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What are the requirements for certifying a UK criminal record check for a Non-B visa in Thailand?

UK criminal record checkNon-B visaThai Ministry of Foreign AffairsVisa application processDocument certificationExpat experiencesUK Embassy in BangkokPolice background check
Jul 26, 2018
6 years ago
Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Recently posted in a teachers forum, third party info. However, I recently attempted to get my criminal record check certified at the U.K. Embassy in Bangkok last month - they point blank refused and said that it needs to be done by a third party in the UK. This wouldn’t be enough for the MFA to certify it anyway, so if this is true it’s an impossible requirement to meet (at least with a UK document anyway).
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion centers on the requirements for certifying a UK criminal record check for a Non-B visa in Thailand. Many users express frustration with the UK Embassy in Bangkok, which refuses to certify such documents and insists they must be processed in the UK. This leads to concerns about the impracticality of meeting Thai government requirements, especially in relation to employment in Thai schools. Various commenters share experiences and insights on the steps needed to obtain the proper certifications, including the involvement of third-party certifications in the UK and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand.
Zack ******
Good!
6 years ago
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Tod *********
Keep this ON topic. >:(

This isn't a debate about what demographic thai government schools want to employ. :/

This is about the need IN Penang to have a police background check stamped by the MFA or your consulate to get a Non-B for teaching.
6 years ago
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Aimee *******
Does it really need to be stamped by the MFA? Any update or further info on this?
5 years ago
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Aimee *******
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Tod *********
I believe the MFA stamp they're asking for is the one that looks like this. It's not hard to take a document from the UK in to the MFA office and get this stamp.
6 years ago
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Keith **********
@Biff ******
 That is exactly what I was thinking - remembering the rigmarole I had to go through to get all my documents notarised, certified, legalised and red ribboned last year
6 years ago
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Biff *******
Just a thought. Maybe the embassy will stamp it once it's been through the Milton Keynes rigmarole?
6 years ago
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Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 I tried the brute force method, I took everything I had to the translation agency (MFA agent etc) and challenged them to translate/stamp whatever, anything and everything (prior to my embassy appointment) and then did the same at the embassy. Came away with the affirmation, passport and driving licence. As I said they refused everything else including my criminal record check and birth certificate. I’m just wondering if the MFA will accept a document certified in Milton Keynes.. I will be trying that now. If they don’t that really is a shut door at Penang (for UK applicants anyway).
6 years ago
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Tod *********
@Darren ********
 ahh, I didn't know they would only put that stamp on something that already had an embassy seal on it :/
6 years ago
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Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I got that stamp on my affirmation, passport and driving licence - but only after the embassy had stamped them.
6 years ago
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Darren *********
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Ron *******
I've got the memory of an old Chang lol
6 years ago
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Teck ***********
Milton Keyes? Thought I saw that somewhere. Ah here it is, from the British Embassy here in Bangkok. I didn't even get past the Embassy gates ^_^
6 years ago
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Teck ***********
Thanks
@Tod ********
. I miss out that it is a criminal check that Darren Laycock is applying.
6 years ago
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Tod *********
@Teck **********
 once you have the certification from the Thai Consulate in the UK, not everything has to go to the MFA office here for their stamp.
6 years ago
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Teck ***********
Darren Laycock After certifying by the 3rd third party, it goes to the Thai Embassy in London before making its way back to Thailand whereby U bring it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chaengwattana. (See the attached excerpt from the British Embassy website in the other comment)
6 years ago
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Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Teck **********
 thank you.
6 years ago
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Tod *********
They had this posted a while back
6 years ago
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Tod *********
@Darren ********
 I think you could take a background check from the UK to the MFA office out at Chaengwattana and get them to put the 'stamp' on it like they do with affidavits of income from abroad notary letters for the immigration offices that require it
6 years ago
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Teck ***********
Oh yes they will
@Darren ********
 ^_^
6 years ago
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Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Superb. So the MFA should accept a UK certified criminal check then.
6 years ago
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Darren *********
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Ron *******
It's much the same as birth and i believe UK marriage certificates. They need to be certified back in the UK if you need them doing at the government department in Milton Keynes. They won't do them here. And not forgetting, anything they will do here needs an appointment and can be weeks to get a slot. They are pretty busy in Bangkok working there 3 day week!
6 years ago
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Ron *******
17 hours a week. That's not even part time working 😂
6 years ago
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Ron *******
Tuff old hours they have to put in. No wonder its weeks for an appointment!
6 years ago
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Ron *******
Darren, they have got worse. They do very little for us. They even brought a paid to use email system in for certain enquirys. I think its £5.49 per email answer.
6 years ago
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Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ron ******
 same. Maybe it’s time the UK embassy stepped up their level of support, they have the resources.
6 years ago
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Ron *******
I doubt many people still have there original one. Mines a copy and about 25 years old. It was already faded as it was a copy. Its not very good now lol
6 years ago
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Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes that’s the place, Milton Keynes. And yes, I tried to get my birth certificate done at the embassy (I tried everything lol) and they said it’s not an ‘original document’ I.e. not as old as you.. I actually said I have the original. Still no.
6 years ago
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Darren *********
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Teck ***********
The British Embassy in Bangkok doesn't certify UK University certifications as well. Anybody has experienced this and any option other than sending them to UK to do so?
6 years ago
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Teck ***********
Cheers Darren. Do they need you to certify your educational certificates for your work permit renewal? This new certification requirement just kick in June 2018. See the below excerpt from the British Embassy Bangkok website.
6 years ago
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Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Teck **********
 don’t give up hope, as you’ve seen things vary from consulate to immigration office. Push hard and stay informed, it’s all you can do. Good luck.
6 years ago
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Teck ***********
Darren Laycock Criminal record check for a work permit renewal??? The same piece of paper again and again. Unbelievable...
6 years ago
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Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Teck **********
 I haven’t got my criminal record check certified by the third party in the UK (I have the details my embassy gave me on file somewhere) it states ‘by your consulate or embassy’ I’m going to send it back to the UK anyway for certification their (it’s not a consulate/embassy) but I’m switching to a visa based on my marriage now anyway. However, I’ve just been told that I need both my criminal record checks now for the renewal of my work permit - hopefully I won’t need the UK one certified by my embassy.
6 years ago
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Teck ***********
Darren Laycock How about the certification of your educational certificates? Do U have a document from the UK embassy stating a 3rd party certification for your criminal record?
6 years ago
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Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
It actually states ‘by their consulate or embassy’ so sending the document(s) back to the UK may be a futile act anyway. I was told that my criminal record certificate could potentially be ‘fraudulent’ (ironic) - it has a unique ID number and a QR scannable code along with a contact number for verification.. extremely easy to verify as a current, valid and original document. 😕
6 years ago
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Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes, I guess this kind of takes the discussion back to the issue of document certification in relation to visa applications.
6 years ago
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Darren *********
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Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
It’s a closed door.
6 years ago
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Ron *******
No problem 😊
6 years ago
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Joseph *****
sorry
6 years ago
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Ron *******
We know that. The OP is saying the British Embassy refuses to do it.
6 years ago
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Joseph *****
read the bottom part
6 years ago
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Joseph *****
6 years ago
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Ron *******
That's not a surprise. The UK Embassy are renowned for not putting there signature to a host of different things. Lots of stuff has to be sent to the UK.
6 years ago
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Ron *******
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