if it's an actual visit to a Thai embassy in a different country from your home...they will pretty much always make sure you have ALL required docs before taking the fee.... you'd only lose the fee if you applied online and it was rejected.....if I'm mistaken someone will pipe up I'm sure
Great write up...I went a couple of weeks ago ..the 100 baht they ask for is just tea money...in and out they asked, I asked what it was for going in as I had photos and dollars for the visa..he said service charge so I politely declined and he didn't say anything, same on the way out the next day, asked for 100 baht straight away, again I declined.
my comment was mostly based on foreigners are able to pay into SS even when they are out of work....i just added the retirement fund bit in as we are treated no differently to Thai nationals when it comes to SS etc.