I have been banned from Thailand since roughly 1998. I have 2 loving thai children who would like to overturn my ban to enter Thailand by petitioning the court. The case happened in Phuket. Basically 2 coastguard personnel convinced the court that I was working. It was totally false. I was staying in Surat with my son and only visited that morning to see my doctor. As my daughter says that is water under the bridge.

Any information that might be helpful to us will be much appreciated!

Are you sure it was that long of a ban from entering the country. Only lifetime bans are done for very serious violations of the law.

A check with immigration might reveal it has already ended. With a copy of your passport from then they may be able to find out if you are still banned.

Have they actually petitioned the Court, or approached Immigration for more details of the ban.

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

Are you sure it was that long of a ban from entering the country. Only lifetime bans are done for very serious violations of the law.

A check with immigration might reveal it has already ended. With a copy of your passport from then they may be able to find out if you are still banned.

Yes it was totally excessive. The judge just instantly disliked  us. 

5 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

Have they actually petitioned the Court, or approached Immigration for more details of the ban.

Thai visa checked for me at the border. The idea about petioning the court came from a lawyer. Not sure if it is a real possibility

4 minutes ago, Gwapofarmer said:

Thai visa checked for me at the border. The idea about petioning the court came from a lawyer. Not sure if it is a real possibility

I think you will find the petition has to start with the Immigration Bureau since the are the ones that are enforcing it.

12 minutes ago, Gwapofarmer said:

Thai visa checked for me at the border.

Thai Visa as in the 'agency'.

You must have had some indication as to how long the ban was for, or indefinite.

How long are you banned according to the stamp in your passport?

1 hour ago, Tanoshi said:

Thai Visa as in the 'agency'.

You must have had some indication as to how long the ban was for, or indefinite.

I seem to remember 40 years. But I had a stroke since. My memory not like before. But certainly not indefinite

1 hour ago, jackdd said:

How long are you banned according to the stamp in your passport?

The passport was stolen in a robbery...

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

I think you will find the petition has to start with the Immigration Bureau since the are the ones that are enforcing it.

Well if that is the case my daughter has some contact there. I asked her to wait to see what the suggestions would be.

Assuming you can afford it, engage the services of a well connected Thai immigration lawyer. Your chances will be much higher with them pushing your cause. You will be looking for your ban to be lifted on compassionate grounds, and your chances will be fairly good after over 20 years.

Very very suspect post.....As said must have been something very serious.

 

7 minutes ago, marcus111 said:

Very very suspect post.....As said must have been something very serious.

I agree with this view the as the OP said

10 hours ago, Gwapofarmer said:

Basically 2 coastguard personnel convinced the court that I was working.

What has working got to do with Coastguard personnel, unless it was something illegal on Thai territorial waters, they wouldn't be bothered otherwise.

51 minutes ago, foreverlomsak said:

What has working got to do with Coastguard personnel, unless it was something illegal on Thai territorial waters, they wouldn't be bothered otherwise.

 

At a guess, he is a qualified divemaster, and was discovered on a boat with diving equipment and other people, He may well have been innocent, but the authorities would have been suspicious, especially if he had worked as a diving instructor in Phuket in the past.

 

If that is what happened, I think his chances of having the ban lifted on compassionate ground, after this long a period, would be good unless he had also been in trouble with the authorities before this incident.