School in Phnom Penh is Starting to Ask for Criminal Background Checks for English Teachers in Cambodia
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 12:47 pm
From Expats and Locals Living in Phnom Penh:
"Alright, this is something new (for me and maybe others) to stress out about. My skool has announced that The Cambodian Ministry (could be Labour or Education, can't remember) is now requiring that we produce criminal background checks from our home countries. It's another of those things that has been around but not enforced before. I am Canadian and have been here for ten years and can't afford to fly to Canada and back just to get this done. Yes it can be done, apparently, but in Canada we need a full set of fingerprints, and it has to be in digital format. There are companies that will take your ink fingerprints and scan them and then send to the RCMP for you, but I have to find somewhere here to do the ink fingerprints. So, does anyone know where in Phnom Penh (or anywhere) that will do this for me? Arghh! (Sorry if this is in the wrong forum... it's not really a visa issue because my visa and wp are good for a year, but it could be visa-related later.) Thanks for any ideas."
Some noteworthy comments:
Now this is worded for Americans but would imagine it can be done for anyone. Location: Scientific and Forensic Department, Ministry of Interior at 275 Norodom Blvd (map below)
Cost: $40 (includes photos for internal use)
POC: English-speaking Mr. Heng Saroeun; Cell phone: 011 563303
Process: Forensic Police will complete two fingerprint cards (FBI form FD-258 and a Khmer form for their internal records). The FBI FD-258 form will be given to applicant at the conclusion of the visit. Expected processing time is 30 minutes.
Good luck with fixing your problem It worries me to be confronted over and over with the fact that many people have been in contact with children for years without having to prove they are not a criminal. Schools should ask for this because they see the importance of it, not because the government finally asks for it
Personally I wouldn't want my kids going to any skool (sic) that hasn't done a criminal background check.
What is more worrying is that if a guy had started this thread everyone would be asking him what he is trying to hide.
This hasn’t come up at our School yet... but I’m glad it’s finally being enforced. Too right there should be CRB checks if you’re working with kids.
Wait, the FBI is giving access to its criminal records database to Mr. Heng Samrouen at the Ministry of Interior? I find that a little hard to believe. And what are the standards for what criminal convictions are disqualifying?
Expats in Cambodia come in many criminal flavors, from small time drunk drivers to big time sex offenders and everything in between. If you have a 15 year old conviction for drug possession are you disqualified? What about drug trafficking? Simple assault? Assault with a deadly weapon? Misdemeanor indecent exposure? Felony shooting a bald eagle?
Who decides what's a disqualifying conviction? I mean, I'd like to be the person who decides, if there's an opening for that job.
For Canadians, I think the fingerprints need to be completed by the local police and then you need to send them yourself to a company to digitize them.
If you contact one of the companies thanks digitizes them, they can let you know if the extact process.
"Alright, this is something new (for me and maybe others) to stress out about. My skool has announced that The Cambodian Ministry (could be Labour or Education, can't remember) is now requiring that we produce criminal background checks from our home countries. It's another of those things that has been around but not enforced before. I am Canadian and have been here for ten years and can't afford to fly to Canada and back just to get this done. Yes it can be done, apparently, but in Canada we need a full set of fingerprints, and it has to be in digital format. There are companies that will take your ink fingerprints and scan them and then send to the RCMP for you, but I have to find somewhere here to do the ink fingerprints. So, does anyone know where in Phnom Penh (or anywhere) that will do this for me? Arghh! (Sorry if this is in the wrong forum... it's not really a visa issue because my visa and wp are good for a year, but it could be visa-related later.) Thanks for any ideas."
Some noteworthy comments:
Now this is worded for Americans but would imagine it can be done for anyone. Location: Scientific and Forensic Department, Ministry of Interior at 275 Norodom Blvd (map below)
Cost: $40 (includes photos for internal use)
POC: English-speaking Mr. Heng Saroeun; Cell phone: 011 563303
Process: Forensic Police will complete two fingerprint cards (FBI form FD-258 and a Khmer form for their internal records). The FBI FD-258 form will be given to applicant at the conclusion of the visit. Expected processing time is 30 minutes.
Good luck with fixing your problem It worries me to be confronted over and over with the fact that many people have been in contact with children for years without having to prove they are not a criminal. Schools should ask for this because they see the importance of it, not because the government finally asks for it
Personally I wouldn't want my kids going to any skool (sic) that hasn't done a criminal background check.
What is more worrying is that if a guy had started this thread everyone would be asking him what he is trying to hide.
This hasn’t come up at our School yet... but I’m glad it’s finally being enforced. Too right there should be CRB checks if you’re working with kids.
Wait, the FBI is giving access to its criminal records database to Mr. Heng Samrouen at the Ministry of Interior? I find that a little hard to believe. And what are the standards for what criminal convictions are disqualifying?
Expats in Cambodia come in many criminal flavors, from small time drunk drivers to big time sex offenders and everything in between. If you have a 15 year old conviction for drug possession are you disqualified? What about drug trafficking? Simple assault? Assault with a deadly weapon? Misdemeanor indecent exposure? Felony shooting a bald eagle?
Who decides what's a disqualifying conviction? I mean, I'd like to be the person who decides, if there's an opening for that job.
For Canadians, I think the fingerprints need to be completed by the local police and then you need to send them yourself to a company to digitize them.
If you contact one of the companies thanks digitizes them, they can let you know if the extact process.