Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing so-called Consular Strategic Conferences. What is that? Well I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: South Korea says it regrets spurning Thai visitors. A lot of information in that article if you are into Immigration Law and policy which I have got to admit if you are, I feel bad for you because it is not the most fun topic but it is something I have been watching for years; it is part of what we do here at the firm.  I must admit it has become something of a begrudging hobby but I do find it interesting on certain levels and especially when things happen that are noteworthy and I thought it was noteworthy, this article, because it is basically about the Governments of Thailand and South Korea essentially sort of having a sit down and discussing really serious Immigration stuff for example Thais going to Korea and then working illegally. It is mentioned in that article, the new Labour Minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the former Tourism and Sports Minister incidentally, has issued some communications here locally in Thailand to Thais to try to dissuade them from going to South Korea to work illegally. At the same time, South Korea has been as noted again in that article, South Korea has been noted in Thai press, Thai publications for being a little bit too quick to disallow insurance for Thais going into South Korea notwithstanding the good relations between the two countries. This has caused a little bit of tension maybe,  maybe a kerfuffle is the right word but I thought it was a really interesting article because relevant leaders from both countries have had a sit-down if you will, a meeting, to discuss these issues and to try and hammer out something bilaterally that will work for both countries. I'm going to quote a small excerpt. Again I urge those who are watching this video, go check out that article in detail but quoting directly: "Both countries agreed to hold a Consular Strategic Conference to work on the problem further."

Now I don't know, I'm not claiming I have any knowledge of how like American policy makers discuss things with Thailand but there are a fair few disconnects, especially in terms of Immigration, where I think maybe something akin to one of these Consular Strategic Conferences might be in the interest of both Thais as well as Americans in terms of coming up with a framework for example on US Tourist Visas. I did another video on this channel discussing, "should Thailand be part of the Visa waiver program?" and as I discussed in that video and I have discussed in a prior video, the present Government that recently was formed in the present coalition, one of their platforms when they came into office was to try to "strengthen the Thai passport”, make the Thai Passport a key to more accessibility in more countries. Joining the Visa Waiver Program in the United States would do that or perhaps sort of another look at the policies regarding Tourist Visa issuance to Thai nationals might also be useful and that could possibly occur in the context of one of these Strategic Consular Conferences.

I don't know, but I thought it was really interesting that apparently Thailand has already undertaken one of these with South Korea and it looks like it has had pretty positive results. So will that happen with the United States and Thailand remains to be seen. But we will certainly keep you updated on this channel as the situation evolves.