My wife is currently traveling to Laos to apply for a single entry tourist visa. She has been in Thailand studying Thai language on an education visa.

Now (on the road to Laos) she has been informed that a letter from her latest school is required in order to apply for the tourist visa(!)

Is this an actual requirement from the Thai embassy in Vientiane, where she is heading?

If yes, do they accept anything but original documents? (we managed to get hold of a representative from her school who promised to fax the letter to her hotel)

Cant see the need of any letter. She is just applying a tourist visa, Ed visa irrelevant.

This is probably a mix-up.

At some border crossings they now ask to see a letter from the school regarding last day of study before being allowed to leave. The consulate in Laos itself does not ask for a letter from the school in order to issue a visa.

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Cant see the need of any letter. She is just applying a tourist visa, Ed visa irrelevant.

Exactly our thinking. The ed visa should have no relevance for the tourist visa.

This is probably a mix-up.

At some border crossings they now ask to see a letter from the school regarding last day of study before being allowed to leave. The consulate in Laos itself does not ask for a letter from the school in order to issue a visa.

Is there any information if this applies to the main border crossing straight into Vientiane? I believe it is goes from Nong Khai over the bridge (where a change of bus is required over the bridge).

Thanks both of you, highly appreciate the help.

Immigration at the bridge in Nong Kai is the only crossing reported as wanting a letter from the school to cancel a valid extension of stay for attending school.

Immigration at the bridge in Nong Kai is the only crossing reported as wanting a letter from the school to cancel a valid extension of stay for attending school.

Thanks Joe. I managed to get her the necessary paper work by fax this a.m. So everything is sorted.

Glad she got sorted,

The letter from the School does seem to be requirement at Nong Kai as a friend of mine had a similar experience there in November, I believe he had to get a letter faxed from his school to say he had finished his Ed course.