Can I apply directly for a 1-year non-immigrant O visa extension based on retirement after entering Thailand visa exempt?

@Julane ******

you got your wires crossed a bit

as people pointed out you need to get FIRST a 90 day non-O visa issued and THEN you can apply for the yearly extension AND you need to have a minimum of 15 days left on your current entry stamp (tourist visa/visa exempt or a 30 day extension from one of those)

This is how the time line works:

1 - transfer in the 800K baht into a thai bank account in your name only

2 - go apply for the 90 day Non-O visa (2000baht)

wait the 14 day under review period

3 - go back get the Non-O and a new 90 day stamp inked in

4 - wait until your 800K baht is seasoned the 2 months required and you have 30 days or less left on your 90 day stamp

5 - go back apply for the yearly extension (1900baht)

That's the time line of how you go from a visa exempt entry to Non-O and then a year extension.

There is no 2 month extension to a 30 day visa exempt entry. If you want to apply for the initial 90 day Non-O within Thailand I'd suggest coming in on a 60 day tourist visa, which you can extend for another 30 days if necessary. Just gives more time, less pressure. There's no seasoning required for the 800k for the initial 90 day Non-O, you just need to be able to prove it came from overseas. The 90 days provides the seasoning for the annual extension to the Non-O if you need that. Apply for the annual extension when there's 30 days or less left on the 90 day visa

No, it's not possible.

You need to apply for 90days in-country Non-O based on being over 50 first if you enter on visa-exempt. For that, you don't need your funds to be seasoned, but you need to have more than 15days with your stamp.

Once your 90days stamp is less than 30days remaining, you can apply for a 1-year extension based on being over 50, with your funds seasoned for more than two months.

If you want to apply for a 1-year extension based on being over 50 straight from your entry stamp, you need to enter on a Non-O retirement visa (not visa-exempt nor Tourist Visa) that you would apply for and purchase at the Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate in your country.