274 replies to this topic
Posted 2007-01-21 19:01:58
 brickinthewall, on 2007-01-21 18:55:58, said:
In reply to the post about police checks, I email my local police and this is what they sent back to me, I have attatched forms also.
Hope this helps.
I write in connection with your request for information dated 18th January 2007 concerning:
Personal information.
Your request for information has now been considered and I am not obliged to supply the information you have requested. Such information is exempt under section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This exemption applies because the right given under the Act to request official information held by public authorities does not apply to personal data - any such requests become subject access requests under the Data Protection Act 1998.
In accordance with the Act, this letter represents a Refusal Notice for this particular request. This action cannot be taken as confirmation or denial that Nottinghamshire Police holds the information you have asked for.
Should you wish to know what information (if any) Nottinghamshire Police holds about you, or you would like confirmation that you do, or do not have a prosecution/conviction history, you must complete a Subject Access form. Payment of a £10.00 fee and proof of identification must accompany a completed application form. Such a form is enclosed.
Please note that once we have received your completed application the process to provide you with information can take up to 40 days.
I would like to this opportunity to thank you for your interest in Nottinghamshire Police.
Yours sincerely,
Jude Bentley
FOI Officer
Exactly what I got from my County Police.
G
Posted 2007-01-21 19:24:57
So, it would appear (but nothing's ever certain) that UK citizens residing abroad cannot get a CRB check, but they can get a Subject Access form for ten pounds. And how much, total, would it cost for the FedEx charges? And it takes how many weeks?
What about USA, NZ, Ireland, Australia, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Romania, Slovenia, Canada, France, Belgium, South Africa, China, Netherlands, Japan, and Korea? I only mention those, being familiar with farang who teach in Thailand, who are from those countries.
If Thais wish to protect their children and themselves from criminals, they need to train themselves in knowing how to check credentials. They cannot. They will not. It will not happen, except on a very sporadic basis. Also, educational authorities who already reject authentic degrees for the silliest of reasons ("It's written in Latin!") may reject perfectly authentic criminal record clearances.
Yes, some consulates and embassies abroad were saying that they required such checks, recently. What about Immigration Police, and the Ministries of Labour and Education? How official is it, actually?
If I started trying to get my FBI clearance tomorrow (consulate, fingerprinting, mailing it, waiting, paying, etc.), it would take about three months, if I was lucky. That's good timing, if I wanted to start teaching in May. But no sooner.
Posted 2007-01-22 05:05:31
brickinthewall, on 2007-01-21 23:14:50, said: Hi
Apparently you can have it sent by email or I think so as they give it as an option.
Not sure who you're replying to, but you definitely can't do the UK one by email. You can download the application form, but then it must be done by normal mail.
G
Edited by grtaylor, 2007-01-22 05:06:35.
Posted 2007-01-22 17:53:43
My friend just got his Visa in Laos, a lot of people were not told about this and were turned away. After he gave them the documents they were not even sure what to do because he was the first one to even provide it to them...
Posted 2007-01-22 18:47:49
I just read all 81 posts on this thread. I wish we could just delete all the 'wrong' opinions, but WE DO NOT KNOW. This is Thailand, the land of unspoken "I don't know." I wish we could post a pinned topic: How to Get a Criminal Record Check from Your Home Country," but we can't. The Brits have argued among themselves; two of the Americans seem to have hit a brick wall (yes, another brick in the wall; hey, teacher, leave those kids alone!).
I was wrong about the rumour I thought I heard, that the MFA met with its people and reversed its decision. Nobody knows, including the MFA, Immigration, MOE, MOL. Same as it ever was.
Like Steven, I've been checking other forums, and it looks just as bare of facts there, as well. But renewals of visas and WP's seem to not require police checks.
Good for Robski, refusing a job offer to work illegally. And the lass at the rajabat. Ask your interview committee to show you the work permits it got for the current farang teachers. See what they know about this idiotic, impossible snafu of a Catch-22. They won't know.
Posted 2007-01-23 09:10:51
I know someone who this week obtained a multi-entry non-immB from a UK Thai consulate for a teacher without needing any sort of police clearance. If you pm, I'll give you the name of the consulate.
Posted 2007-01-24 04:40:00
What a really negative thread. I am somewhat surprised that the Mods are so negative. Interesting question though is how many teachers will be left when the new school year starts. With an existing shortage adding on the raids will only make it worst. Does this push up salaries?  Maybe that would be a dream.
