SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[daboyz 36]

That's only part of the issue. The government is preparing to cut off the utilities in the protest area. That includes the US, UK and Dutch embassies.

Even with the utilities cut off, their living conditions are better than what they're used to. Time for live ammo.

[Audy_Rob 26]

The US Embassy web site already has posted a message they will be closed for Monday May 17. Interviews for Monday are moved to Friday May 21. They are going one day at a time.

[daboyz 36]

The US Embassy web site already has posted a message they will be closed for Monday May 17. Interviews for Monday are moved to Friday May 21. They are going one day at a time.

Also, getting a police certificate will probably be impossible. The police station is right in the middle of the mess.

[toma1 10]

Also, getting a police certificate will probably be impossible. The police station is right in the middle of the mess.

And they are probably in no mood...

[SqdnGuns 21]

This whole situation really sucks..............the wife was supposed to head to BKK last week before our son got sick to have his US birth certificate translated and then authenticated at the Embassy so she could register him at the Amphur. What a mess...........

BTW, son was released from the hospital in Surin day before yesterday, for a 4 day stay and all the medical attention he received, it only cost 9,000 baht. Amazing, why does it have to cost so much here in the US??

Anyone here at VJ in BKK, be careful!!

[toma1 10]

BTW, son was released from the hospital in Surin day before yesterday, for a 4 day stay and all the medical attention he received, it only cost 9,000 baht. Amazing, why does it have to cost so much here in the US??

Much higher medical salaries and malpractice insurance premiums.

Anyone here at VJ in BKK, be careful!!

Nothing happening in my neighborhood. (Ratchada)

Edited May 15, 2010 by toma1

[kenny1 0]

Anyone really think this will lead to a civil war? Seems like the PM is hitting a hornets nest with a stick. He needs to take serious actions before this really gets out of hand. I am hoping for a resolution soon. Wonder if His Majesty the King will issue a statement if this leads to total chaos.

One more thing. I follow thaivisa.com for updates on the situation. They have pretty good updates as they happen.

[Audy_Rob 26]

To Tom of Tom and Teaw

Sorry to be so dramatic, but there is an interesting thread in the US Embassy and Consulate Discussion Forum. Jim of JimVaPhoung posted his comment after research also and it is still not clear to me that the "law" cited actually has much significance. Please look at the thread.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/24786-timely-visa-issuance/

Clearly the problem of mentioning this with the Embassy is they might just go ahead and Deny the Visa. But it does seem as if all the evidence is collected, they must act within 30 days. The problem is they can say they are waiting for "additional" information.

Quoting JimVaPhoung

My take is that the law and FAM are only meant to light a fire under the consulates to get them to process visa applications faster. It says it will be the policy of DoS to process visa applications within 30 days, but it doesn't say they are absolutely required by law to do so, nor what recourse there is if they don't. It just says they have to report to congress annually on how well they are meeting the policy objectives.

You could certainly bring up the FAM and public law next time you talk to a CO, but I don't know if it will get you anywhere.

[/quote/

[daboyz 36]

That's apples and oranges compared to what is going on in BKK. HCMC is a very high fraud consulate. This mess in Bangkok probably will be considered "an act of god" or something like that. Jimmy is the expert there. I think he might be a lawyer

Bottom line, when they open Wittayu, and it's safe, people will have their interviews. Until then, probably not gonna happen. I think Abhisit and the govt. has had it with them. Currently there is running gun battles on Rama IV, Rajadamri etc. No embassy any where near there is gonna be open, US included.

[toma1 10]

Bottom line, when they open Wittayu, and it's safe, people will have their interviews. Until then, probably not gonna happen.

I don't think it's going to happen for a long time. I'm in Ratchada about 100m from the, now defunct, Thai Cultural Center MRT station. I can see all kinds of fires burning in the southern horizon. (See attached pic of the view of that area from my balcony. I took this photo a few minutes ago.)

And now this from the State Department:

"US citizens should defer all travel to Bangkok and defer all non-essential travel to the rest of Thailand," a statement said.

"The Department of State has authorized the departure of all non-emergency US government personnel and eligible family members from Bangkok," the statement added.

That means only the Marines are left in the Embassy. Defer ALL TRAVEL, means even ESSENTIAL travel. This is the most severe warning that the Department of State can issue, with the exception of complete closure and removal of the Marines from the embassy. They aren't planning for a grand reopening any time soon, I'm afraid. Sorry guys.

[Tom and Teaw 1]

To Audy_Rob.....I looked at the section you cited and the way I read it would apply to the INITIAL application, which they pretty much do process them within 30 days. Says nothing about AP so I think

they can get away with delaying things by issuing the paper asking for additional proof of relationship and sit on it until they get around to looking at all of it. It would be nice if that applied to

all of it including when it is put into AP. Maybe we can lobby Congress to set a time limit for AP also!!

