Original Degree Requirement

[thaiconf]

Hi there,

I was wondering if someone could help me regarding the requirement of an original degree for a work permit. Aside from being uncomfortable with bringing my only original copy of my degree to Thailand, I don't think it will be possible as I am travelling until my arrival there and will not be in my home country. Duplicates are a huge expense to someone on my budget.

I've had a bit of feedback on other websites regarding this and many people have said copies of the degree will suffice and they got their work permits no problem.

I will have my TEFL certificate in hard copy, my transcripts are via online verification now so I can print these and the document number given with the print off will be sufficient to verify their authenticity. I'm just wondering what the likelihood of it all going belly up will be?

This is the only country I've ever decided to work in that has required an original degree cert so I'm a bit apprehensive about it.

If anyone could give me a bit of feedback on what they've experienced I'd be very grateful.

[ubonjoe]

A certified copy should be acceptable.

[thaiconf]

When you say certified copy, do you mean an apostilled version? Or just one that is stamped by the college? Sorry, I'm just uncertain as to what counts as certified to Thailand! :)Thanks for the reply.

[smileplur]

I certainly needed my original. They told me in no uncertain terms that they wouldn't accept anything other than the original. If I didn't have it, I wouldn't have the job I have. That being said, I have only had to produce it once. I am fairly certain that it was for the processing of my work permit.

[Phatcharanan]

My original was required when obtaining a WP in Bangkok although that was 2 years ago.

Edited September 12, 2013 by Phatcharanan

[schondie]

Before I had my original sent out here with FedEx I had a copy that had been certified by a solicitor (lawyer) and used that. The school owner understood what it was and talked to the WP department.

I had to insure the degree for 1600 pounds, the cost of a replacement at the time, as I really didn't feel happy about sending it out here. If you do have it sent here, use a good courier service but I'd advise against using registered post even with insurance.

[Scott]

Years ago, I got my visa and work permit without even a copy of the degree. I have absolutely no idea where it is. I only had a copy of my transcript.

More recently, we have a teacher who was given a Visa and Work Permit based on ONLY the transcript. He owes money to his University and they will not issue the actual degree until his bills are settled. His transcript was an original, though.

If you are from the US, the school can verify your degree through the National Clearinghouse. That along with a copy of your degree and your transcripts should be sufficient.

Do bear in mind that the little person sitting at the desk with the stamp has a whole lot of power in these matters.

[Colabamumbai]

Have had 4 work permits copy of degree was fine. Although I do have the original here, never asked for it.

Same with diploma.

[thequietman]

Maybe a certified stamp from your embassy would suffice. Maybe someone on here can confirm that.

[otherstuff1957]

I lost my original degree years ago. I have a transcript from my university that I use instead and it has been accepted several times.

[Scott]

I lost my original degree years ago. I have a transcript from my university that I use instead and it has been accepted several times.

That has been my personal experience years ago and it has been my experience a couple of years ago with a new teacher that we hired.

[10120]

"Certified copy", meaning that you copy your original certificate, and sign the copy. Clearly an extremely safe verification technique. Guess it wouldn't matter if the certificate read DIsney University and signed by Dr Duck. Kept me going for 26 years here.

Edited September 17, 2013 by 10120

[Rhys]

A photo copy of my diploma was all that was required.

[isawasnake]

If you are going to be applying for jobs, you'd better have this. It is just such an easy way to get scratched off an otherwise viable list. You definitely need it unless you don't mind being paid 1,000 dollars a month, which is about 40 dollars per working day. Anyway, that is my advice.

[angsta]

You need your original certificate.

1600 for a replacement? Are you sure about that?

[Scott]

You do not need the original certificate. We have had countless teachers who did not have their original certificate, some had a photocopy only and many, including myself, had no certificate at all. Everyone did have an original or a copy of their transcript and a verification of the degree.

[wayned]

It depends on the labor office that you are dealing with. When I taught in Nakhon Sawan they required the original. That was a chore as I graduated in 1966 and the school didn't keep electronic records prior to 1972 so it was on microfish buried in some basement. Amazingly I got it after paying a non-refundable $200 and it only took about a month. The labor office kept it to be sure that it was not a copy and when I went back a month later and demanded that they return it the officer took it out of the same drawer in his desk that he had put it in two months past.

[thequietman]

You do not need the original certificate. We have had countless teachers who did not have their original certificate, some had a photocopy only and many, including myself, had no certificate at all. Everyone did have an original or a copy of their transcript and a verification of the degree.

Verified how, scott ?

[Scott]

If you graduated from a school in the US, then there is a National Clearinghouse that can verify a degree. If not then you will have to have a letter from the school (or an email). It is generally the responsibility of the school employing you to write to your University for a verification.

The Labor Office will ask for the original degree. If you don't have it, then you don't have it. In my experience, everyone who has not had a degree, but had a transcript and a verification of the degree, has gotten a work permit. That has happened in 3 different provinces.

I don't want to get into an argument with anyone because we all know that at the end of the day, what the person behind the desk says it how it goes. The person with the stamp holds all the power.

[isawasnake]

Well, of course it depends. Point being, if you have it they can't deny you. If you don't, they can. Next question