Specifics On How To Obtain Non-immb Please

[d3773]

Hi there,

I've been reading a bit on how to obtain a non-imm B visa, but I'm getting confused. I have been given an English teaching job in Thailand, and gather that if I can get a non-imm B visa (valid for 90 days), then a work permit (and teachers license), I can extend the B visa to 1 year.

So first things first... getting the B visa. I've read that you need a letter from your employer, and that this visa must be applied for at an embassy or consulate OUTSIDE Thailand.

What I need to know is:

1) What exactly do I need from my employer?

2) Are there any forms I need to fill out prior to going to embassy/consulate?

3) What exactly I need to show/do at the embassy/consulate. Dressing smart is a given.

4) Which consulate is best to go to, considering I live not far from Bangkok? (Cheapest, quickest and easiest)? I gather consulates are easier to get B visas from than embassys.

5) How long does it take for this visa to be processed at the consulate?

6) How often/how likely is it that my visa will be denied?

So it's leave Thailand, obtain B visa, reenter Thailand, get work permit & teachers license, all legal. Do I need to do anything with immigration/customs regarding the work permit? Or is it just a certificate which accompanies my B visa?

Much thanks in this matter!

[kenkannif]

It's all here mate: http://www.ajarn.com/Banter/visaworkpermitfaq.htm

Q Briefly, what is the process of obtaining a teacher's license and getting a work permit?

A Briefly, you give your school whatever documents they ask you for, and they process them. You need to be tolerant and helpful at this point even if you personaly think hey have no need to ask for certain things. If you don't co-operate, the process will get stuck and you'll be the one leaving the country to get a new visa. First they obtain a teacher's license for you, and then they use this to get a work permit. Once you have a work permit, your visa can be extended.

Lengthily, (and the details may vary betwen schools and povinces) the first step is the teacher's license. This requires more or less the following: A personal information document, up to 12 one and a half inch photos, up to 12 two inch photos, a current health certificate (50 baht any hospital - are you alive? yes - you passed), copies of your degree and other certs (originals may be requested along with transcripts) certified Thai translations of your degree and other certs, copies of every page of your passport, school director's license, school principal's license, map of school, teaching schedule of teacher, list of other work permit holders at the school, a new blank teacher's license book (blue), form Sor Chor 10, form Sor Chor 17, form Ror 11. And if you've had a license before, then you can add Ror 12, Sor Chor 19, Sor Chor 18, and your blue license book (not to be confused with the work permit book, plus some provinces don't issue them, in which case you might need to fabricate a police report saying you've lost it)

These are all submitted in quadruplicate to the Min of Ed, and don't forget to sign every single page. After a while (one week to who knows) you will get the license back. You take this, along with most of the same documents as above to the Labour Department, who will issue a receipt of application. You can use the receipt to extend your visa - the implication being that your application won't be turned down at this stage. After about three weeks you pick up your new work permit. When the time comes for renewal, it's a good idea to remind your school about one month before the expiry date, though they really should be on top of things by that stage.

Q How long does this process take, and do I have to do it myself?

A You need a school backing you up in order to get yourself a teacher's license. If the school can't do the paperwork then your own chances of doing it will be slim to non-existent. Many schools do not actually know how to get licenses and work permits for foreign teachers, or do not have a member of staff who has ever done it. In this case things can get very drawn out with the application being postponed indefinitely. If you're the first or only foreigner in a school, good luck.

The actual process need not take a long time. The important thing is to get the teacher's license because that will enable you to make your work permit application which is enough to extend your visa. When I process these, I consider the day the visa expires to be the deadline for getting the license in my hands. It can be done in a week. I aim for a month. If the paperwork is flawed you can just keep on waiting.

Q What are the current requirements from the Thai Ministry of Education?

A This is something of a 64 billion dollar question. Ask five different people and you'll get five different answers. The general consensus (as of March 2004) is that you need BOTH a B.A (in any subject) AND a recognized TEFL certificate. If your B.A is in English (and only English), then you do NOT need to show a TEFL certificate in addition.

I'm one of the few people who seem to push this point, but a ###### of a lot depends on your school's relationship with the MoE. Some schools have poor relationships with the MoE and need to jump through numerous hoops to get their teachers legal. Other schools have good relationships and find the whole process fairly painless (not that I'd ever use the word painless to describe an aspect of Thai officialdom)

There's a lot of argument over what exactly constitutes a 'recognized TEFL certificate' but in my opinion, if the certificate's got the word TEFL on it in some shape, size or form, it should get through.

Contrary to popular belief and rumor, the MoE do NOT check the validity of degrees and TEFL certificates. They simply don't have the manpower. The responsibility of checking all certificates falls on the shoulders of the employer (which is how it should be) You do however need to show original copies to the officer at the MoE.