Richard Barrow may not have his visa renewed and could be forced to leave Thailand

[Heppinger]

Intelligence agencies have always infiltrated media outlets in their target country for the purpose of subverting the population, Thailand's laws state that only a Thai citizen can own a media outlet in Thailand and for good reason.  Though obviously this law doesn't cover bloggers, so it is understandable that bloggers would come under more scrutiny within Thailand.  Most people think that intelligence agencies main activities are espionage, which does sell more hollywood movies and deodorant's, but actually most of their efforts are concentrated in ideological subversion of the target country. usually carried out through media and entertainment.  Not saying this is Richards role but seems to me he has had plenty of warning that his blog is not welcome, so bye bye Richard.  

[pegman]

It may not help his  predicament  that a certain Scot journalist, no longer welcome in Thailand, is championing his cause. Best of luck R.B.

[Letseng]

13 minutes ago, pegman said:

It may not help his  predicament  that a certain Scot journalist, no longer welcome in Thailand, is championing his cause. Best of luck R.B.

Or the BBC guy

[Don Mega]

1 hour ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

He does the blogging for a hobby but I am quite sure if he did decide to monetise it he would make a lot more that you do!

Looking at his youtube channel and the amount of views on his uploads its going to be a very very long time before he makes 1 single cent.

[JeffersLos]

Farang that speaks out publicly about the wrongs of Thais and Thailand, has trouble getting his Thai visa renewed.

 

 

Wow.

 

What a shocker. ????

[JimGant]

3 hours ago, SteveK said:

He raised the issue of dual-pricing, portraying it as a scam against international visitors at a time when tourism is already decimated and the country is trying to figure out how to get the industry going again.

Yeah, not a great time for this kind of cause celebre. In fact, not even a great cause, except emotionally, as the farang price for certain services in Thailand is comparable to what they'd pay in farangland. The cheaper price for the "people" is a nod to their situation vis-a-vis farangs; that farangs pay a tax of sorts to help out the locals kind of resonates with me. As I say: It's an emotional issue, but certainly not an economic one.

As for Mr Barrow: Isn't he the gay butler in Downton Abbey? What's he doing over here? ????

[bkkcanuck8]

4 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Richard uses Samat Prakarn Immigration I think.

 

Probably just wanting a bribe to renew as has been my experience.

I never had a problem with Samut Prakan immigration, they were always professional and helpful when I lived in that area.  Never did they ever hint or ask for tea money in my case.  It sounds like the file was completed and submitted by Samut Prakan - after that point it goes to HQ and it is out of their hands. 

[Saint Nick]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I'd never ever go on face<deleted>, instagram, or any of that <deleted>, but if he has been "spreading the word on how Thailand looks at farangs" he is quite rightly going to get the boot out of LOS. Biting the hand that feeds one is never a good idea.

Can't believe how many farang aliens think they have "rights" in LOS.

 

Want to stay- smile, keep mouth shut on social media <deleted>.

Who's a good boy?

Who's a good boy!

You are!

You are a good boy!

The overlords will be so pleased with you...

[brucegoniners]

Isn't this guy over 50? Why doesn't he just get a retirement visa instead?

[Heppinger]

2 minutes ago, Saint Nick said:

Who's a good boy?

Who's a good boy!

You are!

You are a good boy!

The overlords will be so pleased with you...

That's hilarious, especially coming from someone using the name, Saint Nick.  Overlords indeed haha

[Saint Nick]

6 minutes ago, Heppinger said:

That's hilarious, especially coming from someone using the name, Saint Nick.  Overlords indeed haha

Ever heard of sarcasm?

...don't bother!

[MasterBaker]

Don't <deleted> where you live, dude. Always remember that you are guest here and behave like one. If you don't like it, go home. Simple

[GlassWayOverHalfFull]

4 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

Keep up the good work Richard.

 

Good work? Good riddance. Crying like a baby on social media trying to force the authorities hands... Like the kid who tells tails in the playground

[billsmart]

Who is Richard Barrow, and why should I care about his difficulty in getting an extension? He's here under the same rules as the rest of us, right?

