Visa For Tefl Course Koh Samui

[Blondie]

Hello

I am from the UK, 23 years old and I am going to Koh Samui to do a 6 week TEFL course to enable (hopefully!) me to teach English in Thailand.

I do however, want to get my visa sorted in the UK before I arrive in Thailand to put my mind at rest.

I don’t want to run the risk of:

a ) Overstaying or

b ) Working without a permit

I want to go fully prepared and do it by the books (as I know you can get away as a TEFL teacher with out a work permit, but I am not prepared to do this no matter how many people do/have!)

I want to get a year’s visa that will allow me to teach in Thailand. How do I go about this? Which visa should I get? Can I get it now before I leave?

I want to avoid all these 'border runs' as well, is that possible to do on a year’s visa?!

Thank you in advance for all your help

Abby

[Neeranam]

I'd ask the TEFL training centre, if they are any good they will have it all sorted out for you.

BTW, you could easily get a job teaching witout doing one of these mickey mouse courses. Post on the teaching in Thailand section for more info.

Why waste your time and money doing one that is not recognised by everyone? Do the London Trinity TESOL in England for about 800 quid, or the RSA one - if you don't like Thailand you can use it anywhere in the world.

[Doonagirl]

Hi Abby

Did you get any info about your travel's. I am interested in doing a similar thing I was thinking of teaching in Krabi.

What I am after is the names and costs involved to do the course in Krabi.

If you can help that would be great ,other then that good luck with it all!

cheers

[kenkannif]

I want to go fully prepared and do it by the books (as I know you can get away as a TEFL teacher with out a work permit, but I am not prepared to do this no matter how many people do/have!)

Give up now as this won't happen you WILL work here illegally, it's as simple as that.

I want to get a year’s visa that will allow me to teach in Thailand. How do I go about this?

You need a work permit to work here.

Which visa should I get?

Well a Non-imm B would be best but a Non-imm O will suffice.

Can I get it now before I leave?

Yes, with help.

I want to avoid all these 'border runs' as well, is that possible to do on a year’s visa?!

No not without a WP and the chances of getting a WP within your first 3 months of teaching are slim to non-existent, this is the way it is here for teachers I'm afraid.

[Simmo]

Hello

I am from the UK, 23 years old and I am going to Koh Samui to do a 6 week TEFL course to enable (hopefully!) me to teach English in Thailand.

I do however, want to get my visa sorted in the UK before I arrive in Thailand to put my mind at rest.

I don’t want to run the risk of:

a ) Overstaying or

b ) Working without a permit

I want to go fully prepared and do it by the books (as I know you can get away as a TEFL teacher with out a work permit, but I am not prepared to do this no matter how many people do/have!)

I want to get a year’s visa that will allow me to teach in Thailand. How do I go about this? Which visa should I get? Can I get it now before I leave?

I want to avoid all these 'border runs' as well, is that possible to do on a year’s visa?!

Thank you in advance for all your help 

Abby

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok, I did my TEFL course here and so I'll relate how I did it (100% legal). (This is how most TEFL institutes recommend it)

* Come out here on a 3 month tourist visa (apply at the thai consulate in your country a few weeks before you leave)

* Do the course and get your certification (nothing illegal about taking the course on a tourist visa)

* After the course - shop around and get a job offer (the school will give you a slab of paperwork for the next step. If its their first time employing a farang , run for the hills and get another job offer)

* Take said paperwork to the Thai embassy in Vientaine, Laos or Penang, Malaysia - and apply for a 90 day Non - Immigrant B visa. You will get it the next working day provided all your paperwork is in order.

* The school will now commence the paperwork (if you're lucky) with the Ministry of Education to get your teachers license. You can now work at the school - all though this is a bit grey if this is 100% legal at this stage.

* After a few weeks (more like months), the school will give you more paperwork to take to the Ministry of Labour & Immigration - or hopefully you will have an administrative person from the school take you there and do it for you.

* After repeated trips between Labour & Immigration your passport will be stamped that your application is under review. (Of course if your Non Immigrant B runs out before this you have to start again).

* 3 weeks later you will do the Labour & Immigration dance again and receive your work permit & a 1 year visa extension stamp.

Sounds like fun huh? I'd suggest 3 things.

* Read the work permit and non-imm B faq on this site.

* Make sure your school has employed farang teachers before and knows the process. Make sure someone is assigned to your case and is actively pursuing it. Make sure all your paperwork is in order before visiting any Thai government office. Nothing makes there day more than to give you the run around.

* You have to pro-actively drive the work permit process yourself as your on a 90 clock once you have that Non B Visa to get the work permit and the schools don't exactly care about you.

Anyway enjoy teaching in Thailand

Edited December 6, 2005 by Simmo

[kenkannif]

Problem is mate both of those places are a nightmare to get Non-imm Bs from currently

And bear in mind while the tourist Visa is kind of good for 3 months, you initially will only get 60 days on entry and then will have to extend.

Best to get a multiple before you come if you can....simple as that really. A tourist will suffice, but a lot of schools will not get you a WP until you've worked for them and that'll take you over your initial Visa cover. And there is no grey area really...until such time as you have your WP you CANNOT work legally (but you will have to).

Also bear in mind that often teachers work doing things their WP does not cover them to do, or at locations they're not covered to work out. So as I said you WILL work here illegally at some time or another, so say you won't is disenginous or however you ruddy spell it.

And you'll initially get a 9 month extension (generally) on top of your 3 month entry

Other than that not bad info, although far, far, far easier said than done (by all means check in the teachers room to confirm this).

[Simmo]

And there is no grey area really...until such time as you have your WP you CANNOT work legally (but you will have to).

Also bear in mind that often teachers work doing things their WP does not cover them to do, or at locations they're not covered to work out. So as I said you WILL work here illegally at some time or another, so say you won't is disenginous or however you ruddy spell it.

And you'll initially get a 9 month extension (generally) on top of your 3 month entry

Other than that not bad info, although far, far, far easier said than done (by all means check in the teachers room to confirm this).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok , what I meant by grey area is that technically its illegal to start work until you have your work permit but every school does it and I doubt anyone would get prosecuted for it.

Yes you're right about the 9 month extensions, its 1 year from when you entered on the Non B. Damm your right about the 60 day on arrival , actually I did the course while just on a 30 day tourist visa and the course organised a driver midway through to do a visa run. Its all become blurred now.

Maybe I didn't make it clear in my post but I was trying to convey some of the joys of the beuracracy here and I never said it was easy.

Anyway I sent a message to the OP telling them to seriously reconsider teaching in Thailand if you're serious about teaching and view it as your career.

[Sporting Dog]

I sort of did it all legally.

Came here on a non-Imm O multi entry - got it in Australia - said I wanted to stay with my long term girlfriend - didn't need to provide 'proof', paid the money and got the visa.

Did the CELTA in BKK, then holidayed, did one visa run after three months to Poipet. Back to Oz for work for a month (in and out on the multi entry O), then returned to start a job in the south. The school had no problem with the visa being an 'O', treated same as a 'B'. Went to immigration in Kantang (Thailand), got the extension for 1 year based on my contract and then the WP.

Didn't have to leave the country after I got the job.....I don't know if this is normal and I had all the papers needed (degree and CELTA). Now just report every 90 days.

Piece of piss.

Get a Multi O in Britain.