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rbos
Joined: 22 May 2010
Posts: 69
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 Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:14 pm Post subject: Which Middle East Countries Require Criminal Record Checks? |
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I know someone who is interested in teaching ESL in the Middle East (preferrably one of the Gulf countries/higher paying Middle East countries) and who has quite a bit of ESL experience. However, he has an issue with a criminal record, and so he is wondering if anyone might know which Middle East countries do require/ do not require a criminal background check to teach? For these countries, does this vary depending on whether the teacher is teaching adults vs. children?
-Thanks |
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helenl
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 1202
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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| All teaching levels in the GCC (as well as most of North America and Europe) require a police clearance certificate. At ALL levels |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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| .................but some require it more than others. I have never been asked for one, but of course I have been here for many moons. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
All teaching levels in the GCC (as well as most of North America and Europe) require a police clearance certificate. At ALL levels |
That's actually not true. I have worked in Saudi Arabia for several years, and have had several jobs (meaning I've had to go through the visa process more than once). I have never been asked to produce a police clearance cert. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not personally concerned (am not heading to the ME nor do I have any criminal record myself) but I suppose the most valid answer is probably along the lines of:
they might not ask, but they can at any time do so.
Is that accurate in this context? |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Modal verbs are very dangerous. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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Very good point.
I think I'll design a lesson along those lines - thanks, Scot. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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Dear heleni,
"All teaching levels in the GCC (as well as most of North America and Europe) require a police clearance certificate. At ALL levels,"
I'm afraid it's not true as regards North America, either, at least the USA (I'm not sure about Canada or Mexico.) No police clearance certificate is required when one teaches at the community college and university levels, only for high school and below (public schools.)
Private elementary, middle school, junior high and high schools MAY (there's yet another modal) require one.
Regards,
John |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:16 am Post subject: |
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Let me speak about Oman and the UAE. One does not bring a police report from the US, but a security check is done by the Omani police. No one seems to know who they check with about what... but... there have been teachers who thought they were hired, but suddenly they were not... because of something that showed up on this check. They do take fingerprints. (same with the UAE)
So... if it was a felony and he served time in prison, it may cause problems. All he can do is apply and see what happens. As long as he is aware that it may come up and haunt him...
VS |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:13 am Post subject: |
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| Is Oman really that organised ? In KSA the situation is more.................................................................fluid. |
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helenl
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 1202
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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I'll amend my blanket statement to:
The tertiary institutions in UAE Oman and Qatar that I (or friends) are familiar either require a police clearance from the teacher's most recent residence or (as VS said) a police clearance from the country to which they are applying - the latter can take several months in UAE.
As for North America. Everyone I know who has gone back home to North America requested a police clearance certificate from the GCC country they were employed in no matter at what level they were hoping to gain employment at back home. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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Dear heleni,
"Everyone I know who has gone back home to North America requested a police clearance certificate from the GCC country they were employed in no matter at what level they were hoping to gain employment at back home."
Did they go to Canada or Mexico? Because I know for a rock-solid fact that in the U.S. you don't need ANY kind of police clearance to work at the community college/university level or in some private schools.
Regards,
John |
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rbos
Joined: 22 May 2010
Posts: 69
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 1:44 am Post subject: |
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veiledsentiments said:
| Quote: |
| So... if it was a felony and he served time in prison, it may cause problems. All he can do is apply and see what happens. As long as he is aware that it may come up and haunt him... |
The individual technically has a misdemeanor only, although it is very serious in nature (I'm not quite sure why the crime went down as misdemeanor rather than a felony-it could have to do with the fact that the incident took place in the early 1980s, and laws were somewhat different back then). He did serve some jail time in relation to the offense, but not prison time. Would misdemeanors show up-or just felonies? Also, I believe (but am not quite sure) that the state in the US in which the incident occurred may have sealed the record-but don't quote me on that.
Also, he is a pretty honest person, and so I'm not sure that he would feel comfortable lying about the incident if he were asked on a job application form of some kind, or a visa application form of some kind that came out directly and asked him if he were "ever arrested," "ever had a criminal record," or "ever charged with or convicted of a crime," etc. Do ESL teachers in the Gulf countries ever have to answer questions on job application forms or visa application forms that are like this?
-Thanks |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:50 am Post subject: |
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Yes, he may very well be asked the question or have it on a form. It is up to him if he wants to tell the truth or not... either way is risk. We have no way to know how these authorities define and judge the individual crime.
All he can do is risk telling them and perhaps be immediately excluded... or lie about it and hope they don't find out.
Tough call...
VS |
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bulgogiboy
Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 803
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Cleopatra wrote: |
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All teaching levels in the GCC (as well as most of North America and Europe) require a police clearance certificate. At ALL levels |
That's actually not true. I have worked in Saudi Arabia for several years, and have had several jobs (meaning I've had to go through the visa process more than once). I have never been asked to produce a police clearance cert. |
Same for me in Saudi. No check of any sort. |
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