For someone who has been in Thailand on a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) less than 6 months each year, for the last couple of years, that has now turned 50 years and now can fulfill the financial requirement for a Non Immigrant Visa:
1) If planning on going to Thailand again (for around 5 months), is a Non Immigrant Visa (based on age) a better option than the METV, in the sense of minimizing the risk of denied entry for staying too long/often on a Tourist Visa etc.? Or any other way that one is better/worse than the other?
2) If the financial requirements cannot be fulfilled again at some point in the future, when going to Thailand again, could it be difficult to get a METV at that time, when having had a Non Immigrant Visa before?
Thanks in advance!
TLDR : Answer Summary
The question discusses whether a Non Immigrant Visa is a better option than a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) for a retiree planning to stay in Thailand for around 5 months. Key considerations include minimizing entry denial risks and potential financial requirements for future visa applications. The conversation highlights concerns about frequent METV usage leading to scrutiny by immigration authorities, and suggests alternatives like the O-A Visa for those aged 50 and over. It also touches on the implications of changing financial circumstances on visa eligibility.