Over the years, I have noticed that in Embassies or even establishments that act as agents for the visa sections of embassies, they are generally staffed by local people, and these people seem to forget who they are and take on the importance of a foregn national i.e rude and arrogant.

I have mentioned on these pages previously about the Filipino who seems to "run" the visa section of the Thai Embassy in Manila - a right royal pain in the posterior and seconded by others who have suffered his arrogance.

The Spanish Embassy here in Bangkok is another example, the local are staff totally rude, and just now I have had a call from a friend who was at the UK Visa application office. The friend is a Chinese national who is the MD of a local company.who requires a UK Visa to enable her to attend high powered meetings in the UK. She said she was hustled into a small interview room and was interrogated by a very obnoxious Thai, who seemed hel_l bent on trying to prove she was going to the UK for other purposes.

Before the smarties jump on the band wagon, I would like to point out this lady is in her very late 30's speaks English, Thai, and Russian as well as her native laguage, but still was treated wirh arrogant contempt, never been in a bar in her life let alone worked in one and has two passports that are very heavily chopped by many different countries she has visited.

As she said to me, madness, If I want to go to the UK I would expect to be interviewd by a Brit not a local !!!!!!

Over the years, I have noticed that in Embassies or even establishments that act as agents for the visa sections of embassies, they are generally staffed by local people, and these people seem to forget who they are and take on the importance of a foregn national i.e rude and arrogant.

I have mentioned on these pages previously about the Filipino who seems to "run" the visa section of the Thai Embassy in Manila - a right royal pain in the posterior and seconded by others who have suffered his arrogance.

The Spanish Embassy here in Bangkok is another example, the local are staff totally rude, and just now I have had a call from a friend who was at the UK Visa application office. The friend is a Chinese national who is the MD of a local company.who requires a UK Visa to enable her to attend high powered meetings in the UK. She said she was hustled into a small interview room and was interrogated by a very obnoxious Thai, who seemed hel_l bent on trying to prove she was going to the UK for other purposes.

Before the smarties jump on the band wagon, I would like to point out this lady is in her very late 30's speaks English, Thai, and Russian as well as her native laguage, but still was treated wirh arrogant contempt, never been in a bar in her life let alone worked in one and has two passports that are very heavily chopped by many different countries she has visited.

As she said to me, madness, If I want to go to the UK I would expect to be interviewd by a Brit not a local !!!!!!

Reckon the staffing situation is budget related.  A few years back the U.S. State Department figured that on an average it ran over $250,000 to post an employee overseas.  Need to figure in housing, international school cost for kid(s), often a commissary, home leave and return to post costs, car and household effects shipping, support costs in the embassy, such as medical, personnel, etc.  Lots of items.  And I bet the costs have gone up.

Thus where deemed possible, saves $$$ to have a TCN (Third Country National) or local employee in place, hopefully under supervision.

Mac

Over the years, I have noticed that in Embassies or even establishments that act as agents for the visa sections of embassies, they are generally staffed by local people, and these people seem to forget who they are and take on the importance of a foregn national i.e rude and arrogant.

I have mentioned on these pages previously about the Filipino who seems to "run" the visa section of the Thai Embassy in Manila - a right royal pain in the posterior and seconded by others who have suffered his arrogance.

The Spanish Embassy here in Bangkok is another example, the local are staff totally rude, and just now I have had a call from a friend who was at the UK Visa application office. The friend is a Chinese national who is the MD of a local company.who requires a UK Visa to enable her to attend high powered meetings in the UK. She said she was hustled into a small interview room and was interrogated by a very obnoxious Thai, who seemed hel_l bent on trying to prove she was going to the UK for other purposes.

Before the smarties jump on the band wagon, I would like to point out this lady is in her very late 30's speaks English, Thai, and Russian as well as her native laguage, but still was treated wirh arrogant contempt, never been in a bar in her life let alone worked in one and has two passports that are very heavily chopped by many different countries she has visited.

As she said to me, madness, If I want to go to the UK I would expect to be interviewd by a Brit not a local !!!!!!

She should write to the Vice-Consul and make a complaint. She is unlikely to be the only offended applicant if the employee is really rude, but nobody will know if it is not brought to their attention.

Staff ( Thai ) at US Embassy in Bangkok have always been very nice and helpful to me. Sad to hear your having these problems at your Embassy.

The UK Visa application centre is a private company that is subcontracted by the British Embassy / Foreign Office. But agree with her comments about being interviewd by a local Thai and not a Brit. Although I do believe all applications are sent to the British Embassy for final acceptance, a local interviewer could screw the success rate up considerably by suggesting visa should be refused