Teaching English At Home

[uty6543]

My wife is an Thai teacher teaching english at her house. She has asked me to help her but I do not want to break the conditions of my retirement visa. I am a 55 year old english man and would like to help her but don't think I can get a visa and work permit to do this. Am I right. Thanks in advance.

[Mario2008]

Your wife would need to establish a Thai compnay and hire you and you would need a work permit, for which you would need to change your extension of stay based on retirement to working, or even a new non-B visa.

Possible, but for a few hours a week not very profitable. It would really depend on how many hours you would teach and how much you would earn if it is worth while.

[beano2274]

Many people who teach at home break the rules of their Work Permits, as they were (as far as I remember) only valid for one place of work, which would mean school or the university. Am not suggesting breaking the rules but if it were not advertised or a well known or only a couple of hours then there would be no harm in it.

In fact if the WP is place specific then most teachers using their weekends to teach in Language centres would be in the wrong.

Edited January 30, 2012 by beano2274

[ljerams]

As man and wife it is quite normal to help each other with the respective languages.

But teaching the wife's' pupils is clearly not permissible in that scenario.

[NancyL]

Realistically, probably no harm will come from helping your wife teach a few hours a week at home. However, if someone complains to the police, then they will have to investigate the complaint. The complaint could come from a neighbor, another teacher loosing business because of your wife's "helper", a disgruntled maid you fire, etc. Then, realistically, you probably won't be deported, or lose your visa, but you could spend a night in jail and have to pay a fine once you see a judge. You may need to hire a lawyer, too.

Perhaps a better way to "help" your wife would be to listen in on her lessons and advise her afterwards, privately, of ways she can improve her teaching techniques. I don't think anyone can find fault if you're doing some activity within earshot of the lessons, but seem to be ignoring them.

Edited January 30, 2012 by NancyL

[bytebuster]

I agree to answers above. You are not entitled to do any work, including non-paid work.

However, I understood that you don't need any salary, you just help your wife. If that is the case, you may consider obtaining "O" visa.

Category “O” (other) – this category entitles a person:

d) to participate in unpaid volunteer work in Thailand

It still requires paperwork for the school your wife is working for, but not that much as it would be for "B" visa.

Good luck in your endeavors.

[TerryLH]

"Category “O” (other) – this category entitles a person:

d) to participate in unpaid volunteer work in Thailand"

Only if they also have a work permit for that job/site.

[backsoon]

I agree to answers above. You are not entitled to do any work, including non-paid work.

However, I understood that you don't need any salary, you just help your wife. If that is the case, you may consider obtaining "O" visa.

Category “O” (other) – this category entitles a person:

d) to participate in unpaid volunteer work in Thailand

It still requires paperwork for the school your wife is working for, but not that much as it would be for "B" visa.

Good luck in your endeavors.

It is getting curiouser and curiouser.

I am talking to my g/f in English. I correct her mistakes in grammar, spelling and pronunciation. She loves me for this.

Which Law of this land do I break? (being a retiree with O visa).

Furthermore, she has a child who studied English at school for many years. With a common 'zelch' result.

I have been asked to do the same for the child. I do this informally at my place. Now, they both love me for this.

Which Law of this land do I break?

I think I feel like being sarcastic this morning... Time for breakfast

[uty6543]

Thanks Mario2008 and everyone else. Yes I thought it was too much trouble to be worth the effort. Its just I feel mean staying in the house while my wife is outside working and a night in jail (as sugested ny NancyL) is well worth avoiding.

[bytebuster]

I correct her mistakes in grammar, spelling and pronunciation. She loves me for this.

Which Law of this land do I break?

I'm not a lawyer, so whatever I say should be verified. Having said that, let's look from the point of common sense.

There are letter ans spirit of the law. "Letter" says you cannot "do the job". However, the term of "job" is not clearly defined.

The "spirit" is not written, it's kind of assumption. The spirit is that you are not competing with local people, doing something they could do otherwise.

Say I have vacation, came to Thailand to spend a couple of days under the palms, and my customer call my cell to arrange job issues.

Am I working? Certainly, yes. Am I competing with Thai nationals? No.

Another topic. Recently, I helped my neighbor to setup his computer. He did not have money to call for a professional help, so I did not get profit from that, except for some respect and good relations. However, if I would take money or advertise myself as a computer specialist, that would be violation.

Getting back to your question, whether or not you break the law. I guess, not - because you aren't working with customers nor you receive direct profit. You simply help out your friend.

I think the same applies the topicstarter.