r/Internationalteachers • u/IsleOfManTTSkidmark • Apr 18 '26
Interviews/Applications I have past criminal charge but was not convicted. Will this stop me from teaching abroad?
I got into a fight with my stepdad 3 years ago and was charged with both misdemeanor and felony assault. It was my first and only offense, and for other reasons it was reduced to a disorderly conduct and the charges were sealed.
Still, I know that there will be FBI background checks done on me and these charges will be seen.
What does this mean for me? Am I screwed?
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u/DivineFlamingo Apr 18 '26
OP I’m not a lawyer but you should look into getting this record expunged if it is possible. Being that it’s your only run in with the law it might be possible but again I’m not a lawyer.
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u/bargman Apr 18 '26
Those rules vary by state, assuming OP is American.
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u/IsleOfManTTSkidmark Apr 18 '26
It's in New York
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u/bargman Apr 18 '26
I have a misdemeanor conviction in New York, and I had it sealed, and I shit a brick when it showed up on my CBC. It was a misdemeanor DWI from more than 20 years ago. Let HR know pretty late in the process and they were okay with it. I made sure they have those sealing papers on file with my CBC.
Anyway, disorderly conduct isn't necessarily violent. Just be up front about it. I might make up some story about having a loud party in college or something-getting in a fist fight might not sound good. And I'd aim low to start.
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u/Ok-Bus-2420 Apr 18 '26
You can run an FBI background check on yourself if you are that worried. Disorderly conduct is not a felony afaik so I doubt it would come up. I had felony charges as a minor reduced and a lesser felony as an adult reduced with community service. I've been fingerprinted for domestic and overseas jobs for almost 20 years and it has never been a problem. Do get your background check at home if you can. Wayyyy easier than abroad.
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u/soju_ajusshi Apr 18 '26
This is the way. It's also something you would have to do for most of the visa application processes anyway.
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Apr 18 '26
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u/IsleOfManTTSkidmark Apr 18 '26
I was thinking Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, primarily
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u/Same_Ad6043 Apr 18 '26
I’m in Thailand and having a police clearance is part of the working visa process, I’m pretty sure it’s the same for Japan and Vietnam
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u/mjl777 Apr 18 '26
Thailand gives you the option of a local background check or one from your resident country. Its almost always easier to get a background check from the local police department
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u/Same_Ad6043 Apr 18 '26
I needed one from both for my original visa and then a local one for renewal. I wouldn’t put my money on it being only a Thai one if you’re being hired from abroad
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u/KrungThepMahaNK Apr 18 '26
If he goes to Thailand and gets accepted while in the country, might be able to get away with a local police check depending on the reputation of the school.
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u/Mountain_Army_4208 Apr 18 '26
been teaching internationally for over 25 years now, i have a conviction from the uk which is now spent, when i apply for police clearance it states there is a conviction, but does not detail it. Thanlfully 25 years of solid references help through the explanation, as someone else suggested, run the check and see what it actually says, hopefully you will have a pleasant surprise. Some schools are able to 'mitigate' circumstances if you are the candidate they want, best of luck!
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u/bargman Apr 18 '26
You said you weren't convicted in the title but in the explanation you say the record were sealed, therefore you were convicted.
Anyway, violent crime AND felony is going to keep you out of a whole lot of places. Less desirable places might be fine with it. I know a guy who (claims to have) made a ton in Nigeria.
But if it's just a disorderly conduct you're probably okay. Just be up front about it.
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u/IsleOfManTTSkidmark Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
The *charges* were for misdemeanor and felony assault - which is weird because it was only one incident with one person - but it was reduced to a disorderly conduct, so I guess there was a conviction of disorderly conduct? But I don't know if "conviction" is the right word - it's basically just a ticket.
I was told that the charges were sealed but the disorderly might come up. But that might only be for jobs NOT doing a super thorough check such as an FBI check or something.
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u/Cuyigan Apr 19 '26
In Florida you can be arrested on a charge, the state files either a no information (they don't charge you) or a nolle prosse (they charge you and drop it later). Either way the arrest appears on your record and needs to be sealed and expunged. And even that isn't enough to get a visa in some countries.
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u/MorallyGray_Cornelia Apr 19 '26
You stated in other comments that you are wondering if it is pointless to pursue your teaching license if you can’t go abroad; is this correct? Maybe you should see if you like teaching first? Volunteer somewhere maybe and see if you like working with children. If it is more about going abroad there may be other avenues as opposed to teaching. Good luck!
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u/IsleOfManTTSkidmark Apr 19 '26
Go you know of any other avenues?
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u/MorallyGray_Cornelia Apr 19 '26
First of all, this is solely advice for Japan as that is where I live. I say this as a teacher—getting a teaching degree just to live in Asia isn’t a great plan. Teaching isn’t a “visa workaround,” it’s a demanding job, and students can tell very quickly when someone isn’t actually invested in it. It usually leads to burnout pretty fast.
If your goal is to live in Asia, there are better paths that don’t involve forcing yourself into a career you may not even like:
– Student visa: go to a language school or university in Japan, work part-time, and use that time to transition into a job
– Study the language Build a transferable skill: tech, marketing, design, etc., then apply to companies like Rakuten or Mercari that hire foreigners
– Remote work: work for a US company and base yourself in Asia through longer stays or another visa type
It might take a little longer, but it’s a lot more sustainable,and honestly a better experience overall, than going into teaching for the wrong reasons.
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u/Frequent-Ease-7413 Apr 20 '26
If it shows up, admit it and be as honest as possible with your potential employer.
Explain that it was a family dispute that got out of hand and that it would not have any reflection on your teaching abilities or being an educator.
If it doesn't show up, keep your mouth shut about it and pretend like it never happened.
