Below are few questions that most of students wondering and wanted to find out. However, for further questions and information related to a particular topic please contact LSAV vice-president.

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1. After your passport has expired for a while, can you still be able to renew it?

Well, you will have to renew it anyway. I think you can but just need to be fast. Just try and keep your fingers cross and hopefully there will be no problems and no extra charges.

2. What to do to renew your passport or get a new one from the Lao Embassy in Canberra?

First you need to obtain an application form (which can be downloaded via LSAV website or optain it from the LSAV president). Then fill in your detail as required and read the self-instructions in the form.

As said in the form, you need to fill in 3 copies of the application form. The fee for a new passport is AU$50 while the one for renewing or updating your exiting passport is AU$30. Total of five of your passport photos are also required.

Next step you will need a certification letter from the LSAV president to certify that you are a member of the Lao Student Association in Victoria. LSAV letters will be issued for LSAV members only. This letter is required by the Lao Embassy in Canberra as an enclosed document for the passport renewal application. You need to obtain this letter directly from the LSAV president or vice president and it is not available in LSAV web site, as a signature is required.

Then please send them with your passport to the Lao Embassy in Canberra at the address below:

Embassy of the Lao PDR
1 Dalman Crescent, O'Malley, ACT 2606
Canberra
Phone: (02) 62864595, Fax: (02) 6290 1910

Please note that you need to send also a new envelope with stamps so that the Embassy will send your passport back when it is done. This process may take about 2 weeks.

3. What should I do when I'm about to return home?

There are some articles written by LSAV senior member about the returning home check list. The full article can be found here.

4. What forms to be filled in when you have finished your study term and are about to go back to Laos?

When you are about to go back home as you have finish your study, you need two forms of the Lao Embassy in Canberra to fill in. You can obtain your copies from me or other members that have it, or hopefully they will be available in a soon future on the LSAV web site as well. Then fill in and send them to the Lao Embassy (the address mentioned previously).

The first form is "Lao Student Transfer" form. This is for the Lao Embassy to certify that you are a Lao student that has finished studying in Australia. The second form is for you to list things that you are bring home. This form will help you with the custom or tax matters when you get back in Laos. You will also need the certifying LSAV letter (as well as in the first question).

5. Will you be able to avoid custom or tax for your stuff (especially electrical stuff) that you are bringing to Laos when finishing your course?

Unfortunately the answer is no, according to Mr. Somsack, Lao Embassy official. However, with the two forms mentioned in the previous question (Q2 above), that are about bring student used stuff back home, they will assist you with the custom and probably reduce the tax fee down appropriately for oversea students coming back home and depend on what sorts of your stuff.

Most students are planning to their personal computers, TV's and other electrical stuff back home to Laos. Electrical stuff will be definitely taxed, but with the two certifying forms signed by the Lao Embassy (mentioned above), you well have some special offers or considerations for less tax fee.