Rob Browder

Now factor in the unilateral withdrawal from the INF. The question is, why would the Europeans be nervous? The only way to MAKE Russia into the threat they describe, is by what they are doing. One might even reach the conclusion the Neocons won't be satisfied unless they can dismember and destroy Russia - exactly as those maps they published describe.

Is that why Trump pushed the Continuing-Resolution which continues funding for all that graft and corruption - attacked Thomas Massie for opposing it / threatened to "primary" him** - but does not criticize the Senate Rs who voted against removing that already-identified graft/corruption spending from the CR? Trump is being his usual Big Disappointment, again. But, all the "other party" (sic) has to do, is act even more crazy, and the good-cop/bad-cop tag-team keeps the Uniparty game alive. ** (For the 2nd time - 1st was the "CARES Act" which funded "drop box" voting, and began the destruction of the economy + wrecking the value of the dollar with massive deficit-spending. All that, to "lock down" the country over an infection which all evidence to date at that time, and since, indicated was only dangerous to those who were very old and/or sick.)

A neural border zone, especially one the size of Ukraine, would seem to be a sensible compromise. All the government of Ukraine needed to do, was respect the human-rights and cultures of the groups in Ukraine, and don't be a foreign-proxy - either for Russia or Euro/USA.

... where the "law" says you must NOT talk about obvious patterns of behavior, and the harm done as a result. It's straight out of Orwell's 1984. Granted, a "limited" version of similar is being attempted in the USA, currently - so we aren't far behind. Once one "category" is protected, others will be added, until free-speech is dead. But, per current court-rulings, the only "legal" limit on written-speech is making believable (vs joke / non-actionable) threats.

So, what did James Baker III mean, when he promised Gorby that NATO would not move "one inch" beyond a then-newly-reunited Germany? The only reason a nation would fear being invaded by Russia, is if they were coup'd by the CIA (Nuland admitted $5-Billion spent on this - caught on-tape), began persecuting their ~1/3 ethnic-Russian population (shelling those who refused to bend the knee), and offered themselves up as a "minutes to Moscow" missile-base, after the USA withdrew from the intermediate-range missile treaty (INF). Ukraine hit the trifecta. Then, they violated the Minsk peace agreements, which followed. Likewise, Mexico could "choose" to join a CCP military-alliance and host China's missiles, in theory, but I don't think that would go over very well in DC.

Sending people back to their own homeland, where their people are the majority, is "brutal" - but not doing that, and thereby sentencing your own country and its people to destruction, is not "brutal"? My criticism of Trump, is he refuses to do anything meaningful to send back the foreigners who flooded-in. The overwhelming majority of those are kept in the country by employers who pay them, who are never prosecuted under existing felony law for employing illegal foreigners. What he is doing - in his 1st term, and continuing now - is the policy he correctly ridiculed during his 2016 campaign speeches. This policy of non-enforcement is the primary reason wages have not kept pace with inflation, and 1/2 of the American people have lived "hand to mouth" during multiple administrations. If the USA is "doomed," this is the primary cause - the 2nd cause being the non-stop deficit spending on wars. This continues regardless of which uni-party functionary is "chosen" on the ballot, so there is no real "choice" in USA elections.

if you arrive on a Non-O, you could go straight to the agent for your 1st extension, with the lower fee (12.5K and up, depending on area). You only have to pay the higher fee the first year if you arrive on Visa-Exempt or TR-Visa, because that involves changing to a "Non-O" in Thailand, as part of the package.

Yes, Immigration have agents for that by land and air (as well as for extensions-of-stay). If doing this repeatedly, one can pay for "no hassle" entry, or play the lottery they might not let you back in.

The solution was to make the TR-Visa 90-days. Oh, but then people would stay longer and spend more money here - can't have that. Any "criminals" would just go see Immigration's agents for a longer-term stay - would only need a couple days to get that sorted, so 30 vs 60 days is irrelevant.

Rubio sat on the Foreign-Relations committee in the Senate, and was no doubt familiar with the CIA's "Uyghur" militant-training program, before this latest twist. A similar operation was carried out against Russia with Chechens.

"Freedom House" is just a CIA-talking-point outlet - no respect for anything they say, including about Thailand. But, if life was so bad for "minorities" in the USA, they would not be flooding in by the millions, from nations where they were among the majority ethnic-group.

