DHut

1 minute ago, Eff1n2ret said:

I thought it is the MFA that issues the COE, not individual embassies. Try this:-

https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/

I called up the embassy and the lady asked for my COE 6 digit code. She checked and came back saying approvals for November arrivals has been suspended. I suspect the COE portal is just a central system to receive COE applications from all over the world and it routes the cases to individual embassy for processing.

On 10/16/2021 at 3:46 PM, TorquayFan said:

DHut and Fusion58 - I have the same problem. My COE has now been pre-approved to fly on Nov 4th arriving 5th. I have to upload a few more documents then it's done with hopefully.

 

I intend to try and complete that AND apply for the 'Thailand Pass' in addition, to cover it both ways as soon as it becomes online. Just can't do anymore.

 

Hoping for some clarity on how to proceed. They'll have to be sharp with the data and instructions if I am to do the Pass but we'll see.

 

Hoping for some clarity asap I'd add !!!!

 

Any thoughts ?

The embassy in my home country has stopped issuing COE. If Thailand Pass is not by end of this coming week, I am screwed. I will have to push back my arrival date at least a week. This will potentially caused me do a lot of explanation to my company and miss my best friend's wedding. Not to mention the amount of money I've paid so far... 

What about those who are scheduled to arrive on 1 November? Do they still use COE?

35 minutes ago, eisfeld said:

No need for any embassy to get involved. Just the letter from Immigration and then DLT. OP mentioned he will go through the Phuket sandbox. I suggest to get the residency cert and the driving license right there because I know for a fact it is possible. Just need to make sure the owner of the hotel helps out with registering him at that place with immigration - greasing that wheel goes a long way. And hey, if it doesn't work for whatever reason then he can try again in CNX.

16 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Not necessarily so...  As I travel too much for work, I have only ever needed file a 90 day report twice (in over 20 years). In Bangkok, I am unable to get a letter of Address (certificate of Address) from Immigration because I had not filed a 90 day report (on that entry). 

The only option I had for many years (before I got the Yellow house book and Pink ID) was to get the Affirmation of Residence letter from the Embassy. 

More recently the British Embassy would not issue this for those on Visa Exempt entries or Tourist Visa’s. 

Meanwhile the Yellow House Book / Pink ID does not suffice as proof of address at DLT in Pattaya and Chon Buri.

 

The interpretation of the requirements vary from province to province. Easy of acquiring necessary documents also varies from province to province and nationality to nationality 

 

 

I have read on tis forum that options are better in Chiang Mai and Immigration will allow people to apply for their Letter of Residence (certificate of residence) without having submitted a 90 day report - this does indeed avoid any need to get a letter from the Embassy. 

 

For this reason, I asked for greater details from the DHut (location / visa status) so we could better advise him. 

 

For example - He is unlikely to get any Letter of Address from Immigration at Chaeng Wattana if he is in Bangkok because he would not have submitted a 90 day report. 

Additionally, IF he is British, he would also struggled to get the Affirmation of Residence from the British Embassy if he arrived Visa Exempt or on a Tourist Visa. 

 

 

Excellent idea, no harm in giving it a try as soon as he gets to Phuket. 

Thanks both, I will to do it in Phuket first and if I can't, I will try it again in Chiang Mai. Much appreciated for the advice. 

16 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

That may depend where you are more than anything else. 

 

IF you are in Bangkok and you have submitted a 90 days report to immigration you can obtain a Proof of Residence letter. 

 

IF you are in Chiang Mai (for example) you may be able to  obtain a Proof of Residence letter from Immigrant without having had submitted a 90 day report. 

 

This may also vary depending on the type of visa you are on. 

 

 

IF you provide more specific details of your location / Visa / whether you have submitted a 90 day report you may get a more accurate answer with fewer ifs. 

Sorry for not providing enough details, it's more complication than I thought ???? I am on Tourist Visa and will be staying in Chiang Mai for 30 days. Planning to take the motorbike driving license in Chiang Mai right after my sandbox in Phuket. 

Thank you Sir.

21 hours ago, eisfeld said:

You can get a Thai driving license on any kind of visa. Even on visa exempt entry. I did that. The only tricky part can be to get the residence letter from Immigration but shouldn't be impossible. The only thing they wont give you on a tourist visa is a 5 year license on renewal. You will get always again a 2 year temporary one.

Can I get the proof of residence if I am staying at a hotel or airbnb?

Sorry for asking something out of topic. I am on tourist visa and will be staying in Chiang Mai for a month before moving off to somewhere else. Figured that I should get a motorbike license while I am here. Will I be able to get the cert of residency (needed for applying motorbike license) if I am staying at a hotel?

1 hour ago, Espanol said:

Well, I'm in Patong Beach right now.

About 6 sunbeds hired in my row.

 

Beach is lovely and few people here: no Chinese, Russian, British, Korean, Indian or Australian. Just some Americans and Europeans. 

 

Bangla Road has about 15 open bars, serving alcohol without restrictions. Yes: beer is served in coffee mugs, but who minds?

 

Beautiful girls everywhere at cheap prices.

 

Plenty of massage places. Difficult to find one without happy ending, but there are some.

 

Many open restaurants and very good promotions (50%) in good restaurants using Eatigo. 

 

I was here last time in 2017 and promised that never again. Indeed much better now.

 

It's a pity that this will not last much longer, but I'm really happy that I finally know Phuket like it was 40 years ago.

 

Thank you too Sir, this is very informative. Looks like I am set to station in Patong.

