Steve you also think India's poor are richer than America's poor?
That India is poorer than USA must be one of the most obvious facts there is, by any metric you choose, and you both know this.
I get that it comes across as offensive if someone from a rich, ex colonial country calls a country poor. If I was blaming ordinary Indians for their poverty that would be fair. Perhaps it was offensive to you because you assumed I do? (I absolutely do not. As you'd know if you read A Fine Balance, one of the best books ever written in my opinion.)
I would also agree that poor Americans may suffer as much as poor Indians, due to, for example, racism, addictions and violence.
But when Thailand decides who gets in visa exempt, they're not looking at psychological or relative poverty, they're looking at how many dollars citizens might bring into the country, and whether they're likely to try to work.
Also, you're both inadvertently being very rude to Ethiopia - another beautiful country rich in ways financially rich countries aren't. (My son is half Ethiopian.) No blame, appreciate that wasn't your intention.
I am simply stating that India is poorer, per capita, than the US. This is simple fact and doesn't require books or websites, and if you wish to question it, you should probably try to come up with some facts yourself. I have spent considerable time in both places and was struck by how socially isolated from the poor rich Indians are - more than most other countries. (Few places have "untouchables".) Your comments are either because you have been comfortably ignorant of the suffering in India, because expats tend to be patriotic, or because my calling India poor is offends you. If the latter is true, and it seems to be, my pointing out that a country is poor is not colonial (you said US is poorer), my anger at it and study of it is because I am anti-colonial. I am equally critical of politicians in my home country, and I consider households living off a couple of dollars a day a terrible, unforgivable stain on all our consciences.
if you want to learn more I recommend the book A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. Asserting that the Indian government protects the poor better than the US is laughable. The salary I quoted was the average salary. There is an argument around "relative poverty" you might also find interesting and more in line with your views, that focuses on the psychological toll of poverty. But the critical indicators of human welfare, things such as infant mortality, mothers dying in childbirth, death from preventable diseases, provision of justice, are imperfect in the US but infinitely better than India.
As others say, the two important things to establish are the genuineness of your relationship, and reasons she will return to Thailand (savings, assets, house/condo, job, family life, etc).
There is no penalty for putting too much in. Our first application was granted. Our second application, which included a similar 180 pages of evidence, was refused because we didn't submit enough evidence. (After 8 months of letters they finally conceded that their refusal was without basis and granted the visa, although by that time we'd had to make other plans, hence here we are. They may have refused because my wife would have been eligible to claim asylum due to the genocide ongoing at the time we were attempting to escape. But that's the Tory Home Office for you, they would never admit that. The MOD were kinder, preparing evacuation plans for her, 8 months pregnant at the time. I digress..)
Another thing not mentioned here - include photos of the room in your aunt's house she will stay. Immigration do not want people coming to cramped living quarters to do sweatshop labour.
On genuineness of relationship, everything official you can think of, maybe there are visa stamps from years ago, plus photos of your history, don't be afraid to tell your story in the cover letters (one from you the sponsor, one from the applicant). Confirm you will cover all costs. Include a generous budget and proof you have savings to cover it. Although a marriage certificate should pretty much cover this.
On intention to leave, include everything that shows you and she have an ongoing life in Thailand. Include a letter from her employer saying she has X days holiday and has been granted leave for the dates you specify in your trip plan. Ask the employer to include her salary and position. Then if necessary get it translated at an official translation office. Savings, assets, pets, anything you can think of, chuck it all in.
Steve have you been to either? The average annual per capita income of households (interviewed in the LASI survey conducted in 2017-18) is ₹44,901, or £450. That's £37 per month, and an average - many are below, per household. Ie, unimaginably, disgracefully, a stain on humanity's conscience poor. Both are on the VOA scheme. No worries if you thought I was being pejorative, understand the impulse, but I'm not blaming ordinary Indians, and may as well be honest about it.
The Thai embassy in Vientiane refused to deal with an Ethiopian passport. The one in Cambodia describes a process for Ethiopian passports but we didn't try it. (To get into Cambodia holding a passport from a poor country you sometimes unofficially need $2000 cash with you.)
But sounds like you just want to bounce back in on a VOA. They're currently 30 days, think flight only? and whether you get in might depend on the mood of the entry officer.
Yes, seems there are ways to shave a small amount compared to Wise on large transactions sometimes, but minimal amounts and with complexity or uncertainty.
