Alien Married To A Thai, Would Like Work Permit

[WombleBKK]

Hi

I hope this hasn't been asked a million times already, I've been through hundreds of posts but can't quite tie up my question.

I wish to teach in Thailand for a couple of years while my wife gets back into things there. However, being that one cannot (legally) work on a non-imm 'o' marriage extension visa, is it possible to use the marriage as an aid to getting a work permit? Is it better to leave the work permit alone and just rely on a marriage extension?

Although some points may be irrelevant, my situation is as follows:

1. I work in the UK in a well paid professional position but do not have a university degree. (I got into the company young and climbed my way up)

2. I have a full CELTA certificate and teaching experience from two years abroad.

3. I married a Thai in the UK.

4. My wife has a UK Masters Degree.

4. I have over the 400000B required in my bank account for a non-imm 'o' marriage extension.

Now, as far as I can see, a university degree is not actually required for a work permit; the advice given by the government states that applicants must:

"Have the knowledge and/or skills to perform the work as stated in the application for a work permit."

Additionally, under 'Documentation Required For A Work Permit' applicants must include:

"If applicable, a copy of a marriage certificate, the spouse citizen identification card if Thai citizen, and the birth certificate Of any children."

So, marriage extension or work permit? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Womble.

[Indo-Siam]

Hi -

To get a work permit, you must have a Thai employer that is qualified to sponsor your employment If you are married to a Thai, the qualification to sponsor your employment is slightly easier - the employing company needs just 1,000,000 baht registered capitalization to sponsor a work permit for a foreigner married to a Thai, instead of the usual 2,000,000 baht.

You can obtain a WORK PERMIT without a university degree. However, to geta work permit as a TEACHER, you must first obtain a teaching license fron the Ministry of Education - and this is where the university degree comes into the picture. Your CELTA certificate, plus letters of reference from previous overseas employers for whom you taught English may pull you through. It is pretty much a matter of luck, in relation to your interaction with Ministry of Education - they can find an excuse to approve you, as well as an excuse to disapprove your application.

As long as you bring the 400,000 baht into a Thai bank account bearing your passport name (individuaor joint account), and you can document that the money was brought in from outside Thailand, you can obtain the marriage-based entry permit extension - unrelated to any work permit you may or may not have. But - you should get the extension FIRST, and then the work permit, so that you obtain a long-term work permit from first go.

Good luck!

Steve Sykes

Managing Director

Indo-Siam Group

Bangkok

[email protected]

www.thaistartup.com

[lopburi3]

Agree with Steve but would ask you to take one more look at the long term picture before you make the move. If your position is indeed well paid you both might have a lot more opportunity there than here, unless you already have enough nest egg to provide for the future. I understand you have probably given this a great deal of thought but for the reader that may be undecided or has yet to do the math feel it is important to mention.