8 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Well Patong is not the "full on" place it used to be by any means, however as I have just said in another post, there are a few restaurants open and a few shops, but forget it if you liked shopping in the big shopping malls, because there aren't any open now in Patong.

 

A few massage parlours are open and are very welcoming with the girls at the door beckoning passers-by to enter!

There are a few tuk tuks around although I haven't seen a baht bus lately, but plenty of motorbike taxis.

 

The main bar area of Bangla Road is just about closed down completely, with perhaps a handful of bars struggling to stay open and serving alcohol in plastic cups and coffee mugs.

 

There was no one on the beach this morning, so if you like empty beaches, this is the place to be.

 

A few other posters here have said that Rawai is the place to be, however I can't comment because I haven't been there lately – let's hope this helps.

Thank you so much, this helps a lot in knowing what kind of situation Patong is in right now. Sounds like the Patong back in the days before mass tourism arrives. Kinda sad to hear that walking street is struggling, I missed hearing girls calling me handsome while I hold my beer belly with pride.

Hi everyone, good day to all of you good people. I am preparing my visa and documents to enter Thailand via the Phuket sandbox program. But I am still undecided which area I should stay in. If I were to station myself in Patong, would I get any sights of life, restaurants and amenities? Also, I don't ride a motorbike, it would be great if there are baht bus and motorsai available easily in Patong. Appreciate any advice from Phuket residents here. Thanks much!

Just now, DrJack54 said:

Have you been to Thailand previously. 

I get the feeling Not.

Of course not, I only been to the Thailand town in my home country ????

20 hours ago, MajorTom said:

Oh dear. Another "Thai electrician" at it there. Absolutely 100% incorrect

20 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Both visa exempt and tourist visa are eligible for one 30 day extension. 1900baht. 

 

 

Well, we all have to decide if we want to take this risk if it is coming from the authority. No right or wrong, just how much more baht we have to fork out to get a peace of mind knowing that no one can force you to leave Thailand. ????

On another matter, I called up the Thai embassy and they told me that visa exemption (45days) cannot be extended. OP might want to apply for a valid visa just in case the immigration office didn't issue you the extension. 

5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

1. Now sure which embassy website you are looking at since the 40/400k baht insurance is not required for a single entry tourist visa. Perhaps you were looking at the requirements for a STV (special tourist visa) that cancan only be applied for up to the 30th of this month.

2. That is correct if applying for a single entry tourist visa,

If applying for a STV it would be 2 separate insurance policies.

Thank you so much! Yes, you are right about the 40/400k baht insurance not required for SETV. I went to the Thai embassy Singapore website to check again and it only requires the COVID-19 insurance. My bad my bad.

Can I just ask one more thing about the evidence of accommodation booking? It says that I have to show proof of accommodation after completing quarantine and for the entire duration of my stay in Thailand. But I intend to travel around the country and will not have a fixed accommodation. Do you know how I can get around this requirement? 

Thanks so much!

Hello people, I am preparing for my documents to enter Thailand now and I am rather confused by the insurance requirements by the authority.

1. To apply for the Tourist Visa - The Thai embassy website says that I have to buy a health insurance (Outpatient treatment of no less than 40,000 baht and inpatient treatment of no less than 400,000 baht).

2. To apply for the COE - The Thai embassy website says that I have to buy a COVID-19 insurance (minimum 100,000 USD coverage).

Now the confusing part is, are they the same insurance policy or do I buy 2 insurance policies for different types of coverage? Can I just buy the COVID-19 insurance and use this to apply for the Tourist visa? I would appreciate any help on this. thanks so much!

@ubonjoe @BritTim Thank you both. I almost went ahead to apply for a Tourist Visa (TRV).

Does this extension applies to ALL visa exemption countries? I cannot find any confirmation on this in the Thai embassy website in Singapore. It would be great if I could stay in Thailand for 45 + 30 days through the extension without having to apply for a TRV or STV.

8 hours ago, moon47 said:

My point is that I have been "told" several dates as well as official posted dates that are all different.

 

• COE website reads it should only take a max of 6 days.

 

• Embassy website reads it should take a max. of 15 days. (7 for pre. approval and 7 for confirmation.)

 

• When I called the office back on the 17th I was "told" that I had to wait the full 15 days regardless.

 

Once that had passed, and others had posted on here that they received theirs one week before departure, all of those dates had passed.

 

To tell me later that I have to wait 3 days before departure is mind boggling.

 

I finally received my COE after my Thai wife called 4 days before (As I was instructed to do after my previous. call) to ask what the heck was going on. I received it about an hour after that final call.

 

Government agencies should not be allowed to treat people this way.

 

What an EXTREAMLY stressful and unnecessary experience. =[

 

 

That was indeed stressful because of the uncertainties and fear of missing your flight. Do you think that you would not have your COE approved if your wife had not call them? 

20 hours ago, Swiss1960 said:

That would be correct, yes. HOWEVER: most airlines in this time offer free - and sometimes unlimited - postponement of flights, so you could still use the flight at a later stage, once you sorted the COE problem. 

Also, there is no waiting period for the COE process. Once you know the reason for the rejection, remediate the problem and start again, if you started early (see my previous post), your flight will probably still be valid.

What happen if my Tourist Visa (TRV) is approved but my COE application got delayed? I have to buy an air ticket and submit my departure date to apply for the TRV first then the COE. If the COE were to delay beyond my departure date, do I have to reapply for STV? Thanks.