Volunteer Visa With Criminal Record

[danstarr]

Dear all,

I'm a British male and have visited Thailand many times as a tourist and would like to volunteer with a farming project in the north involving both manual work and some English teaching. I'd like to commit for 6 months to a year.

Am currently in the UK and I understand that I need a non-immigrant O visa. However, I have a minor drugs possession charge on my CRB check from 20 years ago; it was a mistake and is my only offence but will this preclude me from qualifying for a visa?

Any advice would be greatly received.

Dan

[David48]

What's a 'Volunteer Visa' ?

.

[Lite Beer]

A Non Imm O Visa for the purpose of working as a volunteer.

The crim record should not be a problem.

Don't forget that you also need a Work Permit whatever they may tell you.

[mickjn]

Do not tell them

[danstarr]

A Non Imm O Visa for the purpose of working as a volunteer.

The crim record should not be a problem.

Don't forget that you also need a Work Permit whatever they may tell you.

OK, would I apply for the work permit in the UK or upon arrival in Thailand?

[lopburi3]

You can only apply at Labor office inside Thailand and requires paperwork from employer. In the case of volunteer (and others) often they seem to expect people to work illegally and have no paperwork to supply. It will be the individual that could suffer so be careful.

[bangkokburning]

They will work him illegally - of course. All programs do this.

[Colabamumbai]

Get your visa in Laos or a country close to Thailand and there will be no criminal check, but maybe in your home country. Mai Bpen Rai... Don't worry. Work Permit/Labor office does not ask for such things.

[danstarr]

Get your visa in Laos or a country close to Thailand and there will be no criminal check, but maybe in your home country. Mai Bpen Rai... Don't worry. Work Permit/Labor office does not ask for such things..

Thanks for the replies so far. So does this mean that I can fly in and get the 30 days visa-on-arrival and then go to e.g. Laos to apply for the 'O' visa and work permit? Would I need to show a copy of my teaching certificate?

[Mario2008]

You get the non-O visa in the UK, with docuemtns fom the organisation where you will be volunteering for. Once in Thailand you apply for the work permit, again with documents from the organisation. make sure the organisation is willing to help yo with the work permit, many can't be bothered and will let you work illegally for them.

[Gone]

I hate to burst your bubble but it sounds like you will be teaching English but for a farming project correct? If this is the case it might be very difficult unless this project is huge and has their sheite together 100% paperwork wise etc. The reason is because the MOE gets involved then (Ministry of Education.)

The other problem you will run into is that you would need 1 WP for teaching and another for the labour part at the farm and again, unless this is a big organization then the chances of getting a WP for labour here in Thailand is very slim unless they are under a state of emergency.

[OJAS]

You get the non-O visa in the UK, with docuemtns fom the organisation where you will be volunteering for. Once in Thailand you apply for the work permit, again with documents from the organisation. make sure the organisation is willing to help yo with the work permit, many can't be bothered and will let you work illegally for them.

And, if a criminal check is a prerequisite to a non-O visa application, the OP will need to make a subject access request to his local police force. A CRB check is a specific requirement for teachers and others planning to work with children and vulnerable adults in the UK.

Further information about subject access requests is available at http://www.acro.police.uk/subject_access.aspx. The OP will particularly wish to note that his conviction will still show up even if it has now been “stepped down”.

[danstarr]

You get the non-O visa in the UK, with docuemtns fom the organisation where you will be volunteering for. Once in Thailand you apply for the work permit, again with documents from the organisation. make sure the organisation is willing to help yo with the work permit, many can't be bothered and will let you work illegally for them.

And, if a criminal check is a prerequisite to a non-O visa application, the OP will need to make a subject access request to his local police force. A CRB check is a specific requirement for teachers and others planning to work with children and vulnerable adults in the UK.

Further information about subject access requests is available at http://www.acro.poli...ct_access.aspx. The OP will particularly wish to note that his conviction will still show up even if it has now been “stepped down”.

Thanks for this info. I have a current CRB check as I am currently teaching in the UK but a subject access request, I'm sure, will not be a problem to get. However, does anyone think that even after supplying all the required documentation, they could still refuse me a visa based on the conviction?

[Soutpeel]

Thanks for this info. I have a current CRB check as I am currently teaching in the UK but a subject access request, I'm sure, will not be a problem to get. However, does anyone think that even after supplying all the required documentation, they could still refuse me a visa based on the conviction?

