Consular Services of the USA

[Dante99]

Years and years ago, back in the other life, I was a notary. Most of the fees that I charged and I say , if I charged at all was the grand sum of 50 cents. The amount of labor was so insignificant that I just usually did it for zip.

Once I even married a couple, at no charge and even threw in the wedding cake , cuz they were a nice young couple.

That is why I think that the $50. US is a bit on the goughing side. Not a hundred percent sure, but I think back in Florida, the state max is $5.00.

With regard to Dante99's post and why I thought it may have been sarcastic, his list of "He does not Have.....'s" don't seem to fit. I cannot see anyone moved over here with the State Department, coming over at their own expense..... etc. but I could be mistaken. Maybe there are some who would pay for such a job, so they can charge $50. per notarization.

The State Department pays those expenses for their person who does the notarizations and that is why the State Department charges so much, the person they have to do it is a very expensive person when you include all the costs related to them and where they work. The guy doing it stateside does not have those expenses.

Sorry Dante, but again I must take exception. The fact that they charge the $50 for the service does not justify the cost. Its a phsyc. gun to the head type of service. If I put Kobe steak in my chicken fried steak, that does mean that the cost of my CFS is much higher , but that does not mean the guest will buy it. In the CFS example the individual has the choice of what to do. In the consulate example, there is no choice. You want a recogonized notary , you pay $50. The ambassabor herself does not have to come and do the work to justify a high salaried person doing the task, No it doesn't fit.

The bad feeling comes from the fact that it is my own government, doing it to their own citizens. They do not use any more expensive ink or wear any more off the seal than any notary in the USA. Thats why I feel it is price goughing. JMO

Sorry about your bad feeling.

Perhaps you expect too much from the US government, many of their acts and services have not been cost effective and they have been doing it to their own citizens for decades. JMO

[Gonzo the Face]

Dante, afraid I have to agree.

[NancyL]

It would seem the U.S. consulate is doing a great job, judging by these comments. The OP was obviously looking to stir up controversy and it speaks well to the consulate that the only "complaint" is about notarial fees. (Incidentally, they're substantially lower than the fee the U.K. consulate charges.)

Most of us require notarial services for Immigration income letters. If we don't like the fee (or the inconvenience of going to the consulate), we can always open a Thai bank account for the required amount.

Better yet try the (illegal) action proposed by one poster -- send your signed income letter to a friend in the U.S. who can maybe get one of those free notaries to stamp. Then try to submit it at CM Immigration.

[Genericnic]

It would seem the U.S. consulate is doing a great job, judging by these comments. The OP was obviously looking to stir up controversy and it speaks well to the consulate that the only "complaint" is about notarial fees. (Incidentally, they're substantially lower than the fee the U.K. consulate charges.)

Most of us require notarial services for Immigration income letters. If we don't like the fee (or the inconvenience of going to the consulate), we can always open a Thai bank account for the required amount.

Better yet try the (illegal) action proposed by one poster -- send your signed income letter to a friend in the U.S. who can maybe get one of those free notaries to stamp. Then try to submit it at CM Immigration.

Nancy, I don't think most of us confuse the quality of the work the staff does at the consulate with the price setting policies of the Department of State and the U.S. government. Most U.S. government civil service employees (and even the non-civil service, local hires) I have dealt with both here and other places do their job in a competent manner. The government, on the other hand, tends to be lacking in many respects (and no, I am not just talking about the current administration). And just remember that the Department of State is not a self supporting agency. Just take a look at the federal budget and see how much is allocated to it. For Diplomatic and Consular Affairs alone, the requested among for FY2014 is just at $8.5 million. Hardly self supporting.

David

[mjsansai]

This is a rip off I went to school at Georgetown University and the School of Foreign Service these people get into the Foreign Service so they can travel. US taxpayers already pay for all their services. It is disgraceful that the US State Dept doesn't charge token fees to stop abuse. My Senators and House Representative are well aware of the abuse as I write, email and when in the States telephone and complain, more should do the same and start a campaign of US citizens to sigh a petition and have it sent to Congress

[mania]

I have to agree with those that think the price is exorbitant.

It is not like we have not already paid in many ways thru our taxes

over many decades.

Secondly $50? That is absurd given the task.

I go in....I do all the work fill out the form etc.

Give it back & they ask, Do you swear it is true? I say yes & fork over $50?

Come on !

Lastly this is Thailand so lets look at value for where we are & what that buys.

$50 = 1561 Thai baht

That is more than my wife & I spend for a month of electricity.

How much more energy is that than asking me if what I wrote is true?

Puleeze it is robbery & we are stuck with it. Fine

[NancyL]

The OP is a troll and it looks like he accomplished what he set out to do.

[Mapguy]

To focus just on the cost of notarial services misses seeing the whole picture. The notarial charges certainly are generally more expensive than in the USA, but that, after all, is on the other side of the globe!

It appears that only a few US consular services for American citizens are offered on a fee-for-service basis. Only five services are charged for. That seems quite reasonable for Americans abroad and cognizant of the views of general American taxpayers! That would seem especially true in these budget-slashing days. As well, the Chiang Mai office throws in some helpful no-charge extras, such as help finding professional and other personal services locally.

[Gonzo the Face]

To focus just on the cost of notarial services misses seeing the whole picture. The notarial charges certainly are generally more expensive than in the USA, but that, after all, is on the other side of the globe!

It appears that only a few US consular services for American citizens are offered on a fee-for-service basis. Only five services are charged for. That seems quite reasonable for Americans abroad and cognizant of the views of general American taxpayers! That would seem especially true in these budget-slashing days. As well, the Chiang Mai office throws in some helpful no-charge extras, such as help finding professional and other personal services locally.

Awww Com'on already...... Yes they do some good services, but your statement stretches it quite a bit.,,,,, TV is as good or better at finding those mysterious services..... and is available 24/7 . You don't have to make an appointment and wait til Tues or Thurs to get the answer. Our consulate does provide many good services, and I am happy they are there, but there are many ways in which the operations could be improved to really provide "Citizen Services"

[Mapguy]

Not trying to stretch the point. You actually don't even have to go into the consulate to identify a range of local services listed: legal, translation, insurance, emergency care, and so on. They are understandably listed with a disclaimer that the US Government can't endorse the services, but they are at least listed (certainly by popular demand). Otherwise, you certainly are correct that you'd have to visit the consulate for help with some complicated matters like adoption of children, repatriation of ill or incompetent citizens and so on, and that the appointment schedule for doing that is limited, but consulates aren't 7/11s !

I wonder sometimes if some Americans in Chiang Mai howling about the constraints of "nanny states" they left behind aren't sometimes the same ones who end up complaining about the cost of notarial services. You can include expatriates from other countries, not just Americans, complaining about lack of service from their consulates: all, of course, until they get into some sort of difficulty. Why is it that given the freedom to act independently, such as move out of their home countries, do people then start screaming bloody "I am (was) a taxpayer!" murder when their governments don't answer every beck and call for services?

So, back to the cost of notarial services and reflective of the consular services provided specifically in Chiang Mai, what's really to complain much about? And, indeed, how many complaints do you see in this Chiang Mai forum hot spot for complaints? Not a lot, and none about anything significant. Seems that the US (and other) consular services in town must be quite good.

[Dante99]

Gee Map guy thanks for letting us know that the US Consul is not a 7-11.