Fake visas and work permits: Visa officer and associate at top Bangkok school arrested

[webfact]

Fake visas and work permits: Visa officer and associate at top Bangkok school arrested

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

Immigration police have arrested a female visa liaison officer and a fellow employee at a top private Bangkok school. 

 

Rudee or "Yaya" was using her school as a front to run a fake visa and work permit business offering false documentation to 50 foreigners. 

 

Yaya, 40, charged anywhere between 20,000 and 50,000 baht a head reported Thai national news Channel 7 and Naew Na. 

 

She was arrested at Chaeng Wattana government complex after information was received from the Thai consulate in Savannakhet in Laos that foreigners had presented fake documentation. 

 

Inquiries led to her and Theerapong or "Ton" who has also been arrested and who also worked in visa liaison at the school.  

 

Naew Na said that Yaya found the foreigners and Ton faked the documents.

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

Together they worked processing matters like contracts and criminal background checks at the school. 

 

They have been found to be using the school as a front to operate a visa agency. None of the foreigners with the fake documentation at the consulate in Savannakhet were found to have anything to do with the school who have brought charges against their employees. 

 

An immigration officer told Channel 7 that damage to the school and the state was considerable. 

 

Fake stamps and signatures were on the documentation. About 50 people had used their service as agents between March 2018 and September of last year. 

 

Channel 7 showed the visa officer being arrested at Chaeng Wattana. 

 

The school has been named only as "A".

 

Immigration chief Lt-Gen Sompong Chingduang and Region 3 officials presented details of the case at Suan Phlu immigration HQ yesterday. 

 

Sources: Naew Na | Channel 7

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-01-16

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[ChipButty]

Would you believe that, Fake documents in Thailand? 

[thequietman]

So .... those of you who have gone through 'agents' - is your stamp real and proper?

 

Won't you be a little worried when a real immigration officer has a look through your passport?

 

Is it worth the risk?

 

They have now arrested an officer at CW - how deep will this go? and if your extension/visa was processed by the same guy, then there may be a knock on your door. ????

 

Good luck to you all.

Edited January 16, 2020 by thequietman

[ezzra]

Not the first time or the last that locals are taking advantage of foreigners and dubbing them with fake this and that, foreigners in this country are fair game and crimes against them doesn't seems to carry the same severity as crimes against Thais, be interesting to see what punishment will be matted to those two crooks...

[canopus1969]

But how dumb is it to pay between 20,000 and 50,000 baht when a little patience and understanding you can do by yourself

Fool and his money etc etc…

[moe666]

I think you guys missed the story, they were forging the documentation for their proof of eligibility. Police checks, medical checks and what ever else they needed. I guess you guys missed the part were the embassy reported forged documentation. The school should have been on top of this, no one at the school complain?

[thequietman]

4 minutes ago, moe666 said:

I think you guys missed the story, they were forging the documentation for their proof of eligibility. Police checks, medical checks and what ever else they needed. I guess you guys missed the part were the embassy reported forged documentation. The school should have been on top of this, no one at the school complain?

Channel 7 showed the visa officer being arrested at Chaeng Wattana. 

 

[smedly]

8 minutes ago, thequietman said:

Channel 7 showed the visa officer being arrested at Chaeng Wattana. 

 

they referred in the article as "officers" to those working at the school I don't think anyone that worked at the IO was arrested

[Gulfsailor]

The way I understand it is that the arrested persons worked for a school. I guess there they prepared documents to support the visa application for foreign employees. They then decided to sell the same service to non employees. By forging the school paperwork they made it appear the applicants were working for the school in order to get them a visa. 

[NanLaew]

32 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Not the first time or the last that locals are taking advantage of foreigners and dubbing them with fake this and that, foreigners in this country are fair game and crimes against them doesn't seems to carry the same severity as crimes against Thais, be interesting to see what punishment will be matted to those two crooks...

Foreigners are KNOWINGLY participating in this fraud. Being taken advantage of by your own stupidity isn't a crime but this fraud being facilitated by dodgy locals wouldn't exist if dodgy foreigners didn't seek it.

[NanLaew]

20 minutes ago, thequietman said:

Channel 7 showed the visa officer being arrested at Chaeng Wattana. 

 

I've never heard of a 'visa liaison officer' before. Is that same-same a 'visa agent'?

