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

[TonBrow]

My Non B visa expired during the amnesty period just after I received my work permit in May. Since then, I've been to immigration at Changwattana three times trying to get it extended. Each time they tell me they can't extend the visa and I must go out of Thailand to make a new visa. After seeing this post, and given the fact that the Thai government requires all foreigners entering the country to quarantine in one of those very expensive downtown hotels in Bangkok or Phuket (minimum cost THB30k/15 days), I can't help but wonder if this part of the scam. Refuse to extend the visa, so those who can/must come back into Thailand will have to pay the extravagant prices for quarantine when they re-enter. This way, those hotels make some money out of this crises, while at the same time, the Thai government officials get some money for themselves in kick back payments.

[canerandagio]

6 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If he actually said that on a public platform and can be identified, he must, IMO be a bit thick to do so. Lives in LOS, but apparently knows little about how things work there. Perhaps he needed to get out of his digital bubble and smell the traffic fumes.

From your post you nake it look lije he never gets out of his armchair, which isn't the case.

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, KhaoNiaw said:

Richard has retweeted an article in Thai on Kapook, which mainly just translated his posts but in the headline photo that's he retweeted it's saying he won't get his visa renewed because he's translated and posted articles about the current demonstrations. It's definitely trying to give Thais the impression his home was 'raided' and he was threatened. Not sure that's such a good tactic, especially if they didn't actually say that. Not much sympathy from a lot of the Thai comments below.

 

I can imagine just as there are a number of westerners who don’t like anyone who has a voice and speaks up, there are Thai’s who see Richard Barrows comments not as a criticism of the system, but as a criticism of Thailand and all Thai’s.

 

I suspect this may be the angle from which some posters are approaching this discussion (that someone such as Richard Barrow could be damaging to all of us) - its a position based on fear, not of seeking improvement. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[oobar]

6 hours ago, Centrum said:

You're not familiar with Richard at all, are you?

No, of course he isn't.

[LivinLOS]

6 hours ago, ravip said:

Tweeting or Blogging per se, will not be considered a "business" anywhere, for sure.

 

If there are adverts turned on, or posts are done for promotional purposes then of course it is. 

 

You do know that influencers and marketers in many platforms make millions (not baht) !! 

 

[KhaoNiaw]

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I can imagine just as there are a number of westerners who don’t like anyone who has a voice and speaks up, there are Thai’s who see Richard Barrows comments not as a criticism of the system, but as a criticism of Thailand and all Thai’s.

 

I suspect this may be the angle from which some posters are approaching this discussion (that someone such as Richard Barrow could be damaging to all of us) - its a position based on fear, not of seeking improvement. 

I'm wondering more whether the immigration officers really told him what's in the headline there or not. It's not what he's posted in English. If they didn't actually say he won't get a renewal because of his translations about the demonstrations, then surely it's not going to help his cause. 

[oobar]

6 hours ago, Jackcwba said:

If there’s one thing I learnt growing up it’s keep your mouth shut and don’t go looking for trouble.. and trouble won’t come looking for you!

Right, hunker down and squirm.  Accept the abuse. 

[richard_smith237]

37 minutes ago, SteveK said:

You either like a quiet life and keep your mouth shut, or get vocal, upset some people and accept the consequences. You can't publicly criticise a country that you are only a guest in, then act all hard done by when you get hassled as a direct result.

Really, you should be able to. 

 

A Thai could go to the UK and complain about Dual Pricing (if it existed), Thai’s have gone to the UK and complained publicly about being turned away from hospital and told to take paracetamol !!!! 

Thai’s can go to the UK can complain publicly about many things without any fear of their visa being compromised or any repercussions.

 

What you are saying is that if we come to Thailand we have to keep our opinions to ourselves because we are scared of the repercussions. I agree, I keep quiet (except on this anonymous forum) because I am not ready to compromise my Visa status by publicly discussing issues to which I object.

 

This is why I support those who are ready to tackle issues which are commonly perceived as wrong. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 14, 2020 by richard_smith237

[joecoolfrog]

3 hours ago, MasterBaker said:

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

" The brave die only once , cowards die every day of their lives "

[warcy]

What visa does he have in the first place? Is he abusing his tourist visa? 

[Tchooptip]

2 hours ago, JackThompson said:

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.

I am so sorry to agree with you ????

[craigieboy1973]

Had important people call chief of imm .... new rules add the big bosses name to list of payments ....

Life tuff all round 

[JackThompson]

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Could the ‘Immigration Corruption’ and inconsistent regulations and constant risk of a family being broken up be the next on the agenda for Ricard Barrow?????

