US Embassy Wardens Role in Udon

[DaveUdon]

US expats may not know of the presence of warden volunteers working to provide "eyes and ears" for the American Citizen Service (ACS) at the US embassy.

Our charge is to get to know the US expat community in order to provide support should the need arise. Our support is usually in the form of contacting ACS so they can get involved and to provide a single point of contact between the relevant parties.

There are seven wardens now in Udon, 2 in Khon Khaen and wardens in many US-expat populated areas. You might meet them at the bi-annual ACS Outreach visits when the consular officers are in town to provide consular and notarial services (income letters).

If you don't know a warden, contact ACS at the US Embassy 02-205-4049 (evenings 02-205-4000), and a warden will get in touch. Posting on Udon Talk can also help you get in contact. http://www.udontalk.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Please help us help our US expat community: if you hear of an expat being admitted to hospital, being arrested, or in need of financial assistance to get back home stateside, let us know. This would include events like a bus accident out on the highway or an incident at the airport.

Anyone you know who's had a heart attack or stroke and is trying to brave it out at home without seeing a doctor? Tell us, please! We got such a call about a guy out in the boonies. The warden took his Thai-nurse wife along to see him. She took one look at him and whispered that he would die that night without hospitalization. Nine months later he's much better although still somewhat paralyzed on one side.

Best of all, ACS and SSA/Manila worked to get him on SSA Disability with a generous benefit. For this he needed an SSA medical exam in Bkk because the specialist at Udon govt hospital couldn't do the exam to SSA standards. ACS coordinated with SSA for a fully equipped ambulance with attending personnel to convey him door-to-door to a hospital in Bangkok roundtrip. (Funding source unknown by the warden.) ACS later provided a donated wheelchair for his rehabilitation.

Along this same theme for those of us not aware, let's mention visas for any expat who's paralyzed, has no income or savings, etc. The BIB are not about to place such a guy out in the middle of the Friendship bridge and wish him luck. Although a paralyzed expat may have less than 65,000B/mo and no savings, Udon immigration will grant him a visa every 90 days for 2,000B. He must provide a photo of himself in bed, a letter signed by him stating that he is paralyzed but provided support by a care-giver, a map showing the route from home to the Immigration office and a recent letter from his doctor stamped by the hospital confirming his condition. Hope this helps someone disabled and planning to just hide out with no visa.

The wardens are also invited to call in any local security issues like troop call-up's, community problems arising from foreigners (mafia), cross-border fraud and document forgery, whatever. The US embassy security people are in close contact with their counterparts in other embassies as well as with the Thai authorities. Problems with how refugees from Yangoon, North Korea or Lao are handled? Please let us know, so the embassy can contact UNHCR and others.



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[lizlemon]

wow - sounds like a great program and nice to hear there is some embassy assistance for those in need.

kudos, I'm sure those in need will be in touch when in need.

congratulations on volunteering your services and time.

[DaveUdon]

Thanks, lizlemon.

Suggest you check with your embassy if there's a volunteer program available for you in the areas you visit.

Also, consider registering with your embassy. If you should find yourself unable to communicate your home-contact information and meds/dosage during your visit, they'll appreciate having the data at hand to provide support.

Best - DaveUdon

[fdimike]

Dave

I'm an ACS Warden here in Udon. I've assisted the USEMB on several cases involving the deaths of Americans in this area. What kind of information do you need from me?

[Brick]

Nice to see someone's Embassy cares about it's subjects in Udon. The British Embassy care? Ha Ha Ha!

[lizlemon]

the Canadian Embassy also has no such program - maybe due to a small population, they do ask expats to register and if assistance is required the onus is on the person or family to contact the Embassy and assistance is provided from the nearest Embassy.

the Embassy sometimes will request a ally Embassy such as the British or USA to assist if possible.

Canada has a Embassy in Bangkok with a Consulate in Chiang Mai - the Embassy staff did a great job assisting the family of the 2 young Quebec women that were poisoned in Phi Phi this summer.

hate to see anyone slip through the crack when they need help kudos again to the volunteers and forums like this.

[DaveUdon]

Dave

I'm an ACS Warden here in Udon. I've assisted the USEMB on several cases involving the deaths of Americans in this area. What kind of information do you need from me?

Hi Mike, thanks for your input.

You got a nice mention for that from the ambassador in his introductory comments at the conference two years ago. The detention case is close to being resolved, hopefully.

Regards

[karon steve]

Dan here are further forums for your consideration. Other members please feel free to add any that I have surely missed.

Khon Kaen Forum http://www.khonkaen.com/english/forum/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Paknam Web Forums http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/forum.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Thai Visa http://www.thaivisa.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Thai Visa have a section of regional forums covering all of Thailand
Teak Door http://teakdoor.com/forum.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Thai360 http://t2.thai360.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Udon Map http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Irish Alan]

http://korat-farang.com/forum/index.php

[Juan kossoff]

Well done to the US embassy in LOS for their outreach and wardens, shame on the UK embassy.