@Jim **********

hmmm...not a bad idea. I'm not sure where there is one nearby, but I'll ask. If they can get past the issue, perhaps they'll know why there is one :-).

@Wylie ******

thank you. I considered that. However, that's not practical to need to do every time I need to book a ticket traveling around Asia. I'm trying to figure out why the site seems to not be accepting U.S. phone numbers (and I've tried multiple browsers just in case the browser was the issue). I've tried four different numbers, none of which work. It just keeps telling me to enter a "valid mobile number". They are all valid numbers. I was just hoping another American had encountered this and might have found a workaround.

@Wylie ******

I should have said up-front that I could not use third-party booking sites. Thanks for bringing that up.

@Wylie ******

I've tried that. The only problem is that, due to medical issues, I need to be able to choose seating beforehand (if proper seating is not available, I may not be able to fly). I can't do that with third party bookings.

For those who have been through the health check or know those who have, what exactly is involved or could cause one to be rejected? I’m not asking for a theoretical “you have to be in fantastic health” kind of answer. Im looking for specifics.

Also, can one not travel to Thailand while awaiting the visa? How about elsewhere? Does one have to sit at home waiting for the phone to ring 🙂?

@Donna *****

Just FYI, there are advantages to doing it yourself. There are people who have gotten locked into using agents and had issues because the agents have done paperwork in different regions from where they actually live. It's just another thing to consider in your thinking. I've been following this group for years and, honestly, the problems people have faced has sometimes made the process feel overwhelming to me.

@L *************

he said “don’t try to learn”. 🤣🤣🤣

@Duncan ******

why is it that whenever an American does something someone doesn’t like in this group, you people make it about being American?

@Wolfgang ******

you don’t know how hard he tried. Don’t judge!

@L *************

as someone who is hard of hearing and have been having an incredibly hard time trying to learn Thai, I did not read the OP in this way at all. His post was asking about those who have not tried.