ChicagoExpat

Uh, not me. I'm not the U.S. Government. Again, still pretty lame because you're arguing for more work and expense... from you.

It DOES need a secure database. You really think something that can confirm the financials of millions of people shouldn't be secure? And again, you miss the point completely. WHY DO YOU WANT TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS EXTRA WORK? You're literally arguing that you want to pay more and work harder to achieve the same goal. You are correct! A guess IS like an assumption, only less confident. Actually, let's upgrade "guess" in my previous comment -- I was trying to be polite -- to "assume." You ARE saying the Chiang Mai officer is lying. You never asked me to get it? That's why you argue with me and the others in this thread? So, your score for the day is 1 out of 2. You kind of correctly defined "guess", while totally bombing out on "get it". You can do better! Keep trying!

Assuming we're talking about a US Government source of income and not private sources, the answer is that for better or for worse, it seems Uncle Sam hasn't seen fit to give the Bangkok consular officers alone (and ONLY this Embassy, as only Thailand has this stupid system, per my knowledge and experience) access to the hundreds of databases you'd need to be able to provide official income verification for any Joe Blow that walks in. I don't see how this is hard to see -- the guy told you he didn't have access to all this. Based on the stuff you said about them earlier, I guess you think they're lying. Again -- the American Embassy has forced the Thais to move away from this worthless system and take financial documents at face value, saving you a trip to Bangkok from wherever you are and subject to getting an appointment, as well as $50 plus travel costs, and you're still complaining. I. Just. Don't. Get. It. You seem to want the other way just to get your way, in spite of yourself.

But you were told they weren't readily verifiable, so the premise of your argument falls apart. Uncle Sam isn't going to create a system where the Embassy in Bangkok is going to be able to check into the 1000 different kinds of USG pensions just because the Thai government demands it. I've lived in 6 different countries for the past 20 years and no one, not even Russia or Nigeria, had the garbage bureaucracy Thailand has. And spurious insults toward the people who told you that aside (and everyone else in American Citizens Services), your argument is still that you want the Thai way (go to your Embassy for everything we demand, and pay $50 or more per you) over the Embassy way, which is "take the documents on their merits." So, yes, the Thai way is crap and I appreciate the Embassy for saying no to it.

So, your argument is you WANT to have to go to the Embassy and pay $50 for a worthless piece of paper? You WANT them to scam the public by charging as much as they want so you can cough up a stamped letter? What the Americans and Brits have done is called "BS" on Thai immigration insanity and said they won't play their game anymore, as they can't verify Joe Blow's income. Good on them. We're all a bunch of crabby old guys who hate everyone, but even we should be able to see that REDUCING Thai crap rather than ENCOURAGING it is a service to everyone.

I can answer that. Because the passport money you pay online goes to the government in USA, and the $3 needs to go to the Thai Post Office. Two different recipients of the money -- in America it's just part of the price I think.

It's astonishing to me that Trump would want to be seen as "the apple of the eye" of a murderous dictator. Well, not as astonishing as it should be. He really admires those guys who just do what they want, and don't let silly things like "laws" restrain him. And, the love of Russia and Putin that has surged on the Right is incredible to me, having grown up watching the Left who, at the time, loved Russia.

I can confirm Missing Burro IS good! Run by Mexicans, as you say -- it was first recommended to me by a Mexican friend.

Thailand for sure has a duty to protect its women. I like that too -- Lord knows enough of us here are total b@stards. However, stupid crap like a self-sworn affidavit done at the U.S. Embassy does zero to protect Thai women. You can also swear out an affidavit that you're the King of France. Same goes for "authenticating" your marriage/birth/academic docs all by self-sworn affidavit. Much of Thailand's bureaucracy serves ZERO purpose, and that's a problem.

Bureaucracy here is FAR worse than any of the other 7 countries I've lived in.

That was nice of you to say that. I have a friend who works there and he said mostly all they get is hate (usually from the minority of people who screwed things up themselves)... Nice to see it worked out.

That's interesting info -- wow you have the long view. Let's hope the new place has an enclosed waiting area -- however nice the view of the klong is.

If you drive past the building now you can see a construction site -- looks like they're finally building a new building.

It makes sense that they would want to see that the American husband is here long term and not, as others have said, trying to shortcut the immigration process by using a tourist visa. And I'm glad some slimy visa agent doesn't seem to be able to inject themselves in the immigration process beyond application help.

So, TomKorat, in the end what happened? I'm also curious about visa agents -- seem like a scam to me, but if anyone has good info on the value they provide, I'd appreciate it.

....and nowhere is the "famous tattoo artist" named.

You say that about everything. But Taiwan says it IS the U.S.'s business. Being Chinese and always promoting the Chinese agenda on this forum, you'd like to force a false, binary choice... but neither you nor your Chinese leaders can do that.

So strange that people get worked up about "The U.S. supports a democratic outcome in this election." I guess if you're for the ruling junta, and truly don't care about democracy, or you are Chinese, this would upset you.

Exactly! We agree on something ????

The U.S. did. And did more than that, it suspended military aid. The interwebs can be your friend if you know how to use them.

You know nothing about me, the media I read, or my education. I'd put my education and understanding of world affairs against yours anytime. Especially because you're either intentionally setting up a straw man or you're just too bad at reading comprehension to accurately comment on what I said. Pretty ironic for someone setting themselves up as a superior intellect here.

All these guys like ThaiFelix supporting China and hating America while comfortably enjoying all that America provides for them. They probably won't live long enough to see in the next 20-30 years what a China dominated world is like, but I wish they would.

Wow. just wow. Deployments of troops in friendly countries is worse than invasions of Ukraine (3x), Moldova, Georgia... China building fake islands to get more territory and actively threaten their neighbors.... Incredible to be an apologist for those countries even if you don't always agree with U.S. actions.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

You can retain your passport if you request it... Maybe not comment when you don't know, despite being so "civilised"