Exactly, all good questions, and the answer is better to be prepared for the worst and not need it than think you are totally fine and get caught off a gaurd and have your entire life plan disrupted on an international level
has a partial refund policy for 75% of it I believe if the embassy rejects the visa for the seminar courses. I'm not sure if they refund if the visa is just rejected in general for other causes.
You can give them a tip? Isn't there a possibility that will be considered a bribe and get you in big trouble or upset the IO. Ok I know it's thailand but are you for real?
I'm not being sexist but I did see another expat say he avoids female IO officers because this was his experienceđ I'm not claiming that so don't shoot the messenger just relaying what I saw him say