5/12/14 – Crackdown in Phuket and Bangkok

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The latest reports out of Phuket and Bangkok, the most notorious places when it comes to Ed-visa violations, suggest that within their regions the 1 year Non-immigration Ed-Visa will no longer be available, to anyone, no matter the course length. These reports come only a short time after official laws were introduced, lowering the maximum 5 year stay to the current max 1 year stay.

Right now the reports have only been coming from students within the schools effected, as nothing official has been announced by the Immigration department nor the Ministry of Education. Highlighting the positive aspect in which most other regions in Thailand be most probably not be affected. Helping people realise that if this was a direct order from head office was, than an announcement would have precluded the reports, not the other way around.

One student wrote ‘ ( I )wanted to find out about upgrading my package to their unlimited so I can stay the full year. He said 1 year ED visas aren’t around anymore. It doesn’t matter if you have an unlimited or 400hrs of study, after 6 months you need to leave the country & apply for a new 6 month ED visa.’

While his school and others in the Bangkok and Phuket regions are obvious going through a localised crackdown, minds still rest easy in the rest of Thailand, as Ed-visa violations aren’t even half as prolific.

The one year Ed-visa has caused a lot of trouble in the past months, since the Coup crackdown on corruption the ‘farang’ visa situation has been highlight as a main area for the new sheriffs in town to focus on. The decision to reduce the 5 year max Ed-visa to 1 year was only taken 5 months before these reports, showing another sign of inconsistency behind closed doors.

While the visa situation is still prone to change, the situation has become more stable since the announcement of the minimum 400 hours year stay, which while still unenforceable, is in the process of being implemented by many law abiding schools across Thailand.

 

 

Sourced From ThaiVisa

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/781616-1-year-ed-visa-nope-its-not-true-anymore/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/781533-new-rules-for-ed-visa/

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22nd October-Full Moon Party Monitoring

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In a recent change of fashion the immigration office has officially decided to ‘monitor’ the Full Moon parties around the Islands of Koh Samui, Koh Taow & Koh Pang Yang, in what appears to be a backlash against the recent attacks of the two British tourists who were tragically killed after attending a Full Moon party in September.

This controversial move by the office will cause a big wave across the Full Moon party culture, as drunken and drug fuelled tourists will not only be the target to protect, but as most raves go, will also become the targets of the polices unavoidable law enforcement. Where before the ‘mob rule’ effectively policed these events, allowing for revellers to partake in most substances as long as they behaved, now the sight of any elicit substances will force the police to act, taking out one of the major attractions which draws many of a devil-may-cry tourist to the events.

Not only will this new ‘protection’ operation hurt the very tourists it plans to protect, but they plan to impose and ‘entrance fee’ and taxes on all alcohol served. Which ultimately will disgruntle many of a Thai bar owner who will see their profits shrink beyond recognition. And with the combination of the immigration police charging the 100 baht ‘entrance fee’, a strong feeling of resentment towards the officials will not be easily forgotten.

Official offices all around Thailand are on a clean-up operation ever since the Coup not 6 months ago, with statistics since the takeover showing an estimated 400 out of 700 official departments in Thailand having revived a corruption or negligence complaint. In light of this many departments have taking big, but carful steps, with the aim of ‘cleaning up’ in mind.

While this new interest in the Full Moon Parties from the immigration police is expected to cause a stur, party tourism to these islands is expected to rise in the coming months, forcing the police to walk a tightrope of law enforcement without destroying all their tourism economy, a delicate game indeed.

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Confirmation of New Education visa immigration Rules

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New rules are once again being rolled out through as immigration offices begin to impose a 90 day max extension to education visa, now while to most education visa holders this will be nothing new, there are immigration offices which have been known to give more, those offices are now under the watchful eye of the ‘clean-up force’.

Another aspect of this change is simply once you have been in Thailand for 1 year, since your first entry. You must leave, and then re-apply for an education visa. No matter what you used to do, you can now only have a maximum of 1 year in Thailand, from your first entry date.

While this isn’t a massive problem for most education visa holders, it does put you under the scrutiny of the border immigration officers, who have the power to refuse anyone entry, even if you have a valid visa, simply because they have suspicions you are not here using the correct visa. All fair I know, but unfortunately innocents get caught up along the way, and some perfectly legitimate students can be turned away from Thailand, playing havoc on their near future.

