Job Discussion Forums

[liehtzu]

Hi, I know the visa question comes up a lot here, but it seems there's a lot of contradictory stuff floating around. Here's the setup for me:

American, BA degree and experience but no TEFL cert, currently on tourist visa, just accepted a job in a small city in south Thailand, have been told by local fellow it's impossible for me to get a work permit and that I have to do the visa run every two months. That's a lot of grief that I'd rather not put up with. So do you folks in the know reckon this guy's right? Any info is appreciated. Thanks.

[roguegrafix]

Who have you accepted the job with? I may be wrong but it sounds as though the institution might be trying to "bend" the rules. I'm a bit behind the times with recent events but in my experience, in order to get the work permit, the school/institution should assist you. From what you said, your qualifications should be enough, your current visa, however is not good enough.

Basically, what needs to be done is for the school to write you a letter saying that you have a valid contract etc. etc. You would then need to leave the country and get a non-immigrant visa (that's what the school's letter helps you get), then return and with a valid visa, you could then start the ball rolling with a work permit.

If someone is saying this is impossible then I would suspect that a) the school is not legit or that it may be too small or something like that --i.e they're after cheap/illegal teachers or b) can't be bothered with the paperwork -- there is a lot of it. I worked illegally for several years (not as a teacher though) because a university (mind you) couldn't be bothered with the paperwork !

There are others on this board with more relevant experience and I'd be interested in what others reckon but it sounds shoddy and suspect. If you decide to stay, then you should hit the school for extra dosh to cover the visa trips. You should also be mindful of the new 90-day limitations on visas-on-entry and how many you can get.

Good luck.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

roguegrafix is right; don't listen to local fellows.

Your school is responsible for getting you a work permit.

With a university degree, the school should have no problems.


One additional note regarding the Non-Immigrant B Visa:


It's not necessary to leave the country for a Non-B.

A tourist visa can now be changed to a Non-B

at the Bangkok Immigration office.


Click here and then click on

the Change visa folder.




The Master Index Thailand @ Dave's

[maximmm]

Indeed, there shouldn't be any problems. Of course, when your school begins to tell you this, then you may reconsider your employment at this particular school. Some schools prefer not to waste any money on the whole procedure and would rather you waste your time and money doing the visa runs (without work permit you are working illigally, and can be fined/deported). Furthermore, some schools are weary of teachers who get work permits and then quit. This however should not be held against new teachers, even though it sometimes is.

Again... it is interesting how some schools start working on work permit papers after you start working for them, so you end up working illigally for a duration of time. Umm.. anyway, welcome to Thailand:))

[liehtzu]

Ha! Yeah, I've lived in Thailand before but things have changed in the last few years. Thanks for the info, I'm getting similar stories from other teachers here. Gotta love the fiasco of all this!

One other thing: criminal background check. Necessary for the work permit? If so, how does one go about getting a criminal background check?

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

This should help



TEFLWatch Forum / Redtape

FBI / Requesting a Record Check