Warning for techer renewing visas

Post by **canuck-viking** » January 27, 2008, 10:33 pm

Just a warning to the teachers renewing a non-immigrant B visa. Apparently there are some changes coming. My boss was at Nong Khai immigration and was informed that teachers will need to do a test and obtain a teachers license. Apparently this will apply to all teachers. I have checked on www.ajarn.com forums and it looks legitimate-not a bar stool rumor. apparently teachers will need to attend a class for two weekends and do a course on educational psychology and Thai culture. It will cost 4000 baht to take the course according to sources. Right now it is unclear when this is effective or whether there will be any exemptions. As I stated its a new policy and many issues are unclear.

Post by **woody** » January 28, 2008, 5:00 am

I think that first popped its head up a few months back

Just how they will organize it is a big question

Post by **sparky** » January 28, 2008, 8:35 am

I am amazed at how far the Thai Government will go to make it difficult for foreigners. No one Malaysia and other Asian countries are getting retirees and teachers. They not only make it easy for give you full property rights and eliminate the hassles of 90 day check ins, renewals etc.

Post by **steadyjohn** » January 28, 2008, 12:25 pm

Tell me about it
I just had an unexpected trip to Laos last week
Nong Khai Immigration would not give my 90 day stamp without a teacher's license
You need to attend a 3 day course in Bangkok in March/April to obtain your license

1010
Johnny

Post by **canuck-viking** » January 28, 2008, 1:11 pm

Johnny: Just so I get this right. You were getting a new visa and they refused to give you the 90 day stamp? There is a new development. apparently you can contact the office for the teachers council (I believe) and they will give you a letter allowing you two years to obtain the teachers license. It is still REAL confusing.

Post by **Ba Bob** » January 28, 2008, 1:20 pm

Looking at the title of this post maybe its a spelling test?

Post by **aznyron** » January 28, 2008, 3:29 pm

it plain & simple it about the 4K fee nothing more they want to get in to your wallet as much as possible it does not affect me since I do not teach any thing I am a nut case but I am pretty good at smelling a rat in the rice barrel

Post by **canuck-viking** » January 28, 2008, 7:43 pm

An update to this confusing mess. I found out Nong khai immigration claims that they received a letter nearly two years ago about this new policy change. The school I work for was waiting for official notice of the rules etc but it never came. Am I surprised ? No--TIT!!!! I was at the office in Nong Khai in December and asked if any new papers were required but received nothing. It was on the bamboo gossip lines among school directors though. apparently this is a product of the Thai teachers council and all teachers will eventually need a license. the Thai teachers at my school have two years before they need to do the test.
Apparently there is an office in Bangkok where you can apply to have a letter giving you two years before you need to have the license. Today I found the the Thai teacher council website but it does not work in English. With all the severe problems in the Thai educational system I don't see how this will fix any. At worst it may make it harder to recruit teachers to teach here which should worry parents. PS Yes I saw the spelling mistake...

Post by **wilson_smith** » January 29, 2008, 11:20 am

Ba Bob wrote:Looking at the title of this post maybe its a spelling test?

=D>

Post by **marjamlew** » January 29, 2008, 2:24 pm

Ba Bob wrote:Looking at the title of this post maybe its a spelling test?

Or a grammar test.

Post by **arjay** » January 29, 2008, 4:51 pm

Canuck-Viking wrote:Just a warning to the teachers renewing a non-immigrant B visa. Apparently there are some changes coming. My boss was at Nong Khai immigration and was informed that teachers will need to do a test and obtain a teachers license

Canuck, there's always been a requirement to obtain a teacher's license, it's more a case of how quickly the school get round to applying for it on behalf of the teacher.

The little seminar/training course with test, was piloted about 3 years ago and which I took in Phuket, and they did say then that it would be a requirement for all new (foreign) teachers.

Post by **timthebrit** » January 30, 2008, 12:43 am

Or even a punctuation test marjamlew??

Post by **marjamlew** » January 30, 2008, 1:53 pm

Yeah Tim,
Shouldn't throw stones out of me glass house ha!!

Post by **Jing Jing** » February 3, 2008, 12:31 pm

Does anyone know of any locations in the NE that are going to offer the training program for foreign teachers on Thai culture and teacher professional code of ethnics? The Teachers Council of Thailand web site (ksp.or.th) list only the program at the Suan Dusit in BKK at a cost of à¸¿8,000. In addition to the à¸¿8,000 there is the cost of getting to BKK for two weekends plus hotel

Post by **Nick@AUA** » February 3, 2008, 1:33 pm

Bangkok and Phuket are the only places I know of that do the course.

Post by **Frankie 1** » February 3, 2008, 9:53 pm

So, if I understand it correctly...
Teachers who have a TEFL certificate but don't have a bachelors degree, can't extend or renew their b-visa anymore?
Because according to the Thai teachers council website, you need a bachelors degree to apply for that seminar/training course.
So, as from April, beacause I don't have a bachelors degree means that I can't get the seminar certificate, and that means that I can't get a B-visa extention?

Post by **izzix** » February 4, 2008, 4:09 am

that will hit those guys who bought their TEFL certs from the net !
but they could get a bogus bachelors degree also from the net instead ?

Post by **marjamlew** » February 4, 2008, 10:04 am

Farnkie,
The law has always required a bachelors degree plus telf for a teacher's license and a B visa. As is often the case it is the application of the law that is fluid. My advice is to get some sort of certificate in Dutch and tell them it's a science degree. I know this has worked for others.
It is also often the case that if you work in a government school and the school likes you and wants to keep you then this is what will happen even without any degree or tefl certificaite. TIT
Lew

Post by **marjamlew** » February 4, 2008, 3:37 pm

Another spelling stuff up! Sorry Frankie.
Lew

Post by **canuck-viking** » February 4, 2008, 8:29 pm

The situation has turned into a mess to put it mildly. It looks like they have opened a pandora's box. I have been following a discussion on the Ajarn.com site. Apparently there will be a culture course taught in Khon Kaen. Apparently this will apply to all teachers whether you work in a government school, private school, or language center. It used to be that if you worked in a government school you were exempt from this but this has ended. I heard that the applications for waivers for private schools and language centers have been stopped temporarily while the powers that be figure out their next move. I heard that there will be some meetings this week so things may change. Again most of my info comes via the internet so take with a generous dose of salt.