Thailand panic

By James Thomas

First off my boss is a nice a enough guy. Now I know that is a qualifying statement and what is coming next is going to be some grim reflection of honesty from my poignant yet embittered perspective so let me first say I am one very optimistic SOB. How can I say that do I have any evidence? A) I still want to live in America. B) I am willing to watch the new Avengers movie and any Comic book adaptation: Bring 'em on could be good. C) I get tattoos knowing, though I may change I'm sure I can adapt my mind enough to enjoy my 'Hecho en Africa' Tattoo. C) I believe whole heartedly that the publishing industry and the field of professional writing have a vibrant future (Suck it Digital age!). I wrote all that to make sure you don't think I am merely some miserable self defeatist. I am a traveller and a dreamer and a maker of stories. But I am also an Los Angelian meaning like my New York cousins I don't do well with Bull Shit. So I can safely say my boss is an incompetent hustler.

It started before I got to Laos. I had been asking him for the paper work I would need to receive my Non immigrant B visa. Actually before that he informed me that I would need to get this particular visa before I started working. When I asked him what this would entail he said in a blunt and dismissive manner “I don't do visa runs.” Then I asked him if there was anyone I could ask in his company about what I would need to collect to get a visa. He replied, “Sort that out yourself.” Now here is where optimism and desperation can get you in trouble. I was so psyched about finally having a job that as I sat contemplating my options, in the KFC in outer Bangkok where I met my boss, I wasn't thinking about some very basic facts that contradicted what he had just told me. Firstly, all foreign nationals living in Thailand at one time or another have to deal with the visa process even if they marry a Thai. Secondly, this man runs a business primarily dealing with foreign national in country with complex and ever changing travel regulations. He should know this. But of course I said yes.

So I planned my trip to Laos invested time and money into research all the while running low on funds and resources. I asked everyone and looked on the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs website everyday until there was no more time or money. All the while I asked my boss for the documents I would need to receive my Non B Visa. It took him a week to send me one email that arrive two day before I left for Laos. I talked to him about the documentation and that I was getting worried about things because of the delay in sending me the paper work and all he offered in consolation was, “Your worrying too much.” that's like George Clonney telling Tiger Woods “Don't worry its just a divorce.” what was this man playing at? Did he know what would happen if I was not able to get the visa that he himself had told me was so important? Did he care?

So, armed with a nice professional out fit and an optimistic out look I took a tuk-tuk to the Thai immigration office in Laos at 6am to avoid the line, which I was told might extend to the end of the block but of course there was no line because it was raining. I waited with a Bostonian who had worked for the immigration office, a loud Aussie, who was getting his married renewed and a gay Englishman who worked as a nurse trainer in Khon Kaen. The nurse trainer was nice enough to lend me his umbrella while we waited. They opened the Embassy 20 minutes late and I was the first person through but when I got there I was told that my documentation would not be enough to receive a Non B. I was told I would need a copy of the contract, which I had requested weeks before along with the other documents but had only just received. So I left immediately and called my boss. He said that everything would be fine and he would send it to me the next morning. I waited all day for him to send the email without success and called again. Again, I got the same “everything will be fine” line and went to bed that night drunk and angry.

The next morning I woke up a little later and headed down to the internet café and got the document and headed to the Embassy, diminished but not beaten. There was really no line so I walked right in and showed them all the paper work I was told I needed and again I was told the paper work was not enough they then gave me a list of what I would need and the lady behind the counter said that if I could get the documents faxed to me I would be able to get the application filed that day. I called my boss again and this time when I mentioned that I would need paper work to verify the solvency and legality of his company he was pissed. He accused me of wasting time and said that it would take to long and that I should just come back to Thailand. Prior to that I was a bit angry at the people at the visa office and myself but then, I realized that the one person who could have handle everything that had all the resources was being a complete jack ass.