Can a thia citizen on a visitor's visa convert that to a student visa while remaining in the US?

Question

What must be done? Are there complications? Will he have to leave the country and return to Thailand and apply? Does he have to relinquish his visitor's visa in the meantime or if he gets the student's visa?

Answer 1

At least you could do this a few years ago.  I did it myself.  I came as a tourist, decided to go to school. I am sure the school helped me with the paperwork.  I had to mail immigration my passport and they mailed it back to me later with the student visa in it.

Have him talk to his school about this.  I am sure they've had a foreign student before.