davidhagan

I am working as a teacher in a goverment school on a non imm. O visa at present. To get the extension I had to have a letter from the District Education office,a letter from the school,a letter from the Teachers Council(which was applied for by the school) and copies of degree etc.

Allane and Mario, thanks very much for your replies and advice.

I have worked as a teacher for 6 years in government schools up until March last year. I returned to Australia to apply for an old age pension. I was refused at the time as I was not classed as an Australian resident because of my absence from Australia. I returned in December last year and am receiving the pension whilst in Australia. The problem is that I have a wife and son in Thailand and if I want to keep receiving the pension I must stay here for 2 years continuously without leaving. I have decided to return next month and have being applying for another teaching job for a year to make it possible for me to save the money to bring them back with me for the mandatory two years. Because of my age I have received a limited amount of interest on applications I have made. I was told by the government school where I taught for 5 years that the Dept. of Labour won't issue a work permit if you are 65 or over. Can anyone inform me if this is true. If so I will attempt to do private teaching as an alternative.

Much appreciate advice,

Cheers

Thanks for everyones comments. After posting the thread yesterday I immediatly found the thread that Xangsamhua mentioned. I have read through most of the comments and I have a much clearer picture now. I am already booked to return on 30th. I will try to have the decision reversed and prove that I am an Australian citizen on extended holidays or whatever. I will also contact the local MP to see if he can help. If I have any luck I will inform.

I have been working in Thailand for the last nine years, mainly as a teacher. On September 13 I turned 65 so I flew to Australia and applied for the pension. I was told that I would be informed within 2 to 3 weeks. I returned a week later to LOS. After hearing nothing in a month I rang Centrelink and was told that I should hear something in the next week. After 8 week had elapsed I rang again and was told that my application was rejected on the grounds that I was living in Thailand. I was since told that to recieve it I would need to return and stay in Australia for a period of 2 years. I could then return here. I am an Australian citizen and worked most of my life in Australia and paid taxes. I have a Thai partner and 6 year old son which I didn't mention about in my application as I didn't think it relevant in my application. Should I have mentioned this fact. I would much appreciate if anyone else has had a similar experience because it seems that I will be condemed to a 2 yr term in Australia.

David,

Good to hear your attitude was positive, even with your experience with actual Thai culture. I suppose there is always some cultural aspects to pick up.. Being informed and all that... I have a few pals that have taken this course in the south of Thailand, and like you had much practical experience living in Thailand..

What did you find worthwhile? What was the langauge training like? Helpful, review, a waste..

Cheers Mate Rhys

Rhys,

Thanks for your positive comment. As it is 4 years since I did the course the content has become a little vague. I still have all the written material they handed out somewhere. I am certain though that we didn't do language training. The course was about Thai culture and how to fit into Thai society. They even spent time on food. Also there was no dancing.

Cheers Mate David

I attended a Thai culture workshop held over 3 Fridays (working school days) at Burapha University during July/ August 2004. I have a certificate to show that I satisfactorily completed the workshop.

My school provided transport and paid a fee of 2000 bht for each teacher attending. There were three from our school. I was aware of most of aspects about Thai culture as I am married to a Thai lady and have a child but I still thought the course was worthwile at the time. It certainly was nothing like some of the recent courses people have been describing. I wonder if the TCT would accept this as it was over a period of 16 hours not 18. Anyway that's my 2 bobs worth.

Yes. Take along the marriage certificate/copy and copy of wife ID card and child birth certificate. If you go to Penang or Kuala Lumpur you might even obtain a multi entry but would take the kitchen sink in that case (copy home register/note from wife asking for visa issue/bank passbook to show you have some funds). Probably not required but good to have if asked.

Thanks very much 'lopburi'

I recently didn't renew a contract on which I have had B visa extensions for the past 5 years. I went to Laos and obtained a 2 mth tourist visa. I am paper married to a Thai lady and we have a child. Can I go back to Laos when the tourist visa finishes and get a 3 mth non immigrant O visa.

Yesterday my friend who has been teaching at a goverment school for 2 years was refused a 1 year visa extension until he produces a teachers licence at Pong Nam Ron immigration office. He had all the usual documents needed plus his reciept for application for teachers licence. He told me that that they said that this requirment came into force on the 12th. He paid the 500 baht as everyone did some time ago.

Has anyone else encountered this problem this week, or knows anything about it?

Thanks, Toffee for your information. My friend returned yesterday with the piece of paper with and the same information you have so kindly provided. My thanks to everyone who has contributed in this discussion. I wonder what will happen next.

To the OP..............Davidhagan.........................you were asked if your "friend" has a degree? Does he/she?

He is a teaching collegue in a neighbouring school and he does have a degree and a TESL certificate. I have been given a visa plus work permit for the past 5 years, ( I do have a degree plus a teacher's certificate from NSW Australia, where I taught for 25 years) as he has for the past 2, so it was a surprise to me, mainly because we had not been informed by our respective schools of this new requirement. I will post a report on Tuesday as to how he fared on his visit to the TCT tomorrow.

davidhagan

I think David that the problem is that there are some people going around forums trying to cause concern by posting bogus threads. Why somebody would do this is beyond me, but there are some very strange people out there. I am not saying that this is what you are doing, but the fact that you are new, according to your post count, makes people suspicious. I hope that this has not caused you offense, but as I said there are some nasty people in the world.

Thanks Garro for you remarks. I certainly am new, and I only wanted to find out if any other teachers had been refused a visa without having a current teachers licence. I have sinse found that another document can be obtained from the Teachers Council of Thailand and my friend is travelling to Bangkok to try to obtain one so that he can renew his contract. My own contract is not up for renewel until May.

davidhagan

Davidhagan,

Today you were several times logged-in. Why don't you answer my question?

Let me guess........MOETCTMOETCTMOETCT or a real good friend. But please, answer the question!!!

Petch01

Sorry Petch01 as this was the first time I have used the forum, I'm not sure how the system works.

davidhagan

Yesterday my friend who has been teaching at a goverment school for 2 years was refused a 1 year visa extension until he produces a teachers licence at Pong Nam Ron immigration office. He had all the usual documents needed plus his reciept for application for teachers licence. He told me that that they said that this requirment came into force on the 12th. He paid the 500 baht as everyone did some time ago.

Has anyone else encountered this problem this week, or knows anything about it?