SeeAyOh

"I've never had a serious drinking problem. My problem is that when I drink I drink far too much...." This is why the D-word that rhymes with a river is a problem for a lot of drinkers. When I was actively quitting, I was a member of a support group. During one session, a gent who had recently started attending decided that he wanted to share his story. He began by giving his background. He had a lucrative career, a loving wife, kids, nice home, etc. The works. He described himself as not a "typical alcoholic." He said that he had been clever about hiding his drinking, being discrete, etc. Tragically, he said that one night when he thought he was OK to drive, he got into a major accident and the other driver did not survive. He was at the meeting as part of his court-ordered punishment, etc. The man was genuinely remorseful. He struggled with his composure. He stumbled with words. He said if he could take it all back he would. He repeated more than once that he wasnt a typical alcoholic. At the end, people were supportive (as is the norm in a support group) but there was one feisty participant who didn't follow the speak from the I rule. This participant said plainly, "You got drunk, got behind the wheel of a car, and killed somebody. You sound like a typical alcoholic to me." The room fell silent for a moment and the moderator had to swoop in, but everyone knew that what the feisty guy said was true.

Having free time is not the same thing as using the free time well. Back to the program, ha, one idea it suggests is to think about what you enjoyed about the addiction. It's OK to consider it. So maybe for you with gambling, it was the thrill of the win that you enjoyed at first. Next is to find another activity that can give you that same thrill. Can you play chess? Enter a chess tournament, for example. Now you can get (maybe) get the same thrill. What about an athletic endeavor? Etc. There are lots of ways. I did not use AA but one idea they stress is to practice gratitude. "I might not be in the best mood, but at least I am not hungover...."

This is one reason why I suggest a program or similar. Without getting too technical or sounding preachy, part of the process of eliminating an addiction is not only ceasing the bad habit but creating new habits. A popular excuse people have to keep drinking (I had it too) was, "now what am I going to do?" It's a legit question. One of the first things I noticed when I stopped drinking was how much free time I now had. I didnt even know how to fill up the time. I learned in my program that a). it's OK to be bored every now and then and b) the only reason I am bored is because I choose to be. I had to relearn how to have fun. It's a big world out there. You'll find stuff to do if you give yourself the chance. For me, one of the first "goals" I achieved was to read the entire A Song of Ice and Fire series by GRRM. Boozy me was never able to finish a chapter and remember much. Sober me loved it. You will be very pleasantly surprised. Not once---ever---did I wake up in the AM and say, "Gee I wish I drank a lot more last night." It was always the opposite.

If you decide to quit alcohol, it will be because the voice in your head commands you to do it. The hangovers are in your head. The brain fog is in your head. The guilt is in your head, etc. I stopped and restarted a few times because my commitment level was not 100%. I could always rationalize drinking somehow. It's a rainy day...It's a cloudy day...It's a hot day.... When I finally and truly said, "Enough," believe it or not it got much easier. I followed a program and havent had a drink in 10 years now. It is one of the best decisions I have ever made and trust me, just like all the other sober people out there, I thought I'd have to "give up" so much. I gained so much more. If you decide to quit, my one piece of advice is to follow a guide, program, book, etc. That was a game changer for me. Willpower alone rarely works. Addiction overpowers willpower routinely.

I just finished opening a bank account for Non-O. I don't know if it is "second best" but I opened the account at Krungthai and it was straightforward. Yes, when you apply for the CoR, you must specify the name of the bank. Immigration will ask you for it and the CoR will list that bank name specifically. You can always apply for more CoRs though if you need them.

I see that the LA website says it wants return ticket info. The Wash DC one does not list that requirement. https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/page/non-o-retirement. I applied to DC. I dont know where the OP would have to apply because it depends on where his proof of address is. Nor do I know if the eVisa applications are completely standardized. I would assume so, but embassies probably have some discretion and the application website specifically asks to which embassy you are applying. So maybe if a person directs the application to LA, the person will be prompted to enter return flight info while if they apply to DC, they are not required to input return flight info. For me, the application did not ask for return flight info. I remember this clear as a bell because I had already booked a one way ticket so I would have been unable to enter return flight info. The eVisa application only asked for entry flight info. In fact, it didnt even ask from what US city I was departing; it asked what is the final port from which I was entering Thailand which for me was Japan. I entered that. No issues. Visa arrived in less than one week.

Do you have proof of a US address, a driver license, etc. that matches the address on your US bank statement? If so, consider applying online to the appropriate Thai embassy in the US for an eVisa. You only need to upload your passport, the bank statements, and the proof of address document.