Finally the 8 hour a week study quota is being approved as I type, making students have to study for 8 hours a week, not the traditional 4 hours students have been used to up till now. This extra 8 hours, while not confirmed if you can have your lesson spread over 2 or 4 days, will for sure increase all fees for standards courses, simply due to the higher teacher hours, classroom hours, and increased course material necessary.

Original Source:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/750734-the-new-extension-rules-for-people-studying/

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22nd September – Russians’ allowed to continue with border runs

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Lt Gen Sakda Chepakdee, high ranking member of the recent Coup and currently acting commissioner in charge of Thai immigration has recently confirmed that Russians can in fact enter Thailand as often as they like, under the last agreement between Russia and Thailand on visa exemption rules.

After the Russian foreign Ministry recently responded to the new changing of the ‘border run’ rules, by stating that Russia and Thailand have a ‘specific’ agreement which states that Russian citizens may enter Thailand visa-free as often as they like, each time using the free 30 day entry stamp, since the agreement has not been deemed invalid by either the Thai or Russian government. Effectively this allows Russians to continue to use the recently banned “out-in” border runs, and they can use it “as many times as they like”.

However this comes with a gentle reminder that the rules are being strongly followed since the Coup, with Gen Sakda adding that “They need to show proof that they are entering for tourism purposes”, a gentle reminder that anyone in the country live or working on a tourist visa will be routed out. Going on to say “We have found that [a lot] do not come for tourism purposes. Lots of them are working illegally and are doing ‘out-in’ visa runs”… in order to carry on living and working illegally in the Kingdom.

Despite Russia and Thailand’s ‘close’ friendship, Gen Sakda points out that Russians will have to follow the rules like everyone else, and nothing was agreed which states Russians will not undergo the same entry tests as everyone else. With Lt Somchai Jitsa’ngop, Deputy Commander of immigration point out that, “the normal conditions for tourists who want to travel in Thailand apply. Russia is not a special case. If Russian tourists want to travel in Thailand, they have to ask.”

The rules clearly state that the re-entering Russian ‘tourist’ will have to show proof of hotel bookings and sufficient funds to support themselves while in county, if they do not have this they will not be allowed in. Lt Somchai mentioning that “Tourists can come to Thailand but they have to inform us about their accommodation plans.” This type of strong, rule following talk is typical of the governing body since the overthrowing of the last government, which Thailand under their rule was thought to be ‘corrupt’.

We will just have to wait and see what happens to this agreement, most likely the temporary Thai government won’t interfere with any prior international agreements or treaties, but instead clamp down on the illegal actions, a noble course of action the military have claimed to be their main ambition of their Coup-de-tar.

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29th August – New Visa Rules

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Effective from the 29th of August this year, the Thailand authorities once again implemented a new set of rules for visa extensions, outlining who can, and more importantly, cannot, extend their visa in the Kingdom of Thailand. They are as follows;

  • Anyone in the Kingdom who are nationals of ‘certain’ countries who are permitted 30 days entry upon entering Thailand, can only extend this once, not exceeding 30 days from the expiry of the entry stamp.
  • If the tourist is not granted the extension due to incomplete qualifications, then the alien shall be granted 7 days extension to be used to leave the Kingdom.
  • Anyone seeking an education visa shall only be granted 90 days, 3 months, at one time. And so can extend this visa up to a maximum of 1 year. At which point the alien will have to leave and re-enter Thailand with a new visa.
  • Anyone under taking work for a charity organization, a foundation, a non-government organization, an association, a foreign chamber of commerce or the Federation of Thai industries, without a letter from a relevant government department, shall be granted no longer than 90 days, but are able to extend their visa up to and not exceeding 1 year since the entry date to the Kingdom.

While these extension rules have been made clear and officially are the only set of rules in place, it still begs the question of how long they will be imposed for before another set of rules is rolled out.

While these rules are clear and un-doubtably fair, it still won’t guarantee entry to someone following them to the letter, as different visa departments and different border crossings are interpreting the new rules as they see fit, while trying to refuse entry to enough tourists to make it look like they’re doing their job.

At the moment all we can do is hold our breath as we go for those dreaded visa extensions, a deadly game a Russian roulette follows, with the denial stamp being held at your head, and you’re only thought is a small prayer hoping it hasn’t been inked to stamp. And maybe this time, you’ll get away, miss the shot, but next time it’s a whole new game.

 

New visa Regulations

New visa Regulations

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12-04-2017 English Language Teacher

KSTVS teachers

– English Language Teacher – 

– Job Description –
As an English Language teacher you will teach various levels of English to international students in a classroom or private setting. Classes are at various times throughout the day and sometimes on weekends. Teachers are expected to teacher to a high standard and prepare their lessons ahead of time.