I spoke to a friend of mine who has been running a teachers agency for the past 5 years in Thailand. He told me last week that it is becoming impossible to satisfy everyone and that he is closing up shop at the end of this school term. The reasons he says vary. Firstly it is becoming very difficult to find teachers, with or without degrees. There are just not that many over the last 2 years and has been on a steady decline. Secondly, the schools are becoming impossible to deal with in what they require. For 30k they want a teacher who has a B.Ed and the more he tries to explain that it would be impossible, the more they sit in disbelief. They also cannot set their timetable or hours correctly and at times want teachers to come in on Saturdays because kids had sports or other activities during the week. Added on is the new rules which makes it near impossible to find anyone. Those who he has here are planning on leaving. They don't see the new rules making teaching in Thailand worth its while. I asked him where they are planning on heading and he said mainly Korea and China. He took out a page and wrote something to this effect down:
Thailand
30,000 Baht - Accommodation (4,000 Baht) = 26,000 Baht
China
5,000 Yuan (23,000 Baht) + Free Accommodation + free annual return airline ticket.
There is a lower cost of living in China I am told compared to Thailand. The schools in China also handle all the paperwork for the teachers. I look at Bangkok and I see over the past 3 years how many language centers have fallen off the map. It makes me ponder and I think that speaking English very well is going to be in the elitist domain. It will only be kids whose parents have money that would not be affected. Lower and middle class, I think they will have a rough ride.
mickeyrex
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Posted 2007-01-24 08:26:24
Just wanted to say that if someone has a degree and experience, they can easily find a position paying 8,000 to 10,000 RMB in China. All it takes is a bit of research. Also, most of the free housing will be apartments, not frickin' overpriced bedsits like the one I'm posting from. 
Posted 2007-01-25 22:59:50
Casanundra, on 2007-01-05 15:46:58, said: Well latest news in from several of my friends going through this process is that UK police reports are now required and that they have been basically told to go away and get one before applying for their non-imm B visa. They were originally told to get their police reports from the Bangkok police but that has now moved a goal post and it's back to your home country you must go. All of these guys are resident here in LOS and all of them recently got rejected from Penang for failing to have this police report.
If anyone is interested, I got my police report around August last year from the UK, it took about 8 weeks, cost me 10 pounds and all it said when it came back was "no police record found" and it was as non descript as you could get and no finger prints where required to obtain it either. But then again, i'm not here teaching English to kids so maybe all of this nonesense doesn't apply to me although my current employer did request this police record before extending my contract.
So, if anyone would like a genuine copy of a genuine UK police report to erhum maybe scan in and push through photoshop for a bit of creative engineering then you are more than welcome to have mine.
Just lifted this from immigration thread, looks like it going to take more than creative engineering !
"I spoke to the Thai consul in Hull yesterday as I already have my UK police check dated the 8th Jan but have suffered delay in my travel plans and will not arrive in BKK till late March when the document will be almost 3 months old.
His advice was to take it to Immigration right away before it is 3 months old.
He also told me to go to the BKK British embassy and get a letter from them regarding the monies I have banked here in the UK.
He also advised be to have the police check notarised!! This I do not understand as I tried to photocopy it and the result was that it will not copy without white lettering appearing in the new background saying FRAUD. Clever stuff eh.
What is the point in having an original document notarised????"
Incidently, I can just imagine the confusion this is going to cause when immigration or whoever start doing photocopies of this document
Posted 2007-01-25 23:18:49
roamer, on 2007-01-25 22:59:50, said: Casanundra, on 2007-01-05 15:46:58, said: Well latest news in from several of my friends going through this process is that UK police reports are now required and that they have been basically told to go away and get one before applying for their non-imm B visa. They were originally told to get their police reports from the Bangkok police but that has now moved a goal post and it's back to your home country you must go. All of these guys are resident here in LOS and all of them recently got rejected from Penang for failing to have this police report.
If anyone is interested, I got my police report around August last year from the UK, it took about 8 weeks, cost me 10 pounds and all it said when it came back was "no police record found" and it was as non descript as you could get and no finger prints where required to obtain it either. But then again, i'm not here teaching English to kids so maybe all of this nonesense doesn't apply to me although my current employer did request this police record before extending my contract.
