well i 100% agree with you on your last post

they are not entitled nor allowed to keep your passport

Yes Just showed up at the Labor Dept. with my contract and letter of intent to hire from the school, and "bingo" -- work permit issued for the 3,100 baht fee. No other questions asked.

Of course, now you realize why it's so easy for the John Karrs of the world to infiltrate a prestigious international school in Bangkok and have direct contact with his potential victims. Under this system (or lack of system) the riff-raff which gets hired paints a bad picture/reputation that the rest of us have to fight constantly

Although I've had it easy, I really wish it wasn't that way. I sincerely wish someone had even taken a short peek at my more than 30 documents I brought to the interviews and government offices (immigration/labor).

Until Thailand takes responsibility for its children, we will have to continue to play this charade.

Karr was qualified

so why don't you either

stop working

get legal

or <deleted> off

Well, im working on getting legal as the language school i work for on the weekends is going to supply all the doccuments I need, the only problem i have with them and another reason for not applying for a work permit in the past is that if they get me a work permit they will keep my passport. I dont know the logic behind why they will only get me a work permit if i let them keep my passport. Personally, Id rather have my passport in my posession than have a work permit, but ifs that what ive gotta do to get a wp, then thats what ill do.

And just because a teacher is legal, doesnt make them a better asset for the school and Thailand. There are many alcoholics, drug users, partiers, sex tourists and so on that have work permits, but they are always late to work, taking sick days, working with hang overs, sleeping on the job and so on, so just because you have a WP dosent mean you are making a meaingful contribution to Thailand if you really a alcho or a sex tourist...............

No they won't!

It looks\like not only you are illegal but so is the school.

Get trained, get qualified and get a new school.