ChicagoExpat

Well, they've set this up with local tax professionals. I'd call that assistance.

It's free with the promo code.

All -- just learned there will be an online meeting to answer questions about the new tax law for Americans. It's free with the promo code USBKK23 Tax Committee: Thai Tax on Foreign-Sourced Income (mailchi.mp)

As someone who does not spend time in your region, just to say I enjoy your little reports.

You're suggesting the Chinese guy's prosecution is because "men have no rights anymore." Having a hard time understanding any other meaning to your comment.

That went racist quickly.

You might want to change your profile pic if trying to avoid the "weirdo" moniker

Rape is rape, a crime is a crime, he should be prosecuted. But she is the dumbest person in the world and, yes, bears responsibility for what happened to her, no less than if I drive to a poor neighborhood and leave valuables in plain sight in the car, or tease a dog and get bitten. Inviting a stranger to your house after meeting them in a bar, via a hook-up website -- and then saying who could have expected something bad to happen? -- is absurd. That said, may she get the help she needs, and may the Thai police do an EFFECTIVE investigation and not just let him leave the country.

These are Airsoft guns? They're sold all over Bangkok.

Good advice. I lived in Russia for some time; while there is much I like about the country and the culture there is definitely a dark side to the "Russian soul." Many Westerners make the mistake of seeing white skin and thinking "They're just like us. Why can't we get along? I'm sure they want the same things we do." They're NOT just like us -- they are Asians, NOT Europeans, and they have deeply ingrained paranoia, xenophobia, and subservience to authority. For the better educated... perhaps the best single thing to note is that the Enlightenment never occurred in Russia. In terms of mentality, they are probably much closer to a 12th-century European than a modern Western person.

Our fellow citizens' bad behavior is embarrassing and a legitimate cause for concern (though it's clear that Thailand's open prostitution and now legalization of pot attracts the bottomfeeders). That said, I'd also say that with the Thai population in the U.S. having ballooned to hundreds of thousands in just a few years, the Thais can't complain too much about working illegally etc. Which is also a relevant fact to our overall discussion.

It's adjusted, I think, to give final total refusal rates. Lots of people are put in a status of "we need more info from you" or "we have to check on something" and while this is taking place the applicant is "refused" though the great majority of these are issued later. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/administrative-processing-information.html#:~:text=What does a visa refusal,section 291 of the INA.

One of the surprises that you're about to experience is that a visa doesn't cost $250, that figure was invented. It's $185. You should also doubt the 2.8 million baht figure, that's not how it works. Agree, much of it is security theater; while it does keep everyone safe (no incidents I've ever heard of, despite a ton of nutters out there), there is DEFINITELY an aspect that is meant to convey the appearance of rigorous safeguarding that seems overblown. TSA in the U.S., and most places, is worse though.

So -- your case is that 1) tourist visas are $250 2) Less than 1% of Thai student visa applications are approved and 3) Likely far less than 1% of Thai tourist visas are approved. Okay. I'll first say the burden is on you to prove your points. Go for it, rather than disputing mine. That said: 1) here is the cost of a visa. It is not, and has never been, $250. This type of obvious mistake/falsehood undermines any credibility you'd have on this subject. 2&3) You REALLY claim that well over 99% of tourists and students are denied? That (statistically speaking) ZERO Thais receive visas every year? That when one flies to America there are ZERO Thais on the plane? This info is bogus? This info is bogus? This info is bogus? Here are visa stats -- while they don't give percentages they do give the number of issuances. Over 41K Thais got tourist visas, and over 12K got various types of student visas. So while you'll likely claim the State Department is flat out lying for some reason -- with the real numbers being zero or single digits -- then if 41K Thais got tourist visas... the real number of Thai applicants at the Embassy this year was something like 4 million? Anyway, I'm going to put all this down as a combo of laziness and bitterness on your part over past visa denials. Have a good day!

Who did you pay $250 to? That's not the cost of a visa application. It's $185 and it JUST went up after like 20 years at $160. Most visas are issued, especially student visas. Man, you've got some bad info.

You really think that's how it works? Wow. "They throw a piece of rejection paper in their face, don't let them ask any questions and tell them to leave."

Assuming this is a joke... saying you're going to study illegally on a tourist visa is a sure way to get refused for a tourist visa.

A farmer is a "zionist Jewish oppressor"? Here we have retarius fully in support of Hamas -- ANY civilian qualifies to be killed as they are, after all, ALL "zionist Jewish oppressors." Putting aside all the Jewish deaths, I'm amazed you'd side with the murderers and kidnappers of 30 or so Thais -- over the people who employed them and apparently gave them good wages. Disgusting.

You accuse them at the same time of both blind nationalism and cowardice. Going into Gaza urban combat takes far more courage than you'll ever have. Especially as we know what happens to a Jew who is captured by jihadis. Your anti-Israel sentiments aside, I do appreciate, however, that you put the onus of danger on Russians, when it comes to the risk of participating in their war on Ukraine.

The really newsworthy part of this affair is a Russian trying to stop a fight, not start one.

Sorry, Cheech, it's true that almost no one in those kibbutzim had a gun at home. The few that did made a huge difference.

Well, they'll do the usual as required by consular officials -- what are you expecting?

Chaiya and JoeBuzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz should hear this but they won't. Neither has any idea what he is talking about but that's no deterrent.

If you're not even American how do you know if I'm right or wrong about the U.S. system? One of the many ways you're wrong -- Thailand DID Change for America. Four years ago. So take your America hating attitude and shove it. Better to keep silent and be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Guess you don't understand how the Government works. They CAN'T do it. It requires a Social Security office to be open. Social Security is not the State Department. Do you think a consular officer has access to citizens' personal info held by other branches of government? Do you think the Army can access Department of Labor files? Do you think the Department of Labor can look at the Bureau of Prisons info? Do you REALLY want ANY of the millions of government workers to be able to see your stuff? For whatever reason they don't have it. And your criticisms make no sense -- in the same sentence you condemn them for charging $50 for the fake letters, implying they're soaking the public, you condemn them for not looking to make more money. I get it, you hate the Embassy. And, clearly, America too. It's good you're staying here -- America has enough toxic anger as it is.