[iPGCE Nottingham, Derby, or Tes to get TL?]

Hello everyone,

 

I'm considering an iPGCE and choosing between Nottingham, Derby, and Tes. I've heard many completed it with Nottingham, so I assume it's recognized by TCT (Kurusapha) for a Thai teaching license.

 

I'm leaning towards Derby or Tes as it’s more affordable. Has anyone completed their iPGCE with Derby or Tes and successfully obtained a Thai teaching license? Does completion of iPGCE with Derby or Tes give you the eligibility to take the licensure exam from TCT? I'd love to hear your experience.

 

Thanks!

[Fees for obtaining Certificate of Residence]

I've got a story and I think this may be a good forum to share. 

 

First I did my research and even I'm Thai, the information about the fee is unclear so I finally made a call to government hotline 1111 to ask what documents I need exactly and how much the fee is. They told me that "to obtain it in Bangkok immigration is free, but other offices may have different rules, you should contact your provincial immigration office directly." (by Bangkok I think they meant at CW?)  

 

So my husband and I went to IO in our province. We went to room A and I handed all documents required, we were asked to pay 100 baht for the first paper. I thought it was for the certificate so I gave money to the lady and left the room and just realised I didn't get a receipt. 

 

We went to room B and handed that first paper, documents, passport etc to a middle-aged officer. We waited for a while. The officer came back and handed me the certificate and said 500 baht. I politely asked for a receipt then she said "you can talk to a captain/police." I walked to her desk and asked her if I can have the receipt please for this 500 baht fee. She answered "there's no receipt and the money is for, you know, paper, ink, etc BUT it's okay if you don't want to pay." I said thank you and we left that office.

 

This was 2019. He got his driving license okay. 

 

Again in 2020, my husband needed this freaking certificate of residence to proof that he still lives at the same place even though his driving license has this same address on it and was also issued by government authority (DLT). This time he needed it for his bike license. 

 

This time I met a different officer in room A and wasn't asked for 100 baht. I went to hand the documents in room B and was told straight away by a young lady that the service for this document is 500 baht. I told her that I didn't pay for it last time. She asked if it was last year (I assumed that she tried to convince me that it a new rule bla bla.) I said that last time I asked for a receipt and they didn't give me one so I didn't pay. We were asked to wait outside the room and then we were called by that same middle-aged officer from last year that the service is 500 baht or I can obtain it from an embassy. I explained that I don't think there's a fee for this etc. Then she told me to talk to the captain/police (she's the one who typed and signed the certificate) So I walked to her desk and talked to her.

 

I told her that I didn't pay for it last time and I understand what the money is for. She said she was being flexible last time. Then I tried to negotiate that "I know what this money is for, if there's no receipt, I'll give you 100 baht then."

She was upset and said she'll give me the certificate for free then. 

 

So what I'm trying to say is this is very dodgy. I have read stories that foreigners were asked to pay $$$ for this document which is free in Bangkok, so why it is 500 baht somewhere else? And once you use this certificate, it's gone. You have to get a new one to extend your license, buy/sell vehicles etc. (unfortunately I can't put him on a yellow house book cause we will move house, which should be more convenient - so I recommend putting your name in the yellow book if you can).

 

This is obvious tea money (as you already know of course). Some may think it's not a lot of money, but it annoys me to know that this money (that they're not supposed to get) will go to their pockets and it's not even against regulations. 

 

Why not?

Because the government hotline 1111 user posted on Pantip forum (Thai famous forum like Reddit) that immigration officers don't have authority to give you certificate of residence, if you ask them for the certificate, they do you a "favour" therefore the fees are vary. Period. 

 

PS. I understand that it is still cheaper that getting one from embassy and some of you are okay and not affected with this cause it's convenient. But this rule gives immigration officers an opportunity to rip off your money (500 baht for a piece of paper that takes 2 minutes or less to type!? I would undoubtedly give them 100 baht for that if they weren't greedy. 

 

Sorry if I sound angry, I don't want people to get ripped off ????

 

PS.2 Also #2pricethailand should end.