Only if he is deported, and can then speak freely.  As-Is, he did say not to pay the 20K+ Baht for Non-B -90s, as though it were some scam (not standard-practice) and that, alone, may have been his undoing.

 

2 hours ago, Jackcwba said:

exposing thailand and the corrupt ways of immigration

He never came out and said that about immigration, that I recall.  If they don't renew his stay, I hope he does - on BBC in Prime-Time - encourages a full-boycott until it stops.   I'm sure they could find hundreds of Brits, alone, separated from their families by Immigration - or under constant fear of it - to interview. 

Of course, those still here, or hoping to return, would have to do be shown in "shadow" + voice-modifier to avoid persecution - like those speaking out about drug-kingpins in Mexico and similar. 

[tribalfusion001]

1 minute ago, JackThompson said:

Only if he is deported, and can then speak freely.  As-Is, he did say not to pay the 20K+ Baht for Non-B -90s, as though it were some scam (not standard-practice) and that, alone, may have been his undoing.

 

He never came out and said that about immigration, that I recall.  If they don't renew his stay, I hope he does - on BBC in Prime-Time - encourages a full-boycott until it stops.   I'm sure they could find hundreds of Brits, alone, separated from their families by Immigration - or under constant fear of it - to interview. 

Of course, those still here, or hoping to return, would have to do be shown in "shadow" + voice-modifier to avoid persecution - like those speaking out about drug-kingpins in Mexico and similar. 

They could offer citizenship to long staying expats instead of making people renew visas. It's one of the things that puts me off staying long term that you have no real rights or say.

[Bangkok Barry]

7 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

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

Yes, that's the problem, isn't it, that we don't. My sister lived in Spain and as part of the community she had the right, was allowed and encouraged to take part in local elections. After all, what was discussed affected her as well as the Spaniards. Imagine that.

[checkered flag]

4 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

They could offer citizenship to long staying expats instead of making people renew visas. It's one of the things that puts me off staying long term that you have no real rights or say.

I thought the reason was that you could get a visa. How do they do it in Greece or wherever you are going? 

Edited August 14, 2020 by checkered flag

[joecoolfrog]

1 hour ago, Heppinger said:

Wow Danny from my home country of Australia, for me "brave" is used to describe my Grandfather and others like him who sacrficed more then a visa extension on the Kakoda track.  Would have thought you would know the difference.

Seems you know as much about the dual meaning of certain words , as you do about dual pricing. Too many right wing thicko's in this world !

[ThaidDown]

4 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

They could offer citizenship to long staying expats instead of making people renew visas. It's one of the things that puts me off staying long term that you have no real rights or say.

Pretty sure that it was considered for those married to a Thai for at least 20 years.

 

It was going ahead until someone pointed out that a foreigner married to a Thai for that long would definitely fail the sanity test.

 

 

[tribalfusion001]

3 minutes ago, checkered flag said:

I thought the reason was that you could get a visa. How do they do it in Greece or wherever you are going? 

I'm only going for 4 days and it's an EU country.

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Nope... but I really can’t be bothered responding with any effort to such dimwitted responses....   the failings in your earlier response were so ridiculous if you think the end to dual pricing means all places will charge Thai’s the foreigner price, rather than foreigners the Thai price... you missed the boat so significantly it wasn’t even worth presenting a decent counter argument. 

 

 

 

 

I've been posting on this forum for a long time, right since it's inception (no, I wasn't banned). It's lurched from being wingnut anti-Thai whorist forum to being an ultra-leftie Thai apologist forum, and everything in between. One thing that always stayed the same is  the "If you don't like it leave" crowd, they're not worth the wear on your keyboard, as you allude.

Personally, I think Barrow is naively idealistic, but the world needs them. It's not right that my Japanese sister in law doesn't need to keep money on deposit for her visa renewals, but I do. This kind of medieval systemic failing needs calling out. Its 2020. Personally I have too much to lose in Thailand by stirring up a bucket of s#!t, so here's to you, Richard.

 

BTW, I suspect the problems he's having are related to the picture he posted of an IO trying to bribe him a few years ago. His problems are likely all as a continued result of that.

[tribalfusion001]

Just now, ThaidDown said:

Pretty sure that it was considered for those married to a Thai for at least 20 years.

 

It was going ahead until someone pointed out that a foreigner married to a Thai for that long would definitely fail the sanity test.

 

 

Lol, 4 years was enough.

 

https://visaguide.world/tips/becoming-a-citizen-of-thailand/

[Parker2100]

By any chance was he a customer of Thai Visa Center? 