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, GlassWayOverHalfFull said:

4 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

Keep up the good work Richard.

 

Good work? Good riddance. Crying like a baby on social media trying to force the authorities hands... Like the kid who tells tails in the playground

 

You have no idea how people impact change and improvement? 

 

The charge against dual pricing (led by Richard Barrow) has already drawn such attention that the TAT announced it is aiming to scrap double pricing. 

 

 

Your criticism [GlassWayOverHalfFull] has no basis or understanding - like a kid who draws opinion without knowledge. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Chivas]

Put your head over the parapet as a foreigner within Thailand and sooner or later someone will have a pop

[richard_smith237]

10 minutes ago, billsmart said:

Who is Richard Barrow, and why should I care about his difficulty in getting an extension? He's here under the same rules as the rest of us, right?

 

Your life ‘could’ get better in Thailand because people like Richard Barrow draw attention to the inequalities Westerners face in Thailand. 

 

If people do nothing, nothing improves. 

 

If you go to Safari world / a national park / Siam Sea Life etc with your family and pay Double or more than your Thai Wife, its because there were not enough people Like Richard Barrow publicising such wrongs 10 years ago. 

 

If in a few years you go to Safari world / a national park / Siam Sea Life etc with your family and pay the same price as your Thai Wife, its because people Like Richard Barrow publicised such wrongs.

 

 

However, in publicising such wrongs Richard Barrow risks rocking the boat, upsetting the status quo, causes a loss of face etc... as such, it's possible he has become unpopular with those in decision making power. 

 

Why should you care?... Wouldn’t you like to own your own house etc, receive better rights in Thailand? 

Not have to put up with the banal hoop jumping for Visas etc? 90 day reports?

 

 

Remember TM30 ??? well thats changed just this year.... Why ??????  its quite possible that a ‘group’ of Westerners lobbied and protested such that sufficient attention was paid by those in positions of decision making power. Change was affected. A minor win, but life has been made just that little bit easier for many expats living in Thailand who no longer have to file a TM30 every time they return home from a holiday etc.

 

This is why you should care - People like Richard Barrow draw attention to the issues we complain about. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 14, 2020 by richard_smith237

[Pilotman]

10 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

You have no idea how people impact change and improvement? 

 

The charge against dual pricing (led by Richard Barrow) has already drawn such attention that the TAT announced it is aiming to scrap double pricing. 

 

 

Your criticism [GlassWayOverHalfFull] has no basis or understanding - like a kid who draws opinion without knowledge. 

 

 

 

 

 

Improvement for whom?  whining, winging farangs?  The Thais make more money, they don't  give a monkeys toss what you, me, all of us and especially this Barrow person, think about it.  He was an idiot to think he can make an ounce of difference. Best bit of advice I ever got, from a long time farang here, is to always be the 'grey man', never draw attention to yourself by word or deed.  Good advice that.  

Edited August 14, 2020 by Pilotman

[Heppinger]

7 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

You have no idea how people impact change and improvement? 

 

The charge against dual pricing (led by Richard Barrow) has already drawn such attention that the TAT announced it is aiming to scrap double pricing. 

 

 

Your criticism [GlassWayOverHalfFull] has no basis or understanding - like a kid who draws opinion without knowledge. 

YAY good work Richard, now tourist attractions will have to lower foreigner prices to meet Thais price meaning revenue will drop and staff will need to be fired, or Thai prices will have to be raised to foreigner prices ensuring your average Thai citizens who make up 95% of visitors wont be able to afford to visit these attractions meaning revenue will drop and staff will need to be fired.  Such a courageous trail blazer you are Richard deserving of praise from your half baked supporters

[JackThompson]

4 hours ago, SteveK said:

He raised the issue of dual-pricing, portraying it as a scam against international visitors at a time when tourism is already decimated and the country is trying to figure out how to get the industry going again. You can be sure that someone's not particularly pleased with hm.

That is true - but not sure 2PT is the primary issue.  For that matter, it is a stupid issue (IMO).  Why do I care if Thai-citizenship gets them a break on some admission-fee.  Good for them, getting something back from their govt.

