Do You Want To Be An Eco

[bifftastic]

Aside from all the replies about whether or not ECO's do a good job, the current UK visa system is working well, or if the UK benefits system is open to abuse. I see from some replies that a few members here have actually worked as ECOs.

I would like to ask them, what is it like as a job? By that I mean the day to day things, work load, colleagues, management/supervision etc.

What is the Embassy like as a work place? Without wishing to encourage stereotypes, what kind of people are you working with day to day?

I realise the last question is rather vague and poorly posed but I hope you get the 'gist' of it

Did you work there having already relocated to Thailand or was it your reason for moving there?

Thanks in advance,

Biff

[7by7]

Troll posts and responses to them removed.

I would like to remind members not to feed the troll.

[VisasPlus]

Aside from all the replies about whether or not ECO's do a good job, the current UK visa system is working well, or if the UK benefits system is open to abuse. I see from some replies that a few members here have actually worked as ECOs.

I would like to ask them, what is it like as a job? By that I mean the day to day things, work load, colleagues, management/supervision etc.

What is the Embassy like as a work place? Without wishing to encourage stereotypes, what kind of people are you working with day to day?

I realise the last question is rather vague and poorly posed but I hope you get the 'gist' of it

Did you work there having already relocated to Thailand or was it your reason for moving there?

Thanks in advance,

Biff

Please understand that I speak only for myself. Other former ECOs will have their own views, and my own experience as an ECO is from several years ago although I have been working in Embassies and High Commissions in other capacities for the past 10/11 years. I don't think any of the former ECOs here have ever worked in the Bangkok Embassy, but I may be wrong. Personally I was an ECO in Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi. I have worked in UK missions in Ghana, Nigeria,South Africa, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Islamabad and Sarajevo.

You ask specifically about work as an ECO. My personal thoughts - it is interesting work. For me, dealing with people is constantly interesting as no two applications or " cases" are the same. The work itself can be repetitious, but always different, if that makes sense ? If two applications are the same, then the chances are that there is some kind of fraud being employed eg. fake college acceptance letters, or identical sponsorship letters being submitted ! Nowadays there are constant pressures on the ECOs to make their decisions and shift applications quickly. You can see this from the waiting times for applications to be decided - almost 3 months to decide an application is too long, in my mind. When I was working as an ECO, years ago, we interviewed every applicant. I'm not agreat fan of deciding applications on papers. The human element, or human touch, is lost. Everyone, I'm sure, realises that making a decision by just looking at a few documents does not necessarily give a true picture of the applicant or application. If I had my way, we would bring back interviews for everyone, but I doubt if that will ever happen again.

There is often not a lot of time for socialising in the office due to the pressure of work. That said, it will obviously depend on the location, whether it is a small Embassy or a large one, etc, etc. Similarly, management will differ from post to post. I have always been lucky, and worked in great places with great people. But, I know of many ECOs who have been very unhappy with the amount of work, the type of work, the pressures from managers and from UK, etc.

Your question is a good one, and it will solicit a different answer from all who do answer you. The fact that so many former ECOs seem to be on this forum, or living in Thailand, is pure coincidence. Not all are in Thailand, by the way.

[bangkockney]

Please understand that I speak only for myself. Other former ECOs will have their own views, and my own experience as an ECO is from several years ago although I have been working in Embassies and High Commissions in other capacities for the past 10/11 years. I don't think any of the former ECOs here have ever worked in the Bangkok Embassy, but I may be wrong. Personally I was an ECO in Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi. I have worked in UK missions in Ghana, Nigeria,South Africa, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Islamabad and Sarajevo.

Were you moved from post to post or did you actively seek the moves yourself?

You've also lived and worked in, how can I say, some trouble hotspots(?) - what were your experiences of Islamabad and Sarajevo, for example? Did being attached to the British Embassy / missions put you at greater risk than a general expat?

Similarly, management will differ from post to post

Did you find this to impact on the decisions you made?

