Answered6 years ago
What are the current challenges and implications for expats regarding visa renewals in Thailand?
Wow.
Answer summary
The discussion reveals a sense of alarm among expats in Thailand concerning visa renewals and associated implications, particularly in the context of social media criticisms directed at Thai policies like the dual pricing system and penalties under the TM30 regulation. Several commenters reflect on the precariousness of their status, the perceived risks of voicing dissent against governmental practices, and speculate on the reasons behind a fellow expat's visa complications, suggesting that those who challenge norms may face repercussions. The conversation touches on broader themes of immigration enforcement, the experiences of long-term residents, and how the current sociopolitical climate affects foreign nationals living in Thailand.
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Estefania ************
Well i have seen this a couple of times in a shop run by my farrang friend - usually they come back with "results" and will threaten to cancel your Visa immediately. After that you should ask for a chat in the car with the boss (no witness) and negotiate the tax that is overdue. Most of the time looking at 40k THB depending on size and turnover.
Maxim ***********
He's now saying what he need to say if we want to stay :)
Erik **********
I cant see much info to comment on.. inspect workplace? for what? what visa? whats the topic?
Patric **********
@Erik *********
it sounds like an “ intimidation procedure” 🤔
Ilya *************
Well then, you should use Telegram instead of FB
Jin *****
I think was a crack down on social media posts..
Gary ***********
Som nom nar... That's a RTP car, not an Immigration vehicle...
David *******
They are crazy, don't they need our money especially now!
Anthony ********
Thailand does not want farang now! We'll all be kicked out soon one way or another!
Michael ********
I do hope not as I've have a condo I just brought and some money in the bank and I'm also stuck in the UK.
Rob ******
@Michael *******
read yesterday that Scb is checking visas for every foreigner who enters the bank. Closing accounts of all who do not have a visa beyond sept 26. Rob ******
@Chris ****
there was a personal account of this yesterday on fb. 
Chris *****
@Rob *****
source?Gary ***********
@Michael *******
u r fine mate... No problem 
Stephen *********
@Anthony *******
agree
Garrett ***********
OPReading some of these comments, it's like people are siding with the abuser in a domestic violence case.
"She wouldn't be homeless if she didn't call the police on him! Serves her right."
"She wouldn't be homeless if she didn't call the police on him! Serves her right."
Daniel ************
Bora SaturdaySatur me too
Oliver ********
although in reality given the lack of information shared and if i remember rightly that he admitted he had to pull some strings to extend his visa last year, it could well just be that he doesn't qualify for a visa extension. simple.
Oliver ********
in that metaphor, he's not been abused. his partner has threatened to separate. and some of us are suggesting that could be because he keeps moaning about every tiny detail of his partner's behaviour and sharing all his relationship problems in social media.
Maxim ***********
Well, I'm just saying that this is totally expected if you have a decent following and try to make higher up losing face (even if it's informational and truthful). So I agree with Steven that if the goal is to stay in Thailand forever, this is not the best thing he could have done. Avoiding certain topics is key in a non-Democratic country. Personally, i'm done after September 26.
Maxim ***********
I don't quite understand the comparison? Is Richard Barrow evil?
Garrett ***********
OP@Ma***
No, Thailand is the abuser, Richard is the victim. I'm surprised so many people are blaming Richard for speaking up and bringing awareness to a problem that effects all expats. 
Archit *******
Use money power simple and easy
Shaheer ******************
Which visa do you have now
Michael ******
He is just trying to attract attention and clicks (money). In the end they will let him stay on like in the last years.
Far ******
They just start to see him as a treat. And things he wrote aren't invented or illussion.We also get important update from him from time to time about what's going on around Thailand.
Stig *********************
Stinks of corruption🤔🤔🤔
Jitender ***************
You don't know term " under table " ? Local police understand it very well 🙂☺️ ha ha🤣
Williams *******
Amazing, all these people who were following him, are now saying you shouldn't be saying things like that on social media about the junta !!
Patrick ************
Sad but they have a reason to do i think
Maxim ***********
The reason is called twitter, is it that hard to spill it out?