– Qualifications & Experience –
While experience is not always necessary having the right qualifications are. In order to qualify for this potion the successful applicant must have one of the following qualifications;

TEFL
CELTA
TESOL
 Trinity TESOL

– Salary –

Subject to training, experience and position available.

– Full time staff –

25,000 – 35,000 TBH

– Hourly staff –

300 TBH

We keep this job position open even when we have no position to fill as we find space and classes for new teachers on a regular basis. If you apply and do not get a position straight away, we will always keep you on record for future work when available.

If interested in applying for our English Teacher position please contact [email protected]. with CV attached and a cover letter. Or you can comment below, leaving your name & email address and we will contact you as soon as we can.

Contact:

[email protected]

Khun Mike 088-011-1204

Office: 077-248-228

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English Language Course for Children

Overview

Our child orientated English courses are separated into 4 different skills levels which are gauged by looking at the age and skill of the child. Our classes are generally broken down into the following age categories.

  • 4 – 6
  • 6 – 9
  • 9 – 11
  • 11 – 15

But do keep in mind these are only guidelines and the child’s language ability will be tested before a class is chosen.

We use an Oxford university Press published ‘Get Set Go’ textbook series which compiles an in depth syllabus for teaching children English. The classes work similarly to our adults classes but focus more on widening their vocabulary, speaking and listening as well as Phonics based reading and writing lessons.

Our school doesn’t just focus on pure language lessons. We understand that children can find it hard to focus on textbooks and whiteboards too long, so we also plan our classes with English orientated social integration activities, games and art and crafts lessons which all give your child a fresh way to experience English.

Our school runs its child courses 3 terms per year which follow the Thailand official term dates.

  • May to August
  • August to November
  • December to March

Class times:

Monday to Friday: 4pm to 6pm

Saturday: 9 am to 12pm OR 1pm to 4pm

Price:

Monthly (4 weeks): 3,000 TBH

Per Term (12 weeks): 7,200 TBH

Russian/English classes

We will hopefully soon be introducing a new Russian/English class aimed at Russian speaking children. This class will entail 2 hours being spent of language study, 1 hour Russian, 1 hour English.

The idea of the course is for Russian children to benefit from a Russian teacher teaching the reading, writing and speaking intricacies of the Russian language, something which they will not receive unless they attend a Russian school.

The second hour in the lesson will be spent of teaching your children English. Including speaking, listening and writing practice.

Class times:

Monday to Friday: 4pm TBC

Course price:

TBC

Summer and Autumn Schools for Kids

Overview- Summer School and Autumn School

Our popular, long running summer and autumn school classes are back this year and just as great as ever. We offer an all-inclusive ‘English Camp’ style lasting the SongKran summer school break. This 2 month course uses Cambridge YLE (Young learners for English) published ‘Kids Box’ textbook which fully covers 3 child bases English levels. We also use ‘Movers and flyers’ also published by Cambridge YLE. Our autumn school works on the same basis as the Summer school but takes place during the 1 month autumn school holiday.

Our summer and autumn schools success is not only due to our ability to teach your child English, we also make our English camps fun and enjoyable for your kids, incorporating arts and crafts, a SongKran day in the summer school and once a week we go on a class trip to one of the local attractions, past trips have been to Zoos, swimming pools, the beach, temples etc.

Class Dates:

March to May –

October 1st to November –

Class times:

Monday to Friday – 10am to 3pm

Price:

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dave

Thai Class Schedule

Beginner Monday & Wednesday 10:00 ~ 12:00
Intermediate Tuesday & Thursday 10:00 ~ 12:00
Elementary Monday & Wednesday 13:00 ~ 15:00
Advanced Tuesday & Thursday 13:00 ~ 15:00
Pre-beginner Tuesday & Thursday 16:00 ~ 17:00
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dave

English Class Schedule

Children's Classes

The current English course timetable

BEGINNER MONDAY & FRIDAY 10:00 ~ 12:00
UPPER BEGINNER WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY 10:00 ~ 12:00
ADVANCED TUESDAY & FRIDAY 10:00 ~ 12:00
UPPER BEGINNER TUESDAY & THURSDAY 13:00 ~ 15:00
INTERMEDIATE WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY 13:00 ~ 15:00
BEGINNER MONDAY, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY 17:30 ~ 19:30
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