So, if anyone would like a genuine copy of a genuine UK police report to erhum maybe scan in and push through photoshop for a bit of creative engineering then you are more than welcome to have mine.
Just lifted this from immigration thread, looks like it going to take more than creative engineering !
"I spoke to the Thai consul in Hull yesterday as I already have my UK police check dated the 8th Jan but have suffered delay in my travel plans and will not arrive in BKK till late March when the document will be almost 3 months old.
His advice was to take it to Immigration right away before it is 3 months old.
He also told me to go to the BKK British embassy and get a letter from them regarding the monies I have banked here in the UK.
He also advised be to have the police check notarised!! This I do not understand as I tried to photocopy it and the result was that it will not copy without white lettering appearing in the new background saying FRAUD. Clever stuff eh.
What is the point in having an original document notarised????"
Incidently, I can just imagine the confusion this is going to cause when immigration or whoever start doing photocopies of this document
That's why I haven't made it available, I noticed the Fraud bit when I copied my original as well.
I am not sure why you would need to go through the hassle of going to the British embassy for them to confirm your overseas money because once you have the visa O or B then it doesn't matter unless of course you are coming here as a retiree or to support your Thai wife and looking to extend it in some way.
As for the police report itself, well I heard back from several of my friends again today for an update on their position and they all got their police reports only to then be told by the labour office to get it notorised by the embassy, then to get it translated into Thai and then notorised again by the Thai police. so off they all went (3 of them) and did the first two parts but when they got to the Thai police station, they were told to bugger off as it was not their job to notorise the Thai version of the UK police report and sent them packing. So now they are in that wonderful position of the labour office pointing them towards the Thai police station and the Thai police sending them away again saying it's not their job. Catch 22.
You have to laugh.
Edited by Casanundra, 2007-01-25 23:20:34.
Posted 2007-01-25 23:55:24
Casanundra, on 2007-01-25 23:18:49, said: So now they are in that wonderful position of the labour office pointing them towards the Thai police station and the Thai police sending them away again saying it's not their job. Catch 22.
You have to laugh. Or you have to cry.
Posted 2007-01-26 00:29:25
Aqua, you can tell us your agency-friend's story and not understand why we mods are so negative? Go back and read your own post again, from a teacher's point of view!!!
In any "normal" country, economics would start to increase salaries- and even here, they will increase gradually- but not before there's a crisis. The schools that your agency-friend deals with will become believers when they open term with empty teacher desks (or more likely, unreliable illegal backpackers or non-Thai Asian teachers). No native-speaking B.Ed worth his salt would be working in Bangkok for less than 100K.
"Steven"
Posted 2007-01-26 09:02:36
PeaceBlondie, on 2007-01-25 23:55:24, said: Casanundra, on 2007-01-25 23:18:49, said: So now they are in that wonderful position of the labour office pointing them towards the Thai police station and the Thai police sending them away again saying it's not their job. Catch 22.
You have to laugh. Or you have to cry.
or do what Thais do - smile!
I think every Thai must be on drugs.
Posted 2007-02-05 09:44:18
OK, A Subject Access report for Brits
What about Americans? How can they obtain a police records clearance check thing? PB? Steven?
Posted 2007-02-05 10:46:20
There's a similar thread running in the visa section right now.
One of the problems for the Americans is going to be multiple jurisdictions- does a police report mean one from the local police in the place where you last lived? Or all the places you lived for a period of 10 years? State or city? FBI would only have jurisdiction over federal (interstate) crimes, so does that really cover the kind of crimes the process would be looking to avoid? Who knows?
I agree with PB that Thailand is not the best country to be planning to start work in for the next year or so.
"Steven"
Posted 2007-02-05 11:11:40
I think the law requires local jurisdictions to send all convictions to the FBI so that should be the single, central clearninghouse. When I checked the website (www.fbi.gov) it said you could get the background check with a proper set of fingerprints on a proper FBI card, available at the US embassy or consulate. But the card and form have to be mailed in, the prints have to be proper, and the FBI sends the report back by snail mail. I figured three months if you're very lucky, six months if you're semi-lucky.Then you have to imagine that the Thai authorities (school, MoL, MoE, the Ministry of Somtam) accept it. Who knows what an FBI document looks like?
Posted 2007-02-05 11:57:44
cheers guys.