Williams *******
@Maxim **********
I know already it's called sarcasmWilliams *******
@Patrick ***********
what is that Patrick ************
@Williams ******
they not come for fun ,, beside of that normal police never deal or say something about visa that is imigration department and they send police when something wrong Williams *******
You said they have a reason, so what is it, don't dilly dally around you turn coat
Patrick ************
@Williams ******
u have to ask the police and imigration,, who was there 
Matthew *******
No such thing as freedom of speech in Thailand
แมทธิว **************
Sometimes you should not look to change the system but become part of it and rise upwards. Thailand has always had its own way like it not it is not a society based on western ways or values
Winand *********
@แมทธิว *************
I completely agree with you. Too many farrang compare Thailand with their home-country while we forget why we came here. On the other hand being a farrang I equally understand their frustations. Most of us who live contribute a lot to the Thai society, supporting whole families, opening businesses, etc. Often the government gives us the wrong signal though, as if they only care about we contribute directly to their pockets. Having said this I stress again my agreement with you that we should rather adapt than expect the country to adapt to our wishes. Last I wanna say I enjoyed you defending your country and I surely not agree with those farrang always bashing Thailand. Thailand ain't perfect but which country is.แมทธิว **************
@Winand ********
I am not Thai but I have lived in Thailand on an off nearly half my life, I don’t know any Ferrang in Thailand I run a business I employ only Thai and have only Thai friends and relatives. I get it people want to feel valued the reality is we can’t change a system and even less so when we don’t understand it. I don’t understand the bashing either Thailand is a love hate relationship sometimes you love it and sometimes you hate it 😂Winand *********
@แมทธิว *************
love and hate I couldn t have put it better. 🤣😉Maxim ***********
And I know plenty of people who bought their way to stay with visas obtain illegally with Visa Agent. Visa Agent who works with IO's. Is that the kind of contribution you were talking about? Aka, having deep pocket?
แมทธิว **************
@Maxim **********
No I have always found its best to talk to people be on the level with them completely and work with them you will always get some hard cases in immigration but overall they will help you, at your immigration office how many of the people do you know on first name terms ? Have there line ? Thailand is not a western society you expect it to operate as your home nation did but that is like trying to drive a car when you only know how to fly a plane it won’t work.แมทธิว **************
@Christophe *********
Sorry what are talking about ? What has this in anyway got to do with the conversation thread with maxim ? What has a space program got to do with anything I don’t have a space program do you ? This is a Thai visa forum why are you so angry about Thailand ? 
Christophe **********
@แมทธิว *************
so remind us again of how many refugees Thailand takes in? how many citizenships it grants per year? how you can come illegal with a family get free housing, education, food and money and then own land, guns, run any business with no quota system of using locals? (oh wait that last one is the USA). Now tell us about the trafficked slaves on the fishing boats (that happening in North America or Western Europe)? Then tell us all about how great a feudal system is that the West destroyed centuries ago. How's your space program? แมทธิว **************
@Charles ***************
maxim didn’t say that did he ? My conversation was with him did he say that somewhere in the thread. 
Charles ****************
@แมทธิว *************
So supporting a family, purchasing a car and a home is not enough "contribution" for you? Maxim ***********
Done for what? What are you talking about? Thailand is kicking out all sorts of people September 26, but the ones who illegally brought their way to stay with Visa Agent are here to stay. Are you proud of that?
แมทธิว **************
@Maxim **********
Really I know plenty of people who have visas and they are not being kicked out at all.Maxim ***********
What are you talking about?
แมทธิว **************
@Maxim **********
You say you are done with Thailand i was asking what you had done for it ? Maxim ***********
Thailand has the highest ratio worldwide of Billionaire vs Poor inequality, yes, numero uno, #1. It takes 10 seconds to google the data. Rising upward in a system that doesn't work is being stupid. If Thailand doesn't like Foreigners, like it's been clear during this pandemic, they should stop saving face and say so in front of the whole world so Foreigners would stop coming here. I'm basically done with Thailand after September 26. I was fooled enough.
แมทธิว **************
@Maxim **********
So for all the time you spent in Thailand why did you stay ? They didn’t invite you did they ? Send a letter saying please come Maxim we need you ? What where you contributions to the country did you learn to speak and write thai ? Apply for citizenship ? Employ anyone or start a business make a contribution to your community? Williams *******
@แมทธิว *************
how's that working out for you and your country??แมทธิว **************
@Williams ******
I am doing ok thank you, business is good and I am healthy and quite happy what country did you refer to ? Williams *******
@แมทธิว *************
I don't think you understand, but maybe you're enjoying living off the backs of your poor people 
Kristian ***************
I don’t know you and have only been following you for a few months but I’m not surprised. You should know posting anything negative in this country leads to consequences. Location of ‘flash’ protests, dual pricing, marathon restrictions for foreigners etc.
Rei ***********
Looks like under the table is needed
Steven ***************
I dont think posting stuff like that on social media is going to help his situation , if the powers that be arent happy with his "opinions"
Garrett ***********
OP@Ste***
I'd probably disagree. Bringing awareness on social media to corruption or social injustices by the government seems to elicit change here better than anything else.Steven ***************
@Garrett **********
. Fair point , but he needs to weigh up his personal priorities at the moment. Which is more important? The ability to stay here , and continue his life here, or his crusade which could cost him that .You really think the powers that be give a shit what he thinks? Do you really think thailand needs him to remind them of what occurs on a daily basis. Hes a small fish in the big picture. Nothing stopping him continuing his voice outside thailand and the authorities know it. When in Rome..