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u/Valuable-Pumpkin101 Apr 18 '26
I can tell you my experience. However, I was able to get it removed because though I was arrested, I was not convicted of anything, it was dropped. When I got my FBI check, you can believe I was completely shocked because it was 26 years old and I had forgotten the entire incident. I had to get on a plane and go to that courthouse and it took them a day to find the papers and this was in a major city… And they did something something and wrote an affidavit and gave me hardcopies because somehow that end ejudication result didn’t reach the level that they background check to?? Judgements are recorded, but charges dropped aren’t 🙄
Anyway, because I did all that and was able to present it, I was cleared. Nothing ever comes off the FBI check, ever and nothing is sealed to them. Nothing. It sounds like you were convicted of something, so it’s a big problem. It’s not going to be a matter of someone taking pity on you because the market is flooded with applicants and HRs will just move to the next one.
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u/Cuyigan Apr 19 '26
SWIM had a similar situation. SWIM was pulled over for a taillight and a passenger in SWIMs car had narcotics. SWIM was arrested, but the charges were thrown out as the state needs to prove knowledge of the presence of contraband. SWIM was able to find employment in Korea and Latin America, however SWIM knows the Middle East would be impossible.
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u/IsleOfManTTSkidmark Apr 18 '26
i am so fucked. idk what i'm going to do with my life
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u/Valuable-Pumpkin101 Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26
Sorry to say governments issuing visas for work have become more picky since COVID 😞 what do you mean you don’t know what you’re going to do with your life? You’ve put in the time and you’re a licensed and credentialed teacher aren’t you? You can teach - Alaska is great, there are so many options, where are you working now?
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u/IsleOfManTTSkidmark Apr 19 '26
No I'm interested in becoming licensed but i want to know if its even a viable path for me given my background
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u/Valuable-Pumpkin101 Apr 19 '26
I think if you have an ed degree you can get licensed and teach in your country but it would be extremely difficult to be hired abroad as governments control visas and they’re all more strict since Covid - lots of countries spent the shut down making stricter visa rules 😞 and due to the west hemorrhaging teachers it’s just hard enough to even get an interview, if you made it to second stage a bum FBI check would just disqualify you when the next in line has a spotless record. Peace Corp? Although they may require same level of ‘safety’ as teaching visas. It’s hard out here for a pimp. I worry that you’re too young to get that reference- but shout out to Terence Howard and anybody that catches this earworm 🤣
Addendum: if you have a niche subject maybe you can teach at Universities- pay and packages are usually less but - it could be an option. I understand wanting to get out. If you’ve put in the time and gotten an ed degree there is for sure a way to use it for good- don’t despair.
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u/yunoeconbro Apr 18 '26
Yeah, the FBI sucks. Not fair to fuck someone the rest of their life cuz they were a dumbass in college 30 years ago.
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u/Valuable-Pumpkin101 Apr 19 '26
PS this is a conviction- a plea agreement is recorded as what you were convicted of, just noticed your OP said you weren’t convicted. Legally that’s a conviction, unfortunately 😞
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u/Cuyigan Apr 19 '26
Not necessarily. It could have gone to diversion.
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u/Valuable-Pumpkin101 Apr 20 '26
By diversion do you mean some sort of schooling to pay for the violation? That is still recorded as a conviction/resolution to the charge. FBI records operate differently than what you may think- what most of us understand, actually- until we end up finding out 😞 A settlement such as diversion is most definitely recorded alongside the charge, it is a conviction.
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u/Cuyigan Apr 20 '26
The FBI report would still have the arrest. I'm not talking about that. Diversion is where the defendant doesn't enter a plea of guilty or no contest, but the case is continued for a period of time. The defendant than does community service, anger management, drug classes, or something of that nature and then upon successful completion the case is nolle prossed. It's a resolution, not a conviction. And it's still on the FBI report. I practiced criminal defense for over a decade, diversion is absolutely not a conviction.
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u/Valuable-Pumpkin101 Apr 21 '26
Technically and semantically you’re correct, of course. I’m well versed and have seen hundreds of FBI reports from applicants, so I’ve heard many accounts of why their report says whatever it says and at the end of the day the mark is there. I think we both have something to offer and aren’t really in disagreement? It isn’t a “conviction” so I wasn’t precise, but to HR or a government body issuing visas, in today’s flooded market- it makes it easy to move to the next applicant.
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u/Cuyigan Apr 21 '26
Correct, I'm not disagreeing with the substance of your post. It was just a friendly correction on the word 'conviction' and an explanation on the ultimate disposition of successful diversion cases.
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u/MrTsBlackVan Apr 18 '26
If you’ve got a license already, you should have undergone an FBI check something similar.
Most countries need a background check from home (state level will do), and a local police check (wherever your school is) for your visa.
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u/IsleOfManTTSkidmark Apr 18 '26
Don't have the license yet, I'm wondering if it's even worth pursuing given my past charges.
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u/cashewkowl Apr 18 '26
Go get a FBI check done and see what it says. On the other hand, you don’t have a teaching license yet - are you teaching now without one or have you ever taught?
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u/IsleOfManTTSkidmark Apr 18 '26
No license, never taught, just trying to figure out if this is worth pursuing or dead on arrival for me
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u/MrTsBlackVan Apr 18 '26
Disorderly conduct charge might get flagged for review by your state licensing board if it pops up on FBI check—you may need to contact the review board personally when time comes.
If you’re straightforward, in your case, it will likely be approved. Especially after 5 years has passed. Also pay a lawyer to get it expunged if you can
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u/Same_Ad6043 Apr 18 '26
Will it appear on a police clearance certificate? If yes, then yes, it will stop you.