Returning Expats & Dependents

[Dannie Boy]

An Australian couple I know who normally live here in Cha Am are stuck back home and unable to fly at the moment. In preparing to return they have been quoted a combined 205,000 Baht for medical insurance including the Covid cover, together with 60,000 for two weeks in a hotel on top of all the other pre-travel medical costs and of course their flights. Needless to say, they’ve decided to stay where they are for the time being and hope that the restrictions be eased soon!!

[HHTel]

OK to continue on. Yesterday got an email from the embassy asking me to upload my flight confirmation and ASQ hotel confirm with proof of payment for both. The link they sent took me to my original application and all the info I had put in, and uploaded, was there with new places to upload the requested info. After I completed the new uploads and closed out I got an email thanking me and saying they would get back to me in 7-15 days. WTF my flight leaves in 10 days!

I was concerned with this plus getting my covid test results within the 72 hour period. I was instructed to upload the results. The 72 hour period starts July 23 at 13:30 so my concern is getting the results back, uploading to the embassy, and getting my CoE back (over the weekend) for my Sunday flight!

Well today I received my CoE so all I need to do is get the covid results, and fit to fly and present at the airport so pressure off, should all be good!

I know this thread is about returning expats. As many know now, my daughter is trying to return as a Thai.
She is still waiting for approval from Thailand. However, she's just received an e-mail from the Washington embassy stating that Suvarnabumi airport has been re-closed to all incoming flights until further notice!
I can find nothing in the news here. It could be that Washington are talking out of turn ..... again. They haven't had a good record of imparting correct information.

[migrant]

OK to continue on. Yesterday got an email from the embassy asking me to upload my flight confirmation and ASQ hotel confirm with proof of payment for both. The link they sent took me to my original application and all the info I had put in, and uploaded, was there with new places to upload the requested info. After I completed the new uploads and closed out I got an email thanking me and saying they would get back to me in 7-15 days. WTF my flight leaves in 10 days!

I was concerned with this plus getting my covid test results within the 72 hour period. I was instructed to upload the results. The 72 hour period starts July 23 at 13:30 so my concern is getting the results back, uploading to the embassy, and getting my CoE back (over the weekend) for my Sunday flight!

Well today I received my CoE so all I need to do is get the covid results, and fit to fly and present at the airport so pressure off, should all be good!

I know this thread is about returning expats. As many know now, my daughter is trying to return as a Thai.
She is still waiting for approval from Thailand. However, she's just received an e-mail from the Washington embassy stating that Suvarnabumi airport has been re-closed to all incoming flights until further notice!
I can find nothing in the news here. It could be that Washington are talking out of turn ..... again. They haven't had a good record of imparting correct information.

I hope not! I haven't heard anything nor seen anything on the stranded facebook pages. It is Washington after all!!

[migrant]

Well, today is the day, fly out at 13:30. All paperwork in order, flight and quarantine quarters booked and paid. Finally!!

[Thistle]

Good Luck Migrant,safe travels.
Hope you have a non-eventful check-in/flight and arrival.

[hhinner]

Bon voyage. Looking forward to seeing the tales of the flight and quarantine.

[HHTel]

Good luck, Migrant. I'll not tell my daughter as she hates you already.
It's her birthday today and she's stuck in the middle of a hurricane. Can't go anywhere as everything's closed under lock down.

Hopefully, she'll soon get some good news!

[migrant]

Good luck, Migrant. I'll not tell my daughter as she hates you already.
It's her birthday today and she's stuck in the middle of a hurricane. Can't go anywhere as everything's closed under lock doeckwn.

Hopefully, she'll soon get some good news!

Tell her not to hate me cause I'm lucky (certainly not beautiful!!)

I am currently sheltered from a thunderstorm in my quarantine hotel, yes I made it! I have a cigar going and am toasting myself with a glass of proscribed (in the quarantine at least) Johnny Walker blue (they don't check baggage).

For any interested, and HHTel's daughter (who I hope goes through this soon) here goes!

