Job Discussion Forums

[longdistancewalker]

Do schools hiring a teacher for a year pay for the work permit? Do some and not others?

My previous understanding was that the teacher does all the footwork to get the permit and the school pays for the permit. Now I'm unsure who pays.

Any knowledge on this?

Thanks

[inhanoi]

you're asking two different questions, which is probably why you aren't getting a clear answer.

MOST reputable schools pay for the WP. However, you are required to produce the required documents. For ex, no school is going to get a criminal background check for you, or get your documents notarized, that's your "legwork." Most reputable schools WILL run your paperwork through the appropriate channels to get the WP processed, and the school will pay the costs.
It all comes down to working for a reputable school. Which means having the required docs.

[longdistancewalker]

Thank you for your answer.

When a school that seems honest and is reputable tells me to pay for the WP


A school offered me a part time position at $18us/hr to teach kindergarten. They told me they'd support me getting the WP. I pay, and do the organizing of the visa, they sanction the process. I don't mind doing the footwork, I know its going to be annoying but I want to avoid paying for the visa.

I'm planning to get a full time position with another school.

Have you ever made it a condition or do you know if its practiced that the school pay for a WP if you choose to work there part time?

[1st Sgt Welsh]

My understanding is that to be eligible to apply for a work permit the school has to guarantee a minimum of 10 hours per week. However, the rules may have changed or I may be misinformed. Anyway just thought I should mention it. Good luck!

[bludevil96]

[LettersAthruZ]

[inhanoi]

A-Z, your reply is particularly unhelpful to the OP and your sarcasm is potentially confusing for someone new to this board or new to Vietnam.

Also, just an aside: "North Viet Nam" no longer exists as a political entity. I assume you are referring to "northern Viet Nam" or "north Viet Nam" with no capitalization.

OP, your question and your follow-up are very vague and contradictory, making it very difficult to provide you with information. I never would have offered my reply had I known you were working for the school part time.

bluedevil, calm down. I said MOST schools, and it's not an unreasonable expectation. And I did not say that a company or school is dishonest if they do not cover the WP costs. Please read more carefully before making accusations like that.

[kurtz]

[Riding One]

[teacherkev]

My two pennies worth.
I work on a PT basis for a language school, I have the required documents (degree and background check, all hoops jumped through) health check and CELTA cert. These were done at my cost. The company is processing the WP for me, though i cover the expenses for doing so. This is reimbursed upon me honouring the agreed commitment period with the company.

I'm sure there is no one size fits all policy for the WP process. You may have to take a leap of faith with the school you work for.
Best.

[LettersAthruZ]

Two of the Happiness Triumvirate have spoken.....all we need is The Discredited One to check in and the eternal dispute of how Work Permits actually ARE obtained will be sealed.....with all dissenting voices quashed!

[kurtz]

Life for some of us isn't that bad here, in fact, it's quite enjoyable. I'm sorry if that concept is above you. Feel free to continue with your hysterical ramblings for the entertainment of this branch

[VietCanada]

I think that true international schools looking for teachers with experience teaching in their own country and perhaps corporate entities would organize and pay for the whole deal but the rest is pot luck.

Of course you should have legitimate docs. My experiences have varied from a pseudo-school which required teachers to do the leg work and pay the fees and then halted the process at the point where they have to produce docs and pay fees to smart schools that give you all the info and support you need up to the point where they complete the process and produce the permit.

One school didn't have the proof that they had looked for locals to do the job and were surprised about that fact. Another school was linked to an on-line TEFL to teachers without it and offers support and info all along until they finish the process.

Schools that don't even bring it up or lamely suggest you get one. Schools that ask if you have one from another school. Schools that offer advances to cover the cost of getting it.

If you are not a certified teacher with teaching experience in your own country and applying for a teaching position at a true international school or perhaps a corporate entity then it's up to you to figure it out and find a school that is capable and willing to take all your docs and get you a work permit. I think the WP people don't appreciate anyone other than a lawyer or maybe a school official showing up to finish the process. But perhaps some posters here have done that part without trouble.

[sigmoid]

Stricter regulations have no effect other than to create a EFL teacher shortage, jobs for bureaucrats and revenue for the state.

[inhanoi]

How does a teacher shortage (fewer taxes paid, fewer visa applications and less WP revenue) help "create revenue" for the state?