Thai immigration police have raided a visa consultancy in Bangkok's Sai Mai district after a European embassy alerted authorities to suspected forged financial documents submitted with visa applications.

Investigators say more than 400 Thai clients may have been affected, with the firm allegedly charging 40,000 baht per person - a total potential loss exceeding 16 million baht.

The case concerns Thai nationals applying for visas to travel to an unnamed European country. It does not concern Thai visa extensions or immigration procedures for foreign residents, tourists or other visitors in Thailand.

Embassy raised concerns over applications

The investigation began after the embassy of a European country contacted police about several Thai visa applicants whose supporting documents, particularly bank statements, appeared suspicious and potentially forged.

At a press briefing at Immigration Division 3 headquarters on 17 August, Major General Songprode Sirisuka, commander of Immigration Division 3, outlined the results of the operation alongside Colonel Parinya Klinkasorn, his deputy, and Colonel Suriya Puangsombat, superintendent of the division's investigation unit.

On 12 August, officers from the investigation unit executed a Criminal Court Min Buri search warrant at the office of a visa application consultancy in Sai Mai. They seized suspected counterfeit rubber stamps from banks and other agencies, more than 20 allegedly forged financial documents, and four desktop computers.

Police believe the premises may have been used to prepare false documents for large numbers of Thai clients seeking overseas visas.

Five applications showed matching patterns

Following reports to Immigration Bureau commissioner Lieutenant General Phanumas Boonyalak and deputy commissioner Major General Phantana Nuchnarot, investigators were ordered to widen the inquiry.

Police compared documents supplied by the embassy with genuine information from the banks holding the accounts. They found five cases with similar irregularities: the names on the submitted documents did not match the genuine bank account holders, while transaction records had allegedly been altered and did not match bank-confirmed information.

Investigators also said the financial sponsors for all five applicants used the same foreign-bank credit card number to pay travel expenses.

Pictures courtesy of Matichon

During the search, officers found stamps bearing the names of several commercial banks, along with dozens of suspected false documents including salary certificates and account statements. The four computers were seized for forensic examination and further investigation into other possible participants.

Charges depend on forensic evidence

Immigration Division 3 said the alleged conduct could amount to jointly forging and using forged documents under Sections 264, 265 and 268 of the Criminal Code, as well as forging official seals under Sections 251 and 252.

However, police said the final charges would depend on forensic checks of the seized evidence, witness testimony and the investigation file.

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18 August 2026

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1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

It does not concern Thai visa extensions or immigration procedures for foreign residents, tourists or other visitors in Thailand.

Nothing to see here 🍿

17 minutes ago, PomPolo said:

Nothing to see here 🍿

Other than fraud permeates into all facets of life here.

So now many foreigners staying illegal in Thailand. Knock Knock..the IMM is coming for u.

Oh, what a swamp.

2 hours ago, PomPolo said:

Nothing to see here 🍿

Correct.

The fraud does not concern foreign nationals but Thai citizens.

4 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Correct.

The fraud does not concern foreign nationals but Thai citizens.

It may well concern the partners and wives of foreigners in Thailand who wish to visit or move to a European country.

9 minutes ago, norsurin said:

So now many foreigners staying illegal in Thailand. Knock Knock..the IMM is coming for u.

You obviously did not read the article.....???

"Police believe the premises may have been used to prepare false documents for large numbers of Thai clients seeking overseas visas."

10 minutes ago, norsurin said:

So now many foreigners staying illegal in Thailand. Knock Knock..the IMM is coming for u.

Well this incident is about Thais falsifying bank statements to show sufficient to get Visas for outside Thailand,

My impression is that a lot of these arrangements are done through the banks directly, though that may not have been that the case with this particular company. So if the authorities really want to get serious they need to start questioning some of the bank directors and perhaps locking up a few here and there. And what do we think the chances are of that happening? About as likely as them questioning prominent attorneys who are involved in Thai nominee companies for foreigners.

 3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

It does not concern Thai visa extensions or immigration procedures for foreign residents, tourists or other visitors in Thailand.

Nothing to see here 🍿

Unless this international embarassment trigers off Thai politicians, stranger things have happened. Not too long ago many foreigners thought they had safety in numbers in buying homes under the guise of a Thai nominee corporation. The prevailing thinking was "They would never dare come after us, we bring in so much money into Thailand".

Why isn't the alert country in question named? Not wanting to give credit to a country exposing yet more Thai corruption? How embarrassing.

You start picking at this visa agency loose thread and it will snowball fast like the nominee business investigations, start looking into the agencies and you will find they are all using fake financial documents, no need to use a visa agent unless you don't have the required funds,

31 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Correct.

The fraud does not concern foreign nationals but Thai citizens.

Yet…

Interestingly, the police did not disclose the name of the company or the individuals involved in the wrongdoing. Why is that? 🤔

3 hours ago, PomPolo said:

Nothing to see here 🍿

Maybe not but it's liable to be nervous making for the farang that rely on the agency to get their extensions. The Boys in Brown are not likely to eat their seed corn but the threat of it just over the horizon could lead to fatter envelopes. You know who pays in the end.