CMBob

The US only requires an antigen test within the 24-hour time period. Much less expensive and results often available within an hour or less.

With all those impressive education credentials, perhaps you could google and find out that Grab is a company (like Uber, Bolt, Tuk, etc.) that offers transport, food delivery, and other services via a mobile app.

Renewed my US passport by mail in December (2021). Sent it with other required items to Bangkok by DHL on a Monday morning, received the new passport (and old one along with the standard letter asking Immigration to transfer stamps) the next Thursday (11 days later).

If your report date is March 20th, why would you wait until the 20th to try the online report? Do it now (you can do it up to 15 days before your due date). But, under your scenario, you still have 6 days past your due date to timely file the report in person.

I transited through Singapore a few months ago and, yes, Singapore has its own transit requirements. And, as I said, you need to check the requirements of your airline, any countries you transit through, as well as the requirements of your home country. But, regardless of what anybody says, the only US requirement currently (for quite a while now) is an antigen test within 24 hours of departure (meaning in US terms, within 24 hours of your first international flight on your trip back to the US).

The US only requires an antigen test within 24 hours, not the PCR test (although a PCR test within that time limit would suffice); regardless, as has been mentioned, one should check for airline requirements, transit country requirements, and home country requirements as some of those may differ.

When I had stamps transferred to a new passport in 2017, Chiangmai Immigration transferred both my annual extension based on retirement and my re-entry permit. I obtained the re-entry permit at Chiangmai Immigration.

Given the rules no doubt will be different in June, I'd recommend they figure out the rules in mid-May to see if they have to submit anything. No sense worrying or even knowing about what the rules are now as no doubt they will change.

I submitted an online 90-day report last week and, immediately after submitting it, realized I didn't insert a complete address (didn't see a space for my Soi number); regardless, it was approved the next morning.

Whoops.....that looks pretty stupid. Meant epidemic, of course.

Under the old Certificate of Entry program, Thai authorities would accept a home-country policy if (1) the policy specifically mentioned it covered covid or (2) if the policy didn't specifically mention covid and one obtained a letter from the health insurance company saying covid was in fact covered [I know friends in the US that contacted their health insurance companies and easily obtained such a letter (the companies were aware of the issue)]. Perhaps current new test and go program (or future entry programs) will allow the same. Would note that the latest program only involves coverage for $20,000 of covid coverage and that's actually fairly inexpensive; however, given you say your trip is in July, I'd strongly suggest you wait until at least the last half of June to apply for anything as nobody knows what entry rules will apply then (Thai authorities are allegedly talking about eliminating all covid entry rules once they determine the pandemic has become an epidemic).

Same for me excepting for my latest annual extension (based on retirement and funds in the bank) in December, 2021. Either I had a particularly picky Immigration officer or the requirements have changed. Given the rules about how much one's account needs to hold for the 5 and 7 month time periods, I was prepared to present whatever they might request in that regard.

Would also note that, under the prior program (Certificate of Entry), it was acceptable to Thai authorities that one could use your home country health insurance if the policy specifically said it covered covid or if one obtained a separate letter from the health insurance company confirming that fact. In the US, I know of a few people to handled it that way (they called their health insurance companies who were already aware of the issue and promptly sent them a letter or email - and that satisfied the Certificate of Entry requirements). In other words, your current insurance coverage may be acceptable if it specifically covers covid or you get a statement from them saying it does).

There are many diseases/conditions that, if caught early on, are curable or easily treatable. Given many of those diseases exhibit no early warning signs, an annual checkup would seem reasonably wise in my opinion.....especially the older we get. Even if the result of an annual physical is that "everything is fine", spending 10-15k baht a year for that peace of mind is good value to me.

What I presented (a copy of only used pages plus the page with photo id and signature) a month ago was accepted without comment. This was the second time I've transferred stamps to a new passport and I didn't provide copies of blank pages the last time either.

Would note that CM Immigration won't accept the one form (form to transfer stamps to new passport) you can find online....so use the one at CM Immigration. Also, you have no need to have your papers reviewed outside, simply go inside and hand your packet to the people at window #3.

I renewed my US passport by mail just last month and I recall there was a series of questions you have to answer first to determine if you can renew the passport that way.....and one of the questions is whether you want a new passport with the same name as your existing passport. If you answer that question "no", then the site concludes you are not eligible to do it by mail. I'm guessing there is an alternate way to get it done (an in-person interview?); however, I have to agree with others here that changing your name from the exact name appearing on one's existing passport, driver's license, birth certificate, bank records, vaccine certificate, etc., probably isn't worth the hassle or potential problems unless one needs to do it because of a legal name change. Would note the mail deal (here in Chiangmai you can't do it any other way) is very efficient. I mailed (DHL) the old passport with paperwork and bank drafts to the Bangkok embassy on a Monday and received the new and old passports back by mail (EMS or some similar service) 12 days later.

I have no clue about current supply but simply message Chiangmai Ram Hospital (via their message deal on their website) and they'll likely respond within 2 hours or so. I did that several weeks ago on a Friday and ultimately was told to show up (4th Floor) there Monday morning where I paid for a Moderna booster....and ultimately came back the next morning to get the actual jab. Cost was 1,650 baht. Contrary to one comment, yes, they do care about timing of your booster (i.e., you're not getting it if you're #2 jab was Astra or a Chinese vaccine that was less than 3 months ago.... or less than 6 months if your first 2 jabs were Pfizer or Moderna).

I opened an account at the Bangkok Bank branch at Kad Suan Kaew about 2 months ago....and they will open an account there for you provided you have the visa the OP mentions (or a Non-O) or extension thereof. You'll need your passport, your address, and telephone number but there's no need for proof of residency or other documentation. None of the other items mentioned in the post by fangless above were required.

I would guess you could get the RT-PCR test at any hospital. I know you can get it done at Chiangmai RAM hospital......3,500 baht (with results later in the day if you're tested in the morning or results the next morning if tested in the afternoon). I understand from reports that the cost at other hospitals can be as low as 2,700 baht. If you arrived on a Monday, I'd think the following Friday is only 4 days away, not 5.

Both I and friends got our extensions at the Immigration Office near the airport. I have no clue if the satellite office at Promenada does any extensions (haven't been out there in years).

Somewhat off topic.....but just a week ago CM Immigration required a copy of the TM30 when friends got a 30-day extension to a visa exempt entry. I personally was required to produce a copy when obtaining an annual extension based on retirement earlier this month. Don't know whether its required for a covid extension but I'd guess it is required.

At CM Immigration, one coming in visa exempt cannot apply or get a 60-day "covid extension" without first obtaining the standard 30-day extension. During that 30-day extension, one can then apply for the 60-day "covid extension" presuming it's still available then.

Correct for Thailand if you mean the first international departure; however, at least one transit location (Singapore, for example) requires a shorter time period so one should check both Thai requirements, airline requirements, and transit location requirements to make sure you comply with the required time limits.

Given the test on arrival would not test positive if one caught covid on the airplane trip over, there really is no reasonable basis not to take the test. Note: "I don't want to", "I'm worried about a tracking chip", "I could care if I caught covid on the flight over and then spread it to others", etc., would not constitute a reasonable basis not to take the test.