Hi all,

My name Is Martin and I'm married to a Thai, who is living in Thailand, but I am at the moment living and working in Singapore. I plan to go to Thailand to teach as soon as possible. Has anyone had dealings with an agency called ESILC (ESI Language Services)?

They have offered me work teaching in Thailand and I just wanted other people's comments before I send my details.

They have asked me to send copies of qualifications and passport so they can help me secure a non immigrant B visa prior to my arrival from Singapore, where I am teaching at the moment.They say my work permit will be processed when I arrive. Is this the normal method of obtaining a work permit? Is it safe to send my passport details via email? Is obtaining work through an agency a good thing?

Any advice would be welcome.

Look forward to hearing from you

Martin

You cannot obtain as far as I am aware a non immigrant B visa unless you are already employed in Thailand.

The request for all your personal documents is to my mind suspicious, identity theft is a possibility.

Your work permit cannot be processed unless you are already employed in Thailand as I have already stated.

My personal advice is to steer clear of the agency and its, ''services."

As an aside I would suggest that you explore the possibility of a spouse or dependants visa as you're married to a Thai man and as such your visa to actually live but not work legally in Thailand should not be a problem.

Once you secure employment then the wheels will be set in motion reference your work permit and I think a change of visa status.

“You cannot obtain as far as I am aware a non immigrant B visa unless you are already employed in Thailand.”

Not true. An offer of employment with some documents can get you a B visa.

“The request for all your personal documents is to my mind suspicious, identity theft is a possibility.”

Yes, identity theft is possible, but OP says they want it to get their visa and WP paperwork ready. Do you have any reason to not believe that in this case?

“Your work permit cannot be processed unless you are already employed in Thailand as I have already stated.”

A WP can be applied for, based on an offer of employment. The Labor Office would issue WP3, a receipt telling an embassy/consulate that a WP will be issued once the visa is provided.

Some embassies/consulates don't require a WP3.

“My personal advice is to steer clear of the agency and its, ''services."”

Do you know something about this agency you’re not telling us, or is your bias with all agencies?

“… and as such your visa to actually live but not work legally in Thailand should not be a problem.”

A visa never gives you permission to work. The WP does that.

You can get a WP with a Non B or a Non O (for marriage to a Thai).

It sounds like the agency is trying to get everything organized in advance. In my mind, that’s commendable.

I agree with TerryLH.

It is common practice for many schools and agencies to request scanned copies of qualifications, passports etc. Pretty usual especially in China and the ME.

Twenty years here and I trust no-one , my agency experience is nil as an employee, however my or rather our experiences of agencies is at the best described as dreadful.