Getting Off the Blacklist

[jschorr]

How does one legally and officially get off the Blacklist (not interested in "under-the-table" suggestions). I have a friend who has his home and family here in Thailand (wife and child are Thai citizens). He was taken into custody and remanded to the IDC before being extradited to face charges in his home country. As a result he was placed on the Blacklist. He has since resolved the case against him and was not found guilty of any wrong doing. He has been told by an attorney here in Thailand that the process to be removed from the Blacklist even for those found not guilty, will take up to five years. This seems very unfair, in effect being "sentenced" for a crime one did not commit. Does anyone know a way to speed this process? For example, is there an expedited appeals process for those who were falsely accused? Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

[Mario2008]

Sounds to me he is not blacklisted. He was deported to stand trail in his home country, that means he is placed on the watch list. The moment he tries to enter Thailand he will be taken in for questioning and a ranking officer (captain or higher) will make a decision about if he is allowed to enter or not.

The main issue will be if he was convicted and for what and he will have to show that he was acquitted. Probably with court papers. If he can satisfy immigration he will be allowed to entry, if not he can appeal to the minister of interior who will than has to give a decision within 1 week.

Reason for denying entry in this case would be a conviction, which did not happen.

[SoFarAndNear]

Wondering how he can be extradited and then not found guilty. I think an international arrest warrant is some kind of the highest weapon the public prosecution can use to get someone...

[Maestro]

Of course it is possible. His case was heard in a court in his home country after his extradition and the court decided that he was not guilty.

[ukrules]

Wondering how he can be extradited and then not found guilty. I think an international arrest warrant is some kind of the highest weapon the public prosecution can use to get someone...

It's simple really, just because someone is arrested they're not necessarily guilty. They have a trial in the country they're extradited to.

I think you might be thinking of some kind of fugitive warrant where he's done a runner and has already been convicted.

[dddave]

Wondering how he can be extradited and then not found guilty. I think an international arrest warrant is some kind of the highest weapon the public prosecution can use to get someone.

Much easier to get an arrest warrant, appearing un-opposed in front of a judge than to get a guilty verdict from a jury against a defendant with competent consul.

[paz]

How does one legally and officially get off the Blacklist (not interested in "under-the-table" suggestions)

First of all he should find if he's actually on the list, and the related information. If he hasn't done that, it is reported that Thai Visa Service can do than for a reasonable fee. they are sponsor of this forum with an ad on this page.

[jschorr]

Sounds to me he is not blacklisted. He was deported to stand trail in his home country, that means he is placed on the watch list. The moment he tries to enter Thailand he will be taken in for questioning and a ranking officer (captain or higher) will make a decision about if he is allowed to enter or not.

The main issue will be if he was convicted and for what and he will have to show that he was acquitted. Probably with court papers. If he can satisfy immigration he will be allowed to entry, if not he can appeal to the minister of interior who will than has to give a decision within 1 week.

Reason for denying entry in this case would be a conviction, which did not happen.

Thank you for your response. According to his attorney in BKK he is on the blacklist. I think his government (sorry for the lack of specificity, but I do not want to identify him) revoked his passport and then alerted Thai officials that he was in Thailand without proper documents, that may be why he ended up in the IDC before being sent to his home country. So, I assume he would be stopped by immigration if he attempted to return before being removed from the blacklist, even if he could prove at his point of entry that he had not been convicted of any crime. I was hoping that someone on TV had the experience of successfully having their name removed from the blacklist and could explain the process. I am especially concerned with the attorney's estimate that the process could take up to five years. this seems so unfair, for someone who is not guilty of any crime.

[Maestro]

I think your friend is getting bad advice from his lawyer and should get a second opinion. If I wanted to know for sure and conclusively if I was blacklisted I would email consulting.analysis [at] gmail.com

[Mario2008]

I understood the situation and that is why I think he is not actually blacklisted. Of that there would be an annotation in is passport.

As said, better check again if he is really blacklisted and not "only" on the watchlist. There was no reason for him to be blacklisted, a conviction would be a reason. Being wanted would be reason to expell him, but not for a blacklisting.

[Siam Bruce]

Subject "Black listed OVER 15 years ago.

 

My friend was convicted for a sexual offence some 15Plus years ago with a person under the age of 18 ( actual was 17 yrs and 10 mths) but legally of course under 18.

 

He was convicted, served no time, was deported and "Black Listed"

 

My friend was borderline Alcoholic at the time so quite honestly it was the best thing that happened for him.

 

Now we ( his friends) are interested if there is a chance he would be allowed back into the country.

How long is the "Blacklist in force?    Is it a life time Blacklisting?

 

Is there a LEGAL Government Dept who can issue this information?

If Not

Has anybody got a RELIABLE agent   and costs.

We have his name and date of birth, His old passport has long exprired but I suspect his details are still on the Thai Data Base computer.

 

Due to my friends health he would NOT to return to live here full time, but MAY like to have two months away from the worst of the UK winter Mid Jan - Mid March.

 

We would advise him to get a Tourist Visa,

I understand that the Embassy don't normally hold records on "Black listed people  so any visa does NOT give him a right to enter the country,

He would travel via a LAND border crossing as if he is then denied he can just turnaround and stay in that country.

 

Any help an good advice would be appreciated.

 

Can the usual idiots who reply to these sort of requests try and control themselves and refrain from replying.

 

Thank You

[BritManToo]

Pal of mine did 1 year in Bangkok Hilton, then deported back to the UK, after a conviction for heroin. That was about 18 years ago, and he's been back in Thailand for 7 years. They didn't keep records, your pal will probably be OK, but no guarantees.