Is it safer to go to Savannakhet rather than Vientiane for a student visa application?

Sep 13, 2019
5 years ago
Martin **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm doing a student visa this month. Was planning on going to Vientiane but the girl who does my visa suggested to go to savvanakhet. Is it much safer to go there to get the visa approved? Did you guys hear some people getting refused in Vientiane recently? The trip from chiang Mai to savannakhet seems like such a pain and gets me depressed just to think about it.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user inquires about the safety and reliability of obtaining a student visa in Savannakhet compared to Vientiane, expressing concerns about the recent visa refusals in Vientiane and the lengthy travel involved. Community responses suggest that Vientiane is generally safe for first-time applicants, but caution is advised for second-time applicants due to strict regulations. Savannakhet is mentioned as a fast and reliable option.
John *********
I was told by a trusted source that you can go to Vientiane for your second student visa IF it's been more than 365 days since your last ED visa was issued.

There are only 360 days in a "visa year" (90 + 90 + 90 + 90). If you were to apply for your second visa in Vientiane immediately coming off your previous one you would be rejected (360 < 365).

Please let us know where you go and how it works out. Safe travels.
John *********
I read the above comments and I understood it that there was a volunteer visa, then some tourist visas and possibly exempt entries, and now currently on a tourist visa.

So this would be first student visa (but not first Non-Imm type visa for OP). And either way, it's been over a year since the issuance of a Non-Imm visa.

In summary, I think it is safe to go to Vientiane based on OP's history. I don't always think the schools know best. They are getting their intel (at least it appears to me) from their students. And they'd have to be mindful of everyone's visa history, recent history in Thailand, etc in order to accurately give visa approval advice. As well as deal in a volume of incoming students. A report from months ago is not the same as one from this past week or two.
Li ****
@John ********
I've heard of that but I heard the fact that it's 2nd ed visa is risky. However, OP first visa was volunteer.
Oliver *******************
Suvanaket is good place to go and fast
Li ****
Is this your first or second student visa? If it's your first, Vientiane is safe to go. If it's your 2nd, I suggest not.
Martin **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Troy Martin any idea what to do if they refuse me in vientiane? Travel to savannakhet and try a tourist Visa there?
Li ****
It's not too bad. It's a luck thing.
Baptiste ********
Time to go back to your country my friend... Ça va devenir très compliqué avec ton historique...
Li ****
@Martin *************
I would ask them if Vientiane is OK to go given your stamp histories.
Martin **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Li ***
not pro language. It's ACL or something like that. visa was 15k
Li ****
@Martin *************
I hear you. Are you with pro language? Most embassies are cracking down on Ed visas now. Vietnam is a no no.
Martin **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Li ***
i'm on a tourist visa right now. I'm applying for a chinese language visa. In other groups, 4 people already told me to avoid savannakhet. I'm confused
Li ****
@Martin *************
is hard to say but try to listen to what your school suggests. What kind of ed visa are you on? Vientiane has tightened up a lot.
Martin **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Li ***
my recent ones are 3 tourists visas + 2 visa runs and before that I was on a volunteer visa.
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