You do it all online. My lady has done it twice for Australia, twice for UK and once for Schengen. All whistled through no problem. Need Statement from her employer, payslips, bank accounts and land ownership deeds.
What argument? I haven't seen one. I've lived in Thailand for 15 years and haven't witnessed any "farang bashing" but I know a few sensitive precious people who believe Thais hate them. Sometimes people need to grow a backbone!