Thailand Embassy hostile?

[fm2002 0]

I live hear in Thailand with my Thai fiance and I read hat article just a few days before she had her interview. I am sorry for the person who wrote it, but IMO this "letter to the editor" was emotionally charged as I guess it should be. When one reads it one should take this into account.

I don't see the point of posting this article without a applicable follow up question. It does imply as Ning said to inflame.

Lastly, Ning has been nothing, but a great help to me and many others. She gives accurate information and always in a positive way. You have your supporting article time to move on !

[lvriesling 11]

http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/commentary/keeping-thai-town-thai.html

Keeping L.A.'s Thai Town Thai

by Elson Trinidad

on September 13, 2012 2:52 PM

[...] Thai Town still faces some big challenges. In Historic Filipinotown just three miles away, the built environment is relatively lacking in the Philippine cultural aesthetic, yet the Filipino community makes an active presence through cultural events, churches, and community-based organizations. In contrast, Thai Town looks undeniably Thai, but its actual Thai population is only around three percent of a community comprised mostly of Latino and Armenian residents. Because most are recent immigrants, voter registration is low. And because most of them work long hours in low-wage jobs, there is also very low participation in community activities, much less time for social life. Major cultural institutions, like the nearest Buddhist temple, are some 12 miles away in North Hollywood. [...] The Thai alphabet might be ubiquitous around here, but land titles held by Thais aren't. Only two property parcels in Thai Town are Thai-owned, and more than several times has the local business community contemplated what Thai Town would be like if it were less Thai. So far, gentrification hasn't eroded the look or local culture of the community. But will it still be that way tomorrow? [...]

[Harsh_77 718]

Below is a recent letter to the editor of a major Thailand daily newspaper... has anyone had a similar or a different experience?

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Applying-for-US-visa-was-not-pleasant-30174734.html

Home » Opinion » Applying for US visa was not pleasant

Applying for US visa was not pleasant

January 30, 2012 1:00 am

I'd like to share this experience with you.

I have been trying to get a tourist visa to the United States for my Thai spouse.

I thought it would be more or less the same procedure as for a Schengen visa, which we had applied for successfully three times already.

On Wednesday my wife had her interview. The American interviewer asked her why she'd married an old guy.

Before she could say a word, he himself answered, "Because of the money".

Then he asked her why she wanted to visit his country. She said, for a holiday with her husband and to visit her sister, who is married to an American guy and lives in Hawaii.

Then he said, "All young Thai ladies marry older men only for the money" and he denied her request for a visa.

Our experience with the embassy of the Netherlands in Bangkok could not have been more different. There they are polite, not discriminating, helpful, understanding and pleasant. And I could wait inside when my wife had the interview, instead of having to wait outside on Wireless Road in the US visa case.

I'd like to warn everybody living with a Thai spouse not to waste his time and money trying to get a tourist visa from the US embassy in Bangkok.

The American staff there look down on women. They should know that many, many Thai women lead happy lives married to foreigners.

Len Kneppers

Jomtien

I m thinking this letter is written by the guy who is crying sour grapes.

He just has added stuff to make US consulate look bad... I have applied various kinda visa over number of years in India and I never had a rude CO.

As far as I know most COs do not make comments, they ask question and wait for response and just document the response and continue to the next question and in end they would say approved or visa denied.

[Ning 619]

I m thinking this letter is written by the guy who is crying sour grapes.

He just has added stuff to make US consulate look bad... I have applied various kinda visa over number of years in India and I never had a rude CO.

As far as I know most COs do not make comments, they ask question and wait for response and just document the response and continue to the next question and in end they would say approved or visa denied.

I agree. In the 5 times I spoke to people employed at the embassy I never had one rude remark nor bad experiance. I was turned down for tourist visas but they took time to explain things to me and my USC husband. In fact when there was a serious problem with my interview date the embassy officer went out of HER way to help us. She actually came outside the embassy to bring me some documents that I needed.

This guy has a bad attitude and understanding that shows in his posts. This latest rendition is flawed in its content as well.

[lvriesling 11]

As far as I know, the author of the quoted "Nation" newspaper letter to the editor ("Len Kneppers" of Jomtien) is not a member of VJ and has never posted anything to VJ.