1. When was Bangkok Bank's Educational Advisory  Section founded and what can it do for customers?
Bangkok Bank's Educational Advisory Service Section was founded in 1967. It gives free information on studying abroad, universities and accommodation for students.

2. If I want to go on studying in the United States, what should I do?

• If you intend to take only a language course, you do not have to sit for a TOEFL test. You can directly contact the university, apply and send the application fee and reference letter indicating financial status in US dollars to the university.
• If you intend to apply for a bachelor's degree, you must have a TOEFL score of 173-213.
• If you intend to apply for a master's degree, you must have a TOEFL score of at least 213. The university also may require you to submit scores on GMAT or GRE tests.

3. What will be the total expenses?
The approximate annual cost for tuition, accommodation and personal expenses is equivalent to about 975,000-2,000,000 Bt per year.

4. Which country should I go to?
You should study the information about the educational system, curriculum, and expenses of several countries.

5. How will my parents send me money?
Parents can send money to you by

• Buying a bank draft and sending it via air mail.
• Transferring money to your account. In doing so, you have to inform your parents of your bank's name and address, account number and account name.

6. How much should I prepare for pocket money?
You should consider from the amount suggested in I-20 and bring enough amount of money for the first three months. After that, you can ask your parents to transfer funds to you. You can take your pocket money as drafts, traveler's cheques or cash.

7. Should I take a credit card with me?
You can apply for a supplementary card to be used in an emergency. An ATM card, such as Bualuang Premier or Be1st card, is another important card for emergencies while living abroad.

8. I have heard that it is very difficult to obtain a Visa from the United States. What should I do?
You should show the official letter of acceptance from your university, your parents' bank statement together with the account which can prove financial support for the minimum of one year of study and other evidence showing that your parents can continue supporting you throughout your study abroad. In case of a guarantor, you have to state the relationship between you and your guarantor, and why he/she is willing to support you. Furthermore, you must have a clear study plan and aim. If you have only the letter of acceptance from a language school, you should clearly explain what you intend to do after finishing your language course, such as going on for a master's degree.

9. If I have to wait for longer than one month for the student's visa interview date, what should I do to hasten the date?

• You can fill in the "Evisa DS 156" form (the first page of which has a bar code) via this website http://evisaforms.state.gov/ . Print the page of the DS 156 form which has the bar code, and submit together with DS 157, DS 158 forms and other documents.

The Embassy will consider each student's needs based on the starting date of the semester. You may be called for an interview on an earlier date. Therefore, you should give your phone number to the Embassy and not travel any place far from Bangkok.

10. I have heard that people who wish to go to the United States have to pay for Sevis fee. What is it?
Sevis fee is the US $100 administrative fee that international students have to pay in addition to the visa fee of US $100 paid at a post office.

10.1 Where can I pay the Sevis fee?
You can pay for Sevis fee by

• Pay through http://www.fmjfee.com/. You have to fill in an I-901 form and pay by debiting from Visa Master or American Express cards.
• Download I-901 form at http://www.fmjfee.com/, and buy a draft of 100 USD payable to "The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement"

Address (for express delivery): I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee 1005 Convention Plaza St. Louis, MO 63101 USA
Normal address: I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee PO Box 970020 St. Louis, MO 63197-0020

10.2 Who has to pay the Sevis Fee?
Newly admitted students and students in exchange programs who are going to study in the United States as well as those who hold a student visa but return to Thailand longer than five months and would like to go back to the United States.

10.3 If I receive an I-20 from more than one university, how many times do I have to pay the Sevis Fee?
You have to pay the US $100 fee only once. If you transfer to another university that is not the same one as on the I-901 form, you can transfer the payment to the new university. If you quit one university, you have to bring a copy of the I-20 with a copy of the receipt and submit it to the new university.

10.4 Does Sevis Fee have an expired date?
Yes. It will be expired after one year. (see more details at www.ice.gov/sevis)

11. If I want to go to Australia or England, which test should I take--TOEFL or IELTS?
Both tests are acceptable. However, Australian and British institutions may prefer non-native English speakers to take the IELTS test. You should check to see what the school you want to attend requires. Both tests are offered several times a year at several cities in Thailand.

• If you want to take the TOEFL test, visit www.ets.org/toefl or call (66)0-2652-0653 and press 0.
• If you want to take the IELTS test, visit http://www.ielts.org/ or call the British Council in Bangkok at (66) 2-611-6830 or IDP at (66) 0-2231-0531-3.