Just now, Hawaiian said:

Says who? Says me. It has happened to my family and to friends of ours. I won't waste my time furnishing detail to deniers.

Why not. The details are important. What is a "denier"?

4 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Why not. The details are important. What is a "denier"?

Look in the mirror.

4 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

Look in the mirror.

Got it. So you just make things up right? What am I denying? That out of millions of visitors to the US, a handful are excluded? Like in every other country?

21 hours ago, sharot724 said:

How will it be much different

Sure, this review of a 45-year-old Viet Woman and her 15-year-old Daughter were a Trump threat.

silly you

The terms I had agreed to was neither would ever have access to any financial aid.

Your BS

724, if you overstay your VISA here in Thailand if you are a threat or not you are kicked out of this country same as other countries. 724, no one is talking BS just facts.

On 1/15/2026 at 8:27 AM, spidermike007 said:

Many of us are hoping that this won't affect spousal visas. When she applied previously she got a 10-year multiple entry and all they were interested in seeing was my passport, to determine that I travel back and forth from Thailand to the US frequently. Hopefully that will remain the same.

Any info anyone might have would be helpful.

Is there really such a thing as a spousal visa? Back in 2019 I tried to have my wife of one year (legally marriage with a certificate from the amphur) apply for a "tourist visa". We when through the whole application process spent the fee ($170) and made an appointment. At the time, only tourist visa application appointments were in the morning from about 8am to 10:30am. We live in Pattaya and because of avoiding morning traffic went the day before and booked a hotel that was a 25 minute walk to the US embassy (try getting a taxi at 10am in Bangkok). My wife had a 10:15 interview scheduled. She went in the embassy alone (I wasn't permitted to accompany her). She had her passport with several international entry/exit stamps showing tourism (Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, and the Maldives). She had a folder notebook of about 30 pages that showed letters from US friends that came to visit and met her that welcomed her to visit. She had bank statements with over 1 million baht in savings. US tax return showing her ITIN number. She also had a personal statement that mentioned that she had an 11 year son that showed she a strong reason to return. She was outside within 20 minutes. The interviewer didn't look at the folder and only asked her 3 or 4 simple questions: Why do you want to go to the US? Where will you go? How will you support yourself. Of course the answer were a simple as the questions. Visit my husband's family and friends. Hawaii, California, and Nevada. My husband is paying for everything and I have a credit card. The interviewer simply said "I'm sorry but you don't met the requirements to go to the US." He gave her a piece of paper that had some kind of immigration code and she had to leave. This year I asked her if she wanted to try for a tourist visa again and she said that she didn't want to go through the hassle and expense. Instead we went back to the Maldives for a week and booked an all inclusive over the water jacuzzi villa. It was actually cheaper than going to the US for 2 weeks (air, hotels, shopping, dining etc). I think it's better that she doesn't go to the US. She doesn't care for western food and the people are not as nice a the average Thai person. Plus I think seeing all the homeless people will make her sick. Let me know if there's such a thing as a "Spousal visa" first time I've ever heard of that. Thanks.

24 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Got it. So you just make things up right? What am I denying? That out of millions of visitors to the US, a handful are excluded? Like in every other country?

Rather doubt it that you would be that nonchalant if you were among that handful. The handful is growing and it won't be long before it becomes bucketfuls. ICE has been given a daily quota of 3,000 arrests per day.

Next it will they will be targeting visitors.

1 minute ago, Hawaiian said:

Rather doubt it that you would be that nonchalant if you were among that handful. The handful is growing and it won't be long before it becomes bucketfuls. ICE has been given a daily quota of 3,000 arrests per day.

Next it will they will be targeting visitors.

Well I have managed to go 70 years without being excluded from anywhere. How many is the "handful"?

Why cant you admit you are just spewing rhetoric with no factual basis? 3 million folks come in a year, how many are turned away? You should have that number at your fingertips if you are making a claim.

