Prospects for teaching jobs in Kantharalak?

[Martyjustice]

If things don't pan out in K town, Ubon and Warin are 45 mins up the road. Plenty of schools and Universities for work and close enough to see the relatives on the weekend.

[Issangeorge]

I was refused in Sisaket, IssanGeorge but good luck to you.

A recent TV thread on the subject

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?/topic/808503-WP-possible-with-retirement-visa%3F

Maybe, I was just lucky, but lucky in three different provinces seems pretty lucky, more likely you were unlucky. When I first applied for a one year extension I asked for one based on marriage. When the immigration officer handed back my passport, retirement was stamped on it. I was quite upset because I wanted to get a WP for teaching. I explained this to her, but she said no problem, I could work with the retirement extension I had. I was sceptical, but she turned out to be right, I never had a problem. The last one was 4 years ago, things may have changed since then.

[Dorion]

lso, would you suggest using a law firm such as Siam Legal ($750 US) to go through the o-visa and marriage visa or is this a relatively easy thing to do on my own?

You can do it yourself without a problem. That law firm is not one I would recommend.

You can get the non-o visa based upon ,marriage before leaving the states without a problem. The consulate in New York city would probably be a good choice for you.

Then apply for the extension of stay (not a marriage visa) based upon marriage at you local immigration office during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry the visa will give you. You will need 400k baht in a Thai bank in your name only for 2 months or proof of an income of 40k baht by way of an income affidavit from the US embassy.

Thanks for the heads up regarding Siam Legal.

[Dorion]

If things don't pan out in K town, Ubon and Warin are 45 mins up the road. Plenty of schools and Universities for work and close enough to see the relatives on the weekend.

I would consider doing that except that we already have a nice house in my wife's village and I already get something of a pension from the NYC Dept. of Ed as well as social security. I'm really just looking to make some more money but also to keep my hand in teaching. Given the restrictions Social Security Admin places on working in foreign countries (a limit of 45 hours per month before one either loses the benefit (at least until full retirement) or the benefit is reduced - not sure which - part time work is beginning to look like the best option. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[Dorion]

OP. You can NOT collect social security if you work over 45 hours a month.

Thanks for this response as I was not aware of this restriction. I looked it up though on the Social Sec. Admin.(SSA) web site and it's unclear to me if I would lose all or a part of the Soc Sec benefit if I worked more than 45 hrs/month.

Here is what the SSA states:

"We withhold benefits for each month a beneficiary younger than full retirement age works more than 45 hours outside the United States in employment or self-employment not subject to U.S. Social Security taxes. It does not matter how much you earned or how many hours you worked each day."

It sounds like it would be a month-to-month situation whereby SSA would not issue a payment if someone worked more than 45 hours in a month but would renew payments if, for instance, only 44 hours were worked in the next month.

However, the wording, "employment not subject to US Security Taxes" complicates this statement for me because elsewhere on the SSA web site regarding foreign employment SSA says that many or even most work such as "tutoring" would be subject to US Social Security taxes. Based upon this language, it seems to me that I would be able to work more than 45 hours per month (although there is an annual wage earning threshold after which one's benefit is reduced) because the wages would be subject to social security taxes. Maybe you have some experience or knowledge about this and can enlighten me further. You almost need to be a lawyer specializing in social security law ti figure this out in a way that you could bank on it and not have problems down the road.

[lostinisaan]

You could contact AYC in Bangkok. They will hire you as a "substitute" teacher and pay 1000 baht per day, plus certain expenses, payable every week. Or hire you on contract at 30k per month, paid once a month.

But I would not trust being paid once a month, if I were you.

63 is not a barrier at all, with your credentials.

Thanks so much. I contacted AYC.

Dear OP,

There're some schools where you could easily get a job. Please do not go the agency way.way. Kantharalak belongs to Sisaket province and it's easy to be employed as a trainer, or a curriculum developer.

You do not even need to go the TCT way, bypass it and be employed as a trainer. Believe me, they need guys like you. DOL Sisaket does that for a few schools.As well does the Immigration.

A Non-O visa ( better based on marriage) would be the best option for you.But a Non-B based on employment wouldn't be a problem.

Santisuk's completely right. No problems at all to find a job there. Sisaket Immigration is very easygoing compared to others.

The school Santisuk was on about is an Anuban with an EP, but also an ordinary program.

Will call some people and send you a message tomorrow.

Cheers-

[Dorion]

I live in the Amphur. You would certainly be an attractive proposition. You would frighten the $hit out of the powers that be in the local schools having actual real live teaching experience and being a native English speaker (I presume)!

