JGon

Reduce or eliminate carbs and sugars from your Diet. That's pretty much it. Sound easy, but almost everything has carbs or sugar. It pretty hard to do this in Thailand because they LOVE sugar. I usually eat (Steak/Pork/Chicken) some Broccoli/Lettuce/ and 3 or 4 Eggs. Sounds boring but if you eat like this for 1 or 2 months you will see drastic changes. If you had to eat rice, you can refrigerate the rice within 1 hour of you cooking it. When you cook rice the complex carbs break down into simpler sugars. Refrigerating the rice allows the simpler sugars to revert back into more complex form transforming the structure of the rice. This process forms "resistant starch" which is a type of starch that isn't easily digested in the small intestine. Instead, it travels to the large intestine where it acts like dietary fiber. However, there's a catch. If you reheat the rice after refrigerating it, some of the resistant starch will break down again, and the rice will become softer and more digestible, although not entirely to its original state. So try not to reheat it too much. You can also do this hack with Potatoes, Pasta, Wheat and so on. Again the key is not reheating it too much, and also not all starches will develop a lot of "resistant starch".

They do, but only single entry.

Yes you're correct, this is for a child... not marriage. I applied for a 1 year ME Non O Visa (5,000 Baht). I guess I should've mentioned that before.

I applied Friday (stay the weekend, Monday was a Thai holiday) and pick up the passport on Tuesday. There's hardly anyone there on Friday and I don't mind relaxing a few days.

I just got back from Savannakhet, Laos. No Multi-Entry Non O Visa (I gave them 5000 baht and the lady at the counter gave me back 3,000 and said only single entry). Oh well...

Before 9:00 AM they march you to the front of the line. Once they open they take you to the gate, where the Thai gate guard lets people in 1 at a time when people come out. Sometimes the Thai guard refuses to let people in. At 11:00-11:15 they open the gates and let everyone in if there not that many people left. ????

Tks. ???? 1 more note... Internet in Laos is not like Thailand. At least in the place I was staying (Maybe it was too crowded) but during peak hours it was atrocious. By far the slowest in SE asia (Maybe Myanmar is worse). I did get enough cell phone signal across from Mukdahan to suffice my needs. But if you're planning research or downloading forms... do it in Thailand.

I don't see too much information around here regarding Non O based on Family member Visas. So I wanted to share mine for the benefit of the community. I decided to try my luck applying for a NON O Visa at Savannakhet, Laos instead of my local province since I had less than 15 days left on my tourist Visa and my son had already been born and registered. The thought of a Multi Entry Non O Visa interested me. For me is a 2 hour trip. I parked the car on the long term parking (On the left, 250 Baht a day). Just take a picture of the receipt and leave the receipt in the car. Buy Bus ticket (50 baht) Get stamp out of Thailand Wait for Bus Cross into Laos (Visa on arrival 1,800 Baht Visa or $40 USD + 200 baht... or E-visa) I went in on a Sunday and stay at Pilgrim's Inn next to the Mekong River (Friendly staff, nice location... but definitely too far to walk to the Thai Consulate). You can rent a Scooter for 200 baht or hire a Tuk Tuk. There are many accommodations around the area... but choices are a little limited near the consulate. It's all up to you. Despite knowing Mondays are to be avoided... I went there Monday thinking 0815 will be ok... Let's just say there was around 100 people in front of me in queue ???? (The consulate doesn't open until 0900)... I just embraced "the suck" and 3 hours later after 1100 I was finally past the gate. You can pay a certain amount for a local guy that has the courage to jump you in line or work a dead with the security gate guard and let 1 person at a time cut in, as 1 person comes out. So basically avoid Monday's like the plague! (and I guess Thursday's) unless you want to stand for 3 hours ++ ???? Finally made it to the window: Based on the info on their website: https://savannakhet.thaiembassy.org/th/publicservice/non-immigrant-visa-o-visiting-family-member-of-a-thai-nationality-a-sp?page=5d84a44c15e39c26b400453e&menu=5d84a44c15e39c26b400453f I provided what was required: Filled application form with 2 photos' I showed the original Birth Certificate (Khor Ror 1) then they gave it back (after looking at it). The website says you must bring it. Birth Certificate copy Passport Bio page copy of my Passport Girlfriend ID copy Girlfriend House-book copy with my son information I didn't required a copy of my Girlfriend's passport because I'm applying for a Non O because of my Son. Then after handing 5,000 Baht... I was told Multi-Entry Non O Visas can't be done for Family Members... only Married or Retirement. So he gave me 3,000 baht back. I'm not sure of the reason for this... it was a long line, people are waiting... I didn't care to ask... so Single Entry Non O Visa it is. Recommendations: *Invest on an all in one printer- If you are like me and you live in Isaan. Buy a printer from Lazada or wherever. That way you can print everything you need, scan everything else you might need and don't worry about it. Thai love paper! At the consulate you can see all the people rushing to the shop across the street trying to copy or get different forms. * Make sure you have plenty small denominations of Thai baht. * They will give you a ticket to pick up your passport the next day at 2:00 pm. I decided to go around 1:30 p.m. and as I expected all the usual suspects from the day before where waiting at the gate. Luckily the open the gates at 1:30 p.m. (Probably to avoid the rush of people). I had a "tuk tuk" on stby and after receiving my passport with my new Visa it was on to the Friendship bridge (With a caravan of Tuk Tuk and people with their shinny new Visas ????) so plan for that. * If you know you will be crossing the border again... might as well grab extra TM6 arrival cards so you can pre fill them and avoid lines. I get my stamp from Lao immigration (100 baht) if you don't have change... let's say 1000 Baht you will receive hundreds of thousand of "useless" Kip. ???? I saw that happen to one guy. Finally in the Bus (55 baht) You will have to fill in a TM6 ( I had mine pre-filled already) so I avoided more lines... and get stamp into Thailand. All in all it worked out. But there is definitely advantages of knowing this information before hand. (Which is why I'm posting this).