7 minutes ago, bronzedude said:

Is there really such a thing as a spousal visa? Back in 2019 I tried to have my wife of one year (legally marriage with a certificate from the amphur) apply for a "tourist visa". We when through the whole application process spent the fee ($170) and made an appointment. At the time, only tourist visa application appointments were in the morning from about 8am to 10:30am. We live in Pattaya and because of avoiding morning traffic went the day before and booked a hotel that was a 25 minute walk to the US embassy (try getting a taxi at 10am in Bangkok). My wife had a 10:15 interview scheduled. She went in the embassy alone (I wasn't permitted to accompany her). She had her passport with several international entry/exit stamps showing tourism (Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, and the Maldives). She had a folder notebook of about 30 pages that showed letters from US friends that came to visit and met her that welcomed her to visit. She had bank statements with over 1 million baht in savings. US tax return showing her ITIN number. She also had a personal statement that mentioned that she had an 11 year son that showed she a strong reason to return. She was outside within 20 minutes. The interviewer didn't look at the folder and only asked her 3 or 4 simple questions: Why do you want to go to the US? Where will you go? How will you support yourself. Of course the answer were a simple as the questions. Visit my husband's family and friends. Hawaii, California, and Nevada. My husband is paying for everything and I have a credit card. The interviewer simply said "I'm sorry but you don't met the requirements to go to the US." He gave her a piece of paper that had some kind of immigration code and she had to leave. This year I asked her if she wanted to try for a tourist visa again and she said that she didn't want to go through the hassle and expense. Instead we went back to the Maldives for a week and booked an all inclusive over the water jacuzzi villa. It was actually cheaper than going to the US for 2 weeks (air, hotels, shopping, dining etc). I think it's better that she doesn't go to the US. She doesn't care for western food and the people are not as nice a the average Thai person. Plus I think seeing all the homeless people will make her sick. Let me know if there's such a thing as a "Spousal visa" first time I've ever heard of that. Thanks.

10 minutes ago, bronzedude said:

Yes you are correct, it was a B-1 visa which is a 10-year multiple entry visa. Prior to getting married we tried to get her a tourist or a student visa which was impossible. Once we were married we were advised to have her bring my original passport which she did, and once they saw my entry and exit stamps it appeared to convince them we had no interest in living in broken down America, and we were simply going back and forth, and she was granted the visa.

23 minutes ago, bronzedude said:

Let me know if there's such a thing as a "Spousal visa" first time I've ever heard of that. Thanks.

K-1 visa? And it is not effected by the current suspension. https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-of-us-citizens/visas-for-fiancees-of-us-citizens

On 1/17/2026 at 12:28 PM, impulse said:

How do those numbers tally up over decades? The Biden open borders will cost taxpayers $$ trillions. Immigrants on welfare is the gift that keeps on taking. For generations.

You got a serious math problem, the total welfare program for all people in the USA cost less than 1 trillion. Actually about 200 billion less than what you pay for interest in 2026 on your 38 trillion loans.

On 1/16/2026 at 1:38 PM, Hawaiian said:

We are advising our Thai friends to forget visiting us in Hawaii because there are just too many well publicized cases of foreign travelers being denied entry at HNL. The sad reality is that the U.S.has become a police state.

This is going back 20 plus years but Delta once had Portland-Narita service one reason it stopped was the Japanese businessmen were calling it "Deportland". One of my friends used to work in a Japanese trading firm ag products like wheat corn, animal feed. Supposedly the local Immigration had a different interpretation of the visa exempt for short business trips Also Guam has a bad reputation with women travelers, it's not untrue some were flying in visa exempt from asia and working as Hostesses but the American ladies who come to be on contract to be strippers got to audition at the airport. Strip searched for drugs!

2 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

You got a serious math problem, the total welfare program for all people in the USA cost less than 1 trillion. Actually about 200 billion less than what you pay for interest in 2026 on your 38 trillion loans.

My math is fine. So's my logic, unlike the lefties who think that welfare benefits only last a year. In a recent congressional inquiry, it came out that 78% of Somali immigrants are still on some kind of benefit program after 10 years in the USA. Other nationalities are lower, a few even higher. So the annual number is just the start of calculating the cost.

