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What happens if my personal police clearance record is not immaculate when applying for an ED visa in Thailand?

ED visavisa applicationpolice clearanceThailand visa rulesThai immigrationexpat adviceSurat Thani language schools
May 6, 2017
8 years ago
Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi everyone, one of the papers required to apply for an ED visa is a personal police clearance record (it's been recently added to the list of documents needed).

Does anyone know what criteria applies if the record is not "immaculate" ? Will the visa be denied? Thanks
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The recent requirement for a police clearance record when applying for an ED visa in Thailand has raised concerns among expats, especially regarding the implications of having a less than perfect record. While many suggest obtaining a clearance from Thai authorities or from one's home country, there is uncertainty about how a blemished record impacts the visa approval process. Some users discuss their experiences and share insights on obtaining these records, while others question the fairness of such requirements, particularly when it seems to only affect certain visa types.
Scott ********
It's a Thai clearance checking if u had any legal probs here
8 years ago
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Terary **********
Americans can have a friend stateside go to any municipality and request a document showing no arrests. The beauty is that municipality doesn't necessary have to be one you've lived in. Mine came from SC and I have never really been there - my less than perfect record was spotless. The MoE is not requesting an FBI background check. Just .clearance..
8 years ago
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Guddu ***********
Hi guys ,thai police is very fraud .only eat money.Thai police is bribery
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks everybody anyways. We'll investigate further the option of the thai police check in cases in which getting a certificate from the country of origin is difficult or takes too long.
8 years ago
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Ron *******
No problem Todd. I will post no more. You and the other experts here and on the Thai visa forums are all in your own little world of fantasy.

Good luck with your page but I prefer to deal in fact rather than fiction after living here long before most of you people ever had the idea of visiting.
8 years ago
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Ron *******
No problem mate.
8 years ago
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Tod *********
Now that was not my intent at all :/ , and you know it too!

I'm simply asking that you stay on topic.

It is not an unusual request & does not require a snarky comment :(
8 years ago
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Tod *********
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Tod *********
@R**
, I appreciate you being a member of this group :)

BUT, I'm gonna ask you to dial back the rhetoric a notch or three :O and stay on topic.

The O/P asked specifically about students wanting to attend a school in Surat Thani province and the new requirement for a police clearance certificate.
8 years ago
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Ron *******
Cool. I would of thought the only people with a problem with that is those with something to hide. I'm on a Thailand Elite visa and we too have a criminal record check before the long term visa is granted. The Thai immigration do it directly.
8 years ago
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Ron *******
Unfortunately it isn't although there are calls from the Government for it in light of previous cases.
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Maybe it's carried out for all visas and I don't know about it.
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
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Tod *********
That's gonna suck for Americans seeing as we can't get a police check from the US Consulate here. All we can do is get the finger print card to send it to the US to the appropriate office to get the clearance. :/

I wonder if the MOE down there would take the thai police clearance here instead?

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8 years ago
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Tod *********
@R**
, Almost all private language schools are populated by full grown adults :/ I don't sure see a lotta kids in those classes ;)
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have my own company, set up 3 years ago, but at that time I don't think I was asked for it. I was asked for diplomas, degree, and stuff like that. That's it
8 years ago
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Ron *******
I know lol. I saw you was a Teacher. I assume all teachers have to have them?
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm not the one applying anyways. I'm a teacher :)
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
They probably shouldn't go anywhere according to me. They shouldn't be given permission to stay in a foreign country, but that should apply to all people asking for whatever visa in my opinion
8 years ago
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Ron *******
Yes. You have full grown adults attending in order to gain a visa ( mostly) too right they need checking!
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ron Angel I'm not talking about teachers, but the people who are asked for the police clearance are applying to study in a language school. It's not people working with children or teenagers
8 years ago
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Ron *******
As for logic used, if it's the UK criteria then ANY crime that shows on a CRB check, you won't be going anywhere near a school.
8 years ago
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Ron *******
Any business that has anything to do with a school, I agree should also be checked. In fact, I'm surprised to hear they aren't.
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I don't have an idea of what a minor crime is :) I was just wondering what logic will be used. I agree with you. But why just for students and not for business visa for example?
8 years ago
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Ron *******
That would depend on what you and indeed more importantly,they consider to be a 'Minor' crime.

There are people here that shouldn't even be walking the streets, let alone allowed near a school.
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Tod, the thai police clearance could be interesting. Worth asking them, thanks for the idea
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
British citizens can apply online as well but I think the paper is then sent to their U.K. address so they then need someone to send it over to Thailand. It takes time and my doubt still is, if someone committed a minor crime maybe years ago, would they be denied the MOE paper to get the visa?
8 years ago
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Nic *******
Aussies are so lucky. We can do it online these days!
8 years ago
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Nic *******
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Nic *******
I think it's a Surat Thani thing. The language schools on Koh Phangan have recently issued advice that EVERYONE requires a police check:
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8 years ago
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Tod *********
You're dealing with the MOE in Surat Thani and it sounds like they have different criteria. :/

I'd have whoever runs your school go meet with them and hash it out. It's certainly not a posted rule. I think it's a "let's make up an imaginary rule" sort of thing ;)
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
The owner already talked to them and at the moment they simply say all students applying for an ED have to show this paper. Luckily the school don't have many students on ED visa
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
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Patrik ********
I didn't need one last month (MOE application in the first half, visa application in the end of the month).
8 years ago
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Patrik ********
I don't know. I'm take courses at Duke Language School.
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Patrick, What MOE is the school you study under?
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
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Tod *********
This list from Duke Language School seems to be the most up-to-date as far as who needs a police clearance report to pull an ED visa.

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8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
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Tod *********
Did you get this information from a school or what?

What are you applying for an ED visa for? I mean, what are you going to be studying?

What thai consulate are you going to so you can get the 90 day single entry ED visa?
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I work in a school. Last month Surat Thani MOE informed us they want to have the clearance record for all students applying for an ED visa (to study Thai or English) no matter what nationality. This has not been a problem so far, but I'm sure sooner or later we'll have to deal with the case of someone with some minor past issues. And I'm wondering what to answer to an aspiring student who knows his record is not 100% clear
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
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Tod *********
AFAK: it's only required for certain nationalities, not everyone.

What consulate is showing this as a needed document?
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I didn't know that. Is there a list that I can check somewhere? Thanks
8 years ago
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Chiara *******************
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