allane

In all probability, the later the better:

  - peak holiday season will be winding down by then

   - the longer in advance you book, the cheaper the price. That is almost universally true.

Go online, and do some comparisons.

In Canada, education is a provincial responsibility. The federal government has no record of whether I graduated from, or even attended university. And I have never heard of any provincial department or agency with centralized records either.  Authentication of degrees, and the provision of official transcripts is done by the university. I 

Not a direct answer to your question, but do you have any evidence that you have applied for a passport (something with your name and the child's name on it). That would be better than nothing.

Let's start at Square One:  In Thailand, the Immigration Bureau is part of the Royal Thai Police. They are there to control us, not to serve us. They are not operating a restaurant, or even the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

For foreigners who want to visit or live here, there are several alternatives, even if there will soon be one less for some of them.

You will only be valid until 23/01/19.  Sixteen days should be enough to do your renewal. The actual renewal is done in a day or two, as long as you are properly prepared.

And, you will not be able to obtain a 1 yr. Non-immigrant "B" visa unless you show the Immigration Dept. your original degree and original transcripts, In the case of the latter I mean a paper copy issued by the university, signed by the signing authority, with an embossed seal Photocopies and downloaded copies are not accepted.

To the best of my knowledge, the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT), will do this. Perhaps check with them first, at the NE corner of the intersection of South and Third Roads. Then, please report back here !

www.thaivisa.com/forum  Then click on the first subforum listed.

Do you have the original copy of your degree with you ? And, a signed & sealed copy of your transcripts ? If you answered "yes" and "yes",those are sufficient. A couple of days ago, in response to another question here in this subforum, I undertook some research. Part of that was to post a series of questions in the "Thai Visas, Residency and Work Permits" subforum. I have just returned from there, where I wrote a summary and posted it as Post # 6. It is presently running on page 1 of that subforum.

On 11/26/2018 at 10:05 AM, ubonjoe said:

There was no new regulation about that done by the the government. That was only in an announcement done by the UK embassy since they stopped handling the certification they could do here. 

The requirement for the degree legalization has been in effect for long time now. I don't think there is actually a requirement for it to be done in your home country. Some embassie is are still able to do them since they are allowed to do it.

I did extensive online research before I posted the OP. Thank you for corroborating my findings, There seems to be increased concern in recent times about a supposed need for authentication of university degrees and transcripts. This may be for some or all of the following reasons:

    - there are British govt. websites stating that their Embassy in Bangkok no longer authenticates degrees, but helpfully states an alternative process, beginning in Britain and involving the Thai Embassy there, and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The essential elements have been lifted by some other websites, but making no mention of the fact that this procedure only has to be followed by the British.

 - I have uncovered other websites, which while not lifting the British information, strongly indicate that educational credentials need to be authenticated before coming to Thailand, and of course, offering to do this for a fee.

-There is the perennial problem of imprecise use of terminology, with people using terms such as authentication/certification/notarization/legalization interchangeably. There are probably other terms in use too.

A few days ago in the Teaching subforum, a guy from Belgium was complaining that his Embassy in Bangkok wouldn't "legalize" his degree. A close examination of his question reveals that he had only a photocopy of it with him. And, another question about "legalization" has just appeared in the Teaching subforum.

When I first went into Thai Immigration in 1996, I gave them my original degree and a signed and sealed original copy of my transcripts. There was no need for any third-party authentication, and that looks to still be true today, at least to obtain a Non-immigrant "B" visa.

Can you be more specific as to your location ? You were on your way to Hwy. 36 from where ?

I have found references to a requirement as of May 2018 that foreign univ. degrees and transcripts must be authenticated in the country of origin. The Legalization Division of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is stated as being the part of the Thai government exercising this authority. What I can not find is an actual regulation/order/directive from any part of the Thai govt. authorizing this.

  1. Can anyone cite this ?

I will post these follow-up questions here, in case they are not specifically addressed in the regulation:

  2. What was the exact date in "May 2018" ?

  3. What specifically is required:  a) original copies of the degree and transcripts ?

                                                 b) same, but accompanied by a letter of authentication from the responsible part of the foreign government ?

                                                 c) do the required documents need to be presented to the Thai embassy in the originating country before they are sent to                                                        Thailand ?

                                                 d) Is there a requirement that the documents be presented to the MFA in Bangkok before being submitted to the Dept. of                                                         Immigration ? If yes, is it in addition to (c), or offered as an alternative ?

   4.  Is there any variation to the standard procedure (on the Thai end) depending on the country of origin ?

   5.  Is there any variation in Thailand dependent on which Thai Immigration District office is involved ?

   Please cite your source(s). I would prefer a reference in English, but Thai is acceptable.  I am not interested in rumours, speculation or heresay.

They stopped giving out stamps on Nov.23. You have until Dec.15 to redeem them.

I sincerely appreciate your efforts. I have found similar information myself. As you stated, this requirement appears to have originated with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I have confirmed that in several places. What I have been trying to find, unsuccessfully, is the exact date this took effect, and a news release, or copy of the M.F.A. regulation (in English or Thai)) that gave it effect. 

-BTS skytrain to Morchit, then bus # 52. Boat to Nonthaburi clock tower still leaves you a long way to go. I would use Skytrain/bus instead. Return home by boat if you need a change of scenery.

-don't go the day after a holiday. Upcoming holidays:  Dec. 5 and 10

- Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., closed Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Yes, only at the Immigration Dept. on Chaeng Wattana Road, which is the one you have referred to.

14 hours ago, worrab said:

This requirement came out in May 2018. I will attempt to find the source when I get home over the weekend. Away in Hua Hin doing my yearly extension of stay.

Thank you.

Worrab, can you cite a source for this Ministry of Foreign Affairs requirement ?

IN my experience, going back to 1996, embassies have never authenticated degrees.

Mine was for teaching.

In my view, the Tourist Visa step is unnecessary. I once changed from a Non-B Extension of Stay (Retirement) to a Non-B (Employment). I had to leave the country, but only once. Have you checked with your Immigration Office ? That agent might be just trying to sell you an extra visa trip.

Some years ago, the counter clerk at my Bangkok apartment phoned me in my room to tell me they had forgotten to charge me for my water consumption on my last rent notice. When I eventually went down to pay her, she grabbed a calculator before telling me that 2 units of water @ B 16 was going to cost me B 32.

I have never taught at an international school myself, but do have some peripheral knowledge. International schools in Thailand are almost all affiliated with some school in the country of origin. Go online and make a list of international schools in Thailand, making particular note of those with an Australian affiliation. Most hiring is done at at job fairs in the country of origin. Only in the case of a death or sudden departure do you see advertising in Thailand.

I hope this gets you started.  For a better response, you will need to wait for someone with direct experience.