EddieCM

Just some observations from reading everybody else's stuff and doing it for my missus travelling from China.

It all seems simple enough, 4 documents: two government issued; the passport and international vaccination certificate, and two Thai company documents, Insurance and SHA hotel Test and Go. The remainder is junky personal details.

What on earth are all these crazy requirements on document submission - only single file, convert multiple pdf pages to images, no blank facing page on the passport data document. They are the ones with the computer! Why do the applicants have to preprocess the documents? When I go to a restaurant for a meal I don't expect to peel the potatoes before they are cooked by the kitchen.

The day following my successful submission and confirmation email with application code, I noticed the name was mispelt on the uploaded Thai insurance document. Getting that amendment took two whole days and only so quickly because within the final hour I told the insurance company they had to choose between fixing the legally worthless document or cancellation and refund. It arrived in 30 mins. Why did it take two days when it could be fixed in half an hour? Honestly, it's like a rehearsal for death and you're still expected to sign the certificate in duplicate afterwards.

The vaccination certificate was perfect except if you 'cut and pasted' the QR code into the helpful box provided (and you are encouraged to do so - what more IT, what's wrong with YOUR computer?) the web page informs you the QR is unreadable. Well yes, probably. Even I can't read it, it's encrypted by the Chinese authorities to protect the personal data. A fact probably to be deduced from the certificate itself before trying to scan an orphaned QR code - the sort of thing a computer could probably do.

Ok, with a new insurance document the re-submission again went smoothly and a new code arrived a few minutes later.

Good, now wait. And wait. But finally, after 4 days approval arrives but from which submission? There is no submission reference number on the approval email. Meh, who cares, there is a nice shiny QR code to wave at immigration.

But there is more, a week later another anonymous approval arrives. Ummm don't they check all the names on everything match the passport data? So which is the kosher QR code? Thai SOP I think, the insurance company didn't bother either - no detail too big to be overlooked, like making sure the documents are legally valid.

As usual, the most important thing about it all is that money flowed from you to Thailand for the insurance and hotel - the very definition of 'Quality'.

The entry requirements and qualification path right up to receiving a 'go' from being tested negative on the second RT-PCR seem to be clear, even if they don't suit everybody. But what is the path if you test positive?

• Where, and to what kind of facility will you be taken?
• Will you receive further tests and/or treatment?
• How long will you be obliged to remain there?
• What will be the personal costs?

It would be nice to arrive in chaotic Thailand with some degree of preparation for either eventuality.