If still in the US, I guess just go to your local police station.
Posted 2007-02-15 17:14:43
Hi, I was just wondering if there are any Irish nationals who have been through the police check procedure yet. I have got in touch with the Garda (Irish police) and they say they can not perform a police check or provide a certificate of good charecter for its nationals.
I am a registered nurse and so have already been cleared to work with children. Can my registration be used instead of a police check? Any suggentions?
Edited by garro, 2007-02-15 17:16:58.
menace1798
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Posted 2007-02-21 17:21:43
hi garro
im irish and im hoping to teach english in thailand. ive no idea about the ploice check, there must be some irish here who know or who've already done it.
is it possible for u to not work with children?
by the way is that the purpose of the check,if ur working with children?
if i wanna teach english and i cant get a police check, could i still teach adults?
hope someone out there has an answer to this q
Posted 2007-03-26 19:19:45
Ijustwannateach, on 2007-01-02 17:45:03, said: From what I understand on the document, these are internal domestic police checks- presumably to see if you've been arrested or penalised for any kind of offense in Thailand. This is not yet, from what I can see, the worst case scenario of having to figure out how to get back ground reports from one's home country in a timely and accurate way, and then worrying about how charges from one's youth will affect one's presence here.
"Steven"
Hi steve,
"Charges from ones youth" i have just got my police check back & i have a minor shoplifting offence which happened nearly 20 years ago!!!! Do you think it will give me any problems in getting a work permit to teach?????
Barry
Posted 2007-03-27 09:19:14
baz69er, on 2007-03-26 19:19:45, said: Ijustwannateach, on 2007-01-02 17:45:03, said: From what I understand on the document, these are internal domestic police checks- presumably to see if you've been arrested or penalised for any kind of offense in Thailand. This is not yet, from what I can see, the worst case scenario of having to figure out how to get back ground reports from one's home country in a timely and accurate way, and then worrying about how charges from one's youth will affect one's presence here.
"Steven"
Hi steve,
"Charges from ones youth" i have just got my police check back & i have a minor shoplifting offence which happened nearly 20 years ago!!!! Do you think it will give me any problems in getting a work permit to teach?????
Barry
Who knows? When you find out, you'll be one of the first. Please let us know how it works out, and good luck!
Posted 2007-03-31 16:57:58
Hello everyone,
May I please introduce myself, as I am new to the Forums. My name is Mike and I live in Lancashire, England. My age is 55 years. Following a messy divorce, I have decided to uproot and leave England for Thailand as a TEFL Teacher. I have been to Pattaya quite a number of times and like the atmosphere tremendously.
I visited last November until just before Christmas. It was on my return back to England that I decided I would love to ‘dig’ deeper into becoming a teacher in Pattaya or Chon Buri.
Over the Christmas period, I decided to return to Pattaya yet again. During the latter half of January, I was on my way back to Pattaya. Before leaving the UK, I had spent sometime writing emails and also online with two TEFL Schools in Pattaya. We had arranged, that when I returned, I was to visit them and travel to a few schools in Pattaya and Chon Buri and discuss further, my becoming a teacher in Thailand.
The arrangement, I duly accomplished. I made a few friends with the members of staff of the TEFL schools. We discussed at length, my opportunities, and rewards. The staff at t the schools I visited, were also very nice towards me. One school even wanted me to start there and then! Alas, I could not at that time. I am now back in England, about to return on a ‘one way’ ticket, on or around the 16th April. My Non Immigrant Visa –B, I have to collect from Hull on the 11th April.
I noted a post in the Teaching Forum mentioning the fact that a new law has been passed in Thailand to the effect that, a Police Clearance Form is now required and to be handed to the school concerned. This applies to all new TEFL Teachers. In the UK, you must allow up to 40 days to receive the Police Check, through the post. It is necessary to go to your local Police Station and request the form for completion. And return, duly signed by a person 'in good standing’ i.e.: a solicitor, teacher or a member of the church, similar to a priest, vicar etc. This must be returned to the same police station accompanied with a fee of £10. The school, in Thailand, then passes this form to the Thai Authorities, and they have a maximum time to do so, which is three months from the date of issue. I have yet to receive my clearance, with about 10 days to the final 40th day.
