George36

The total time it took to get my COE was 96 hours from the time I clicked the COE application submit.  
 

My daughter did the sizing so I cannot comment on that stuff.

However, once I uploaded the documents and hit send, the COE was approved and sent to me in an hour.  It is all automated and the COE comes almost instantly when documents submitted.

Hope this helps.  

1 hour ago, George36 said:

All documents submitted for COE and they expect a three working day turnaround.  My flight is on the 10th of February so plenty of time.  
 

LA Consulate has been excellent with my processing.  Entering on Tourist Visa.

Wow!  Submitted docs for COE and just received the COE.  

That is quick.  

All documents submitted for COE and they expect a three working day turnaround.  My flight is on the 10th of February so plenty of time.  
 

LA Consulate has been excellent with my processing.  Entering on Tourist Visa.

23 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

The good news is I got my passport back with the new Visa in 7 days.  I am now just waiting for the COE. So far the consulate has not responded to any of my emails about the status of my COE.  Luckily I have 2 weeks before my flight. The only thing I have to do now is get the Covid 19 PCR test and the Fit 2 Fly certificate.  
 

I found a clinic in LA that does both. I would not recommend calling the LA consulate because the lady who answered said just said this: “go to website”.  555

Very timely info.  Thanks.  
 

Delayed my January flight to Thailand because of new Covid cases in Thailand.  Now, Southern California has blown up stretching hospital to breaking point.  I will be safer in Thailand.

So, I have my Tourist Visa and can have the application for the new COE done by Monday, the 25th of January.  
 

Do I push for traveling on 5th of February (ten working day) or wait until the 12th of February (15 working days)?

I really, really want to leave soonest.  Appreciate any thoughts. 
 

What clinic in Los Angelas does both please and what was the timing?  Thanks.  
 

Well, everything is set for me to arrive on January 15th for a long, long stay in Pattaya area.  Scheduled the trip to start a new life in Pattaya with American wife arriving in April.  
 

Now what?  Put myself in quarantine for 15 days at ASQ followed by a lockdown possible by my release date of January 30th?  
 

Intended to stay at LK the Empress.  Just learned that Lek Hotel, right down the Soi, had three separate dates for exposure to Covid and are looking for people.

67 with no underlying medical condition.  How about all Expats in Pattaya that are at risk.  Maybe not dying but possibly overtaxing Pattaya’s hospitals.

Have until next Tuesday to decide.  Only penalty to delay is $50 to change flights.

I included pictures of my application in my email to La Consulate and they solved my problem almost immediately.

Good Hunting.  5555

1 hour ago, Suphawk said:

Try try again, still no answer at DC or Chicago. No answer at the email addresses provided either. I can only hope my application is still in process , maybe the 15 working days period. Another long weekend where they're off Thursday , Friday , Saturday and Sunday. ????

Fwiw, La Consulate just got back to me about overnighting my Passport and Tourist Visa to me.  Was apologetic and advised that they were of office rom last Tuesday through today.  They will get in mail to me today.

2 hours ago, sudsy said:

For your COE photo, does one just take a picture with their phone and make sure it's 2x2.  Then when you send your paperwork for the visa you get it done professionally and the photographer (USA CVS ) gives you an actual photo that you use for your Visa package.  That's what I'm thinking of doing.

I used CVS for the passport photos.  
 

Please remember to send prepaid overnight to Thai Consulate and include a self-addressed prepaid USPS overnight to return your stuff.  I forgot this and they called me and reminded me.  I overnighted the return envelope they requested.  Waiting for return envelope which I would expect to get early next week.

20 days 8 hrs 25 mins until liftoff.  Feeling good.

Thanks All

1 minute ago, Mai mee said:

So how long did the COE process take start to finish? Did the email you the certificate? and did you start the visa application at the same time, and what have you heard on that?

 

It looks like you're on a pretty good timeline to make all your dates, and I'll be curious what you work out for the Cvid test and FTF cert vis-a-vis the timing. I'm trying to fly out on the same EVA flight you're using on Wednesday the 20th, and still juggling the test/FTF/and 72hr thing... and how that lines up with days of the week, wondering if I'd be better off shooting for friday instead.

Submitted Tourist Visa/COE on 14th of December.  Tourist Visa and COE was approved on the 21st.  The COE came in an email this morning.  My Passport and Visa will arrive Thursday as I forgot to send paid overnight envelope for them to be returned safely or I would have it already.

That last 72 hours will be stressful.  I believe that it is highly doable as the flight at 11:05 p.m. leaves the day of departure as a final get stuff in order.

On the positive side, you will get to see my failure or success as I am scheduled to fly out in the 13th of January.

Wish me luck?

For information, this is the third email from LA Consulate with COE included:

“The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles has issued you the Certificate of Entry as attached.

Please take a moment to review your documents and prepare to show required documents at the departure airport and upon entry to Thailand

The applicant, who wishes to change their travel plan, must upload air ticket + ASQ through personal link 5 working days before departure date. 
 

The applicant who fails to inform the embassy /Consulates-General in advanced will not be able to board the plane due to lack of permission from concerned authorities.

