Job Discussion Forums

[Gregor]

I am trying to get my paperwork together to take a job in Vietnam, and I MUST be misunderstanding the procedure. It couldn't possibly be as complicated as it now seems.

I have a licentiate in TESOL from Trinity College, London. I can take the original to immigration once I get there (I am currently in the US).
OK. From the Trinity website:
"The LTCL Diploma TESOL is accredited in England by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority at Level 7 of the UK National Qualifications Framework, as are master�s degrees in related subject areas." This is what I have.

This information is corroborated on the British NQF website here:
http://www.qca.org.uk/493_15773.html
and at the openQUALS website here:
http://www.openquals.org.uk/openquals/qualificationDetails.aspx?QualificationID=1085

According to Vietnamese immigration Working Permit Procedure for Teachers, this qualifies as both a degree (or equivalent) and teaching qualification, if I read the following correctly (this is #5 of a list of required documents, and the only one on the list pertaining to school, university, and professional qualifications):
"5/ Copies of certificates of professional expertise and skills of the foreigner, comprising university graduation degree or equivalent higher certificate, or certificate of level of skills of the foreigner issued by the body authorized under the laws of such country."

OK. There's my documentation, and I'm cool with that. BUT! What is all this business about authentication? If I have the original (which has a raised stamp and a student number and a qualification reference number), is that sufficiently authenticated, in and of itself? If not, what do I have to do? Surely I don't have to go all the way to England to get this thing stamped AGAIN??

I also need a police report. That's fine. I'm told that I can get one from just the local cops where I happen to be at the moment (just by the way, no police organization in the world has a record of me at all, anyway). Does this ring true? I reckoned I'd have to go to the FBI, but these people are telling me that the local cops are fine (mind you, I haven't even been in this country for more than three months now, and before that, it's been about ten years).

What can you Vietnam (TEFL) Veterans tell me about all of this?
Thanks in advance for any help you have to offer.
Gregor