Maybe the history of sending Uyghurs through Thailand, then Turkey, then on to get "battlefield experience" in Libya and Syria as Wahabbi "freedom fighters" (sic) - should be factored-in? Whether these particular individuals were part of that scheme, I do not know. But I can see why Thailand did not want to get in the middle of that. Also, why a neocon like Rubio - up to his neck in these sort of operations - would be upset about the decision. Give me a freaking break the USA-government gives a hoot about anyone's "civil rights." See what is happening to ethnic-minorities in Syria, right now, as but one example.

Thanks for posting - is the same list I always followed with a TR-Visa, back in the day - though always avoided Thai airports (and Poipet). As long as they don't start denying-entry even WITH those items (as they did with VE and TR-Visas), it's not a problem for anyone who is prepared.

You have been doing Nothing Wrong, to spite the angry posters who don't like existing Thai laws and the way Immigration operates. Immigration is unlikely to deny the extension, but I would go a week before your current permitted-stay expires, so you have time to adjust your plans in the unlikely case of a denial. Where you might have a problem, is if you tried to enter Thailand without paying one of Immigration's "agent" partners to facilitate your entry. That's all immigration cares about, with regard to longer-staying folks who don't qualify for a Non-Imm type extension.

Some of us know the worthless (from a health POV) Pandemic Lockdowns and Deficit-Spending did massive damage, causing the inflation. If you want to be mad at Trump, let it be for his going along THAT for over a year. But, of course, the R/Ds still in the "partisan" trick echo-chambers won't do that, because "their guys" pushed it. As to your investments, best to buy some cover with option-hedges? It's not like Presidents aren't just Wall St puppets (look who they hire as staff), and the last one didn't have much of a brain going, either.

The Great Amnesty of 1986 was the most damaging blow. Someone else mentioned unions - but one didn't need to be in a union to be a well paid tradesman, or even food-packer, when the labor-market wasn't flooded by those willing to work for peanuts. The "... won't do THOSE Jobs," always leaves out, "... for dirt-poor pay." We worked "those jobs" right up to the day we were replaced, and wages fell by over half.

When it is extreme, inequality creates a desperate populace, living in fear, which is open to the communist sales-pitch - the direct result of gutting the Middle-Class. I'm not blaming Trump for that, specifically, because this policy has been consistent with both halves of the system. But, by dumping the populist policies he promised in 2016, the situation continues to worsen.

I opened my account back when it was possible on a tourst-visa entry, years ago - still took multiple attempts, even then. It is much harder now. The rules have changed. Even agents cannot open accounts any more in some areas. Luckily, the OP doesn't have to face this hurdle, so he could come in visa-exempt and get his Non-O locally. But, anyone w/o a Thai bank account would be wise to not create a problem for themselves.

It is VERY difficult now to open a bank account with a visa-exempt or any tourist-type entry. MUCH better to start with a Non-O entry, unless one already has a bank-account here. Some agents can still get it done in some areas - other say they cannot any more - per reports here. Also, if one is applying for the 90-Day Non-O in Thailand, you don't need to "season" the money for 2 months for this - only for the 12-month extension. Same-day 800K in the bank is fine for the initial 90-Day Non-O. The exception in Jomtien, where the lady who operates that desk will insist on non-rules seasoning OR a 15K Baht cash payoff - that scam being ongoing for many years.

When they deny for bull-reasons, all you can do is move to another area, or use an agent - possibly in another area, if no agents operating in your area.. There is no "oversight" to speak of. Some offices are infamous for making up fake-reasons to deny applications.

I would have the wife go to the amphur, and ask them to sign a document saying they don't have it on-file any more.

Some offices do this to block marriage-based extensions - not a new "trick" in their book - has been reported going back years.

You can have a WP with a marriage-based extension, so that would not be a factor. If you have a future-dated termination-letter from your employer, they will use that to set the date your Non-B extension will end.

For these durations, with your several months of "out of Thailand" space between visits, you can do it Visa-exempt without worry.

No 2-months deposit seasoning is required for a Non-O 90-Day from Immigration, unless you apply at Jomtien/Pattaya. The 2-months of money in the bank is only legally required for the 12-month extension application - but the person who handles it at Jomtien works a racket with the local agents. You can also apply for a 30-Day extension of your current 60-days, providing additional time.