In theroy yes....but after 20 years you conviction is considered spent, even though there is a record..

[phl]

Not sure about UK, but in most other countries criminal record is sealed after 10 years. Even on applications to US or Oz, they ask about criminal record in the past 10 years only.

[mickjn]

Not sure about UK, but in most other countries criminal record is sealed after 10 years. Even on applications to US or Oz, they ask about criminal record in the past 10 years only.

I was told by a barrister too.All records esponged after 20 years.Great when I went to court and they bought up shit that happened 40 years ago.I didnt care in the end I beat them

[danstarr]

Not sure about UK, but in most other countries criminal record is sealed after 10 years. Even on applications to US or Oz, they ask about criminal record in the past 10 years only.

Anybody know what I'm likely to be asked during the visa application interview? Due to my work as a teacher and support worker I've always had to disclose the offence and I've never been refused a job on account of it and have good references; however, Thai Immigration could easily refuse me entry because of this! OK, so what do I do - apply in the UK or go to Thailand, get 30 days and then apply for the non-immigrant visa in Laos?

[Soutpeel]

Not sure about UK, but in most other countries criminal record is sealed after 10 years. Even on applications to US or Oz, they ask about criminal record in the past 10 years only.

I was told by a barrister too.All records esponged after 20 years.Great when I went to court and they bought up shit that happened 40 years ago.I didnt care in the end I beat them

You misunderstood what you was told by the lawyer....in the UK records are never exsponged or sealed..after 10 years a conviction may be are considered "spent"....but this does not mean it comes off your record, details of the offsense are still there and always will be..

[lopburi3]

You do not appear to qualify for anything but a tourist visa entry without employment paperwork so a tourist visa or visa exempt entry would be required (remember visa exempt may require onward ticket within 30 days for airline to allow boarding).

[ubonjoe]

Anybody know what I'm likely to be asked during the visa application interview?

For the visa application there is no interview. Just turn in your application with supporting documents, passport and money for fee.

Suggest you use one of the honorary consulates in the UK such as Hull. You can do a mail in application to them.

[phl]

Not sure about UK, but in most other countries criminal record is sealed after 10 years. Even on applications to US or Oz, they ask about criminal record in the past 10 years only.

I was told by a barrister too.All records esponged after 20 years.Great when I went to court and they bought up shit that happened 40 years ago.I didnt care in the end I beat them

You misunderstood what you was told by the lawyer....in the UK records are never exsponged or sealed..after 10 years a conviction may be are considered "spent"....but this does not mean it comes off your record, details of the offsense are still there and always will be..

Having a criminal record myself, i am certain that it is "sealed" after 10 years. It does not mean its erased, however it is not accessible without a court order. If police pull you over and look you up on the system, the record will not be shown( i am referring to police in the West, the ones who actually have computers on board:) )

The "spent" time is the probation period which is usually set at 2 years either after doing jail time or as part of sentencing, though could be set at 5 years

After 10 years i can apply to join police force and do not need to disclose my record, unless the question is asked of any convictions in the past 20 years..

[danstarr]

Not sure about UK, but in most other countries criminal record is sealed after 10 years. Even on applications to US or Oz, they ask about criminal record in the past 10 years only.

I was told by a barrister too.All records esponged after 20 years.Great when I went to court and they bought up shit that happened 40 years ago.I didnt care in the end I beat them

You misunderstood what you was told by the lawyer....in the UK records are never exsponged or sealed..after 10 years a conviction may be are considered "spent"....but this does not mean it comes off your record, details of the offsense are still there and always will be..

Having a criminal record myself, i am certain that it is "sealed" after 10 years. It does not mean its erased, however it is not accessible without a court order. If police pull you over and look you up on the system, the record will not be shown( i am referring to police in the West, the ones who actually have computers on board:) )

The "spent" time is the probation period which is usually set at 2 years either after doing jail time or as part of sentencing, though could be set at 5 years

After 10 years i can apply to join police force and do not need to disclose my record, unless the question is asked of any convictions in the past 20 years..

So if I apply to Hull, do I have to disclose the offence on my visa application or will they refuse me if I don't disclose and they run a check and discover it?

[phl]

So if I apply to Hull, do I have to disclose the offence on my visa application or will they refuse me if I don't disclose and they run a check and discover it?

you just answer the questions asked and if it does have a question about criminal activity's, it usually in the past 5 or 10 years., yours is way past that, so you do not have to say yes or give any info.

