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Life is never boring at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok
Paul J. Herman, Chief of the
American Citizens Services (ACS) unit of the US Embassy in Bangkok describes
the wide range of services they provide to assist American citizens in
Thailand.
At the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, life is never boring.
Officials report that just about every day they encounter a new situation.
Paul J. Herman, Chief of the American Citizens Services unit (ACS), made
this comment to the Pattaya City Expats Club on Sunday, November 23. The ACS
is one of three units in the embassy’s consular section. Paul said that
Bangkok ACS is one of the most active of the ACS units in U.S. embassies
around the world. He has a staff of about 20, half U.S. citizens and half
Thai. Paul said he was very proud of the contribution of his Thai staff.
ACS deals with documentation services and specific citizen services, such as
assisting Americans who have been injured, arrested, etc.
Board member Pat Koester, who
is also a US Embassy Warden for Pattaya, presents the PCEC’s certificate of
appreciation for Paul Herman’s informative talk about the US Embassy’s
American Citizens Services unit.
For Americans coming to Thailand, ACS provides a range of
services. It produces a regularly updated consular information sheet,
available at http://travel. state.gov/content/travel/english.html which
includes information on visa and entry requirements, safety and security
issues, health issues, etc. ACS also provides the latest information on
security issues, scams and political events such as street demonstrations
via their website http://bangkok.usembassy.gov.
Americans can register with the embassy’s Smart Traveler Enrolment Program,
available at either of the above websites and receive routine, security or
emergency messages from the embassy.
The Thai government estimates that there are some 60,000 Americans in
Thailand on long-term visas (retirement, student, work, etc.). In 2012,
there were 811,000 entries of person from the U.S. into Thailand.
Paul said that the embassy deals with 5,000 passport applications a year in
the Bangkok office, and another 1,000 in the Chiang Mai office. Passports
are normally issued within 10-14 days. The embassy also handles about 700
reports of birth each year.
Pat Koester advises PCEC
members and guests about upcoming events.
In 2013 there were about 300 deaths of U.S. citizens in
Thailand, most from natural causes but also some from accidents or foul
play. When there is a death, Paul explained, the role of ACS is to oversee
the security of the estate and inform the next of kin. ACS also produces the
“Consular Report of Death Abroad” of a U.S. citizen, an administrative
document that provides essential facts about the death, disposition of
remains, and custody of the personal estate of the deceased U.S. citizen and
which can generally be used in legal proceedings in the U.S. as proof of
death.
Contacting the next of kin is not always simple, especially when there are
multiple families involved. Americans would be well advised to get a will
that explains everything they want to have happen when they die (including
funeral arrangements).
There are currently about 30 U.S. citizens in Thai jails. Paul said that ACS
staff visit them regularly and do what they can to assist, which basically
means ensuring that they are treated fairly. The unit has a list of
attorneys that it can provide, but being on the list does not constitute a
recommendation. If we hear of someone who has just been arrested, Paul said,
we may ask one of our volunteer wardens to check it out, especially if the
arrest takes place far from Bangkok.
Wardens are volunteers who assist consular sections in disaster preparedness
by alerting U.S. citizens to emergency situations and passing on
information. Wardens also provide ACS with key information, both about
specific individuals and for situational awareness, from the local community
or area. There are currently about 100 wardens spread throughout Thailand.
Paul explained that many of the arrests are for visa overstay. There are a
lot of deportations every year, the cost of which must be borne by the
individuals. ACS may be able to help facilitate payment from family or
friends. Thai police are obliged to notify the U.S. Embassy when an American
is arrested, but some police in the provinces may not be aware of this
requirement.
In 2013, Paul said, the ACS processed over 11,000 notarials, most of which
involved income statements. There are about 100 appointments a day at the
ACS offices, of which 70-80% are for notarial services. The fees for these
services are set by the State Department in Washington.
Regarding visas to the U.S., Paul said that the U.S. Embassy gets about
60,000 visa applications a year; and the approval rate is about 90%. Paul
said that the ACS deals with a number of issues, most of which fall into the
category of “welfare or whereabouts” - i.e. Americans who are in difficulty
or in hospital or are simply missing.
ACS sometimes deals with Americans who are quite elderly. They may be
suffering from dementia or other mental health issues. Many of them need
care but cannot afford it. Some of them have no one to go back to in the
U.S. This is a very difficult part of our work, Paul said. ACS also assists
Americans who have been victims of crimes, including families of the few
U.S. citizens who have been murdered in Thailand.
Paul stressed that much of the work ACS does is bound by the U.S. privacy
act, which means that the embassy cannot share information with anyone
without the person’s consent. This sometimes creates misunderstandings when
dealing with family members.
Paul said that the ACS unit is in frequent contact with other embassies,
particularly the ones from English-speaking countries. This contact is very
valuable when “new” issues emerge, such as when foreigners start coming to
Thailand for surrogacy reasons, a fairly recent phenomenon. Paul mentioned
that ACS does outreach visits to several cities in Thailand. It comes to
Pattaya four times a year (visit
http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/consular_outreach.html for schedule).
After the presentation, MC Richard Silverberg updated everyone on Club
activities and upcoming events and then called on Roy Albiston to conduct
the Open Forum where questions are asked and answered about Expat living in
Thailand, especially Pattaya.
For more information on the PCEC’s many activities, visit their website at
www.pcecclub.org.
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Panorama bar raises
127,000 for AIDS charity
David Kerridge, one of the
managers of the Panorama, is interviewed for PMTV by Elfi Seitz.
Elfi Seitz
Pattaya’s Panorama bar helped raise 127,000 baht for an AIDS charity
with drag queens and raffles.
