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What are the visa implications for a teacher in Thailand without a degree?

Visa Rules Non-Degree Teaching Immigration Issues Work Permit Teaching in Thailand Special Lecturer Education Requirements

Feb 8, 2022

3 years ago

Naruenapang *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

***Teacher with non-degree situation

My boyfriend is a native speaker and now holding a work permit with the school until September 2022. His position is a special lecturer. Yesterday a thai teacher said there might be some problem about the visa and not sure he could continue the next semester as there is a new boss of immigration and new rules, however he will talk with the school and get back later.

We're quite concerned and confused.

Anyone know about this news at all?

Appreciate all your comments.

Thank you.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user expressed concern regarding their boyfriend's teaching position in Thailand, particularly about visa issues stemming from a lack of a university degree. Other community members explained that immigration has been strictly enforcing degree requirements for teachers due to previous abuses where individuals used fake degrees to obtain teaching positions. They clarified that while there are no new rules affecting his current work permit and position as a 'special lecturer', the potential for job termination exists if a parent complains due to his degree situation. Users advised that he should prepare for possible job loss and plan accordingly.

Benjamin ******

1. There are no new rules about getting a one year extension of stay based on employment. If he's a "special lecture" or whatever, he'll be fine.

2. I highly doubt the school is using an agent to get a backdoor visa/ extension of stay in Nakhon Nowhere. Being a "special lecturer" is a valid job.

3. There has been no changes to the work permit laws, and he can continue being a "special lecturer" as normal.

HOWEVER...

Thais do not like firing people directly, and try to pass the blame to another person. If this person works for an elementary or high school, and one of the parents found out he does not have a degree, the parent would threaten to pull the child out. I did that at my son's school. Unlike in the west, the parents pay for the child's education.

If I was your friend, I would assume he is getting fired, the school will try to blame the immigration office, and to make plans to leave in March/April when the school year is over.

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Naruenapang *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks

@Benjamin *****

I'll try to figure it out 👍

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Naruenapang *******

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Jean *******

Or they jusy want to fire him.

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Benjamin ******

Exactly!

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Benjamin ******

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John *******

Ocassionally, immigration will ask for a degree especially if the person is working at a government school because it is part of the requirement for working as a teacher. An agency is a bit different. That is why the word special is used. He needs to get a degree.

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Henry *********

I don't think are any "new" rules or a new Immigration boss. If he has a valid WP already and presumably an Extension of Stay based on work, I'd say he doesn't have to do anything until it's time to extend again.

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Benjamin ******

Billy Brown IT teacher is a legal job in Thailand and does not need a university degree

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Bobby ********

@Henry ********

. There is a new immigration boss who is looking at all "agency" sourced visas. If this visa holder does not comply with the immigration criteria, the visa may have been obtained under the table, which is why the school has indicated it can no longer extend

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Benjamin ******

I disagree with you on that one Bobby. Being a "Special Lecturer" (or "IT Teacher" or "Librarian" or whatever they want to call the non-degree holding teacher) is a valid job and can get a normal extension of stay at the immigration office, along with the work permit.

What may have happened is a farang parent may have discovered he did not have a degree, and complained to the school. In Thailand, parents pay full price for the child's education. Employers do not like firing employees in Thailand because of the culture, so the school is going to try and point the finger at some middle manager at an immigration office saying "no".

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Benjamin ******

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Naruenapang *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Henry ********

thank you so much 🙏 just this immigration thing always a nightmare to think of 😅

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Naruenapang *******

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Anthony *********

sounds like he doesn't have an actual degree, so either they are clamping Down or your bf is about to be asked to stump up a bit of cash to the tea fund 😃

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Naruenapang *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Anthony ********

yeah that's I wonder about.

he didn't need to show the degree, just diploma from high school with notarised from the embassy and all translation. Everything was going through strictly with the immigration.

Just his position isn't a 'teacher' that requires licenses etc as we know.

So this is special case so I'm looking for anyone who knows about this matter 😅😊

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Naruenapang *******

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Kool *******

For some time now they've only been giving teacher work permits to those people with university degrees certified as authentic by their university. From my understanding this happened because of all those that were buying fake degrees on KhaoSan Road, then taking a few day TEFL class and getting a job teaching so they could stay in Thailand and make some money, then after a short time leaving. This actually started before covid, but wasn't being uniformily enforced. Now it is.

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Naruenapang *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

thank you, I acknowledge about that. But now my bf has granted a work permit already without a degree as a special lecturer. No degree required from immigration.

Everything looking fine till the school mentioned about the changes thing that I don't know about. So maybe someone knows about the changes lately after New year. 🙏

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Bobby ********

@Naruenapang *********

. Possibly because the school used an agent to secure the visa as your bf did not meet the criteria. Now these agency agreements have come to an end, your bf may no longer be eligible

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Bobby ********

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