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What is the current status of applying for a Certificate of Entry (COE) for new Thai Elite visa holders from France?
Thai Elite VisaCOE Application ProcessVisa ApprovalVisa AffixationImmigration PolicyThailand Consulate UpdatesExpat Visa ConcernsTravel to ThailandCOVID-19 Travel Restrictions
Aug 31, 2020
6 years ago
Dominique **********
ORIGINAL POSTERHello all, any update on New to be Elite visa holder authorization to apply for COE from France. I got accepted yet no letter yet to get stamped but I also understand that some consulate don’t even have yet instructions? Any update appreciated also did anyone got their letter of approval last two weeks? Seems like the pipe is clogged a bit in process...
TLDR : Answer Summary
The conversation reflects ongoing concerns and inquiries from individuals waiting for their Thai Elite visa approval letters while trying to navigate the process of obtaining a Certificate of Entry (COE) from France. Users discuss the delay in receiving approval letters, the sequence of applying for their COE, and the new processes involving visa affixation at consulates. It's noted that there may be a waitlist priority for existing Elite members over newcomers. Overall, individuals are seeking updates about the bureaucratic process and experiences of others who have managed to obtain their visas amid the pandemic.
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David *********
@Dominique *********
I did not get anything except my approval letter saying that immigration has approved my request. Within that it gives you the instructions on how to pay. You will not receive anything else until you pay the money.
After you pay and they have accepted it then you get your welcome letter with your membership instructions.
From my understanding is you can only get your Thai elite visa affixed to your passport on arrival into bkk or chaing Mai. If you are already inside thailand you can get it affixed at CW immigration.
If they are allowing the Thai embassies to affix the elite visa in the passport. Then you will be put on a wait list for getting your COE process.
The rules that were sent state specifically that those who have not been allowed into the country will be first on the list. Those that have newer Thai elite visas will be lower on the list.
It is also stated that those in country will also have to be put on the list for entry and be lower on the list and behind those who have not been able to enter since the CAAT shut down entry into the kingdom.
Being a new member will put you lower on the wait list for entry vs older members that have been out of thailand since the pandemic started.
Dominique **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@David ********
ok still waiting for my approval letter then...thx Ivan ************
The consulates are affixing visas now for people outside Thailand. New policy with the situation, used be you got it at the airport on arrival.
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
@Ivan ***********
I know if I asked for visual proof of a elite visa affixed on a passport, people would accuse me of being a doubting Thomas. I have been accused of a lot worseIvan ************
@Edw***
if you mean people getting Elite outside Thailand, I don't think anyone actually has got one yet. But there are people in the process, with appointments to have one affixed at a consulate.The process takes at least three weeks and they only announced it starting relatively recently. So it will be some time before the first person gets their Elite affixed outside Thailand, and longer before the first people get onto repatriation flights. I expect we will see reports of people getting this towards the end of the month.
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@Ivan ***********
yes, Ivan, but I would swear from what I’m reading At least a couple have said they’ve gotten one. I don’t think it’s unreasonable, but before I purchase one I’d like to see proof that somebody used a new elite visa and got on a flight.Ivan ************
@Edw***
I get your concerns but you need to consider that these other people going through the process don't owe you anything, if someone says they got the visa you can't demand they photograph it for you because you don't believe them.If I was in that situation, and providing valuable information on how the process was going, and some weirdo popped up saying they didn't believe me and demanding I provide photographic "PROOF" I would tell them where to get off. You can believe it or not believe it, no skin off my nose.
You need to talk to Elite themselves about any such concerns you have. And I can understand that at the moment they probably can't give firm guarantees as to specific dates, so it's up to you as to whether you want to risk it. But other people going through this don't owe you anything.
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@Ivan ***********
I I don’t. but if you’re calling me a weirdo because I’m wanting proof, that’s immature Insulting someone because they’re asking for proof, says more about you than it does about me.If I was in the position and someone wanted proof and I could provide it without revealing any personal information, identity wise, I don’t see any downside to doing it. Reply to
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
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David *********
@Ivan ***********
cool. But the waitlist for getting approval to enter is true. Older memberships will be higher on the list then newer ones. Ivan ************
@Da***
yes it gets you in the queue below existing members. Although from my reading of it, this may be simply as there is a delay where you have to get the visa affixed first, it's possible once you actually get the visa affixed you are treated the same at that point. They do say people who have just got their visa affixed are below existing members, but it's not clear that this means once you are actually in the queue that an existing member will bump you if they apply for repatriation after you, it may mean "at time of application".And then there are all the other categories of people waiting to repatriate at well, and the consulate manages who gets priority there. How long the queue is depends on your particular consulate, some maybe faster than others.
David *********
@Ivan ***********
oh. I thought Thai elite had a specific amount they were alloted. And then they gave the approval to the member to goto the embassy.Ivan ************
@Da***
they were unclear as to that, whether they had their own quota. I know they were talking about numbers, but it was unclear whether that was an additional quota specific to Elite.There are already two other quotas limiting return- (1) the availability of ASQ rooms, which is a general quota that applies to everyone, although you can probably get an ASQ quick enough if you can spend any amount on it, it's the cheaper ones that are booked up first. (2) the availability of seats on repatriation flights- this really depends on the consulate, from my understanding some are completely full but other flights are flying
***
rds empty. So this may be highly dependent on where you are trying to get back from. Some places, economy sells out/is given priority for Thais, but you may be able to get a seat quicker if you are willing to pay for Business/First.Now it is possible that Elite also has their own list and quota on top of that, I'm not sure. But there are already inherent limits in the system as it is.
Erik *******
@Ivan ***********
Of course they have quotas but they won’t communicate about it. Ivan ************
@Er**
there are "quotas" inherent in the system, as managed by the embassies/consulates. It's unclear to me that there is an additional Elite "quota" on top of this, maybe there is but that's not certain.Even if there was no Elite-specific quota there would still be the overall quotas managed by embassies who decide who gets onto which flights, there are only so many seats.
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Ivan ************
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Dominique **********
ORIGINAL POSTERI mean waiting for approval letter step 1
Thomas ********************
As you can clearly see. Talk to your Thai embassy. I'd suggest doing that before you start making the payment (as described in the initial approval email.)
Reply to
Thomas ********************
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Dominique **********
ORIGINAL POSTERYes I am talking about the letter welcoming me with my member ID so I can go online and pay then as you said ..
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
@Dominique *********
you do realize having a COE is not the same as getting a seat on a plane. At this point, it’s not clear that existing elite members are being admitted in, and new members are going to be much farther down the line, if in the line at all. I’m waiting to see how things shake out in the next 2 to 3 months, As there’s several players in this game and they don’t all have the same agendaDominique **********
ORIGINAL POSTERSo I am talking about the welcome letter at this time. I was notified I got accepted and will receive that Welcome letter with the next step as you mention.
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Dominique **********
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Garrett ***********
You were approved? Did you pay the money yet?
Thomas ********************
I would check with the Thai consulate before paying.
Dominique **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Garrett **********
not yet waiting for the letter and id but I was approved -Garrett ***********
@Domi*****
You don't get a letter until after you pay. You have to go online and pay. Takes another 3-7 days. Then you take the letter to the embassy and apply for a COE, along with the other documents (like health insurance).Anyone can be approved for the elite visa.
Dominique **********
ORIGINAL POSTERI ll pay upon letter reception with instruction
Reply to
Dominique **********
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