Resolved. Got the answer from Immigration Office. 90 minute wait for a 30 second conversation. Landlord needs to file a new TM30 with my US passport details. If my TM30 wasnt updated, I'd have hit a brick wall when trying to obtain a certificate of residency in order to open a bank account.

Trust me, I would prefer to get the definitive answer from a Thai IO or similar, but I need to sort of run with it because I thought I must be registered within 24hrs of arrival. Still, point taken. Tomorrow I have time in the AM so maybe I can get to the Jomtien IO and ask someone in person. These places are mad houses at moment unfortunately but hopefully I can go the "TM30 desk" and ask.

OK...tya The overwhelming consensus is to insist that the landlord reregister me so that I receive a new TM30. I'll tell her as much.

Yes, Jomtien. If I get fined or whatnot, I can live with that. I just want to avoid having my eventual visa extension application denied for whatever reason.

TY for replies so far. OK...so 3 votes saying I must insist that the landlord re-register me with my US passport details. Reasons being a) I cannot use a TM30 issued prior to my entry on a visa when I apply to extend my visa, b) The passport details on the TM30 must match those on the visa. If one of the mods would offer their opinion, it would be much appreciated. I also have to visit a visa agent shortly and I will run the question by them as well.

Hello, I need to pick the brain of the collective. I have two passports, a US and an EU. I entered Thailand around September visa exempt on my EU passport. I did one border run and rec'd a second VE stamp. During my stay, I decided to make Thailand my new home and signed an apartment lease. The landlord registered me as an alien staying at an apartment. I rec'd a TM30. The TM30 has my EU passport info on it. All good. Eventually, I exited Thailand and very recently (December 3) re-entered with a Non-Immigrant O visa. Here's the catch. I had to obtain the visa via my US passport so I entered using my US passport. So my question is: must my landlord re-register me as an alien with my US passport details? The only TM30 I have has my EU passport details on it. When I attempt to do my visa extension in around 90 days, will this create a problem? Will they say something like, "we have no record of you (the person with the US passport) registered as an alien living here..." Or will having my apartment lease and current TM30 suffice? Upon arrival I sent my new visa details to my landlord and asked if she needed to re-register me. She said she did not think she had to. She was not being difficult or anything; I am not sure she understood the dual passport angle however. thanks in advance for any guidance.

Specifically addressing whether a person can do a same-day border run by air. I have no idea whatsoever if you can do what I did on your visa, with your circumstances, etc. I did a one day round trip from BKK to VTE a short while back. I did not intend to do it, but I ended up missing my scheduled flight the day before so I took the chance on a same day trip. I had entered Thailand on a visa-exempt tourist stamp, received a 30 day extension, but I needed a few more weeks so I had to leave and re-enter and hopefully receive a second VE entry. I had not done any sort of border run in the past. When I checked in for the return trip out of VTE, the airline staff asked me questions. How long are you staying in Thailand, why did you take a one day trip, etc. I had already booked a trip a couple of weeks later to leave Thailand. When I showed them the receipt for that trip, they were satisfied and checked me in. At BKK, I had a whole rigamarole planned in case I was questioned. The immigration officer didnt blink an eye though. He just stamped me in and that was that. YMMV I

Can I assume that you are an American who had the O-A visa and switched to O? If so, I've a Q for you. What do you mean by, "health insurance became burdensome?" The cost became too much, etc.? More to the point, out of curiosity what is your plan in a health care emergency or similar? Neither Medicare nor US private insurers provide coverage here. Hospitals typically want a guarantee of payment before they administer care. If a person doesnt have local health insurance, then they are on the hook to pay cash upfront. Even if health costs are much lower outside the US, they can still be really expensive for advanced care. I've lived outside the US for many years. I have seen this happen more than once. A person thinks they don't need health insurance, gets blindsided by an "event", and then has to either pay a large amount of cash or uproot themselves back to the US to get covered. A local friend of mine here for example developed some sort of infection that sent him to ICU for a couple of days. When he recovered enough to be transferred to a regular room but still needed treatment, the hospital refused to administer the care. They wanted payment for the ICU first. My friend literally had to plead/beg with the doctor that he would pay the bill. It wasnt cheap either, definitely 5 figs. Anyway, this might necessitate a new thread, but I read often that a big objection to the O-A visa is the health insurance requirement. To me though, especially as an American, I don't understand why someone *wouldnt* want to have health insurance.