For more information please contact 
Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles

visa@thaiconsulatela.org”

31 minutes ago, Suphawk said:

I was pretty sure I read that after you get your Visa you're supposed to go back and do something for the COE. Sorry I don't remember exactly where that was. My head is currently spinning from the insurance and medical cert.

 

I had to push back my flight and ASQ because I'm waiting for my insurance to fill out the overseas insurance certificate. 

I believe that you are correct and New York makes it a two step process.  La Consulate does both Tourist Visa/COE at the same time.  
 

La Consulate FAQ’s indicates only working days to process a COE.  I believe they send a PDF file to you.  
 

Suphawk:  Sorry to hear about the delay.  Will keep fingers crossed for you.  5555
 

32 minutes ago, KwaiMaiSabai said:

Does anyone know what I'm supposed to do now? Am I the first unlucky one to get no COE if indeed COE's are being stonewalled right now? 

 

Trying to email and call the nyc & dc consulate but no response or phone pickup yet all day - anyone have any tips here? I have 18 days till my flight leaves so this is gonna be close if I have to re-submit... but my 60 day TR was issued with no problems so I'm confused

https://thaiembdc.org/2020/07/23/faq-for-non-thais-wishing-to-enter-thailand-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/ Seems to be the FAQs for New York.  Item 2 may indicate that you now have to apply for a COE.  The Tourist Visa/COE are done the same time at the La Consulate.

Item 9 has an email address outside the normal visa@ type email.  Might try that one.

Waiting for my package to come back from La Consulate for a mid-January flight.

Good hunting.  

Looks like same flight but both numbers. Mine is 211 and was accepted by LA Consulate.  This spreadsheet was posted by Ubonjoe in another thread.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ijBJOTgFJPAuWUfkPIA60iniXB9j9Ba2XHafXzA6JCw/htmlview#gid=548708966

Found this in my readings today.  Thought it would be good for those going through LA Consulate to know of five working day turnaround of replacement COE.  
 

FAQ _non-Thai - Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles 

For info:

Wed, Jan 2021 - Fri, Jan 2021 - Los Angeles (LAX) to Taipei (TPE) - Confirmed 

EVA Airways 11
Confirmation Number:R5IU7S

DEPART

11:05PM

LAX

Non Stop

ARRIVE

5:40AM

TPE

Fri, Jan 15, 2021 - Taipei (TPE) to Bangkok (BKK) - Confirmed 

EVA Airways 211

DEPART

7:45AM

TPE

Non Stop

Eva BR211 is the flight that I will be flying in on.  They are a semi commercial carrier and was accepted by the Consulate.

1 minute ago, Suphawk said:

I'm going for a 1 year retirement Visa and COE. I hope they will approve me ????

When I started this process, I came to the board and sought answers to questions and all seemed to indicate that getting an O-A based on retirement is easy to do after getting into Thailand.

It was recommended that I enter under Tourist Visa, apply for O visa giving  three months and then extend for 12 months under retirement procedures.  

Not sure if visa exempt is doable quite yet but that would work also as above.
 

Ubonjoe:  Please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks.
 

On 12/17/2020 at 5:48 AM, Suphawk said:

Well I was getting all my ducks lined up and ready to fill in the online COE application and see this today! ????

The embassy is currently updating the website and the procedures for obtaining visa and the COE.
If you plan to travel to Thailand in January 2021 or onwards, please check back soon on the embassy's website for the official guidelines. 

 

I was planning to arrive middle of January, I wonder how long this will delay my plans.

 

This from the US Embassy website, BTW

Quick question please so I am not screwing up here.

Are you looking to do Tourist Visa and COE or just COE for visa exempt entry?
 

My belief is that the visa exempt may not be all approved and active for travel in January.  The forms and procedures for Tourist Visa is not much more than what is needed for the COE.  IMHO, the $40 for visa is well worth it.

7 minutes ago, Suphawk said:

I'm confused, are you talking about a print out of the COE application? I did the online application and it wouldn't let me proceed to the next step without checking that box.

 

I am still waiting on the first reply, but I will update when I have more info.

My initial online application checked “No” for both flight and ASQ booking.  That allowed me to do Sections 1, 2 and 6 with Section 3 - 5 hidden.  Only when checking “yes” did Section 3 - 5 appear.  Then, I completed 3-5 and submitted and that is when I got “2 of 2” email.  
 

I believe the logic is that you supply them with basic information and they give you a tentative okay to continue by the 1st email.  Which is good because you have not spent any money yet.  Then, you need to spend money on insurance, ASQ and flights and download everything.  Then, all good and they sent second email for originals to be submitted.

https://thaiembdc.org/2020/11/05/trsingle_entry/ is the information page.

This is the application page for Tourist Visa, etc and COE.  
 

https://thaiembdc.org/onlinevisaapplication/

We could not modify our initial application until they sent a link.  After each submission, they review and, if others documents are need, they send you another link.

For instance, after doing Section 3 - 5, the download for the ASQ hotel got garbled in submission.  Had to change to PDA file and resubmit through the new link given.

