Job Discussion Forums

The Boz · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 37 Location: Here and There

Hi, I'm planning to come to Thailand and look for work around the 10th of December, but I have no idea as to what I need to do beforehand. Should I expect to be able to find a job pretty easily around December? What kind of passport and visa issues to I need to take care of before arriving in Thailand (I'm an American). One last question - I've heard that southern Thailand is pretty unsafe to teach in. How bad is it? Should I just avoid it altogether? Thanks for all of your help.

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Sawadee "E"

Sorry nobody answered you yet!

Parts of southern Thailand are a bit hot at the moment, particularly Pattani Province. I would also avoid Narathiwat and Yala at the moment. There have been some fairly nasty attacks and fighting in these areas over the past few months.

In December you can find a job, but it's probably not the best time of the year to be job-hunting due to the holidays. Make some contacts over the internet and try to arrange a few interviews before you arrive, if possible.

I arrived here on the 24th of January and still found lots of positions to choose from, so don't worry too much about that.

Regarding visas: The very best you could hope for is a non-immigrant "B" visa. Without a sponsoring employer, that may be difficult, even from the USA. If you can't get the non-imm "B", your second best bet would be a 90-day tourist visa, which is easy to get if you're in the USA. With that, you'd have plenty of time to land a job ... and then make further arrangements with your new employer to apply for the non-imm "B", which is necessary to obtain a teacher's license (TL) and work permit (WP), if you decide to go that route.

Some teachers actually never go that far, and choose instead to remain here by extending their non-imm "B" every 3 months. Be aware that working without a WP is technically illegal, but that doesn't seem to stop people from doing it.

If you arrive in Bangkok without a visa, you'll only get a 30-day tourist visa at the airport. (which can also be extended by doing visa-runs to the Cambodian border) As an example of the kinds of services available for this, you can have a look at this link: http://www.vipvisabus.com/ These guys are a bit expensive, but it looks like fun! The round-trip price includes: buffet lunch, Cambodian Visa, free beer voucher & DVD movies.

Hope that helps a little. Cool

PS: Dave's member kenkannif may have more advice for you regarding visas. Earth to kenkannif - Come in kenkannif?

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Roger that Kent, Ken to Earth, Ken to Earth...nannoo nannoo!

It's a 60 day tourist Visa with the option of extending it by 30 days (at Imm for 1,900 Baht) < Sorry to be pedantic!

PM me and I'll tell you how (pretty easily) to get a long term Visa for Thailand BEFORE you leave the US! I will charge you a bottle of Dr. Pepper though, you have been warned! Wink

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Hello kenkannif:

Thanks for jumping in here. Razz

This visa stuff gives me a royal headache.

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Sawadee kenkannif:

Thanks for the additional visa details & corrections --- and the info on Jack's Golf.

In fact, I just found their website, which I'll repost on The Master Index:

http://www.jackgolf.com/eng/visaService/cambodia.asp (Bangkok to Cambodia visa-run / Jack's Golf International)

The link below might be useful for people living in Chiang Mai:

http://www.asiatradingonline.com/visasruns.htm (Chiang Mai to Mae Sai visa-run / Asia Trading Post Online)

Take care, mate! Mr. Green

Roger, out.

The Boz · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 37 Location: Here and There

sorry for taking so long to say this, but thanks for all of your help. i really appreciate the links, advice, etc. i do have one more question about the south though - i really don't want to do bangkok and i was thinking about trang. is trang one of the higher risk southern areas or might it be safe? once again, thanks for all the help. take care

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

I think Trang would be pretty cool. It is not (to my knowledge) in the danger zone.

It's also somewhat overlooked by the masses of tourists, so it might be a really interesting place to be! Razz

What the TEFL market there looks like, I have no idea. Shocked

Others may have some input for you on that.

JosephP · Joined: 13 May 2003 Posts: 445

Muslims seem to give Americans the willies. New kind of boogeyman I guess. I taught at a Rajabhat in the south and I'd say at least 40% of my students are Muslim. I had no problems whatsoever other than what one would find anywhere in the Kingdom such as classroom overcrowding, mismanagement, low pay, and so on. Even if my Muslim students harboured any thoughts that I was an infidel and a tool of the Great Satan, they certainly remained not only civil, but unfailingly polite and even firty and fun in the way that Thais excel at.

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Hi JosephP:

No 'willies' on my end, except maybe Free Willy. Mr. Green

I agree with what you've said.

Spent a wonderful year in Istanbul and had absolutely no problems with Islam, or its followers. Spent several years in The Philippines, and had no problems with Muslims there either.

The simple truth is: We have an idiot in the White House who appointed another idiot as Secretary of Defense. To ignore the fact that we've become targets (in certain places) would be foolish.

I wish it weren't so. Embarassed