[FritsSikkink]

44 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Not the first time or the last that locals are taking advantage of foreigners and dubbing them with fake this and that, foreigners in this country are fair game and crimes against them doesn't seems to carry the same severity as crimes against Thais, be interesting to see what punishment will be matted to those two crooks...

A lot of foreigners use these agents to bribe immigration as they don't have the funds needed to get a proper visa. why would you pay 20 to 50K when you can get them for a lot less.

[steven100]

51 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Would you believe that, Fake documents in Thailand? 

who would have thought  ...   i'm shocked    !

[Number 6]

19 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

I've never heard of a 'visa liaison officer' before. Is that same-same a 'visa agent'?

No. At international schools many have a Thai on hand to facilitate all the issues for the foreign teachers. It's combined hand holding and services. They also might provide pre arrival information and help facilitate visas back in home  countries. At typical Thai public or private school they definitely have someone playing a similar role but not as helpful, guiding. It's basically, here's a list of what I need. Many schools just send the foreign teachers off alone to get their extensions. Many teachers are totally clueless as to what keeps them here, especially the ones at big international schools. 

 

It's also possible this is not an international school but a top Thai school. The liaison is just a lovely translation for the admin and or teachers that facilitate the visas and extensions for teachers.

 

The schools need them in the classrooms teaching, not fussing about with immigration issues. Many at international schools make 100k upwards 175k?

Edited January 16, 2020 by Number 6

[Number 6]

16 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Foreigners are KNOWINGLY participating in this fraud. Being taken advantage of by your own stupidity isn't a crime but this fraud being facilitated by dodgy locals wouldn't exist if dodgy foreigners didn't seek it.

People can't be allowed to be this stupid. We all must know and understand how are immigration issues are addressed and processed. I for one have never used an agent for anything including a 90 day. By doing it myself I learn about the process and understand any issues that may arise.

[Number 6]

20 minutes ago, Gulfsailor said:

The way I understand it is that the arrested persons worked for a school. I

Then why were the visas illegal?

 

Doubt. It was a side racket.

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

55 minutes ago, thequietman said:

So .... those of you who have gone through 'agents' - is your stamp real and proper?

 

Won't you be a little worried when a real immigration officer has a look through your passport?

 

Is it worth the risk?

 

They have now arrested an officer at CW - how deep will this go? and if your extension/visa was processed by the same guy, then there may be a knock on your door. ????

 

Good luck to you all.

one good thing in thailand is that they blame the immigration officer and not the tourist / foreigner. i know of similar stories in other countries where the tourist got into jail and paid huge fines, just because he had fake stamps in his passport, even if he was;nt aware to that.

[ThomasThBKK]

1 hour ago, thequietman said:

So .... those of you who have gone through 'agents' - is your stamp real and proper?

 

Won't you be a little worried when a real immigration officer has a look through your passport?

 

Is it worth the risk?

 

They have now arrested an officer at CW - how deep will this go? and if your extension/visa was processed by the same guy, then there may be a knock on your door. ????

 

Good luck to you all.

 

And i always get laughed at when i bring up shady agents might risk *YOUR* stay and visa here. These kind of visas are nothing but illegal, wake up guys.

[Beggar]

Never forget a story that happened in Phuket - but long time ago. Tourists gave their passports to an agent and these passports went to Penang for a visa run. One day on the way back this guy had an accident and in his car the police found a suitcase full of passports with new stamps. I don't know what happened to all these tourists afterwards. But be always aware that if you are doing something illegal that you might be prosecuted. 

[Number 6]

1 hour ago, thequietman said:

So .... those of you who have gone through 'agents' - is your stamp real and proper?

 

Won't you be a little worried when a real immigration officer has a look through your passport?

 

Is it worth the risk?

 

They have now arrested an officer at CW - how deep will this go? and if your extension/visa was processed by the same guy, then there may be a knock on your door. ????

 

Good luck to you all.

I would think the only people need worry are those with a one year B visa. I'd also venture to say that it allows the person to work in a language school quasi legally. It's a mountain of paperwork, I'd have charged 30k minimum as well. Costs, split between two people.

 

50k for the privilege of staying in Thailand. What a laugh. Hope they are running a gogo and laundering money bc that makes zero sense to me living in this pollution.

 

- I might know the school.

Edited January 16, 2020 by Number 6

[mokwit]

Looks to me like she was hanging around at CW getting customers and the other person was forging the documentation or just the school part of it.

