How Does Changing My University Effect My Visa?

[Tahmid]

Ok I kinda looked, not thoroughly tho, but yeah I went thru a few search words and didn't find anything similar so I'm asking this.

The thing is, I'm changing University. I used to be in ABAC but now I'm shifting to TU. But whats bugging me is that, in my Ed visa(which has a 1year extension) it mention ABAC in the Remarks section(similar remark is present in the extension aswell). So what happens once I quit ABAC? They revoke my visa instantly? If so, do I have to leave Thailand immediately after that?? And is there a way I can apply for a change of institution so that they do not revoke my visa(and kick me out or condemn me) but instead "transfers" it to TU? Cause it'd be a seriously huge hassle if I have to leave thailand and return again =/ And not to mention completely ridiculous and costly(I'm a student, so not loaded with ****load of money yeah? ) =|

Any sort of information would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

[beano2274]

Am sure that as you have an extension, it became invalid as soon as you stopped at ABAC, thus making you currently on overstay.

Lite Beer and Lopburi will be here soon to give you better and probably more accurate information.

[Mario2008]

TU is a prsume Thammasat University, a very big name. Coming from a University going to another university immigration might be willing to cancel your permisison to stay based on ABAC and grant you a new extension of stay based on TU (for a fee of 1,900 baht).

When you finish ABAC and cancel your permission to stay you should have the paperwork from TU with you to apply based on your new study.

There is no guarantee, but with the help of TU you might certainly succeed in avoiding a visa run.

[lopburi3]

On ending the reason for your extension of stay you have to visit immigration that day to cancel your extension and leave within 24 hours unless you apply for extension again. If you do that you will have 7 days to remain/convert to new school extension. Depending on obtaining paperwork from new school you may have to depart to obtain a new entry if it can not be done in that period.

[beano2274]

The question is when did you finish studying at ABAC, and when will you start at TU?

Get the paperwork from TU before finishing at ABAC and you might be okay, reading the posts from the gurus above

[CWMcMurray]

Yes Beano is correct...

You need to take care of the switch over before you stop studying at ABAC

You will need a letter from ABAC stating you status as a current student to prove to immigration that you current extension is still valid

And a letter from TU advising that you have been accepted to study and the date you will be starting

If you wait until after leaving ABAC, then not possible, as your extension will no longer be valid and can not then extend again, so would need to leave the country and get a new ED visa at regional embassy

[Tahmid]

Thank you all for the help. To add a bit more,

Well, officially I have not left ABAC yet, I have just informally informed one of the stuff members that I maybe doing so. So I'm still a student there. And I also have received my Letter of Acceptance from TU as well as my ID no. and such and such, making me an official student there.

So come Monday, what should my course of Action be? Go directly to the immigration office and apply for a new visa? Or do I need to apply for a new extension? And what sort of documents would I need to carry with me?

And, the people at the immigration offices help desk..are they of any help or would they prefer to just screw me over normally?

Sorry for all the troubling inquires, didn't figure I'd need to face this kinda issues until my friend told me I might need to *sigh*

[CWMcMurray]

You need to go to ABAC and request a letter confirming your status as a current student.

This normally means filling out a piece is paper and paying a nominal fee ( it was 50 thb) at the Thai uni that I previously attended and took them 3 business days to process before I could go pick it up

Then go to TU admissions and advise them that you need a letter to bring to immigration to extend you ED visa

It is likely that they will need copies of your passport and current visa an may take them a bit of time to draft. Thai UNI that I attended, asked us to request 15 days before we planned to go to immigration but normally took them about 5 days to do.

Once you have both of these, go to immigration and change your extension

[Tahmid]

Thanks a lot for the advice CWMcMurray :D And everyone else as well :D

Once I get the thing done, I'll followup to this for future reference :D

[Tahmid]

Ok so this a mere follow up for other's reference,

I got info from two sides, from the Immigration Office of Bangkok and via my university, both were pretty much the same.

So this is what I am told, if one wishes to change university first of all he needs to have a letter from the old university stating release and a letter from new university stating acceptance and full studentship. Then the release letter needs to be taken to immigration office from where the visa for the previous university was issued and have it cancelled. Then reapply for a new one under the new university.

Now the one problem that's there is if the two universities are located at different places. Like for me, ABAC is in Bangkok and TU is in Pathum Thani. So I have to cancel the visa in Chang Wattana and apply for the new visa in Sam Khok.

TU will let me know of any other extra documents I will for this next week, so might update again.

One little interesting thing I was told by TU is that, if I have an extension(which I do) there might not be a need to do both of these things on the very same day. But its not entirely certain. Can anyone conform this? Would save a hella amount of trouble.

And yeah, as everyone before said and I have been told of this by the Immigration Office aswell, get the letter from new university before the one from the old university. Otherwise it'll most likely end up into a visa run.

Ohh and another question, can someone tell me how to get to Sam Khok from Chang Wattana or Mo Chit, by bus or some other public transport(have to travel cheap)??

[lopburi3]

Your TU information sounds reversed on the extension subject as that is when it has to be done the same day as the extension ends immediately (or during an extension application) - if you were on a normal 90 day visa entry there would not be any time issue as that would not end with end of school. What you may be able to do is apply for extension at Chiang Watanna after you cancel to get 7 days extra but that would require an extra 1,900 baht payment. Believe you should try to do same day.

Sorry have no idea on public transport.

[CWMcMurray]

Needing to use too different immigration offices does complicate things a bit

May be a good idea to pay the extra 1900 thb for 7 day extension at Chaeng Wattana just in case you can not get everything done in 1 day or if at the last second you get a request for any additional docs from Immigration for extending for TU

You may not actually end up needing it on the end if things go smoothly, but may be worth it of any problems

[ubonjoe]

Where you live should determine which immigration office you use not where the university is located I would think. That is how it is for other types of extensions.

If you live in Bangkok you should still be able to do your extension there.

[Tahmid]

Thanks a lot for the advice Lopburi3 and CWMcMurray

Given the fact that I have absolutely no idea how to get to Sam Khok and I doubt the university could provide some assistance to get there and I'm on an extension not a normal visa(I'll trust lopburi's knowledge over TU's), I think I might do the 7 days extension and figure out how to take things without any time pressure(or panic stores xD).

And ubonjoe, I had asked the Immigration office something similar but not quite along that same line. They still insisted to do it from Pathum Thani. Probably, if what you say is right then their reasoning was something like, that since being a student he/she must move in close to the university for comfort. Cause I can tell you something, I am dying to move to TU. Travelling 80km+80km everyday is straight up deadly, especially with classes from 7am till 6pm :'( :'(

Edit: Ohh and Lopburi, even if not with a public transport how do I get there? Like with a taxi what do I say? Got it.

[lopburi3]

Pathum Thani Immigration Office

Last Updated by Maestro on Dec 26, 2011

138 Mu 9

Tambon Bang Toei

Amphoe Sam Khok

Pathum Thani 12160

Phone: 02- 5931991

Service Area: Phatum Thani Province

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138 หมู่ที่ 9

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จ.ปทุมธานี 12160

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=214923170432669428134.000465f03d84d91df360b&t=h&z=6

[CWMcMurray]

So OP... How did things go? Any update?