Meanwhile immigration is shattering families with agent-extortion, due to many of us unable to get visas from the less-corrupt MFA.  2PT somehow doesn't get on my radar.

Barrow's other "transgressions" include:

• Shamed immigration forcing 'landlord must come in' and 'under-consideration' dual visits (each applicant had to queue 2x or more) for the early "with embassy letter" covid-extensions, causing massive lines, while the govt was pushing a "social distancing" narrative.  Barrow's pics of lines forced the govt's hand, overruling immigration's fake "national-security" excuse, and leading to the cabinet's 'auto-extension' system, which denied IOs massive agent-bribe-money.
• Told his followers to NOT pay the 20K+ agent-money bribes needed to get Non-B 90-Day stamps in-country.  This is long-standing practice pre-covid - either "pay us off" (usually through an Agent or Law Firm) or "you go out for a new Visa" - using the PITA of a trip to extort their agent-bribes.  But no one can "go out" for a Visa, now, and agent-bribes must be short due to fewer farangs to fleece, so ...
• Leaked news of a probable covid-extension deadline in-advance, before the Sept date was announced, leading some to NOT pay off immigration via-agents for their extensions after an Immigration spokesman said "time to clear out," to scare-up a wave of agent-money bribes, before the announcement.
• Talked about himself and others as "Foreigners who made Thailand their home..." which is something Immigration deeply resents.  Even if married to a Thai citizen, you are "allowed" to stay with your family only 1 year at a time - forever dealing with that corrupt-crew.  The only way out is the long and difficult process to PR or Citizenship.  Short of that, we have NO rights / right to be here - can be booted, as may happen to him.

Edited August 14, 2020 by JackThompson

[richard_smith237]

2 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Improvement for whom?  whining, winging farangs?  The Thais make more money, they don't  give a monkeys toss what you, me all of us and especially this Barrow person, think about it.  He was an idiot to think he can make an ounce of difference. Best bit of advice I ever got, from a long time farang here, is to always be the 'grey man', never draw attention to yourself by word or deed.  Good advice that.  

 

Are you enjoying not having to file your TM30 each and every time you return home from short break. 

 

How do you think this change came about? 

 

Perhaps publicity such as below, along with the group of Expats who met with officials after signing arranging to have a petition signed in protest of the TM30.

 

 

https://www.richardbarrow.com/2019/08/everything-i-know-about-the-tm30-form-after-attending-chamber-of-commerce-meetings-and-speaking-at-the-fcct/

 

 

Improvement is never going to happen if its not attempted. 

 

[Kaopad999]

Well, he has been jumping on a lot of fake news of late & posting many articles which are clearly there to scaremonger. As a result has been forced to update his Second hand/ recycled news articles. 

Edited August 14, 2020 by Kaopad999

[Proboscis]

4 hours ago, Grumpy John said:

He must have said something which put someones nose out of joint!   Maybe someone in the current regime...... ????

It is so damn easy to put someone's nose out of joint - probably a mere comment on the weather would be sufficient.

 

Given that the British Embassy has recently praised him for his role in providing information to UK citizens, perhaps they might intervene.

[Heppinger]

11 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Your life ‘could’ get better in Thailand because people like Richard Barrow draw attention to the inequalities Westerners face in Thailand. 

 

If people do nothing, nothing improves. 

 

If you go to Safari world / a national park / Siam Sea Life etc with your family and pay Double or more than your Thai Wife, its because there were not enough people Like Richard Barrow publicising such wrongs 10 years ago. 

 

If in a few years you go to Safari world / a national park / Siam Sea Life etc with your family and pay the same price as your Thai Wife, its because people Like Richard Barrow publicised such wrongs.

 

 

However, in publicising such wrongs Richard Barrow risks rocking the boat, upsetting the status quo, causes a loss of face etc... as such, it's possible he has become unpopular with those in decision making power. 

 

Why should you care?... Wouldn’t you like to own your own house etc, receive better rights in Thailand? 

Not have to put up with the banal hoop jumping for Visas etc? 90 day reports?

