@Marlene *****

Showing proof of being fully vaccinated (e.g. two doses of Moderna) is currently required to receive a COE.

Things are in flux, but right now, and fundamentally you need to show you do not represent a risk to the country from a health and wealth perspective. That means being fully vaccinated and obtaining health insurance for your trip that specifically covers Covid treatment with a policy limit of US$100K. There are testing requirements that are self funded (about B8000) and a stay at an approved facility. We’ve returned last year to our home in the provinces through the more traditional quarantine paradigm (15 days in a hotel room) and will now be returning through the Phuket Sandbox program, giving us access to the island once our first negative test results come through. There are good YouTube videos on the Phuket program and lots of information from the Royal Thai Embassy in your home country. Best of luck to you.

I like Learn Thai with Mod. Over 7 years you can review many videos from beginner to more advanced. Kru Mod and Kru Pear speak in simple declarative sentences. Finally, and I appreciate this is a bit off topic, but if your interest in the Thai language advances I found it helpful to read and write from a pronunciation perspective. Good luck and have fun.

@Ruth ******

Here’s her full name: Achanart (Jamie) C.

Thailand

Native Thai tutor with BA degree, linguistic background, fluent in English.

I think you’ll be able to find her on the website or app

I’ve been taking lessons with Jaime on Preply. She insisted on my learning the alphabet and to read and write. Invaluable for proper pronunciation because as an older guy it’s hard for me to hear the subtlest of the language. And with a home in Phetchabun, being able to read street signs is a big side benefit. Good luck to you.

My account is with Krungsi. Very responsive on providing same day certification letters for immigration purposes. I believe the fee is 200B.

Recently flew back. Suggest he visits the CDC website on accepted tests, but as of a few weeks ago a negative test, not a fit to fly certificate was required.

Yep, and just an FYI a Fit to Fly certificate is no longer needed at the moment. Vaccine card was an uploaded document for the COE in the US.

Spoke with the nice folks at the LA Consulate last week when helping a friend with his COE for an early June departure. The COE just issued, but there was a stated concern that flights are routinely canceled or changed and each COE must reference the particular flight and flight number. The Consulate representative said they were therefore trying to issue COE within a week or two of the flight. Seems a late August/early September application for pre approval may make more sense. Good luck.

My experience was in Petchabun Province. On the wall of the immigration office is a road map of all the documents needed to complete the process. Agree with prior comments that paying attention to the details is important (e.g. collared shirt for the picture, sufficient details to show place of residence, etc.). Patience, asking questions and knowing it may take a few submissions to get it right may be the right mind set.