Non B Visa

[lungpeter]

Hi. A school wants to employ me as an English teacher. I have to go to Laos and apply for a NON B visa. My school does not ecactly seem to know what kind of documents they need. Would be great to find out from someone who recently had to go through the whole procedure, as requirements seem to differ from year to year.

thanks in advance

[sirchai]

You'll have to have a contract, letter of employment, copies of your degree/ education and two photographs.

It's also good to have a letter of the educational area office where your school belongs to.

You'll have to apply at a Thai consulate, apply for the visa and pick it up the next day in the afternoon. That will give you 90 days of stay, in this time you should get your waiver letter to obtain a work permit.

Good luck-

Edited April 25, 2012 by sirchai

[beano2274]

I thought the receipt for a WP was also a requirement. Years ago the WP and everything else had to be done (including making sure the degrees were real), before obtaining the Non Immigrant B visa.

Edited April 25, 2012 by beano2274

[sirchai]

I thought the receipt for a WP was also a requirement. Years ago the WP and everything else had to be done (including making sure the degrees were real), before obtaining the Non Immigrant B visa.

Now you can't apply for a work permit without being on a Non-B, or Non-O. It's up to the school to check if the degree is real.

Now you need to have a Non visa first and then try to get the waiver letter, or teachers license in 90 days to get a work permit and the visa extended.

Edited April 25, 2012 by sirchai

[samster]

What if the teachers license wont be issued cos the Teachers Council are not providing any Culture courses right now, and thats the important doc needed by immigration.

WHat happens after the 90 days?

[Mario2008]

You can get a waiver for 2 years, in which time you can follow a cultural course. Note that the cultural course is a requirement for a teaching license, but not the only requirement. By itself it will not give you a teaching license, but will give you a waiver for another 2 years.

No waiver or teacher's license means no work permit and no extension of stay (if working in a regular school). Universities and language schools teachers don't need a teaching license.

Edited April 26, 2012 by Scott
formatting

[Cyrus2Ray]

Just came across this online article which states that a Tourist Visa CAN be changed into a Non-Immigrant B Visa at bangkok's immigration office headquarters without having to do a visa run to a neighboring country !!

It is a surprise for me to see this, but if anyone has any more info about it please let us know.

The date of the article is June 2011, and laws may have changed ever since, however, it is rather interesting to find out ....

http://eslthailand.a...n-thailand.html

http://eslthailand.a...ailand-teaching

[Scott]

I know it is possible to do it, however, I believe that people who enter the kingdom on a 'visa on arrival' stamp are not eligible to do so. There has to be a certain number of days left on the visa as well, if I recall.

Regulations change, so hopefully, we have posters who have more comprehensive knowledge can post their experiences.

[aidenai]

Just came across this online article which states that a Tourist Visa CAN be changed into a Non-Immigrant B Visa at bangkok's immigration office headquarters without having to do a visa run to a neighboring country !!

It is a surprise for me to see this, but if anyone has any more info about it please let us know.

The date of the article is June 2011, and laws may have changed ever since, however, it is rather interesting to find out ....

http://eslthailand.a...n-thailand.html

http://eslthailand.a...ailand-teaching

Yes, it is possible. A colleague of mine did it last December 2011 at Immigration HQ in Bangkok. What she got was a 90 days stamp based on employment.

[Cyrus2Ray]

Three Questions please :

1- Can a Non-Immigrant O - Volunteer Visa - also be changed into a Non-Immigrant B - Work Visa as an English teacher - at the immigration office headquarters in Bangkok too ? or it would require doing a visa run to a neighboring country ?

2- Does holding a Non-Immigrant B type visa ( working as an English teacher at a school ) allow the person to pick up some extra work besides school teaching duties ? - such as teaching English to private students in person or through online teaching/tutoring services.

3- Would a Non-Immigrant B type visa granted for teaching English at a school be valid for working in that particular school only ? or does it allow the person to simultaneously do some extra part-time teaching at any other school as well ?

It would be nice to have the opportunity to generate some extra income in one's spare time to make up for the possible low official school salary.

[Scott]

Whether you are Non-O, marriage visa or a non-B, you need a Work Permit to work in the Kingdom. The Work Permit ties to the place of employment. In the past, you could have more than one employer/place of employment, however, this was stipulated in the Work Permit. Legally, you cannot have a WP for school A and then do part time work at school X.

I believe you can change a non-O into a non-B without leaving the country, if certain criteria are met, including having a certain amount of time left on the visa.

This forum is for teaching and the visa questions are best asked in the visa section, where you are more likely to get factual answers rather than just opinion and speculation.

My understanding is that the answers are:

# 1: Yes, it can be done.

# 2. No, not legally.

# 3. No.

Edited May 3, 2012 by Scott

[LucidLucifer]

I'm in Vientiane right now waiting for my non-imm b. I have submitted the following things to the embassy.

Passport.

Application form + 2 photos.

Letter of recommendation from the MoE.

The school's registration certificate.

A copy of my contract.

Degree certificate and transcripts.

Teaching certificates.

Police clearance certificate (CRB).

2000thb.

It's a good few years since i've been up here on a visa run, and the new place where you apply for your visa is a world away from the sweaty shit box office of yestayear

Just a shame the Laotians have started to take a leaf out of the Thai's book and want to rip you off left, right and centre . It has soured the whole trip here....I so used to love this place. it was always such a refreshing break from LoS.