Noodles are carbs and once digested it's basically the same as eating sugar... they spike blood sugar... then the body will release insulin to control the blood sugar... and 2 hours later you will feel that "crash" when your blood sugar lowers causing you to feel hungry and the cycle repeats... (eat, release insulin, crash, eat...) Basically the constant consumption of carbs/sugars every couple of hours... over time causes the body to become insulin resistant and insulin basically stops the fat burning process and the body just keep on storing all those carbs as fat. That's why people that adhere to a low carb lifestyle lose so much weight. They control the release of insulin, feel less hungry and most importantly they burn fat (Ketosis).

I just did a border run to Savannakhet across the friendship bridge in Mukdahan. The Bus go Laos is 50 baht. The Laos Visa on arrival was $40 USD + 200 baht (Of note the bills most be in good shape or they will be rejected). Getting stamp out of Laos is 100 baht. And then the Bus to Thailand is 55 Baht. All in all it took less than 2 hours.

Just an update in case it benefits anyone. After arriving in Thailand in October Visa Exempt, I did my first 30day extension early in December. No issues there, 1900 baht. The expiration date set for January 1. So on Tuesday, I decided to head to Mukdahan for a border run into Savannakhet. The drive from my location was around 2 hours. Which is not bad (if you are used to driving internationally). I get there park the car, go to the gate, buy a bus ticket (I can't remember if it was 45-50 baht). Get stamp out of Thailand. Wait for the bus (maybe 20 minutes) then cross the Mekong into Laos. There a Visa exemption cost 1,900 baht or $40 US dollars + 200 baht. After... you get immediately approached by local drivers but my plan was to go right back. Which I did, no questions asked. Got stamp out and bought a 55 baht bus ticket back to Thailand (waited 30 minutes for it). At Thailand Immigration fill out the TM6, and then got a new Visa exemption for 45 days, no questions asked. Still I know is not guaranteed, that it will go this smoothly every time. Especially going in and out in less than 1 hour. I will probably do a Tourist Visa in Savannakhet, in March. That will give me enough time until my Son is born and a can then do Non O Visa.

I looked into the METV from my consulate; I had to provide an itinerary showing round trips from Thailand to my home country (US), for both 60-day periods. This on top of all the other financial documents and picture requirements (Passport size, me actually holding the passport). It's too much of a hassle. On that note, can I get a regular tourist Visa to Thailand at Savannakhet? Does anyone know where the Immigration office is in Roi-Et, Or the closest Province to Roi-Et? Thank you all for your help.

Hello, I'm trying to get some advice from more experienced travelers to see the viability of this plan. I'm expecting a baby with my Thai girlfriend of 3 years around April. On my previous trips to Thailand I did a Tourist Visa... but with the recent changes allowing for 45 days Visa exemptions, I've decided to go that route. Since I'm now retired (but Under 50) I can't find a Visa option that allows me to stay in Thailand until the baby is born and help her out with anything she needs. So here the best I can come up with: 1) Enter Thailand Visa exempt + extend 30 days. 2) Go to Laos before the end of the year (1st land border crossing of 2022) and return with another Visa Exemption and then an Extension (If that goes well it will keep me here until early-mid march). 3) At this point I'm starting to get paranoid if Thailand immigration would continue to allow this (More Questions). So maybe the next one I would use Air travel or an actual Tourist Visa. 4) If I go through with line 3 without issues, my Son/Daughter would be born and I will switch to a Non-Immigrant O from there. I was planning on marrying her but looks like it will happen after the baby is born so that option is not on the table. Is this viable or is there a better way? Is obvious that in Thai immigration eyes I could be seen as "not a tourist". Also for extensions do they have to be at the main office in Bangkok? Can they be done elsewhere? What is the closest office to Roi-Et? I appreciate anyone's help and suggestions.

When I requested a E-Visa (Tourist Visa) with my local Thai consulate, they will not approve the Visa without a return ticket before the end of the 60 day period. On top of all the other documents they request (Bank statements, Hotel, Pictures).

Corona Viruses are not Flu... Influenza is flu... both are contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses.

Hi everyone, I'm sure this question has been asked before. But immigration policies change all the time, so here goes... I will travel to Thailand this summer (In July). Thailand currently allows my country (USA) to have a 30 day visa waiver... but that's not what I want because you need a round trip ticket and I don't know any other restriction... My plan is to permanently move there and marry my girlfriend of 3 years as soon as I'm able to do it. I'm basically retiring in July (I'm 43), so I don't need to be back to the USA for a while. Which of the Thailand visa offers is best suited to my case? I am not 50 years old so retirement visa is out... can I just do a tourist visa and then change it at the Thailand immigration center to an O non-immigrant visa? (after I get married) I thought the non- immigrant OA, long stay visa would work, but unless I'm missing something... the age requirement is 50. I appreciate any help. ????