 

Just asking

[Pilotman]

3 minutes ago, NilSS said:

I've been posting on this forum for a long time, right since it's inception (no, I wasn't banned). It's lurched from being wingnut anti-Thai whorist forum to being an ultra-leftie Thai apologist forum, and everything in between. One thing that always stayed the same is  the "If you don't like it leave" crowd, they're not worth the wear on your keyboard, as you allude.

Personally, I think Barrow is naively idealistic, but the world needs them. It's not right that my Japanese sister in law doesn't need to keep money on deposit for her visa renewals, but I do. This kind of medieval systemic failing needs calling out. Its 2020. Personally I have too much to lose in Thailand by stirring up a bucket of s#!t, so here's to you, Richard.

 

BTW, I suspect the problems he's having are related to the picture he posted of an IO trying to bribe him a few years ago. His problems are likely all as a continued result of that.

"posting since TVF's inception", but only 270 posts? So in all that time, you haven't bothered to contribute much to the debates you deride. Not sure that you have yet earned the right to be heard. 

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

Like many early TV adopters, I realised too late that it is not a place to give up your anonymity. So, I nuked and moved on. Any more questions about my legitimacy can be addressed via PM.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 14, 2020 by NilSS

[JackThompson]

 

2 hours ago, Heppinger said:

Guilty, i also care about the country they were born in and belong too.  That's why i'm passionate in protecting it's traditions from demoralized obnoxious westerners.  It's simple buddy, go home.

I hear you on that, and agree in general.
But, it would be nice if the corruption were cleaned-up - no?  For their sake as well - since Thais deal with it more than we do at Immigration?

Not saying RB was key to accomplishing this - heavily side-tracked on useless "Two Price Thailand," and such.  He probably didn't go into the corruption, to avoid what is happening now.  Still, I liked his updates, generally.

  

2 hours ago, Heppinger said:

Please don't tell me your also against mass immigration into western countries. 

I completely support self-funded expats coming to my country to spend their own money.   Also, anyone who comes in, and takes a job where the company pays him a higher-salary, because the skill is so rare.

But, broke people who drive down salaries in every labor sector they join, forcing citizens out of those sectors to flood the others, until everyone but the elite-rich are dirt-poor?  Taking jobs from college-grads at lower-salaries, to the point 1/2 of grads in tech-fields cannot get work.  No - I don't support THAT kind of immigration.

[checkered flag]

2 minutes ago, NilSS said:

I've been posting on this forum for a long time, right since it's inception (no, I wasn't banned). It's lurched from being wingnut anti-Thai whorist forum to being an ultra-leftie Thai apologist forum, and everything in between. One thing that always stayed the same is  the "If you don't like it leave" crowd, they're not worth the wear on your keyboard, as you allude.

Personally, I think Barrow is naively idealistic, but the world needs them. It's not right that my Japanese sister in law doesn't need to keep money on deposit for her visa renewals, but I do. This kind of medieval systemic failing needs calling out. Its 2020. Personally I have too much to lose in Thailand by stirring up a bucket of s#!t, so here's to you, Richard.

 

BTW, I suspect the problems he's having are related to the picture he posted of an IO trying to bribe him a few years ago. His problems are likely all as a continued result of that.

Both extremes are disgusting to me. If these group disagree they do everything to cancel you. I don't believe they are the majority but they feel they control by running their mouths. 

I feel your right about Richard and he overextended himself and got caught, or he's seeking more attention for himself. 

[ThaidDown]

6 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

Lol, 4 years was enough.

 

https://visaguide.world/tips/becoming-a-citizen-of-thailand/

Yes , but not given just because you married a Thai. There are other requirements like working for 3 years or setting up and pouring money in a foundation.(+ other more dubious ways)

[Jack Hna]

This guy has single handedly created more farang resentment and he has done it knowingly and some of you support him all because he chooses to push a dual pricing matter at a time it hardly affects any farang, he most likely knew the issue before hand, therefore premeditated the whole thing. Richard Barrow stands alone and he makes it perfectly clear. He may make interesting blogs but his behaviour is now shining a light on all farang and it's not a good light. 

 

 

[checkered flag]

3 minutes ago, NilSS said:

Like many early TV adopters, I realised too late that it is not a place to give up your anonymity. So, I nuked and moved on. Any more questions about my legitimacy can be addressed via PM.

 

 

 

 

NilSS i agree 100% with you and you have every much right to contribute as anyone else. Keep one's identity private here is only sensible. I'm sure Pilotman isn't his surname.

Now TVF is over run by disgusting Grumpy Old Men who only complain about Thailand. Maybe the Visa situation will thin some out.

[RayC]

Hope that it works out for him.

 

His blog is certainly useful for farangs and he appears to contribute to society. I would have thought that he would be a decent resident to have around?