Police certificate

[Too]

Hello

I'm staying in Thailand now and am going to apply for a Non-B visa for teaching very soon. I'll probably go to Savannakhet in Laos to apply for one because

I heard that it's easier there. (Is this true?)

I've had all the documents ready except A Police Certificate.

Is there anyone that has got a Non-B visa for teaching done lately? Did they ask for this Police Certificate then? The Thai Army has been very strict in the

immigration rules now like cracking down on the visa-runners. I'd like to know about the updates.

Thank you in advance.

NB

1. This is what the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand says:

2.4 Non-Immigrant Visa Category “B” (Teaching) Foreigners who intend to take up employment as school teachers at the levels below university level in Thailand

must submit the following required documents:
- Passport or travel document with validity of not less than 6 months
- Completed visa application form
- Recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) of the applicant taken within the past 6 months.
- Letter of acceptance from employing institute or school in Thailand.
- Letter of approval from government agencies such as the Office of the Private Education Commission, the Office of the Basic Education Commission.
- Evidence of educational qualification such as diplomas or teaching certificates.
- School license or business registration, list of shareholders and school profile.
- Applicant’s resume.
- Police certificate verifying that applicant has no criminal record or equivalents or letter issued by authorised agencies in applicant’s country. (The requirement of the

submission of such police certificate is optional. The applicant must submit it if consular officer requests he/she to do so. This requirement is effective as from May 2007.)

2. This is what the website of Thai Embassy in Vientiane, Laos says:

For applicant who wishes to work for an academic institute; as full or part-time teacher, tutor or teaching assistant, documents required are;
1. Official letter from the Ministry of Education of Thailand, or other sub-authorities concerned, approving the employment of foreign academic personnel
2. Recommendation letter addressed to the Embassy (stating about the employment and visa application) and accompanied with the certified copy of the ID of the endorser
3. Employment contract
4. Form of the Employment Certification
5. Copy of registration certificate of the concerned academic institute
6. Copy of applicant’s academic certificate/record
7. Copy of the recent police clearance or certificate of no criminal conviction.
8. Copy of the previous/current work permit (if any)

3. The website of Thai Embassy in my country says that it depends upon the nationality.

[ubonjoe]

They do not ask for a police certificate in Vientiane or Savannakhet.

[Too]

Hello ubonjoe!

Thank you for your info.

We actually have a Filipino who teaches English at our school. When he converted his tourist visa into a Non-B visa for teaching in Bangkok

just a few months ago, he was requested to submit a police certificate, too, so he had to get his family in the Phlippines to go to the police station,

get a certificate for him and fax it to him in Thailand.

[OJAS]

if you are British and were asked for a police report from the UK, you would need to submit a subject access disclosure request to the police force in whose area you lived prior to moving to Thailand. Further info at http://www.acro.police.uk/subject_access.aspx

[ubonjoe]

Hello ubonjoe!

Thank you for your info.

We actually have a Filipino who teaches English at our school. When he converted his tourist visa into a Non-B visa for teaching in Bangkok

just a few months ago, he was requested to submit a police certificate, too, so he had to get his family in the Phlippines to go to the police station,

get a certificate for him and fax it to him in Thailand.

I can assure you it will not be asked for it in Laos. There have been many reports about this and no recent reports that it has changed.

I can see immigration asking for it but that is not the same as getting one at the embassy or consulate in Laos.

[Too]

Hello OJAS

I'm not British, but just asked an Englishman about this (he's lived in Thailand for almost a decade now on

a retirement visa). He answered that he had to submit a police certificate when applying for his visa in the UK

before coming to Thailand.

Hello ubonjoe

I set up this post because I do want to know about the updates, as you can imagine. I really hope they haven't yet

asked for a police certificate at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane or the Consulate in Savannakhet.

BTW, is it better and easier to apply for a visa in Savannakhet than in Vientiane because I heard that it'll get

very, very busy at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane? I don't want to wait in a long queue for hours, to be honest.

[ubonjoe]

Savannakhet is less busy and they do visas on the same day you apply now. Apply by 11 am and pick-up your passport at 3:30 pm.

[paz]

Hello OJAS

I'm not British, but just asked an Englishman about this (he's lived in Thailand for almost a decade now on

a retirement visa). He answered that he had to submit a police certificate when applying for his visa in the UK

before coming to Thailand.

That is for non-imm O/A visa only. All other visa do not require a criminal records certificate.

[Too]

Hello ubonjoe

That's good to know. I'll definitely go to Savannakhet to apply for a Non-B visa.

Hello paz

I talked about the Englishman just for your info. However, the Filipino teacher at our school did submit a police certificate to apply for a Non-B visa

in Bangkok, as I said. I really hope I don't have to in Savannakhet, to be honest.

I have two more questions to ask you now.

1. Do I need to prepare my resume?

2. I don't know anybody to be my Guarantor in Laos. What should I do with this?

Thank you.

[ubonjoe]

I don't see any requirement for a resume on the list for Vientiane.

Just leave the Lao guarantor blank on the application form.

[Too]

Hello ubonjoe

Exactly! I asked you about this just in case because you need to submit a resume to apply for a Non-B visa not only in Bangkok but in my country.

Thank you for your info as always!