If you multiply the cost per head, times the heads, times the number of years, you get way over a $trillion. And that's just the legal benefits. Not counting the scams and fraud, and not counting what it's going to cost us to give them $10-100K of "due process", where the taxpayers fund both sides of the court cases.

1 minute ago, impulse said:

My math is fine. So's my logic, unlike the lefties who think that welfare benefits only last a year. In a recent congressional inquiry, it came out that 78% of Somali immigrants are still on some kind of benefit program after 10 years in the USA. Other nationalities are lower, a few even higher. So the annual number is just a start.

If you multiply the cost per head, times the heads, times the number of years, you get way over a $trillion. And that's just the legal benefits. Not counting the scams and fraud, and not counting what it's going to cost us to give them $10-100K of "due process", where the taxpayers fund both sides of the court cases.

Are you taking any 'extra' bebefits...................?.........

5 hours ago, bronzedude said:

Is there really such a thing as a spousal visa? Back in 2019 I tried to have my wife of one year (legally marriage with a certificate from the amphur) apply for a "tourist visa". We when through the whole application process spent the fee ($170) and made an appointment. At the time, only tourist visa application appointments were in the morning from about 8am to 10:30am. We live in Pattaya and because of avoiding morning traffic went the day before and booked a hotel that was a 25 minute walk to the US embassy (try getting a taxi at 10am in Bangkok). My wife had a 10:15 interview scheduled. She went in the embassy alone (I wasn't permitted to accompany her). She had her passport with several international entry/exit stamps showing tourism (Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, and the Maldives). She had a folder notebook of about 30 pages that showed letters from US friends that came to visit and met her that welcomed her to visit. She had bank statements with over 1 million baht in savings. US tax return showing her ITIN number. She also had a personal statement that mentioned that she had an 11 year son that showed she a strong reason to return. She was outside within 20 minutes. The interviewer didn't look at the folder and only asked her 3 or 4 simple questions: Why do you want to go to the US? Where will you go? How will you support yourself. Of course the answer were a simple as the questions. Visit my husband's family and friends. Hawaii, California, and Nevada. My husband is paying for everything and I have a credit card. The interviewer simply said "I'm sorry but you don't met the requirements to go to the US." He gave her a piece of paper that had some kind of immigration code and she had to leave. This year I asked her if she wanted to try for a tourist visa again and she said that she didn't want to go through the hassle and expense. Instead we went back to the Maldives for a week and booked an all inclusive over the water jacuzzi villa. It was actually cheaper than going to the US for 2 weeks (air, hotels, shopping, dining etc). I think it's better that she doesn't go to the US. She doesn't care for western food and the people are not as nice a the average Thai person. Plus I think seeing all the homeless people will make her sick. Let me know if there's such a thing as a "Spousal visa" first time I've ever heard of that. Thanks.

My Thai spouse had a very similar experience at the Embassy. Tons of documents like what you described, ample reasons to return, including a good job and several properties owned, travel stamps from lots of countries, including Australia, Japan, China, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and others. Didn't matter. Like your wife, they did not even look at the documents. Waste of time--and ridiculous that the American spouse is not allowed to be part of the interview--or even be in the building.

6 hours ago, cdulaney said:

724, if you overstay your VISA here in Thailand if you are a threat or not you are kicked out of this country same as other countries. 724, no one is talking BS just facts.

To any ignorant poster the Visa process requires you have to agree to not ever apply for financial aid.

That was the response to Sambum not to yours post.

6 hours ago, cdulaney said:

724, if you overstay your VISA here in Thailand if you are a threat or not you are kicked out of this country same as other countries. 724, no one is talking BS just facts.

On 1/16/2026 at 11:06 AM, sambum said:

Surely that's the point? Too many people going throuh the process without a hitch - including those that become dependent on the benefits system?

40 minutes ago, newnative said:

My Thai spouse had a very similar experience at the Embassy. Tons of documents like what you described, ample reasons to return, including a good job and several properties owned, travel stamps from lots of countries, including Australia, Japan, China, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and others. Didn't matter. Like your wife, they did not even look at the documents. Waste of time--and ridiculous that the American spouse is not allowed to be part of the interview--or even be in the building.