I suppose it's called progress?

[LucidLucifer]

I should have added onto that that I will let you know if it has worked, and if not, why not.

[sirchai]

Letter of recommendation from the MoE.?

Could you please clarify how the MoE does that?. never heard about that......

[LucidLucifer]

Letter of recommendation from the MoE.?

Could you please clarify how the MoE does that?. never heard about that......

The school sent the MoE copies of all my documents, including a signed letter on headed notepaper from my previous employer to say I had a minimum of 3 years teaching experience (That requirement I discussed on another thread, I previously worked here without that, and I know thousands of TEFL teachers work here without that, but the school wanted it).

One week later, they sent the school back the letter of recommendation. That's it.

[Scott]

As I understand it, the paperwork concerning your degree, transcript and teaching experience is sent to the MOE, who give a preliminary approval. They, in turn, issue a letter recommending you be given a non-immigrant visa.

[samster]

As I understand it, the paperwork concerning your degree, transcript and teaching experience is sent to the MOE, who give a preliminary approval. They, in turn, issue a letter recommending you be given a non-immigrant visa.

Everything is now outsourced to the Teachers Council. The MoE do not process paperwork anymore. Your school can clarify this. The TC will issue the waiver letters IF ALL docs are presented and complete. Any future non-B and/or WP can only be issued from immigration/labour dept if the TC can issue their letters. After 2 years, you need a culture course which they are not approving at the moment.

[LucidLucifer]

I'm a UK qualified teacher, so that exempts me from the culture course, correct?

[aidenai]

you need a culture course which they are not approving at the moment.

19 - 21 May 2012 by Suan Dusit in Bangkok.

I'm a UK qualified teacher, so that exempts me from the culture course, correct?

Nope.

[LucidLucifer]

I'm a UK qualified teacher, so that exempts me from the culture course, correct?

Nope.

Are you sure? Even for teaching in an international school?

Edited May 4, 2012 by LucidLucifer

[aidenai]

I'm a UK qualified teacher, so that exempts me from the culture course, correct?

Nope.

Are you sure? Even for teaching in an international school?

If you need a teacher license from The Teachers' Council of Thailand the next rules apply.

http://www.ksp.or.th/Khurusapha/en/userfiles/02%20Routes%20to%20teaching%20license.pdf

[LucidLucifer]

Thanks for the link.

I've been doing a little reading myself, but as always things have been about as clear as mud, with lots of contradictions depending on where you look.

In addition, they also must successfully complete a professional training course and pass

assessment of knowledge as follows:

(1) Thai language and culture

(2) Professional ethics

When they have passed the assessment according to (1) and (2), they can file an application.

So I will, at some point, according to this, need to do the Thai language and culture course. Do you know if the professional ethics part is included in that, or is it separate?

I do find it slightly ironic that I will need to do a professional ethics course. Just as one example I know, a Thai teacher friend has about 300+ ex-students as friends on his very public facebook page. Acceptable here, whereas in the UK i'd probably be pulled up in front of the GTC.

Edited May 4, 2012 by LucidLucifer

[aidenai]

(1) Thai language and culture

(2) Professional ethics

That's one course known as Thai Language, Culture and Ethics course.

[samster]

Thanks for the link.

I've been doing a little reading myself, but as always things have been about as clear as mud, with lots of contradictions depending on where you look.

In addition, they also must successfully complete a professional training course and pass

assessment of knowledge as follows:

(1) Thai language and culture

(2) Professional ethics

When they have passed the assessment according to (1) and (2), they can file an application.

So I will, at some point, according to this, need to do the Thai language and culture course. Do you know if the professional ethics part is included in that, or is it separate?

I do find it slightly ironic that I will need to do a professional ethics course. Just as one example I know, a Thai teacher friend has about 300+ ex-students as friends on his very public facebook page. Acceptable here, whereas in the UK i'd probably be pulled up in front of the GTC.

T.I.T.

[Loaded]

As I understand it, the paperwork concerning your degree, transcript and teaching experience is sent to the MOE, who give a preliminary approval. They, in turn, issue a letter recommending you be given a non-immigrant visa.

Everything is now outsourced to the Teachers Council. The MoE do not process paperwork anymore. Your school can clarify this. The TC will issue the waiver letters IF ALL docs are presented and complete. Any future non-B and/or WP can only be issued from immigration/labour dept if the TC can issue their letters. After 2 years, you need a culture course which they are not approving at the moment.

Scott is correct.

I think Samster is confusing initial non-immigrant Bs (needs MoE letter) from an embassy or consulate with non-immigrant B extensions (needs TCT letter). We issue paperwork for initial visas and the MoE letter is required. It slows everything down as we often wait 2 to 3 weeks for it. Extensions at the end of the contract for a further year need a waiver or license from the TCT. You don't need a waiver for an initial visa application at an embassy or consulate.

[CaptainSplod]

Hi Luci!

Did ya get yr visa OK - or are you still enjoying the local sights up there and hanging around for the final verdict?

Cheers

[LucidLucifer]

I should have added onto that that I will let you know if it has worked, and if not, why not.

Everything went as planned and my visa was issued......