Job Discussion Forums

[dove]

I am seriously considering teaching in Thailand, despite all the negative things I have read. I know my salary will take a huge drop from what I currently make in Japan, but after many years here I need a change.

Anyway, I have heard that a criminal background check is now necesssary to obtain a work permit in Thailand. Does anyone know if this is true? If so, does anyone know how to get a police report from one's hometown if one is living outside of the country? Over the internet? Through a family member? I'm thinking about moving to Thailand in January 2008, so I still have time to get things in order.

Thank you!
Dove

[JosephP]

Assuming you are from the USA, here's how -- I've done it several times.

How to Request a Copy of Record

1. Complete cover letter.

* If for a couple, family, etc., all persons must sign cover letter
* Include your complete mailing address
* If you have a deadline (e.g., an immigration deadline), please include the deadline in your cover letter and on the outside of the envelope.

2. Obtain proof of identity, which consists of a set of your fingerprints
(original card, no copies), with your name, date of birth and place of
birth. Fingerprints should be placed on a standard fingerprint form
(FD-258) commonly used for applicant or law enforcement purposes.

* Include rolled impressions of all ten fingerprints and impressions of all ten fingerprints taken simultaneously (these are sometimes referred to as plain or flat impressions.)
* If possible have your fingerprints taken by a fingerprinting technician (this service may be available at a Law Enforcement Agency.)
* Previously processed fingerprint cards will not be accepted.

3. Include $ 18 - U.S. dollars in the form of a money order, certified check
made payable to the Treasury of the United States, or you may pay by
credit card

* Be sure to sign where required
* No personal checks or cash
* Must be exact amount
* If for a couple, family, etc., include $18 for each person
* If paying by credit card you must include the completed credit card payment form
* Credit cards will not be used for expedited mail services

4. Mail the items #1, #2, #3 (listed above) to the following address:

FBI CJIS Division � Record Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, West Virginia 26306


Please Note: If any of the above items are missing or incomplete, the request will be returned.
Allow approximately 8-10 weeks for processing, upon receipt to the FBI.

What You Will Receive

1. No Record Response � Consists of the original fingerprint card
stamped with the stamp �No Record.�

Or

2. FBI Identification Record

The usual response is a stamp that says "No record" which means, of course, that you have no criminal record -- you're a good bloke and all.

[tedkarma]

The above is for an FBI fingerprint clearance in the United States.

In Thailand, requirements seem to be changing daily - a friend reports that the latest news her school has is that everyone must now:

"submit details and fingerprints to the Royal Thai Police [in Bangkok], wait seven working days and get a police clearance, return to Bangkok, pick up the papers, then [leave] the country and apply for a non imm. B visa..."

But that might change - uh - tomorrow. Or maybe even yesterday . . .

Kent may be able to give us the very latest.

[dove]

Thank you for your replies.

Joseph, do you know where you can get fingerprinting done outside of the USA? At an embassy, at any local police station?

Ted, I realize that requirements are always changing, but from what you wrote it sounds like the background check is only from Thailand, not from ones's home country. Is that right?

Thank you all....all this really makes me appreciate the ease of Japan's visa requirements.

Dove

[JosephP]

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

xxxx

[tedkarma]

I wouldn't stress out about getting clearances from your home country, embassy, or anywhere else. The clearance, most likely, will come from the Royal Thai Police.

Frankly, as much as it pains me to say it, it almost never pays to plan ahead on these type things. They are going to want what they want - not what you have already or are able to get.

Uh . . . just go with the flow. That is what everyone else is having to do at the moment.

[tedkarma]

I am informed from a friend - again - that the goalposts have been moved - again. This time it looks like clearance must come from your home country.

Whether this needs to be a full FBI cleanance or a local police clearance - will be a big issue.

When I was doing the paperwork to teach in Saudi (about ten years ago) I only needed a piece of paper from my [former] home town that I wasn't "wanted" for a crime - the form might have also said no record for my name or some such.

Anyway - it is obviously becoming quite a problem for Thailand's teachers who can't get themselves fully legal.

Most people just want to do a good job, get paid, and not have to worry and hassle with all these things.

My guess - but who am I? - is that things will change again before all is said and done. Uh . . . or not.

[dove]

I've been searching the internet and you can order a criminal background check from a lot of agencies.....kind of like a credit report. Will this kind of check satisfy the Thai authorities or does the criminal background check have to come from the FBI? Probably the response is "Who knows?"

[wailingtraps]

Criminal record background checks .....


According to the website http://www.crb.gov.ukm UK citizens cannot directly apply for a CRB check......


I phoned the helpline and was told the following...


Go to your local police station and ask for a subject access form. This is essentially a document outlining your crime record(if any?!) in the UK.


I'm not sure if this is acceptable for Thai visa regulations....


Once i've run it up the flagpole i'll let you know who salutes it....