hucifer

Well, I went down there today to get myself entered into the police database. Each finger and thumb on both hands was carefully scanned. Interestingly, I did not have to present my work permit, proof of residence, or tenancy agreement; merely my passport and a signed passport copy.
 

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Has it been confirmed that this applies to annual Extensions of Stay for teaching?

The above, plus the fact that the police check takes ten days (which will be after this year's visa gets renewed for me) makes me think it may not actually be linked to my visa at all, but is rather just a wheeze to further document and hold personal data on all us pesky foreigners, and to collect thousands of 100 baht bills in the process. If your employer doesn't specifically ask you to do this, I wouldn't worry about it for now.
 

2 hours ago, flinc2020 said:

Of that there is no doubt. However, the idea that you can ONLY get the check done IN PERSON at RTP HQ does seem ridiculous, for me that's a 6 hour round trip, for others even more. If they want to bring in these sorts of policies it has to be done with a modicum of common sense. Either make it possible to do it online or at least doable at your local police HQ. I'm pretty sure that in even the most backwoods areas of the Kingdom the police headquarters buildings have internet access. 

To clarify, I am based in BKK, so it may be that those of you in other provinces may be able to visit your local police headquarters instead. But I can't confirm that.

A police check from your home country when you first arrive in Thailand makes total sense.

However, requiring an annual check from the Thai police for people who have been living, working and happily paying their taxes in Thailand the whole time is nonsensical.

My school worded it like this in the announcement email:

 

Quote

The Ministry of Education is now requiring police background checks on all teachers every year.... Once the background check is completed (it will take around 10 days), the report will be sent directly to [our school's head office].

So it suggests that this check in part of the requirements for either the visa or the work permit, but I'm not sure.

My school just announced that, according to the Ministry of Education, all foreign teachers who are residents in Thailand on a Non-B immigrant visa must now visit the Thai Police headquarters in Siam every year to get a criminal background check as part of the visa renewal process.
 

Attached is a scan of the letter they have provided me to present to the police office.

I've tried searching this forum and the Internet at large, but haven't found anything on this. Can anyone confirm or provide further information about it?

-hucifer