13 hours ago, George36 said:In order to issue an appropriate visa and in compliance with relevant rules and regulations, please mail the original documents to the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles 

Visa section
Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles
611 N.Larchmont Blvd., 2nd Floor 
Los Angeles , CA 90004

1. Passport

2. Two passport-size photographs (2″x 2″)

3. Visa application form (Download) or attached file with this email (if applicant doesn’t have a valid Thai visa)

4. Self-addressed return envelope and Money order for visa fee if the applicant doesn’t have a valid visa.

(The visa fee are as follows: 
Single entry 40 USD for Tourist Visa & 80 USD for other types / Multiple entries200 USD)

*Tourist Visa are permitted for single entry only at the moment

**Fee for retirement visa (O-A) is 200 USD since the validity of O-A visa is multiple entries only

***Fee is not required for Diplomat/Official/UNLP passport holders with visa "D" and Thailand Elite cardholders)

5. Other required documents that you submitted through online application.

*** Please check the list of documents from the Royal Thai Embassy’s website / Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chicago / Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles **”* 

 

The above was “2 of 3” emails received requesting action on my part.

The below is “1 of 3” emails received requiring action.  This email required to change the “no” to “yes” at bottom of first page before you can see Section 3 - 5.

This was the response from the Consulate when I couldn’t figure it out:  “Click on the Yes ASQ or Air ticket ”

Does anyone have a copy of the final “3 of 3” email that is to come?
 

Thanks

 
From Consulate via email:  Pls complete your application in section 3-5, if not your application will not be processed.

 *** If the application is not completed within 7 days, it will be deleted automatically from the database ***”

3 minutes ago, Mai mee said:

Thanks George I'll give 'em a look... Do I recall you saying that they offered some kind of flexibility in case COE or visa was denied or delayed? Sorry, but I can't remember if I actually remember or if I just made it all up...

$50 change fee. And $200 cancellation fee.

The ASQ has until 14 days before arrival free cancellation.  8-13 days before, you lose 50%

I needed to purchase the flights, ASQ hotel, Covid-19 insurance before completing online application for TV/COE.  The Covid insurance is freely cancelled within 15 days of purchase.

16 minutes ago, Suphawk said:

I booked my hotel on Agoda Asq page, they offer a few hotels that you don't have to pay until 2 days before departure and free cancellation.

For my flight I searched Google flights. I found a Qatar flight but disappointed there is no refund or cancelation, so out $680 if the Visa/COE goes wrong.

This is a good beginning for flights:  https://thaiest.com/blog/semi-commercial-flights-to-thailand-in-2020

22 minutes ago, Mai mee said:

Out of curiosity George, How did you book your flights and ASQ stay?
 

Did you use one of the agents listed on the embassy website or book directly with the airline and hotel?

 

I'm particularly interested in the airline booking as Kayak.com who i usually use to search for flights shows lots of possible LAX-BKK flights butI'm concerned that some might be erroneous or not "official" yet. I'm looking at EVA Air in particular, and I thought I recalled you posted somewhere that you had booked on EVA

-  I booked the flight through Eva Air’s recommended agent out of Illinois.  Eva Air advised me that flights are more expensive if bought direct from them.  The price round trip is $990 usd.  
 

  You cannot book anything other than a repatriation flight or semi commercial flight. Eva Air has daily flights and is an approved semi commercial carrier.

-  The ASQ Hotels can be found here.  Browse.  I have booked a one bedroom at this hotel.   https://thaiest.com/bookings/asq/somerset-rama-9-bangkok
 

This is my experience.  I started my online application for a Tourist Visa on Monday, 14th of December.  Was able to navigate the many pitfalls.

Today, I overnighted the package they requested.  All information was in the origin online application.  Online application required ASQ Confirmation and Confirmed Flights.

The package will get there by noon tomorrow.  I would hope for the Visa/COE next week.  It has gone smoothly so far.  Knock on wood.  I have plenty of time as I fly out on a semi commercial flight on the 13th of January, 2021.

Yeah!  ????????

“Your application is reviewed. In order to issue an appropriate visa and in compliance with relevant rules and regulations, please mail the original documents to the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles 

Visa section
Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles
611 N.Larchmont Blvd., 2nd Floor 
Los Angeles , CA 90004

1. Passport

2. Two passport-size photographs (2″x 2″)

3. Visa application form (Download) or attached file with this email (if applicant doesn’t have a valid Thai visa)

4. Self-addressed return envelope and Money order for visa fee if the applicant doesn’t have a valid visa.

(The visa fee are as follows: 
Single entry 40 USD for Tourist Visa & 80 USD for other types / Multiple entries200 USD)

*Tourist Visa are permitted for single entry only at the moment

**Fee for retirement visa (O-A) is 200 USD since the validity of O-A visa is multiple entries only

***Fee is not required for Diplomat/Official/UNLP passport holders with visa "D" and Thailand Elite cardholders)

5. Other required documents that you submitted through online application.

*** Please check the list of documents from the Royal Thai Embassy’s website / Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chicago / Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles **”* 

The STV allows for two, 90 days extensions.  Nine months in total.  

“5. STV is expensive, single entry is too short.

- Agreed. STV is not really a viable option unless it gives people an option to come here for a much longer period, i.e. 6 or even 12 months.”