Manager David Kerridge, who started similar charity events while previously
managing Le Café Royal, hosted the Nov. 12 cabaret night headlined by British
drag queen “Davina Sparkel.” He entertained a packed house with musical numbers
interspersed with bawdy humor.
The beneficiary for the evening was the Heart2000 foundation headed by Dr.
Philippe Seur, who appeared at the party despite suffering from dengue fever.
Heart2000 works with 2,043 HIV and AIDS patients to fill the gap between
government health insurance and the care they need.
In all, more than 172,000 baht was collected through donations and a raffle,
with the grand prizes being a motorbike and a gold chain.
Dr. Philippe Seur addresses the
gathering, thanking people for their help in the fight against AIDS.
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Chambers combine for relaxed
networking overlooking Pattaya
Executive members of the British
Chamber of Commerce Thailand are joined by representatives from the four
sponsors: Bromsgrove International School, MG, Kingdom Property and Allied
Pickfords.
Paul Strachan
A joint chambers of commerce networking event was held at the Cape Dara
Resort in Naklua on Friday the 21st of November.
It was hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT), who were
joined by the Australian Chamber (AustCham) American Chamber (AmCham) the German
Chamber (GTCC), the South African Chamber (SATCC) and the Belgium and Luxembourg
Chamber of Commerce in Thailand
The even was held in the area known as the Twinkle Bar at Cape Dara, which is
set beside the hotel’s swimming pool and offers stunning views across Pattaya
Bay.
The light breeze kept the networkers cool as did the beer, wine, soft drinks,
and a large variety of snacks, including spicy chicken nuggets, fish cakes,
chicken lollipops, samosas and succulent roast beef with rosemary.
BCCT Vice Chairman Chris Thatcher made a brief speech and introduced Beau
Mekavarakul from Cape Dara who welcomed the guests to her hotel.
(L to R) Pascal Baetens, Kris De
Keyzer and Warren Hollins from Antares Group are amongst the networkers.
The sponsors for the evening were Bromsgrove International
School in Bangkok, Allied Pickfords, who deal with house relocation and packing
services, as well as MG who were promoting the classic sports brand with the non
turbo and turbo models which are manufactured in Rayong, with prices starting at
just 848,000 THB.
In addition, this was the first time that Kingdom Property sponsored a chamber
of commerce networking on the Eastern Seaboard and were promoting their flagship
development in Pattaya: Southpoint.
The combining of the chambers for these networking events has resulted in a more
successful evening with approximately 80 in attendance, bringing together many
different nationalities.
The next joint chamber event will be publicized in forthcoming editions of the
Pattaya Mail.
Volker Grosse from Germany, Hotte
Flink from Pattaya Blatt and Thanawat Julasuk, Director of Sales and Marketing
from Cape Dara Resort Pattaya.
The RSM Advisory team: (L to R)
Mark Butters, Bhavana K. and Gareth Hughes.
(L to R) Scott Finsten, Ocean
Marina Pattaya’s Harbor Master; David Bell, MD of Crestom Ra-Kahng Associates
Limited, and Tanin Suphavittayakorn, Executive Assistant Manager of Cape Dara
Resort Pattaya.
David Williams from Bromsgrove
International School shares a moment with Geoff Webb from Andrews & Wykeham.
BCCT Executive Director Greg
Watkins is joined by event co-sponsor Nigel Cornick, CEO of Kingdom Properties.
(L to R) Dr. Dan Moore, Head
Master of Bromsgrove International School, and Graham Macdonald, President of
the SATCC, enjoy the camaraderie of the night.
(L to R) Lisa Wallis from Baker &
McKenzie chats with Romayne McAlister from Pattaya Family Bike Day.
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English-language students earn their diplomas
Volunteer teachers, organizers and
trainees who have successfully completed the English Conversation for Better
Life program gather for a group photo.
Marcus Souksi
Graduates of the second “English Conversation for a Better Life” program
earned their diplomas Nov. 25 at a ceremony held at the Diana Garden Resort.
The courses take place twice a year and were actually instigated eight years ago
by the Pattaya City Expats Club in conjunction with the Thai Alphabet Puzzle
Club and the Banglamung District Chief Sakchai Taengho to praise HM The King.
In the past year, courses took place from April to July and August till
November. This year, the first training group had 127 students with 69
successfully completing the 48 hours training session, and the second training,
comprised of 65 students with 56 passing, was successful.
The English training focuses purely on conversational skills and is conducted by
over twenty foreign volunteers who give up their free time to help Thai people,
with the permission given by Sakchai and Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai, who
issued ID cards to the volunteers, allowing them to assist legally.
In the past two years, Radchada Chomjinda, the director of the Human Help
Network Thailand, came on board to help Richard E. Smith from the PCEC and the
Banglamung District Cross Culture Volunteer Group to help facilitate these
continuing training sessions.
At the ceremony, the foreign volunteers, Smith, Radchada, and Sermsakdi
Sabhananda, chairman of the Thai Alphabets Puzzle Club were all in attendance to
witness approximately 40 students who were presented with their certificates by
Sakchai.
Other students who had completed the training program had have now been promoted
to other areas because of their new-found language abilities.
“I would greatly like to thank all volunteer teachers who have sacrificed their
leisure time and who were dedicated to passing on their knowledge of English
language to the people in our community,” Sakchai said. “In 2015, Thailand will
join the ASEAN Economic Community. Therefore being able to communicate in
English will become even more important, especially because Pattaya attracts so
many foreigners. This program has enabled the students have more skills and
therefore be more valuable to their employers who have seen the benefit of
English in the workplace.”
After the presentation the VIPs, volunteers and students joined for a group
photo and dinner and of course conversed in English.
The “English Conversation for a Better Life” program is free and open to all
individuals who wish to improve their conversational skills and will return
again in 2015.
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