One of the most commonly asked questions we receive from our own clients, as well as clients of Thai lawyers and Thai law firms, has to do with what sort of visa defendants in Thailand can receive whilst their cases are ongoing. This is a very important topic, as it can save defendants from getting charged with another crime, getting deported out of Thailand, or blacklisted from entering Thailand. In today’s post, we will make the case for the case visa and explain the benefits to remaining legal in Thailand. This post is about case visas in Thailand and will be of particular importance for people who have a case in Thailand. This includes defendants who have been granted bail from the Thai court and those who are still stuck in a Thai prison awaiting trial.

 

What is a Case Visa in Thailand?

First of all, it is important to understand what a ‘case visa’ in Thailand really is. Some people refer to it as a defendant’s visa or a bail visa, but Thailand Bail prefers the direct translation from Thai, which

most accurately can be called a case visa. The case visa is the correct visa class to receive for all defendants in Thailand, and especially for those whose visas or extensions of stay have expired already. There is some debate about whether or not defendants who have a case in Thailand should try to get a case visa even if their current visa has not yet expired. It is always better to have a guarantee, and Thailand Bail has based its reputation on providing our clients with guaranteed service. Accordingly, we encourage all defendants out on bail in Thailand or still in a Thai prison to employ Thailand Bail to do the case visa for them.

 

The Benefits of a Case Visa in Thailand

The benefits of a case visa in Thailand are many. Having a case visa is the legal thing to do for those whose visas have expired and still have to stay in Thailand for the purposes of a criminal case. This includes all defendants in prison awaiting trial as well as those out on bail in Thailand. Getting bail in Thailand is always better, since Thailand Bail can have direct access to the applicant, which makes it

easier to gather the necessary paperwork for the visa. Having a case visa also prevents Thai immigration or the Thai police from bringing additional charges against you. You have enough problems already with the drug case, theft case murder case, fraud case, etc… to have to deal with another charge for not having the right visa. This can destroy any chance of getting a suspended sentence or other leniency from the court, and it interferes with Thailand Bail’s work to get the best result possible for our clients. Lastly, having the right visa class – in this case a case visa – will help prevent you from getting deported and blacklisted. Deportation in Thailand and blacklisting in Thailand are very specific topics that Thailand Bail will not get into here in this post, but it is worth taking note of how having a case visa can affect your immigration status as well as the likelihood of getting deported out of Thailand or blacklisted from coming to Thailand again.

 

How to Get a Case Visa in Thailand

So, by now, you should understand that if you have a case in Thailand, you need a case visa. Unlike a tourist visa or even a non-O or non-B visa, the case visa is impossible to apply for by yourself. Firstly, if you are in prison awaiting trial, you must use an attorney to do your visa. Even if you already got bail from a Thai court, you will still need a Thai law firm, such as Thailand Bail, to guarantee and certify the paperwork needed for Thai immigration. Without this guarantee, immigration will reject your visa application and send you back home, or even worse, arrest you at immigration and charge you with an immigration offense. It is always better to have an expert assist with your case visa application. Sadly, visa agents in Thailand also cannot do this sort of visa application, as it requires a lawyer’s work. The good news is that if you need a case visa in Thailand, Thailand Bail can help. Please visit our webpage about case visas in Thailand to get more information and to learn how to hire us to apply for a case visa for you.

 

For example

As always, regardless of if they are appealing the decision with any questions you have, and we are happy to provide general support for any inquiry.