My flight out of Los Angeles was scheduled for 13:30 and I, being an on time sort of guy, got there at 10:15. The airport was dead but, as I walked into the terminal, was greeted with a long line. I quickly found out this was a flight to Korea and a Thai flag took me to another area with only a few travelers. There were three Thai people that checked your paperwork and, by that time, the gates were open. I had treated myself to business class so was first in line to check in. It was obvious this was a new procedure as the lady checking me in went through my paperwork and asked a supervisor to check it which she did with the Thai people I saw first.

Got my boarding pass and after a while headed to immigration. Usually a mess and long lines but I got through it in about 15 minutes.

When I boarded there were about 5 others in business class seating of 40 so wide open. The other seats in economy were also sparse. I think maybe 10-15 falangs and about 50 (I assume) Thais.

Changed planes in Narita Japan and were escorted all the way to the gate with a temp check along the way. Here some other flights converged so maybe double the numbers of the first leg.

On arrival to Thailand we were met and escorted into the terminal. An army of people in blue, or white, hazmat suits stood off to the side waiting. I was first off the plane and waved to first in a line of chairs spaced out in the walk way. Here was first of a few document checks. Once OK'd I was taken to another station and temp checked and another document check but not immigration. From there walked about 100 meters to another line of chairs. Once the line was full we were escorted towards immigration. Another document checks then pointed to either the falang line or the one for Thais. Again I was first up to about 5 open immigration lines. The lady that took my docs must have been new and a senior immigration official helped her out. From there we falangs were given a tag showing what ASQ hotel we were staying at and proceeded to pick up luggage. Once I got my luggage, which was already up, I was waved to the other side and pointed to the exit saying go to exit 9. I walked by a (thankfully for my cigars) empty customs area and greeted by a man at exit 9. He checked the paperwork and waved me to another man in the auto line who loaded my luggage in a Jeep Cherokee and we were off to the hotel. I saw about 5 of the big party buses there, probably to take Thais to state quarantine.

At the hotel they went up to the third floor of the parking structure which was cordoned off with two tables. One was health questions and one for check in, all easy. I was then pointed to an elevator where my floor was already pushed and then left alone. My luggage was waiting in my room.

Despite all the document checks it was probably the easiest reentry I have ever had. It helped that I was at the beginning of the line and the airport was dead except for my flight.

Now 15 days incarceration and I'm free. Room is fairly small but not bad.

[HHTel]

Well done, Migrant. You made it.
Sounds like quite an experience. Just one thing. You mentioned the delay in getting covid results within the 72 hours before flight. I assume that situation improved.
Hopefully, my daughter will get some good news this week. Just now she's not in a good place both mentally and physically. She keeps posting 'memory' pics on facebook with her and the kids.

Welcome back.

[PeteC]

Sorry if you posted this above somewhere. Who was your carrier LA > Tokyo and then Tokyo > Bangkok.

[migrant]

Well done, Migrant. You made it.
Sounds like quite an experience. Just one thing. You mentioned the delay in getting covid results within the 72 hours before flight. I assume that situation improved.
Hopefully, my daughter will get some good news this week. Just now she's not in a good place both mentally and physically. She keeps posting 'memory' pics on facebook with her and the kids.

Welcome back.

I sure hope your Daughter makes it home soon. While I missed my wife (and dogs, and boat) I wouldn't want to be a mother separated from her kids, must really be tough!

Covid testing within the time limits was tough, I called many, many before I found one in Beverly Hills that guaranteed 24-48 hour turnaround. If she goes through LAX and has a couple days it would work for her, let me know and I can send contact info.

[migrant]

Sorry if you posted this above somewhere. Who was your carrier LA > Tokyo and then Tokyo > Bangkok.

It was Japan air and they did a great job!

[HHTel]

I sure hope your Daughter makes it home soon. While I missed my wife (and dogs, and boat) I wouldn't want to be a mother separated from her kids, must really be tough!

The irony here is that the whole purpose of her trip this time was to get the paperwork done and start the process of relocating her kids to the US. Because of this pandemic, nothing got done which has made the trip a very expensive 'waste of time'. She was hoping to settle over there with her kids in the next year or so.

Anyway, fingers crossed.

[Big Boy]

Welcome home. One hell of an adventure.

[PeteC]

What are you allowed to do Migrant? Can you walk the hotel grounds, go to the restaurant(s) downstairs yourself etc. Swim in the pool, get a massage....

If their menu becomes tiresome, can you order food in from one of the delivery services?