My 5 year old goes to the Catholic school Mariupatham and my 17 year old to the large state high school Kantharalak Whittaya. Class teachers form both of those schools have asked me in the past whether I would consider teaching English at their schools (I am not a qualified teacher, though I have a degree and actually did a lot of formal training in my career - not that this would help much in an unruly classroom of kids; I don't need the money or the commitment but I don't rule it out for all time).

Both schools are short as far as I know. Whittaya used to have a load of people teaching English, many of whom would pitch up at Pizza4U ('Norbert's place') at 5pm. I was told that there were at one time 35 teachers in Kantharalak teaching English (including many Philipnos). Seemed a ridiculaous number for a realtivel small Amphur town of 10,000 ish. We don't see anything like that many now - I think the money ran dry or the admin is knicking the funding or something

There is also a school (Damlong or some such) that I hear does a decentish job of teaching a small English programme (teaching in English for part of the day or some such). It's nothing like an International School but is spoken of quite well by an Aussie resort owner I met in Pizza4U and by a friend in a neighbouring village, albeit in the context of an expectation of rubbish generally. I think they had an experienced qualified teacher from the US, but have never come across him. Can put you in touch with the latter if of interest and the 'boys in the bar' will probably know which resort I talk of and where to find the Aussie guy (he's a few weeks on few weeks off guy with a business in the Philippines I recall).

Dave (retired guy from Seattle - again not a qualified teacher but had some job training experience I think), who frequents Pizza4U stopped teaching there a year or two back. You might ask him about the scene but I don't know the circs of his leaving and he's been struggling with a leg injury, so put your skeptical filter on just in case he gives it both barrels!

Good excuse to spend some time chatting up the local falang in Pizza4U. Many are Dads or grandads who would have a view. Norbert has a kid at school as well. My 17 year old (unoficially adopted from within extended family) won't even talk to me in English after 5 years together - such is the apparent confidence/quality that Wittaya imbues its kids with in English language!

Kantharalak needs you - don't waste your life travelling 120k or 160k a day (sorry Dilli ).

See, I resisted making a joke about whether Americans speak the English language all the way until the end!

I only go in the bar for a couple of hours every week or so, but please feel free to PM me and meet up there for a chat if you need any more orientation or a tour guide to the 'boys in the bar' !!

[Dorion]

Thanks for the insight. Looking forward to meeting with you and others there. I will likely try to get into the Whittaya High school - one of my daughters went there a few years ago for one year and she liked the school - she's now about to graduate from high school in NYC.

I live in the Amphur. You would certainly be an attractive proposition. You would frighten the $hit out of the powers that be in the local schools having actual real live teaching experience and being a native English speaker (I presume)!

My 5 year old goes to the Catholic school Mariupatham and my 17 year old to the large state high school Kantharalak Whittaya. Class teachers form both of those schools have asked me in the past whether I would consider teaching English at their schools (I am not a qualified teacher, though I have a degree and actually did a lot of formal training in my career - not that this would help much in an unruly classroom of kids; I don't need the money or the commitment but I don't rule it out for all time).

Both schools are short as far as I know. Whittaya used to have a load of people teaching English, many of whom would pitch up at Pizza4U ('Norbert's place') at 5pm. I was told that there were at one time 35 teachers in Kantharalak teaching English (including many Philipnos). Seemed a ridiculaous number for a realtivel small Amphur town of 10,000 ish. We don't see anything like that many now - I think the money ran dry or the admin is knicking the funding or something

There is also a school (Damlong or some such) that I hear does a decentish job of teaching a small English programme (teaching in English for part of the day or some such). It's nothing like an International School but is spoken of quite well by an Aussie resort owner I met in Pizza4U and by a friend in a neighbouring village, albeit in the context of an expectation of rubbish generally. I think they had an experienced qualified teacher from the US, but have never come across him. Can put you in touch with the latter if of interest and the 'boys in the bar' will probably know which resort I talk of and where to find the Aussie guy (he's a few weeks on few weeks off guy with a business in the Philippines I recall).

Dave (retired guy from Seattle - again not a qualified teacher but had some job training experience I think), who frequents Pizza4U stopped teaching there a year or two back. You might ask him about the scene but I don't know the circs of his leaving and he's been struggling with a leg injury, so put your skeptical filter on just in case he gives it both barrels!

Good excuse to spend some time chatting up the local falang in Pizza4U. Many are Dads or grandads who would have a view. Norbert has a kid at school as well. My 17 year old (unoficially adopted from within extended family) won't even talk to me in English after 5 years together - such is the apparent confidence/quality that Wittaya imbues its kids with in English language!

Kantharalak needs you - don't waste your life travelling 120k or 160k a day (sorry Dilli ).

See, I resisted making a joke about whether Americans speak the English language all the way until the end!