Daniel *******
@Garrett **********
I have only been following Richard recently, though see his postings as useful information not activism.Garrett ***********
OP@Ste***
I agree with you on deciding what is more important for him. Maintaining his life here or being an "activist." It will be interesting to see what happens.
Anthony *******
Naming and shaming in the 2 price Thailand group probably. Someone obviously a bit upset at been sourced out.
May ********
I remember that he posted something similar last year and said that he got the extension with some help from "a highly-placed connection".
Hernan *********
so sad
Steven ***************
Anyone know what type of visa/extension he stays here on?
Oliver ********
Seems odd that he described it as a "visa"
Steven ***************
@Oliver *******
. Yeah you would think he'd be on an extension by now considering how long hes been here. Has his teaching tenure ended ? Could be more to this than meets the eye. Daniel ************
@Steven **************
thats here not the issue / Immugration check if employer fulfil requirements and salary / Steven ***************
@Daniel ***********
. I know 3 foreigners who virtually lost their long term jobs here overnight once the virus kicked in. Two of them had 6+ months left on their contracts and were paid out to get them out. They also had 'connections"..Daniel ************
@Steven **************
he has an extension based on work in the computer department of a school / no teaching. 
Darren *******
@Steven **************
he had pictures of his school on Twitter a week or 2 ago so it seems like he's still thereChris *****
@Steven **************
he’s a teacher Daniel ************
@Chris ****
no/ he works in a school in the computer departmentMaxim ***********
Never forget that Thailand is not a Democratic country. So anything you say can be used against you in a situation like this. Richard should have known that.
Maxim ***********
Whether it's the justice system or election system, Thailand is not a democracy. Just because it's not as bad as the Cambodia election system, or recently Belarus, doesn't mean it's democratic. A democratic system is not where you end up re-elected by not even finishing 1st in vote counts & distribution. Basically, the party who finished first in both vote % and allocation of seats ended up losing the election because a bunch of seats was not available to grab during the election. It's the antithesis of a democratic system.
David *******
@Maxim **********
thailand is a democracy since last year. Justice system and election system are not the sameOliver ********
He seems like a nice guy with amazing knowledge of Thailand. I can't understand why he's always so desperate to make a huge fuss over tiny things like the TM30 penalty fines or tourists paying a few baht more to enter national parks. Hope he finds a way to stay but wouldn't be surprised if he has to go.
Chris *****
@Oliver *******
he’s a good bloke but I can see why it backfired. Dual pricing isn’t exclusive to Thailand, a night out in Vegas cost 90% less than my visiting friends bc of my Nevada ID. 
Terry ********
@Chris ****
some of you just don’t seem to get it. It’s NOT just like Vegas or anywhere else. It’s based on race, not residency. That’s what makes it a racist policy!Christophe **********
@Terry *******
they are Stockholmed Zimbardo effect sycophants and that personality disorder doesn't allow for analytical coherent thought Terry ********
@Oliver *******
well good for you but you’re still wrong. I’ve heard many accounts of Asian foreigners (tourists) paying the same as Thais, just because they look like they could be a Thai. Meanwhile I’ve been here for over 5 years and have to pay the Farang price. That’s racism, not nationalism. I don’t need to study to know that when I have plenty of experience. You need to study critical thinking because you don’t seem capable of it. Oliver ********
@Terry *******
i've never had a problem getting the local rate and i'm a proper white ginger with a massive nose.Oliver ********
@David ********
some white thais too
David *********
@David ******
thanks. It's a foriegner rate not a white rate. There are plenty of non white foriegners.
Chris *****
@David ******
exactly correct. Glad you correctly pointed out the big difference.David *******
@Terry *******
nope,more like nationalism .it is a nationality thing, has nothing to do with race, so if you look white but are thai national, still get their benefits, study issues better before throwing words like racism out there.
Felix ****
Would be interesting to know what got him in trouble. The fake news about the visa stuff or the marathon?
DustySu **********
That all too, and the TM 30 petition, twitter feeds of Andrew Macgreggor showing on his feed, etc. It's a message to all to shut up, toe the line, and be rah-rah flag waving.
Pascal ********
This is what happen you somebody write some special comments ,
Darren *******
Can't see his visa not being renewed. It's probably an attempt to try and scare people/stop the 2 Price Thailand thing he started
DustySu **********
Also the TM 30 petition, twitter feeds of Andrew Macgreggor, etc. It's a message to all to shut up, toe the line, and be rah-rah flag waving.
Lance *********
@Darren ******
my thoughts exactly 
Addy ***********
Really shit than..
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