There was an interesting article in my local paper this morning about why the King has not stepped forward and said anything about the violence. Many people think that the whole business is a challenge to

the way the monarchy is run and a bunch of other stuff. Too long to put the whole article here. Wish I could. But they also mentioned how the prince does not carry the same love that the people have for

the King. I think this whole mess is just going to have to play out to the end and see what happens. If the red shirts would agree to something and stick with it instead of always trying to add more

demands after they get pretty much what they want then maybe things could move forward.

As to traveling to Thailand, I would have no problem flying in tomorrow if I could pick up Teaw. She lives in Pathumthani anyway and we have no reason to go into BKK unless we want to do something there.

As long as you stay away from where the trouble is I don't imagine there would be a problem. I laugh when they talk about the journalists being shot...DUHHHHHHHH...if you want to play in fire you get

burned!!! I'd be up in Buriram for quite a few days anyway when I come to see her.

[daboyz 36]

To Audy_Rob.....I looked at the section you cited and the way I read it would apply to the INITIAL application, which they pretty much do process them within 30 days. Says nothing about AP so I think

they can get away with delaying things by issuing the paper asking for additional proof of relationship and sit on it until they get around to looking at all of it. It would be nice if that applied to

all of it including when it is put into AP. Maybe we can lobby Congress to set a time limit for AP also!!

There was an interesting article in my local paper this morning about why the King has not stepped forward and said anything about the violence. Many people think that the whole business is a challenge to

the way the monarchy is run and a bunch of other stuff. Too long to put the whole article here. Wish I could. But they also mentioned how the prince does not carry the same love that the people have for

the King. I think this whole mess is just going to have to play out to the end and see what happens. If the red shirts would agree to something and stick with it instead of always trying to add more

demands after they get pretty much what they want then maybe things could move forward.

As to traveling to Thailand, I would have no problem flying in tomorrow if I could pick up Teaw. She lives in Pathumthani anyway and we have no reason to go into BKK unless we want to do something there.

As long as you stay away from where the trouble is I don't imagine there would be a problem. I laugh when they talk about the journalists being shot...DUHHHHHHHH...if you want to play in fire you get

burned!!! I'd be up in Buriram for quite a few days anyway when I come to see her.

Shouldn't have any issues there. I was in Si Saket last month. Didn't see any red idiots.

[rsn 135]

I don't think it's going to happen for a long time. I'm in Ratchada about 100m from the, now defunct, Thai Cultural Center MRT station. I can see all kinds of fires burning in the southern horizon. (See attached pic of the view of that area from my balcony. I took this photo a few minutes ago.)

And now this from the State Department:

"US citizens should defer all travel to Bangkok and defer all non-essential travel to the rest of Thailand," a statement said.

"The Department of State has authorized the departure of all non-emergency US government personnel and eligible family members from Bangkok," the statement added.

That means only the Marines are left in the Embassy. Defer ALL TRAVEL, means even ESSENTIAL travel. This is the most severe warning that the Department of State can issue, with the exception of complete closure and removal of the Marines from the embassy. They aren't planning for a grand reopening any time soon, I'm afraid. Sorry guys.

Did you forget to attach the pic?

[toma1 10]

Did you forget to attach the pic?

Apparently... fixed now... and this just in:

MESSAGE TO THE AMERICANS IN THAILAND

Town Hall meeting: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at the S31 Hotel, 545 Sukhumvit 31, Klongtoey-Nua, Wattana, Bangkok, in the large ballroom.

You are invited to attend a Town Hall meeting on Tuesday. Ambassador Eric G. John, along with other officials from the Embassy, will be present to discuss the current situation in Bangkok.

The Town Hall meeting for American citizens only will be held on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at the S31 Hotel, 545 Sukhumvit 31, Bangkok, in the large ballroom. The S31 Hotel can be reached at 66-2-260-1111, or at www.s31hotel.com.

Bring your passport or other form of U.S. citizenship! You must present proof of U.S. citizenship at the door in order to be allowed in to the Town Hall meeting. You will not be admitted without proof of U.S. citizenship.

Acceptable forms of U.S. citizenship are:

--U.S. passport,

--U.S. birth certificate plus photo identification,

--Consular Report of Birth Abroad plus photo identification, or

--Naturalization Certificate.

This opportunity is intended for American citizens and is an off-the-record meeting intended to inform American citizens about the latest developments in Bangkok.

The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy can be reached by phone at 66-2-205-4049 and by e-mail at ACSBKK@State.gov.

Edited May 16, 2010 by toma1

[Reddstars 5]

Yeah my fiancee is waiting for her interview pretty soon I think, at the US embassy. The visa company hasnt told us a date as of today. Now all of this is going on. I try keeping updated as well on thaivisa.com.... I cant believe this is happening now. Sorry to sound so selfish but geeze...come on LOS just get along or something please

Matt