I only go in the bar for a couple of hours every week or so, but please feel free to PM me and meet up there for a chat if you need any more orientation or a tour guide to the 'boys in the bar' !!

[Dorion]

You could contact AYC in Bangkok. They will hire you as a "substitute" teacher and pay 1000 baht per day, plus certain expenses, payable every week. Or hire you on contract at 30k per month, paid once a month.

But I would not trust being paid once a month, if I were you.

63 is not a barrier at all, with your credentials.

Thanks so much. I contacted AYC.

Dear OP,

There're some schools where you could easily get a job. Please do not go the agency way.way. Kantharalak belongs to Sisaket province and it's easy to be employed as a trainer, or a curriculum developer.

You do not even need to go the TCT way, bypass it and be employed as a trainer. Believe me, they need guys like you. DOL Sisaket does that for a few schools.As well does the Immigration.

A Non-O visa ( better based on marriage) would be the best option for you.But a Non-B based on employment wouldn't be a problem.

Santisuk's completely right. No problems at all to find a job there. Sisaket Immigration is very easygoing compared to others.

The school Santisuk was on about is an Anuban with an EP, but also an ordinary program.

Will call some people and send you a message tomorrow.

Cheers-

Sounds great. Thanks so much!

[Dorion]

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lso, would you suggest using a law firm such as Siam Legal ($750 US) to go through the o-visa and marriage visa or is this a relatively easy thing to do on my own?

You can do it yourself without a problem. That law firm is not one I would recommend.
You can get the non-o visa based upon ,marriage before leaving the states without a problem. The consulate in New York city would probably be a good choice for you.
Then apply for the extension of stay (not a marriage visa) based upon marriage at you local immigration office during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry the visa will give you. You will need 400k baht in a Thai bank in your name only for 2 months or proof of an income of 40k baht by way of an income affidavit from the US embassy.

Very helpful. Thanks. Isn't it 400,000 in a Thai bank or 40,000/month or a combination of both?

No! The combination option is only for a retirement extension, not Marriage.

Thanks for that clarification. You people have been so helpful. After spending many hours researching Thai and US gov sites and various other resources, I still find holes in my knowledge of the basics regarding immigration to Thailand. Good to have such a valuable resource. I can see how easy it would be to get into some real problems had I not had such great people helping to pave the road ahead.

[NeverSure]

OP. You can NOT collect social security if you work over 45 hours a month.

Thanks for this response as I was not aware of this restriction. I looked it up though on the Social Sec. Admin.(SSA) web site and it's unclear to me if I would lose all or a part of the Soc Sec benefit if I worked more than 45 hrs/month.

Here is what the SSA states:

"We withhold benefits for each month a beneficiary younger than full retirement age works more than 45 hours outside the United States in employment or self-employment not subject to U.S. Social Security taxes. It does not matter how much you earned or how many hours you worked each day."

It sounds like it would be a month-to-month situation whereby SSA would not issue a payment if someone worked more than 45 hours in a month but would renew payments if, for instance, only 44 hours were worked in the next month.

However, the wording, "employment not subject to US Security Taxes" complicates this statement for me because elsewhere on the SSA web site regarding foreign employment SSA says that many or even most work such as "tutoring" would be subject to US Social Security taxes. Based upon this language, it seems to me that I would be able to work more than 45 hours per month (although there is an annual wage earning threshold after which one's benefit is reduced) because the wages would be subject to social security taxes. Maybe you have some experience or knowledge about this and can enlighten me further. You almost need to be a lawyer specializing in social security law ti figure this out in a way that you could bank on it and not have problems down the road.

Here's what you need to confirm. I believe that they will withhold SS just as you said, but that it will build up your benefits for later. SS is a more you pay in more you get system. I think you could increase your monthly amount later by having current benefits reduced while paying in more.

If you begin collecting at age 66.5 instead of 62, your benefits increase about 25%. If you wait until age 70 they increase about another 25%. If you begin collection early and then work and pay more in they reduce at the time and then increase due to paying more in.

Verify this, but I don't believe you lose long term by working, paying in, and having benefits temporarily reduced. I think you gain unless you die young which I hope isn't in your plans, LOL.

I got excellent and expert help just by calling SS. They had a number on their website. I got the equivalent of an answering machine but they called me back promptly with expert help.

Good luck in your ventures.

[kungpao]

It will build up benefits if you work but only if you pay and employer pay ssi tax?

[BKKSnowBird]

Your SS is based on 35 years of work unless you claim SSDI (less years are used depending on the age you became disabled).

The amount you get on those 35 years is for full retirement age (FRA). It is reduced if you take it at 62 and increased if you wait until 70.

