangkok...
Thank you for your complement =)
Seems you travel to Thailand often =)

Seven months a year in Thailand, five months a year in the south of France. For the next four years. Then, all being well, I shall stay in Chiang Mai permanently.

Prefer it to Bangkok, which is just to busy and polluted for me!

[gleeglee]

The Ed Visa is about the best visa to be on if you are too young to retire. The Government are quite proud that people want to learn Thai and it make your life that bit better when you know what they realy say about you