 

I have never experienced such but others have posted that they have been approached by visa agents. A tourist visa extender identifiably from certain subcontinents might be they type of person approached.

Edited January 16, 2020 by mokwit

[Number 6]

13 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Looks to me like she was hanging around at CW getting customers and the other person was forging the documentation or just the school part of it.

 

Possible but that's not what I'd taken away from the story. If this is the case I may further know the school.

[Number 6]

49 minutes ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

one good thing in thailand is that they blame the immigration officer and not the tourist / foreigner. i know of similar stories in other countries where the tourist got into jail and paid huge fines, just because he had fake stamps in his passport, even if he was;nt aware to that.

This was sarcasm right?

[mokwit]

Just now, Number 6 said:

 

Possible but that's not what I'd taken away from the story. If this is the case I may further know the school.

What's your take - they are using confusing terminolgy - officer and visa agent. I got the impression this person was not formally attached to CW.

[Number 6]

6 minutes ago, mokwit said:

What's your take - they are using confusing terminolgy - officer and visa agent. I got the impression this person was not formally attached to CW.

 

The story begins

 

Yaya was using HER school...

 

They also discuss her as working at the school to facilitate visas.

 

Appears she was brought to CW to review evidence and then charged.

 

Who is the visa officer and who is the associate? Seems Yaya is facilitating and Ton just doing the paperwork for money. Both may be complicit in supplying stamps. No clue there.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, thequietman said:

Channel 7 showed the visa officer being arrested at Chaeng Wattana. 

 

 

It wasn't an Immigration officer... It was an "officer" working for the school.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, Number 6 said:

It's also possible this is not an international school but a top Thai school. The liaison is just a lovely translation for the admin and or teachers that facilitate the visas and extensions for teachers.

 

The schools need them in the classrooms teaching, not fussing about with immigration issues. Many at international schools make 100k upwards 175k?

 

I think a lot of private schools have a staff person or persons whose specific job is to assist their foreign staff members, and foreign students as well, with managing their visas/work permits and the associated paperwork.

 

At a school where my wife used to work, the school had a staff member who'd make weekly trips to BKK CW and used a van to take along employees and students as needed. The staff member would serve as a kind of liaison between the students/employees and the Thai Immigration staff.

 

 

[Dumbastheycome]

Who is to know if this did not come about because of objections from "legitimate" Agents?

More than one of those are well "connected" in the scheme of things !

It does rile me that while I have always played the game legitimately that others participate in the corruption of proper compliance and thereby assist it. Within the last week I have had a conversation with a person who has just renewed his annual extension based on retirement ( O A ) via an Agent. He has not one  Baht on deposit in Thailand. His monthly income  from in Europe is minimal and he  has to save  for 2 months just for the  Agent fees. His extension was received  with no mention of Health Insurance. He has had two motorcycle accidents in the last  6 months. Luckily without a resulting Hospitalization. His general health is such that that alone puts him in a potentially serious risk state.So in effect if he did need serious medical care he has no means to pay for it. So those such as myself are now being subjected to requirements that have arisen from the dubious rationale based on in many  cases created by people such as he.

The ridiculousness of it is that the Hospital system does not receive the premiums of Health Insurance. The Insurance Company does, profitably. So when  those who continue to default on Hospital bills due to avoidance via Agents it in no solution  for the health system. 

 

[Number 6]

1 minute ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I think a lot of private schools have a staff person or persons whose specific job is to assist their foreign staff members, and foreign students as well, with managing their visas/work permits and the associated paperwork.

 

At a school where my wife used to work, the school had a staff member who'd make weekly trips to BKK CW and used a van to take along employees and students as needed. The staff member would serve as a kind of liaison between the students/employees and the Thai Immigration staff.

 

 

Absolutely, I mentioned this in my first post. Also possible that an international school more trusting and less savvy to this nonsense.

 

I'd forgotten to mention and you've done so absolutely the liason is there perhaps even more as service to students and parents.

 

[mokwit]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Channel 7 showed the visa officer being arrested at Chaeng Wattana. 

Ok they meant charged, rather that a Ch7 news team was in place to record someone being apprehended (as in arrested) at CW.

 

So two employees responsible for visa documentation and processing at a school decided to go freelance and extend this service to people not employed at the school, and doing so requiring forging of/unauthorised documents.