Some workers have less than 35 years of earnings so working after retirement may replace $0s and increase their PIA (monthly benefit).

Working in Thailand will NOT increase PIA because you don't pay fica.

In fact, working over 45 hours in a non covered job will cause you to lose SS if under full retirement age. This is different than working in a job in the US were benefits are reduced after a certain amount. I think they came up with this rule so not to deal with exchange rates and verifing enployment status. Easy to do if working in the US but not so easy in Thailand. Tuturing "on the side" would be considered self employment.

Working in Thailand under 45 hours a month will not get you a WP so you will be working illegally in Thailand. You could work full time and not tell the SSA you are working but that is fraud.

You may get away with it but I would not risk Social Security fraud by trying to earn a few bucks.

[DILLIGAD]

Where does it say you must work 45hrs + p.m. To get a WP?

What about the WP"s for volunteers ?

[Dorion]

You could contact AYC in Bangkok. They will hire you as a "substitute" teacher and pay 1000 baht per day, plus certain expenses, payable every week. Or hire you on contract at 30k per month, paid once a month.

But I would not trust being paid once a month, if I were you.

63 is not a barrier at all, with your credentials.

Thanks so much. I contacted AYC.

Dear OP,

There're some schools where you could easily get a job. Please do not go the agency way.way. Kantharalak belongs to Sisaket province and it's easy to be employed as a trainer, or a curriculum developer.

You do not even need to go the TCT way, bypass it and be employed as a trainer. Believe me, they need guys like you. DOL Sisaket does that for a few schools.As well does the Immigration.

A Non-O visa ( better based on marriage) would be the best option for you.But a Non-B based on employment wouldn't be a problem.

Santisuk's completely right. No problems at all to find a job there. Sisaket Immigration is very easygoing compared to others.

The school Santisuk was on about is an Anuban with an EP, but also an ordinary program.

Will call some people and send you a message tomorrow.

Cheers-

Appreciate your assistance. Cool emoticon.

[Dorion]

Your SS is based on 35 years of work unless you claim SSDI (less years are used depending on the age you became disabled).

The amount you get on those 35 years is for full retirement age (FRA). It is reduced if you take it at 62 and increased if you wait until 70.

Some workers have less than 35 years of earnings so working after retirement may replace $0s and increase their PIA (monthly benefit).

Working in Thailand will NOT increase PIA because you don't pay fica.

In fact, working over 45 hours in a non covered job will cause you to lose SS if under full retirement age. This is different than working in a job in the US were benefits are reduced after a certain amount. I think they came up with this rule so not to deal with exchange rates and verifing enployment status. Easy to do if working in the US but not so easy in Thailand. Tuturing "on the side" would be considered self employment.

Working in Thailand under 45 hours a month will not get you a WP so you will be working illegally in Thailand. You could work full time and not tell the SSA you are working but that is fraud.

You may get away with it but I would not risk Social Security fraud by trying to earn a few bucks.t

Thanks BKK SnowBird. Good advice. My full retirement age is 66 after which, it seems, I could work as many hours as I want without jeopardizing my SS taken during early retirement. A guy at the Social Security Administration (SSA) told me about a year ago that I could earn up to $18,000/year before my SS benefit would be reduced. However, nothing seems certain to me about this situation of working as a US citizen in a foreign country during early retirement so I am going to contact the SSA again to try to nail it down more. I'll let you know what I learn. It may be that the SSA agent was solely referring to employment in the USA.

[BKKSnowBird]

There is a pdf you can download from the SSA site called something like "Receiving benefits outside the US - what you neec to know". It explains the foreign work test.

The 18k rule is only if working in the US. That does not apply to you. It is all or nothing and tied to 45 hours. When you hit FRA you can earn all you want.

[lostinisaan]

Dear OP,

Please check the inbox next to your username and read the message, please.

[Briggsy]

Be aware, when a Thai says, "part-time", it refers to what a European would call a full - time but temporary employment contract. A "full-time" contract is a permanent employment contract.

So, "full-time" and "part-time" do not refer to the number of hours per week in the Thai work vernacular.

This is yet another example of an English loan word that has a narrow and specific meaning in Thai not apparent to the native speaker.

[Dorion]

Be aware, when a Thai says, "part-time", it refers to what a European would call a full - time but temporary employment contract. A "full-time" contract is a permanent employment contract.

So, "full-time" and "part-time" do not refer to the number of hours per week in the Thai work vernacular.

This is yet another example of an English loan word that has a narrow and specific meaning in Thai not apparent to the native speaker.

Thanks Briggsy. Good info.

[Gumballl]

OP. You can NOT collect social security if you work over 45 hours a month

<edit> You are correct.