[Soutpeel]

Not sure about UK, but in most other countries criminal record is sealed after 10 years. Even on applications to US or Oz, they ask about criminal record in the past 10 years only.

I was told by a barrister too.All records esponged after 20 years.Great when I went to court and they bought up shit that happened 40 years ago.I didnt care in the end I beat them

You misunderstood what you was told by the lawyer....in the UK records are never exsponged or sealed..after 10 years a conviction may be are considered "spent"....but this does not mean it comes off your record, details of the offsense are still there and always will be..

Having a criminal record myself, i am certain that it is "sealed" after 10 years. It does not mean its erased, however it is not accessible without a court order. If police pull you over and look you up on the system, the record will not be shown( i am referring to police in the West, the ones who actually have computers on board:) )

The "spent" time is the probation period which is usually set at 2 years either after doing jail time or as part of sentencing, though could be set at 5 years

After 10 years i can apply to join police force and do not need to disclose my record, unless the question is asked of any convictions in the past 20 years..

http://www.thevillage.org.uk/spentconvictions.htm

As detailed in this link a UK conviction is never "sealed".....but once the conviction is spent, you are not legally required to disclose the fact, but this doesnt mean it goes "away" and in some cases full disclosure is required, spent conviction rule is only applicable under UK law and say in the case of applying for a visa in the US you may need to make a full disclosure as the US doesnt recognise a "spent" conviction.....in the case of the OP, guess he would need to determine whether Thailand does or doesnt recognise a spent conviction and if the OP is required to provide a disclosure then his conviction would be detailed there

[Soutpeel]

So if I apply to Hull, do I have to disclose the offence on my visa application or will they refuse me if I don't disclose and they run a check and discover it?

Guess it depends on how the question is asked.... have you been convicted of a criminal offense ?....or have you been convicted of criminal offense in the last 20 years ?....

If you did this in the UK guess you would be within your legal right to say no under the spent conviction law, .Would an embassy check under their own steam on a visa application ?...most likely not, but if they asked you to provide a disclosure then it would come up and you could then cite UK law "The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974" and state in the UK you are not legally required to disclose this conviction

[phl]

http://www.thevillag...convictions.htm

As detailed in this link a UK conviction is never "sealed".....but once the conviction is spent, you are not legally required to disclose the fact, but this doesnt mean it goes "away" and in some cases full disclosure is required, spent conviction rule is only applicable under UK law and say in the case of applying for a visa in the US you may need to make a full disclosure as the US doesnt recognise a "spent" conviction.....in the case of the OP, guess he would need to determine whether Thailand does or doesnt recognise a spent conviction and if the OP is required to provide a disclosure then his conviction would be detailed there

you may well be right, as i said in my first post, i am not familiar with UK laws and regulations.

In Australia(where i am from) my record is now sealed and not accessible by street cops or anyone else, unless my consent is given or court order is issued

[partington]

So if I apply to Hull, do I have to disclose the offence on my visa application or will they refuse me if I don't disclose and they run a check and discover it?

There is no way an honorary consulate can run any sort of criminal check, unless to compare your name with a presupplied list of terrorists on a watch list.

Applications for non Imm O visas are handled on the spot if you visit, say, Hull, and take 15 min or so. There is no way a check of any kind could be done in this time, and there is no way that the civilians in the consulate have any access to UK police records.

[transam]

So if I apply to Hull, do I have to disclose the offence on my visa application or will they refuse me if I don't disclose and they run a check and discover it?

There is no way an honorary consulate can run any sort of criminal check, unless to compare your name with a presupplied list of terrorists on a watch list.

Applications for non Imm O visas are handled on the spot if you visit, say, Hull, and take 15 min or so. There is no way a check of any kind could be done in this time, and there is no way that the civilians in the consulate have any access to UK police records.

Phew, load off my chest.

[Soutpeel]

So if I apply to Hull, do I have to disclose the offence on my visa application or will they refuse me if I don't disclose and they run a check and discover it?

There is no way an honorary consulate can run any sort of criminal check, unless to compare your name with a presupplied list of terrorists on a watch list.

Applications for non Imm O visas are handled on the spot if you visit, say, Hull, and take 15 min or so. There is no way a check of any kind could be done in this time, and there is no way that the civilians in the consulate have any access to UK police records.

They will not run a check, but they could ask for a disclosure in certain cases...ie if someone was applying for an O-A type visa then a "police letter" is a requirement