Time is now approaching rather quickly for my return, I am about to pay my deposit to the TEFL school, book my air ticket, collect my visa and countless other tasks to accomplish. I have elderly parents, alive, in the UK. I do have also two brothers who live here in the UK. It is now that I am experiencing ‘cold feet’ symptoms, which I am sure is natural and many of you, no doubt, experienced similar symptoms before your departure for Thailand on a ‘one way’ ticket.
I look to you, as 'new found’ friends, to assure me that I will be made welcome. I look forward to any advice, no matter how great or small, you may be able to offer me. And maybe, one day, meet, as I will initially be teaching in Chon Buri, and visiting Pattaya frequently. I am happy to discuss more if anyone wishes to email me.
Thank for reading my post.
Michael
Posted 2007-03-31 17:54:58
Michael, I've merged your post into this thread because this thread contains about as much as anyone knows about police checks, teaching, and visas- which is to say, not very much.
Posted 2007-04-01 03:24:55
TEFLMike, on 2007-03-31 16:57:58, said: Hello everyone,
May I please introduce myself, as I am new to the Forums. My name is Mike and I live in Lancashire, England. My age is 55 years. Following a messy divorce, I have decided to uproot and leave England for Thailand as a TEFL Teacher. I have been to Pattaya quite a number of times and like the atmosphere tremendously.
I visited last November until just before Christmas. It was on my return back to England that I decided I would love to 'dig' deeper into becoming a teacher in Pattaya or Chon Buri.
Over the Christmas period, I decided to return to Pattaya yet again. During the latter half of January, I was on my way back to Pattaya. Before leaving the UK, I had spent sometime writing emails and also online with two TEFL Schools in Pattaya. We had arranged, that when I returned, I was to visit them and travel to a few schools in Pattaya and Chon Buri and discuss further, my becoming a teacher in Thailand.
The arrangement, I duly accomplished. I made a few friends with the members of staff of the TEFL schools. We discussed at length, my opportunities, and rewards. The staff at t the schools I visited, were also very nice towards me. One school even wanted me to start there and then! Alas, I could not at that time. I am now back in England, about to return on a 'one way' ticket, on or around the 16th April. My Non Immigrant Visa –B, I have to collect from Hull on the 11th April.
I noted a post in the Teaching Forum mentioning the fact that a new law has been passed in Thailand to the effect that, a Police Clearance Form is now required and to be handed to the school concerned. This applies to all new TEFL Teachers. In the UK, you must allow up to 40 days to receive the Police Check, through the post. It is necessary to go to your local Police Station and request the form for completion. And return, duly signed by a person 'in good standing' i.e.: a solicitor, teacher or a member of the church, similar to a priest, vicar etc. This must be returned to the same police station accompanied with a fee of £10. The school, in Thailand, then passes this form to the Thai Authorities, and they have a maximum time to do so, which is three months from the date of issue. I have yet to receive my clearance, with about 10 days to the final 40th day.
Time is now approaching rather quickly for my return, I am about to pay my deposit to the TEFL school, book my air ticket, collect my visa and countless other tasks to accomplish. I have elderly parents, alive, in the UK. I do have also two brothers who live here in the UK. It is now that I am experiencing 'cold feet' symptoms, which I am sure is natural and many of you, no doubt, experienced similar symptoms before your departure for Thailand on a 'one way' ticket.
I look to you, as 'new found' friends, to assure me that I will be made welcome. I look forward to any advice, no matter how great or small, you may be able to offer me. And maybe, one day, meet, as I will initially be teaching in Chon Buri, and visiting Pattaya frequently. I am happy to discuss more if anyone wishes to email me.
Thank for reading my post.
Michael
Hi
Posted 2007-04-01 12:33:14
Mike, every year there's at least one absurd rumour or absurd tenative requirement from one bureau or another of the ministries of labour, foreign affairs, education, or interior (they have the immigration police that actually administer visas in-country). The police check is the latest absurd boondoggle, plus rumours of needing a B.Ed. to teach conversational English to children in the provinces' rural schools.
If you can't bring the police check with you, see if one of your brothers can send it to you in the post (which isn't fully reliable). Other than Hull oddly enough, few consulates or agencies have really required a police clearance, and they haven't the foggiest idea how it's done, or what a proper clearance looks like, etc. When you get here, there's no telling if anybody will care to see it.
But do bring whatever proof you can of university accomplisments, like an original degree, sealed transcripts of your academic record, special course certificates, etc. Good luck.
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