nkptai

9 hours ago, nchuckle said:

To clarify a couple of points. You had to do 2 Covid tests at different times and it appears from the price differential,2 different types -one with the initial application and the more expensive RT-PCR test just prior to leaving? 

I did 2 Covid tests, one for the O-visa and one for the COE.  O-visa Covid test method at a hospital of my choice only said "PCR", rather than "RT-PCR" and I did not want to risk getting it wrong for the COE.  Cost differential was mainly due to RTCG using a VIP service at their preferred hospital and the convenience of having the result delivered at the airport. 

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I,m not clear if the flight you took was simply a confirmation of the unpaid for reservation you made yourself or one offered to you via the embassy? Most airlines ,say from UK are either booked and paid for (confirmed)flights  or nothing. I ask because I have a confirmed return BA flight on September 7th from uk based on a February outbound flight which I’d obviously like to use...if it even goes/not cancelled! 

The first flight I booked (but did not pay for) was only for purposes of the O-Visa. The actual flight I booked and paid for was different as it was a repatriation flight.  RTCG instructed all possible passengers not to book or pay for any repatriation flight or to pay for an ASQ hotel until the COE was approved.  

 

Even though airline sites and travel agencies are allowing people to book/pay for flights, the only flights carrying passengers into Thailand from China are the repatriation flights where the passengers are strictly controlled by the Consulate at the point of embarkation. 

I arrived in Bangkok from China on repatriation flight CZ3081 on July 8, 2020.   Overall, while there were hoops to jump through, the entire process to obtain a non-O visa and Certificate of Entry (COE) took less than a month and was smooth and efficient.  Most people at the consulate were helpful and organized. Set out below is the timeline and process I followed.  I hope this will be helpful to others, although every location will have variations.

1.      June 11, 2020: Submitted non-O visa application based on marriage to Thai spouse in person at RTCG (Royal Thai Consulate Guangzhou) with the following:

a.      Visa application form with two passport photos

b.      Passport, copy of Canadian passport with China resident permit and birth certificate

c.      Invitation letter signed by Thai spouse

d.      Copy of Thai spouse’s ID card, passport and tabien ban

e.      Copy of marriage certificate and family registration in Thailand

f.       Negative COVID test result taken within 7 days (test is widely available with cost around Rmb85 and result available same day/next day)

g.      Medical certificate for general passenger (“fit-to-fly”) signed by MD stating free from Covid-19 based on item 1f (English template provided by RTCG)

h.      COI (certificate of insurance) showing health insurance coverage >US$100,000

i.       Recent 3 months’ bank statements in applicant’s sole name showing balance >Rmb50,000

j.       Flight reservation from Hong Kong to Bangkok (but no payment made and no ticket issued)

k.      Application fee of Rmb450 (cash)

 

2.      June 15, 2020: Collected passport with single-entry non-O visa valid for 90 days upon providing:

a.      Signed letter stating that I would not seek refund of Rmb450 application fee if flights could not be booked before visa expiry.

 

3.      June 19, 2020:  Called RTCG to find out COE (certificate of entry) application process/documents and was told there was the possibility of a repatriation flight to Bangkok on July 8, 2020.     

 

4.      June 22, 2020: Submitted the following documents to RTCG by email:

a.      Application letter stating reason for entering Thailand covering all persons applying to enter Thailand signed by myself and spouse.  Our reason was to relocate to Thailand so our son could attend the school which had accepted him

b.      Copy of marriage certificate and family registration in Thailand

c.      Canadian passport, China resident permit and non-O visa

d.      Spouse’s Thai passport, China resident permit and Tabien Ban

e.      Child’s Thai passport, Thai birth certificate, China resident permit and Tabien Ban

 

5.      June 23, 2020: Submitted additional documents requested by RTCG via email:

a.      Correspondence with school confirming school start date

b.      Completed Declaration Form for the non-Thai applicant including contact details, health status, intended flight details and agreement to comply with quarantine regulations of Thailand

c.      COI (certificate of insurance) showing health insurance coverage >US$100,000

 

6.      June 24, 2020: RTCG advised the application had been sent to MFA in Bangkok.  If approved, foreigners would need to stay in ASQ accommodation and provided a list of hotels to contact, while Thais could choose to stay in government quarantine (free) or ASQ. 

 

7.      June 26, 2020:  RTCG provided Intent to Return form for Thais and completed this online via wechat for both Thai spouse and child.

 

8.      June 29, 2020: Contacted ASQ providers to negotiate a rate for 3 persons.

 

9.      July 3, 2020: RTCG informed us that MFA in Bangkok approved COE application.  We were then given instructions to:

a.      Pay for and email repatriation flight booking confirmation

b.      Pay for Covid-19 RT-PCR test and Fit to Fly certificate at RTCG’s suggested hospital on July 6 (Rmb472/person of which Rmb300/person paid to hospital)

c.      Email ASQ booking confirmation letter (only issued by hotel after 30% advance deposit made)

 

10.   July 8, 2020:  RTCG instructed passengers to arrive at airport 4 hours ahead of departure time and foreigners to come with print-out of:

a.      Signed Declaration Form

b.      ASQ booking confirmation

c.      Proof of insurance coverage >100,000USD

At the airport, RTCG had set-up a “check-in counter” where passengers first completed AOT’s health questionnaire form for Suvarnabhumi.  Above three documents were then submitted and checked by RTCG and inserted into a file for each passenger containing the Certificate of Entry (with equivalent for Thais), Covid-19 RT-PCR negative result and Fit-to-Fly certificate.

Passengers then proceeded for normal airline check-in.  The airline did not check the passenger file received from RTCG, only normal passport/visa checks and baggage check-in.  After airline check-in, we were met again by RTCG who provided a packed lunch. This was appreciated as all stores/restaurants in the international terminal were closed due to few international flights.   

After de-boarding the flight at Suvarnabhumi, health questionnaires were checked and passengers without ASQ booking were allocated to free government quarantine. Entry at immigration proceeded efficiently after providing the file prepared by RTCG, especially because there were no line-ups.  Immigration retained the COEs. After collecting baggage, the designated ASQ transport vans were easy to find.