@Todd ********
100% agree with you, but they make the rules so...
In Vientiane the cutoff was 3 months for some and 6 months for others, depending on the netionality. For some people they ask to show them the money via bank application in real-time to believe them. They're getting more strict.
I ask at some people there and they told me. One American told me that he lost the 10k of the visa because he passed the pre-check but they finally deny the visa. Strange that this things are not in the group and many people think that it's a 100% approval rate.
Some Burmese people where rejected also because the money in their bank statements was recently added..
So...
Its true that this Embassy can be easily the Embassy with more applicants. Maybe in other embassies and consulates it's different.