Like I posted before. It has been always harder for American's Thai spouse to get a "visitor" visa versus a Family visa.

I don't know about know about now but an alien with US spouse, the couple could say they "changed their mind" now the spouse wants to apply for residence. They were not deportable unless had comitted serious crimes or prove they lied about intent. Seen as gaming the system, then also black mark on the consular officer who let them in as a visitor so they just deny.

Of course many people who are living in Thailand would want their spouse to visit the US with no intent of staying forever. Makes no sense.

1 hour ago, newnative said:

My Thai spouse had a very similar experience at the Embassy. Tons of documents like what you described, ample reasons to return, including a good job and several properties owned, travel stamps from lots of countries, including Australia, Japan, China, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and others. Didn't matter. Like your wife, they did not even look at the documents. Waste of time--and ridiculous that the American spouse is not allowed to be part of the interview--or even be in the building.

Asking for a tourist visa while they know the "husband" is a US citizen is the red flag. They have to weigh the chances the petitioner is probably trying to circumvent the proper K1 process, or not. Basically it's like flipping a coin, so you will need overwhelming evidence to prove the validity of a B1/B2 request.

On 1/17/2026 at 4:07 PM, impulse said:

My math is fine. So's my logic, unlike the lefties who think that welfare benefits only last a year. In a recent congressional inquiry, it came out that 78% of Somali immigrants are still on some kind of benefit program after 10 years in the USA. Other nationalities are lower, a few even higher. So the annual number is just the start of calculating the cost.

If you multiply the cost per head, times the heads, times the number of years, you get way over a $trillion. And that's just the legal benefits. Not counting the scams and fraud, and not counting what it's going to cost us to give them $10-100K of "due process", where the taxpayers fund both sides of the court cases.

your math is <deleted>e.

On 1/15/2026 at 8:09 PM, kevozman1 said:

This guy saying this has his location as Angeles Philippines.. Now just saying the Failippines is enough and then you are in the niggest dump arguably in Asia talking like that?

Look at these guys. Got one who has his location as Angeles city in the Philippines trying to talk about absolutely anyone else being trash, and then another boasting hard about being rich on a forum dedicated to Thailand.. I just don't know what to say.. Can you guys start speaking another language? What was that weirdo called .. Yeah Geronimo. Start speaking his language and then we can ignore you easily.

Please ignore me.

18 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

You are making numbers up, just like Trump:

"USA Welfare Costs

The total government spending on welfare across federal, state, and local levels reached approximately $1.5 trillion in 2025. This includes Medicaid, which accounted for $742 billion, and other welfare programs totaling $757 billion."

Welfare Statistics in US 2025 | Key Facts - The World Data

That isn't how rounding works :) From the the site you quoted states 1.8 trillion so using rounding as you did that would be 2 trillion. You might have, by mistake I assume, not included SNAP ( food stamp, etc ).

Hey, I think most welfare is a good thing but also don't ignore that it is a mess that needs to be cleaned up. I really don't give a rat's arse who does the cleaning.

• Government Spending: Total spending on welfare programs across all government levels is roughly $1.8 trillion annually, with significant federal investment in Social Security, Medicaid, and SNAP.

You nor I know how much waste but only one way to find out. Many Americans would be OK with the 2 trillion if fewer people received it and more of the actual people that need it received it. It seems to be trap that keeps too many complacent at best and corrupt at worse.

Sad that many need more assistance but can't get it because of the waste.

On 1/16/2026 at 5:12 PM, TedG said:

I retired in 2025 and only want to snowbird to Thailand. It's cold here but the race season starts next month and I have a dr apt. I can go back and forth three to four times per year.

Good life and you have a passion for racing which is what in a weird way might be the most important aspect of my daily life. I would be dead if it was motocross like yourself but I realised 10 years ago that anything involving speed always for me ended in a world of searing pain and shattered bones.

