Q1027. Must academic records from private universities or international schools be verified by MHESI prior to MFA submission?

Answered by the NYC Visa & Translation legalization desk

Private universities and international schools should not be treated as one category for authentication. A Thai private university generally belongs to the higher-education framework associated with MHESI; an international school providing basic education generally follows a different education-authority route. First identify the institution’s licensing authority and who actually awarded the qualification. Ask the registrar and MFA which verification chain applies to that specific record. Obtain the required signed originals or certified records, complete any prescribed education-authority verification, and prepare the required translation. A common pitfall is sending an overseas-awarded qualification to MHESI merely because teaching occurred in Thailand; authentication may need to begin in the issuing country. Verify the route with the relevant education authority and MFA before filing.