Is there a requirement to file form 2555 or is it a benefit? There may be some situations, where the refund is greater when the form is not filed, so I am curious.

Thank you again everyone for your input! My daughter inquired with the admissions offices, and yes, it was sufficient to send them the IB results - for all of those that required proof of high school graduation. Given how far along she already is in her college career, I'm hoping that we will not need anything from the school again. You guys have truly been a life saver!

Thank you so much PsyGuy!

I was not aware that one could request the results from the IB to be sent directly to colleges.

@eion_padraig
Money was never the issue here. Frankly, I don't know and cannot fathom what the issue actually is. I had been dealing with the counselor (who is new to the school and someone we are not familiar with from our time there) and the records office, but by now have also emailed the principal. I will be contacting our consulate next and ... Though hopefully those transcripts from the IB will suffice.

A couple of years ago I moved on from the international school in China where I used to teach. My child graduated the same year and went on to community college in the US. She is now ready to transfer to a 4-year institution and has made her applications. While few have initially asked for her high school transcripts, some are now doing so as part of the offer process. Here is where the problem starts, I have been trying to get her transcripts sent for months now, but the school is putting roadblock after roadblock in the way, which now have become completely impossible to comply with. Of note is also that this is an IB school that also runs an accredited US high school program. I am absolutely shocked and stumped by these developments and frankly at this point just looking for advice and suggestions.

it is my understanding that expunged convictions come up just the same in FBI checks as they deal with arrests, not convictions. So there really isn't that much difference between the US and some other countries, where the accusation alone is sufficient.

Most Spanish teachers (or language teachers in general) were native speakers. The reason for that I hear most often is that "it's what the parents want". Are you a native speaker?

Let's just say, we get the haze from all the Sumatra fires. But I've heard there are fires on Boreno as well. Would like to know if there is anything pertinent I have NOT heard of.

Are you back in Cali - Fine Dude?

That's rather surprising. Every school I worked for actually prefered teachers with children due to the greater stability they offer (less likely to leave when the going gets rough as their own kids schooling is also at stake). The expat companies my school served/servs appear to go along with that sentiment.

Having just moved to Southeast Asia from China I expected to leave one problem behind me - pollution and the need for masks and air filters. I certainly was not aware of any pressing environmental concerns that could affect my health and my new admin also did not face up to it when I asked during the interview. Yet here we are, staying home for far from the first day this semester as the air outside is toxic to breathe. This morning it rained ash out here. Another thing that makes it worse than China is the tropical lifestyle, which means the division between inside and outside is not that clear, hence it's much harder to stay away from the haze - which apparently has been an issue for over a decade where I am.

How is the air where you are? Are there any other environmental or other concerns which may impact ones health in the long run? How possible is it to mitigate? How do you cope?

I think that's a different issue altogether though. Some schools have to pay in local currency due to government regulations. Others pay part of your salary in local and part in another currency (USD/Pound/Euro...).

Clauses like this make it crystal clear whose side search is really on. It also makes me wonder how much more it would take for a significant number of teachers to take note and refuse to put up with this.

It's not an issue of whether a school may chose to collect. Heads change and we don't know who we may run afoul of in the future. The issue is that someone has the RIGHT to do this. If $1800 were not enough, those added cost could really take a dip into one's savings. I know I did not make a move to a foreign country lightheartedly. Packing up your life and settling into a new country takes a lot, so should I be forced to resign from a contract outside of the customary 2-year period, that alone leaves me with much to deal with. I wouldn't want to be forced into bankruptcy as an added insult.

Put away 3000 $ a month??

Please, pray tell, how can anyone do this on an IT's salary? Including my housing and transportation allowance, I MAKE less than that - and I had to turn down the last 10 job offers I received because they were even lower than that... Salaries mentioned at all the sites I have seen are about comparable to what I make, not what I would Need to make to put away that much.

While I am not the original poster, I AM curious what you, Psy Guy, would thus suggest one does in these types of situations? Continue working in an unsafe work environment and potentially suffer lifelong consequences? Take the verbal abuse, which, no doubt causes additional stress and thus potentially stress related illnesses (which therefore makes this an unsafe environment as well)?

I would think that at least the better schools would be aware that not all schools are created equal...

If there is a hiring freeze, then why were there a number of (rather common) jobs advertised on the general US federal jobs board just two weeks ago? Seems rather disingenious.

Ok, I'm not suggesting actually going to work on a tourist visa - though I am well aware that there are schools who expect even that - , what I am trying to explore is how common it is to enter the country on a tourist visa and then convert to a proper work visa while already in the country.

Each country has their own procedures in how issuing work permits is handled. Up to now I thought that documents are usually processed by the receiving country's consulate ahead of time. I have recently been told by more than one school that this is not so - paperwork must be processed after arrival. Any thoughts on this? If you have experienced this as well, which country?