So many just fall into a rut of despair and anger because they have no passion that keeps them focussed. A wandering mind with zero restraint is usually an evil mind and as evident on this forum, the evil is in the name of good.

7 hours ago, atpeace said:

That isn't how rounding works :) From the the site you quoted states 1.8 trillion so using rounding as you did that would be 2 trillion. You might have, by mistake I assume, not included SNAP ( food stamp, etc ).

Hey, I think most welfare is a good thing but also don't ignore that it is a mess that needs to be cleaned up. I really don't give a rat's arse who does the cleaning.

• Government Spending: Total spending on welfare programs across all government levels is roughly $1.8 trillion annually, with significant federal investment in Social Security, Medicaid, and SNAP.

You nor I know how much waste but only one way to find out. Many Americans would be OK with the 2 trillion if fewer people received it and more of the actual people that need it received it. It seems to be trap that keeps too many complacent at best and corrupt at worse.

Sad that many need more assistance but can't get it because of the waste.

SNAP is included in the 1.5 trillion number. From the same article:

The United States welfare programs include major initiatives such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Housing Choice Vouchers, and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

and:

Welfare Fact Category	Statistical Data 2025
Total Welfare Recipients in US	72.5 million Americans receive welfare assistance monthly
SNAP Participants 2025	41.7 million individuals enrolled in FY 2024
Medicaid/CHIP Enrollment	77.7 million people enrolled as of June 2025
SSI Recipients	7.4 million individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income
TANF Beneficiaries	1.5 million children and 497,500 adults in FY 2023
Housing Assistance	9.3 million people (2.84% of US population)
EITC Recipients	23 million workers and families received $64 billion
Total Welfare Spending	$1.5 trillion across all government levels
SNAP Benefits Average	$187.20 per participant per month
Federal SNAP Spending	$99.8 billion in FY 2024
SSI Average Payment	$697 per month
EITC Average Amount	$2,743 per eligible taxpayer in tax year 2023
Medicaid Spending	$742 billion in FY 2025
Housing Voucher Recipients	5.23 million people through HCV program

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

SNAP is included in the 1.5 trillion number. From the same article:

The United States welfare programs include major initiatives such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Housing Choice Vouchers, and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

and:

Welfare Fact Category	Statistical Data 2025
Total Welfare Recipients in US	72.5 million Americans receive welfare assistance monthly
SNAP Participants 2025	41.7 million individuals enrolled in FY 2024
Medicaid/CHIP Enrollment	77.7 million people enrolled as of June 2025
SSI Recipients	7.4 million individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income
TANF Beneficiaries	1.5 million children and 497,500 adults in FY 2023
Housing Assistance	9.3 million people (2.84% of US population)
EITC Recipients	23 million workers and families received $64 billion
Total Welfare Spending	$1.5 trillion across all government levels
SNAP Benefits Average	$187.20 per participant per month
Federal SNAP Spending	$99.8 billion in FY 2024
SSI Average Payment	$697 per month
EITC Average Amount	$2,743 per eligible taxpayer in tax year 2023
Medicaid Spending	$742 billion in FY 2025
Housing Voucher Recipients	5.23 million people through HCV program

Yes it was but you didn't include it. It is 1.8 trillion as you know this :)

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

SNAP is included in the 1.5 trillion number. From the same article:

The United States welfare programs include major initiatives such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Housing Choice Vouchers, and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

and:

Welfare Fact Category	Statistical Data 2025
Total Welfare Recipients in US	72.5 million Americans receive welfare assistance monthly
SNAP Participants 2025	41.7 million individuals enrolled in FY 2024
Medicaid/CHIP Enrollment	77.7 million people enrolled as of June 2025
SSI Recipients	7.4 million individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income
TANF Beneficiaries	1.5 million children and 497,500 adults in FY 2023
Housing Assistance	9.3 million people (2.84% of US population)
EITC Recipients	23 million workers and families received $64 billion
Total Welfare Spending	$1.5 trillion across all government levels
SNAP Benefits Average	$187.20 per participant per month
Federal SNAP Spending	$99.8 billion in FY 2024
SSI Average Payment	$697 per month
EITC Average Amount	$2,743 per eligible taxpayer in tax year 2023
Medicaid Spending	$742 billion in FY 2025
Housing Voucher Recipients	5.23 million people through HCV program

Could be correct but what article are you referring. Your original quote stated the source: Welfare Statistics in US 2025 | Key Facts - The World Data. THat is where I got the 1.8 trillion. I did further digging and the number does seem to be closer to 1.5 trillion.

