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primetime
Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 4 Location: chapel hill
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:12 pm Post subject: Documents for Work Permit |
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I understand that a university degree is required for a work permit in Thailand. Is the actual original document needed or would a copy suffice? Would a notarized copy of my college transcript be enough if it shows I've completed all courses as well as earned a BA? I ask this because the actual original document from my university is rather large (much larger than a standard 8x11 inch piece of paper) and would be pretty cumbersome to travel with. It would also be hard not to damage it.
I don't have a TEFL certification and I've seen conflicting answers on if this is needed to work legally. Can someone tell me for sure?
Thanks in advance for any help. |
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kenkannif
Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 7:37 am Post subject: |
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No one can help you for sure, as no one knows what is required for sure.
I'd bring your originals just to be certain as it depends on who you work for etc. and also in some cases what you're teaching and/or what they're claiming you're teaching.
Some schools seem to want you to have a TEFL if your degree is unrelated to teaching, and the MoE seems to sometimes require them, and sometimes not.
Fun isn't it? |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:38 am Post subject: |
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In my experience your employer will want to see your orginal degree and a xerox copy is provided by them for the Immigration Dept. & the Ministry of Labor.
Have you contacted your school [UNC?] to see if they can provide you with a more modest-sized version of your degree that can be more readily carried overseas? I think the transcripts alone will not be enough, but may be required as well. I have mine and they have been photocopied on occasion.
You don't need a TEFl certification to work legally, but as Ken says, it depends on the school. I don't have one and have had a work permit for years. |
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Sheep-Goats
Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:33 pm Post subject: |
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You should absolutely bring the original degree, sorry about that. The TEFL certification is NOT necessary for any leaglity in Thailand (the MoE grumbles about them sometimes, but I doubt there's an actual policy about that there), but if you don't bring the original certificate your prospective employer might not believe that you have one! Thailand still loves to see those sheepskins.
About whether you "need" the original or not -- for state run schools the work permit process is quite streamlined and easy, basically a rubber stamp for anyone working for a state school. For most private schools, however, you'll get the utmost amount of retarded scrutiny about your degree -- I had objections rasised about mine because there wasn't any colored ink on the degree (how tacky would that be?)! Even if the job you're applying for now is at a state school, what happens in a few months if you want to quit, or get fired, and decide to try for a private? Having your originals keeps you safe and your options open -- don't let your school "keep them for you" though. You'd be suprised the schools that think that's an okey dokey thing to do.
Bring: 1) Original degree, 2) Original TEFL, 3) Original official transcript at least. I also have the original copies of all of my letters of reference, student reccomendations, some samples of past student evaluations, and since I've worked in Thailand and already got it my original Thai National Teaching licence (a sheet of A4 paper with my photo glued onto it and some Thai writing that took months to get). I keep all of these (except my degree -- it has a leather binding) in what's called a "display book," which is a folder with fixed plastic sleeves in it and a hardish cover. I keep this display book and my degree inside of a plastic envelope to protect against spills and even threw in a bag of dessicate that fell out of some candy I was eating in there to deal with moisture problems / for voodoo reasons.
Anyway, it's not that much to bring and it'll be as safe with you as it would at home -- why wouldn't you bring those things? If you're planning to travel before looking for work you'll find a lot of places to store a bag or box for you for a nominal fee in a fairly secure location (I kept some stuff above Shoshanna Restraunt near Khao San for a month one time).
I also reccomend bringing your driver's licence, which can help you with various driving / embassy stuff. |
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primetime
Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 4 Location: chapel hill
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you, everyone, for the input. It is much appreciated. |
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gulam2
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 137
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Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 6:41 am Post subject: Teachers License - Work Permit |
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My original degree - true story - was stolen as I was celebrating my graduation day. I have since got a replacement - which says copy on it.
It is all in coloured ink with the Universities stamp etc and I have transcripts
Will this suffice for a private company in BKK ? |
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kenkannif
Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550
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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 3:08 am Post subject: |
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It's hard to answer to be honest, maybe, maybe not. |
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Sheep-Goats
Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527
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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: Teachers License - Work Permit |
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gulam2 wrote: |
My original degree - true story - was stolen as I was celebrating my graduation day. I have since got a replacement - which says copy on it.
It is all in coloured ink with the Universities stamp etc and I have transcripts
Will this suffice for a private company in BKK ? |
Certainly not an ideal situation...
Can you contact your university and tell them to get their heads out of their goddamn asses about that kind of stuff, just for our sake? I mean, it's not asking the world to get a replacement of a piece of paper in some cheap binding.
Some schools in Thailand will look at it and beleive you and put you through. If someone at the Ministry of Ed sees it they might have a fit, they might not. Get an official transcript and whatever else you can in the way of proof if your school won't issue you an actual replacement. |
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PKB
Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: USA
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Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:30 am Post subject: |
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Yikes, my University Diploma is also quite large. |
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Kent F. Kruhoeffer

Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国
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Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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^ Bring it anyway, PKB.
A good friend of mine arrived here thinking a copy would suffice.
At MOE or Labor (not sure which) he was told he needed the original.
Had to have it removed from a picture frame back home in Texas
and Fed-Exed here to Bangkok before they'd approve his app.
With Thai bureaucrats it can be hit or miss ...
meaning they might take a copy, they might not.
Better to play it safe and bring the original.
Thailand teaching and travel resources available here :::: The Master Index Thailand :::: |
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PKB
Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: USA
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Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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Kent F. Kruhoeffer wrote: |
^ Bring it anyway, PKB.
Better to play it safe and bring the original. |
Thanks!
So I'll need an original university diploma, an original high school diploma, a university transcript, and an original birth certificate.
Any other required/recommended documents that would be difficult to acquire after arrival? |
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kenkannif
Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:15 am Post subject: |
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Depending on who, what and where you're teaching you might need a TEFL/TESL/TESOL certificate as well. |
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