Thai Student Visa Abuse

[Scottish Thailander]

This was left unanswered when the previous thread was closed and I though it was important enough to re-raise the topic.

Please keep it general and do not highlight/name specific schools (they and we already know who they are, or can easily find out) so that this discussion can stay open.

. . . . My only complaint is the way language school students subvert the visa process by not attending which in my view will lead to a crackdown in which genuine students will be unable to get visas.

Does anyone else fee that this is an issue? It certainly makes me a little uncomfortable that it may result in genuine student issues later.

Should language schools abuse the system to make themselves money (in some cases fraudulently claiming students are attending when they are not to facilitate the issuance of the visa and therefore the profit)?

Or do you believe it is acceptable to "turn a blind eye" to this as it may, at least in the short term, reduce costs and increase choice and availabilty of courses?

Are you a genuine attending student who fears that this is putting their future studies at risk?

ST

[Thongkorn]

The UK has already started to crack down on bogus student visas,It seems that the student visas have been an easy way of obtaining a bogus visa, There should be a system in place that you have to produce your visa and that it can be marked each time you attend your university college or school ,which ever, Inspectors or the college she be bound to inform the boarder agencies if the student is not attending , if they are not then they should be posted as an illegal immigrant , and that should apply to all student visas where ever in the world, That way a student visa would be exactly what it says, Student visa.

[smint]

For me, I feel that this visa issue is present everywhere around the world, even developed, first world countries. Many schools/companies do 'step on the line' or just a bit over the line of the rules.

For example, how much of 'missing school' should be considered as a fraudulent application, and how does one establish a set of rules to prevent this from happening? I have seen students who go for the student ed visa who attend a few lessons, stop-start, and then disappear and just come back for a while, and do not progress in their learning at all. What ultimately is their motive for attending the school, and who can stop them from having different motives and goals?

Thailand is huge, and it also has a different legal system, so it is difficult to clamp down on this and establish a clear cut system without its grey areas.

Of course, I believe for the sake of all students who want to learn Thai in Thailand, schools should be just what it is - schools first, business second. I don't mean that schools should not earn money, what I mean is that learning should take priority over the visa issue - yes you learn with xx school, and you get a student visa. And not "you can get a visa if you enrol in xx school, plus you get to learn thai to talk to the locals!" Sometimes schools present a different view from this due to their marketing strategy - if you push the line a little (for marketing only) I feel it is alright, but if the school in reality itself has many customers just there for the visa, I feel it is not right and will lead to tightening of the rules, then it is detrimental to other students as well. The school itself should do the right thing - and encourage students to attend class - why is it called a school? And it will not be good for classroom dynamics as well as there isn't a stability and just a 'come and go' syndrome in class.

I think that this is a case of 'ethics' rather than anything else.. What do you all think?

[beano2274]

If students were given an ID card, like at some language centres, and they have to swipe it when they attend, maybe the Immigration office could get monthly stats, then start chasing those who are abusing the system. I know many real students, and it would be a shame if they had to suffer due to those who just wanna stay with their girlfriends and/or abuse the system.

[Scott]

This topic is a troll topic and a "what if". Many countries have regulations about student visas and these can include the number of hours of study you are taking, the grades you receive etc. etc. In addition, many schools have policies around who gets to stay and who doesn't.

There always have been and always will be people who abuse the rules.

I fail to see the relevance to this particular forum.

Enlight a different moderator and they may feel differently.