[7by7]

Personally I was an ECO in Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi. I have worked in UK missions in Ghana, Nigeria,South Africa, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Islamabad and Sarajevo.

Were you moved from post to post or did you actively seek the moves yourself?

You've also lived and worked in, how can I say, some trouble hotspots(?) - what were your experiences of Islamabad and Sarajevo, for example? Did being attached to the British Embassy / missions put you at greater risk than a general expat?

Interesting though I am sure a post by VisaPlus about his experiences would be, they are nothing to do with the topic.

Please stick to the subject of ECOs; thank you.

[bangkockney]

Interesting though I am sure a post by VisaPlus about his experiences would be, they are nothing to do with the topic.

Please stick to the subject of ECOs; thank you.

The experience of an ECO has nothing to do with a topic advertising a job for an ECO? OK then.

Why is not relevant to ask if the system moved him from post to post, given this could happen to someone who applies for the position advertised?

[7by7]

You will notice that I quoted your question about his general experiences in what you refer to as trouble hotspots (sic); not your question about his experiences as an ECO.

It is these general experiences that have nothing to do with being an ECO in Bangkok, or anywhere, that I was referring to as being off topic.

Obvious, I thought; but apparently not to all.

[bangkockney]

You will notice that I quoted your question about his general experiences in what you refer to as trouble hotspots (sic); not your question about his experiences as an ECO.

It is these general experiences that have nothing to do with being an ECO in Bangkok, or anywhere, that I was referring to as being off topic.

Obvious, I thought; but apparently not to all.

(snip)

Were you moved from post to post or did you actively seek the moves yourself?(snip)

You will notice you included this too; indeed a question about his experience as an ECO.

I would also consider any perceived personal risk of working for the UK Government overseas as relevant, if an ECO can be moved from post-to-post. The two questions are connected are they not?

You're welcome to think otherwise, of course, just no need for snide remarks.

PS trouble hotspot meets BBC editorial guidelines, which is good enough for me. So the (sic) [sic] is unnecessary.

Edited October 23, 2010 by bangkockney

[theoldgit]

Immigration Officers are mobile grades and as such can be posted anywhere in the UK or overseas I believe that overseas posts such as ECO's, ECM's, ALO's and the like are normally advertised or as a career progression .

Locally employed staff are just that, locally employed for a specific job at a specific station, they are not a mobile grade.

[Skypist]

So the job ad asks for Brits, Americans or other native speakers to take a locally-engaged job. It doesn't state there that it is open to Thais (unless of course native speakers). Considering that, I'm pretty sure they WOULD aid the native speaker in getting a work permit.....wouldn't they?

[7by7]

The vacancy advert didn't ask for native speakers (presumably you mean native English speakers) but it did say

The nature of the work requires the jobholder to possess UK government security clearance. Therefore, only nationals of the UK, EU/EEA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US are eligible to apply

so Thais were not eligible to apply.

Bangkockney, your attempts to drag this off topic are no longer amusing; they are tiresome. No more.

(It's a shame that the BBC is dumbing down, Oxford Dictionaries has hot spot as two words; except for computer purposes.)

[Rayongy]

Bangcockney

I find your points of interest, so do the other 4 chaps in this office. Carry on.

7by7, lighten up alittle, we all realise you are a mod but trying to shape the nature of discussions to exactly map into how you wish to discuss / self promote is futile.

[7by7]

This is a topic about ECOs

Actually it's a topic about specific vacancies in the Bangkok embassy, although general discussion about ECOs fits.

The life and times of a FCO employee as he travels the world from post to post may very well be of interest to many; but it has nothing to do with this topic!

Members are reminded of the forum rules, in particular

21) Not to discuss moderation publicly in the open forum; this includes individual actions, and specific or general policies and issues. You may send a PM to a moderator to discuss individual actions or email support (at) thaivisa.com to discuss moderation policy

[bifftastic]

Ok, maybe this will help?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/410119-the-life-of-an-fco-employee-as-he-travels-the-world/