Can I apply for a Non-O retirement visa after entering Thailand on a visa-exempt entry?

As you already have the funds that leaves you two options;

You can get a 90 day single-entry Non-O visa from the thai consulate in the US before you wing your way here <- which BTW will cut two trips to immigrations out of the process) and then just apply for the yearly extension once you have 30 days or less left on that 90 day stamp you'd get when you enter on that non-O visa

OR

You can come in on a visa exempt/tourist visa entry and apply for the in country conversion to a 90 day Non-O at the immigration office by showing your 800K baht was transferred in from overseas. Go back after the under consideration period and get the Non-O and 90 day stamp inked in then apply for the year extension when you have 30 days or less left on it

I *think* the OP has his answers.

1. This group has Post-Approved settings enabled for Facebook. That means all posts are placed in a queue, and are either approved or rejected by a moderator. Sadly, we aren't robots, and we need sleep. If *I* reject a post, generally I leave a rejection feedback comment and send a message. (Also, if you edit your post, it'll go back in the queue and we'll have to re-approve it).

2. It looks like Tod and James Miller gave the correct answers about purchasing a "zero entry" Non-O visa inside Thailand, and how to get an extension of stay.

3. A suggestion was posted in the group about entering on a tourist visa and doing visa runs/ border bounces at Vientiane to save the 800K THB. This will not be a long-term solution.

- AS OF RIGHT NOW, the land borders are CLOSED.

- IF the "Old Normal" returns the economic value of getting a tourist visa is questionable. It is $30 USD (or thereabouts) for a Lao visa on arrival, 2K THB for a Thai tourist visa at the consulate, AT LEAST 700THB for a hotel room (you have to spend at least one night in Lao), money for food, money for transportation, and 1,900 THB for a 30 day extension of stay based on tourism. There is a limit on how many tourist visas a person can get before they get the dreaded "red stamp" telling them it's the last visa and they have to use another consulate. Some nearby consulates won't sell a visa if you already have a red stamp. That's assuming the "Old Normal" ever returns.

I think this covers everything. Thank you. If anyone wants commenting reopen, please let a mod know. Thank you.

Holly crap. You guys rock. Thanks so much for the education.

you CAN "convert" a visa exempt entry on Immigration, however you need proof of importing 800,000+ THB from abroad at most (!!) immigration offices. When they grant you the 90-days Non-Imm-O based on being over 50/retirement, you have exactly 30 days before the 90 days run out, to apply for a 1-year extension of stay permit (wrongfully called "retirement visa") and your 800,000 THB need to have seasoned for 2 months on the day you apply

Now be that as it may you can totally arrive here on a visa exempt entry, and then apply first for a 90 day Non-Immigrant Type O visa based on being over 50 (retirement) and then after that a year extension of stay again based on being over 50 (retirement) at the immigration office in the area where you will be living.

The critical thing is how fast can you get your shit together to get a thai bank account open and to get the required 800K baht in the bank? I say that because at most offices in order to apply for a 90 day Non-O visa you need a minimum of 15 days left on your entry stamp or an extension from it, because the application goes under consideration for 14 days before you go back and get the Non-O visa and new 90 day stamp inked in

To enter Thailand ....

As an American you can enter visa exempt and at this time are given 45 days on arrival. Plus added 30 days extension at Thai immigration for 1,900 Thai baht. = 75 days max.

If you wish to seek retirement and can meet the 800,000 Thai baht deposit requirements in a Thai bank account in your name only... You can apply for the Non O married visa inside Thailand ...followed by the one year extension of stay based on retirement.

Depending when you plan on arrival into Thailand there are entry requirements which must be met along with either 14.nights quarantine or enter the Phuket sandbox plan.

okay first off you'd be comin' in on what's called a visa exempt entry NOT a visa on arrival, it's called that because you didn't apply for a visa from a thai consulate before you came here but because of your nationality you got stamped in for FREE without a visa <- hence the catchy term visa exempt 😉

Your post pending of 7 hours ago :

I have been in and out of Thailand multiple times over the last 7 years. I only recall one time getting any sort of visa from outside Thailand once. Since Americans can get a 30 day tourist stamp, is it possible then, to apply for a Non-O retirement visa on that 30 day tourist stay inside Thailand?

It's now 6:00 am in Thailand. You sought to post on the forum 7 hours ago at 11:00 pm Thai time last night. The Admin and Mod Team in Thailand do 😴 sleep.

As I am in the USA it's been a busy day for me... Just saw this and allowed it to post.