Going For My First Visa Run, Any Suggestions?

[Tahmid]

So because I changed universities[was studing in ABAC, now moving to Thammasat] and a little complication that came up with cancelling my ABAC visa, I'll be making my first visa run to get a new Non-Im "ED" visa (all by myself). I was thinking of going to Savvanakhet, Laos tomorrow evening and returning by Friday whenever. I plan on following the guidelines at http://migrationology.com/2011/05/how-to-get-a-thai-visa-in-savannakhet-laos/ and http://www.thaivisa.com/border-run/savannakhet-visa-run.html [<-- a bit too old imo] sites.

As for the documents, I will take with me my passport, photocopies of all pages of my passport, acceptance letter from university, visa letter from university and bunch of pictures. Also a print out of the instructions on the previously mentioned sites.

Also, as I am a Bangladeshi passport holder I can't get a visa on arrival and so will get a express visa from the Laos Embassy tomorrow morning.

I don't want to go to Vientiane cause too many goes there apparently, and also ABAC told me it was easier at Savvanakhet and takes less time.

So that's pretty much what I plan to do right now. But could someone give me some sort of advice that could make the who thing a bit easier and comfortable? It'll be most helpful, since I'm a complete newbie at this I'm seriously tensed...kinda scared too xD So any advice will be most awesome!!

[visarunner]

You need to make sure that the embassy or consulate you plan to visit will issue you a visa.

In case they refuse you you can not go back to Thailand unless you have a re-entry.

[Tahmid]

You need to make sure that the embassy or consulate you plan to visit will issue you a visa.

In case they refuse you you can not go back to Thailand unless you have a re-entry.

There has been a few people saying to have received Non-Im Ed visa from Savvanakhet before, there's a link to it in this forum..I'll see if I can find it again. Would I still need to reconform with them? Plus it's Thammasat University(a top government uni.), I think that should count for something when they check..right?? Plus if they reject a ED visa, I could still get a Tourist visa to get in and later change it to "ED", I know that ABAC does it for it's tourist visa holding students, so I should be able to as well right?

[visarunner]

You are from Bangladesh, this changes a lot. In case they reject you , you can not apply for Tourist .

I see that you always refer to others.

Pls check by yourself to be 100% sure.

Or let your University check for you.

I would say, that The Embassy in Vientiane might have the authority to issue visa to Bangladeshi, but please make sure.

[lopburi3]

As said above I would not travel to Laos for a visa without confirmation that they can issue as transport from there would be very limited if you can not return to Thailand (and you would not be able to return without a visa). Normally visas are not available to your passport country unless you are a resident. Normal procedure would be to return to Dhaka to obtain such a visa if it can not be obtained inside Thailand. Have you checked with immigration and confirmed you must leave? Normally such schools can obtain without the need for travel. But suspect that is what you mean with the complication with the ABAC visa?

[Tahmid]

Ok, this just got complicated then :S to a total u-turn from the original thread :S Thanks a lot for this heads up visarunner and lopburi. I'd been screwed otherwise O_O

Well to answer lopburi's last question, the complication is mainly that in a normal procedure abac needs to give me a letter to cancel their visa then I reapply @ pathum thani. But too sum it all up, if abac cancel's my visa they are are gonna show it as such that I've overstayed cause of not enrolling this semester[contradictory of what they informed before, which is why I didn't know about this] and I'll need to pay a hefty fine. But also according to them if I leave Thailand and reapply it wouldn't be as such, since the visa is still valid. So they suggested a visa run, Laos or Cambodia. <- That is the complication.

Secondly, no I didn't ask immigration...I don't think that'd be a good idea yet. But now that this is the case I might need to ask the university for advice/workabout.

Wanted to avoid going back to Dhaka and reapply cause of the hassle and extra cost.

My luck is going sooo rotten with this university change thing!!! *sigh*

[lopburi3]

Can you perhaps attend another semester at ABAC to allow end of that school and enrollment at new school to be the same time (which should allow a new extension school as an option without a new visa entry)?

[Tahmid]

Can you perhaps attend another semester at ABAC to allow end of that school and enrollment at new school to be the same time (which should allow a new extension school as an option without a new visa entry)?

I think I could, but then I might as well go back to Dhaka and get a new one. Cause I'd kinda have to do classes at both places to keep my enrolment intact I think(a similar scenario like dating two girls at once), which would be a huge issue cause of the different province campuses. If both were in Bangkok, might have considered. And no, I can't take a semester off of TU cause it's a fixed course program; I'd be losing a whole year if I did that.

[ubonjoe]

Immigration will not cancel the extension until they are notified. The University cannot cancel it themselves.

The overstay is 500 baht per day. You may have to get a 7 day extension in order to do the change over to the new immigration office.