Job Discussion Forums

Potters · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 10

Well, according to the Thai officials in Vientiene, my degree, master's and CELTA qualification, along with an invitation from the school (copy of my contract) is not suffcient enough for a non Immigrant B visa. They say i have to provide a Teacher's licence (something that is issued by the Ministry of Education).

When were teacher's notified about this change in policy? Is any of this true? Do you have to have a teacher's licence to now teach in Thailand? Can i appeal or ask to see his superior, or is it, as i imagine, a complete waste of time and i'd better just leave and go to Malaysia instead?

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Actually the info is no really correct. You don't have to have a TL (I've bolded what they're ob about) rather this is what you need (from someone that got a Non-imm B from there just before Crimbo):

This information is for a private school.
The applicant needs to supply:1.Photocopy of all the pages of passport(including the latest Thai exit,Laos visa and Laos entry).Thailand much cheaper than Laos for photocopyng!
2.Two passport photos.Colour.
3.Degree certificate
4.TEFL certificate.(I wasn't asked for 3&4 but others have been.
The school needs to supply: 1.Employment contract
2.Letter confirming employment contract.
3.Letter stating that the school are actively communicating with the Ministry of Education about getting a teachers licence.
or a letter from the Ministry of Education confirming the above.The second option is safer.
4.Photocopy of school business licence
5.Photocopy of school license to employ foreign teachers
6.Photocopy of schols managing directors ID card
7.Photocopy of school owners ID card.
That's it folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!If you have any problems get the school to phone the Embassy and then wait for the school to fax through any additional items requested by the Embassy.
The cost of a single entry three month non B is 2000 baht.Put application in Day 1
am,get back Day 2 pm.

I made two mistakes this morning in the items that the school should provide:
Item 6 should read Managing Directors licence.
Item 7 should read School Owners licence.

Always have your school check before you go (if no one has been recently).

Also FYI Penang is a bit of a nightmare as well at the moment. I'd go for Singapore personally.

Potters · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 10

Thanks for the info. The only information the school gave me and said i needed was the invitation and copy of the contract. Obviously this is not the case, although i not totally convinced that the Thai officials aren't just being difficult and as you stated they don't even know what they SHOULD be asking for / requesting.

Obviously, they are now closed, so there is nothing i can do... i'll just have to get the tourist visa and come again and waste another weekend.. oh well.. mai ben rai! Evil or Very Mad

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

You should take into consideration that it is possible to convert a 60-day visa into a 90-day non-immigrant B visa in Bangkok once a person has the proper paperwork from their school.

I'm sure there are hundreds of people who will tell you that this is inaccurate and I don't know if it will work in your case, but I have personally had it done twice, the most recent time being January 2005.

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

^ Indeed, although you need similar paperwork as you would to get the Non-imm B, but doable as you say!

I've got a link to the Imm site where it tells you what to do, if anyone wants it....let me know.

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

^ If you've had previous Non-imm Bs in your pasport they want you to have a WP3 form (can link if need be).

Still even if I'd not had a Non-imm B before I'd still check.

They're good for triple tourists though and multi O's if you're married to a Thai.

Sfumato · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 14

To get a non-imm B visa all you have to do is show up at the Thai embassy in DC with a "letter" (legit, or you can be creative and make up a business) and pay your $125 bucks. You might want to pay the extra for the overnight, I went on a Thursday and had my passport the next morning.

When the Mailman pulled in Friday and handed me the Fedex I was certain it was because Id been denied, but I opened it up to find a big fat stamp and .49 cents change in an envelope.

I have a Non-imm B visa for one year with multiple entries.

This is true, Kent can confirm.... Wink

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

^ I can indeed confirm Sfumato's amazing claim.

However, please be advised that a notarized confirmation will

cost ya 5 bucks, 200 Thai Baht or a 6-pack of ice cold Chang Beer !

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Yeah it's a doddle in Western countries...I know some where you don't even have to turn up Wink

Sfumato · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 14

T_Lanc · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 63 Location: China