Regardless, don't you think the people that need welfare are worth the effort to eliminating the people that don't. THat's the issue with handouts to the needy, corrupt individuals abuse the system and in the end the people that truly need it suffer. Like I said clean it up and the even increase the benefits to the people that need it.

On 1/15/2026 at 7:28 AM, redwood1 said:

I have been demanding that Thailand give me free housing, free health care, and free money every month, as all the immigrant freeloaders get in the USA, the EU, and the UK.....

So far I have not got a single baht out of the Thai government....

Expats in Thailand in Thailand need to unite and demand they give us free stuff.......lol

You are full of bull<deleted>. Immigrants do not get free Healthcare, or free money every month. Conspiracy theories with no proof - just the usual Immigrant hating white guy who just happens to be an immigrant in another country!

On 1/15/2026 at 1:34 PM, John Drake said:

Americans in the single digits have likely applied for PR. Meanwhile, Thais who have successfully received US immigrant visas in recent years number between 6,000 and 10,000 per year.

IMO, Thais see the United States as the number-one place to visit and migrate (for life/work), compared to other countries. I'm referring to countries far away, not a short trip to Japan or Korea which is very popular among Thais. The reason I say US is their number-one choice for immigration and/or at least for long haul visits, is the number of Thais you see casually each day (in Bangkok) wearing t-shirts, etc., with America 'names' of US places on them (and sports teams - sports they wouldn't otherwise watch or care about). Yes, these could be gifts from relatives living over there - or even if purchased knock-offs, but that still makes the same point.

9 hours ago, atpeace said:

Yes it was but you didn't include it. It is 1.8 trillion as you know this :)

Could be correct but what article are you referring. Your original quote stated the source: Welfare Statistics in US 2025 | Key Facts - The World Data. THat is where I got the 1.8 trillion. I did further digging and the number does seem to be closer to 1.5 trillion.

Regardless, don't you think the people that need welfare are worth the effort to eliminating the people that don't. THat's the issue with handouts to the needy, corrupt individuals abuse the system and in the end the people that truly need it suffer. Like I said clean it up and the even increase the benefits to the people that need it.

It is 1.5 trillion in the world data article.

5 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

It is 1.5 trillion in the world data article.

OK, where is this world data article -- 555

1 hour ago, atpeace said:

OK, where is this world data article -- 555

You said earlier:

"Your original quote stated the source: Welfare Statistics in US 2025 | Key Facts - The World Data. THat is where I got the 1.8 trillion."

Now you don't know where it is? -- 555

4 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

You said earlier:

"Your original quote stated the source: Welfare Statistics in US 2025 | Key Facts - The World Data. THat is where I got the 1.8 trillion."

Now you don't know where it is? -- 555

That isn't an article as you keep stating -555. Depending on how you ask the search question you get different numbers. There was never an article as you keep repeating.

You do understand how the US tax system works? I'll help :) Taxes in the US are local, federal, and State. Add what all three spend on welfare and it is nearly 2 trillion.

I'm sure you will apologizing to the person you called dishonest :) No you won't because you are always right and everybody that disagrees is a fool.

Here is an actual source with welfare spending by the US Government. Remember there are 3 levels. In 2021 it was 1.8 trillion and almost going up vertically on the graph.

https://www.cato.org/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policymakers-9th-edition-2022/poverty-welfare#:~:text=Altogether%2C%20the%20federal%20government%20spends,totaled%20more%20than%20$30%20trillion.

Bet you’re not holding a US Passport.