 

 

Remember TM30 ??? well thats changed just this year.... Why ??????  its quite possible that a ‘group’ of Westerners lobbied and protested such that sufficient attention was paid by those in positions of decision making power. Change was affected. A minor win, but life has been made just that little bit easier for many expats living in Thailand who no longer have to file a TM30 every time they return home from a holiday etc.

 

This is why you should care - People like Richard Barrow draw attention to the issues we complain about. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actually if it means keeping out westerners who are soy sipping, half baked, marxist's forever playing the victim card, i hope Thailand stays exactly the way it is.

Edited August 14, 2020 by Heppinger

[richard_smith237]

2 minutes ago, Heppinger said:

YAY good work Richard, now tourist attractions will have to lower foreigner prices to meet Thais price meaning revenue will drop and staff will need to be fired, or Thai prices will have to be raised to foreigner prices ensuring your average Thai citizens who make up 95% of visitors wont be able to afford to visit these attractions meaning revenue will drop and staff will need to be fired.  Such a courageous trail blazer you are Richard deserving of praise from your half baked supporters

 

 

A very specific quote comes to mind: Mark Twain — 'Never argue with.... 

 

 

 

 

 

[JackThompson]

10 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Why should you care?... Wouldn’t you like to own your own house etc, receive better rights in Thailand? 

Not have to put up with the banal hoop jumping for Visas etc? 90 day reports?

I couldn't care less if Thais get a break on going to Safari World - in fact, I am happy for them.   The TM-30 move was nice, but it wasn't that hard for me to input some data on a website after a trip.  Something about a speck in the eye comes to mind. 

I would like immigration's corruption to be cleaned up, so my family isn't at constant risk of being broken up and/or extorted every year.  Due to inability to access the less-corrupt MFA's Consulates, I may be forced out of the country in Sept.

[MJKT2014]

9 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

This is why you should care - People like Richard Barrow draw attention to the issues we complain about. 

Like him or loathe him, I happen to be in in the former category, he doesn't do himself any favors tweeting about his own personal immigration issues? He obviously hasn't handled this part very well - it happened last year as well. He needs to follow the rules like everyone else and not expect influential help as is implied by tweeting about it. Not a news item IMHO, and belongs in the Farang Pub section.

t

[JackThompson]

23 minutes ago, billsmart said:

Who is Richard Barrow, and why should I care about his difficulty in getting an extension? He's here under the same rules as the rest of us, right?

Yes - "rules" bent to suit, in each case.

[Pilotman]

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Are you enjoying not having to file your TM30 each and every time you return home from short break. 

 

How do you think this change came about? 

 

Perhaps publicity such as below, along with the group of Expats who met with officials after signing arranging to have a petition signed in protest of the TM30.

 

 

https://www.richardbarrow.com/2019/08/everything-i-know-about-the-tm30-form-after-attending-chamber-of-commerce-meetings-and-speaking-at-the-fcct/

 

 

Improvement is never going to happen if its not attempted. 

 

I am never more surprised than when I read guff, like farangs think anything they do or say make an once of difference here.  It wasn't him and it wasn't any farang input that made that change, small that it is and not universally applied in every office.  It came about because of Thai Immigration workload and the need to have social  distances in IO offices to protect their own staff.  Absolutely nothing to do with how farangs feel about that particular requirement.   People do really need to wake up as to their status here, it's none existent. 

[richard_smith237]

4 minutes ago, Heppinger said:

Actually if it means keeping out westerners who are soy sipping, half baked, marxist's forever playing the victim card, i hope Thailand stays exactly the way it is.

 

 

Think of that next time you get pi$$ed off having to pay 400 baht at a national park while your Wife pays 40 baht, or while you have to pay 2000 baht entry at BKK sea Life while your Wife pays 300 baht etc... 

 

Or, consider why you don’t have to worry about filing a TM30 when you return from a little trip to a different province where you weren’t double charged for any of the attractions.... 

 

If you don’t want to be a ‘soy sipping, half baked, marxist’s foreigner playing the victim’ you should offer all the extra money you can.... Remember to Tip Big !!!...