@Eri ***********

Unlikely as the STV was sold as not being able to change to any other visa or extension of stay inside Thailand other than as specified by the STV program (i.e., another 90-day STV extension if any of the two allowed remaining).

@Michael ******

True you can leave your funds in the US with a Non-OA, but you do have ongoing health insurance requirements with insurance companies approved by Thai immigration with a Non-OA (and extensions therefrom) which you would not have with a Non-O obtained in Vietnam or in Thailand.

@Mike ********

Yes, going into your local immigration office and asking for the requirements to get a Non-O visa based on marriage and to get a marriage extension is the best course.

In the meantime, if you want to look at how that process is done in Phuket I suggest taking a look at the following. Every immigration office differs in the details but the overall process is similar.

@Mike ********

Another important difference between retirement and marriage. ;-)

@Mike ********

Just a thought. If you're age 50 or over you could get a retirement extension rather than a marriage extension. Especially as you seem to be bringing over 800,000 baht which is the requirement for retirement, marriage only requires 400,000 baht.

In general, a retirement extension is easier, more convenient to get than a marriage extension. You only need documents from your bank proving you meet the 800,000 baht balance in a Thai bank. You need other evidence for a marriage. You get the retirement extension approved immediately. You get the marriage extension approved after being under consideration for a month. You may get a home visit for the marriage extension but not for the retirement.

The only real advantage for the marriage over the retirement extension is less money needs to be kept in the bank for marriage than retirement. And you can withdraw that money to use outside of the mandatory balance period (2 months before application and 1 month after until you receive final approval), where as for retirement it must be 800,000 baht 2 months before application and 3 months after and then for the rest of the year never below 400,000.

UPDATE: I missed the STV in your question. I think Benjamin is correct, you can only get a 90-day extension based on your STV.

PREVIOUS ANSWER:

@Eri ***********

yes, it means you can purchase a 60 day covid extension for 1,900 baht up until the end of July. At that time another decision will be made if they will continue to be sold past July or not.

@Marlene *****

Yes, that's my understanding. The Non-O is only available in the US for the purpose of marriage to a Thai, not for retirement. However, you can arrive in Thailand on a visa-exempt entry or a Tourist Visa and apply for a Non-O inside Thailand. That's the way I would go if I wanted to stay in Thailand for years. The health insurance requirement that is mandated for the Non-OA visa is not something I would like to have to deal with forever.

@Marlene *****

Understandable. Then my suggestion would be apply for the retirement extension in Thailand. You need to have the 800,000 baht in the bank for 2 months before you make your application. There are also ongoing health insurance requirements to get the retirement extension based on a Non-OA. But assuming you satisfy both the financial and health insurance requirements you can stay in Thailand indefinitely (you never have to leave) by applying for retirement extensions year after year.

Or perhaps a better alternative, get a Non-O visa in the US for purpose of retirement or if that is not possible (it may not be) then just get a Tourist Visa. While in Thailand on the Tourist Visa apply for a Non-O visa in Thailand for which you will have to show 800,000 baht in a Thai bank. After getting the Non-O visa in Thailand allow the money to season in the bank for 2 months and then apply for a retirement extension. You will be able to get that retirement extension without health insurance because it will be based on a Non-O visa (not a Non-OA visa). You can stay in Thailand indefinitely (you never have to leave) by applying for a retirement extension year after year.

@Marlene *****

Yes, but remember there is usually at least a complete year (sometimes almost two) between when you have to show those balances. For example, you show 800,000 baht equivalent in your US bank, get a Non-OA visa, and enter Thailand. You get stamped into Thailand for a stay of one year during which you don't have to show anything as far as a financial requirement. If before your Non-OA visa expires you leave and re-enter Thailand you will be stamped in for another year's permission to stay.

So, at the end of those almost two years if you decided to stay in Thailand (rather than return to the US to get a new Non-OA) you would have to show 800,000 baht in a Thai bank 2 months before you applied for a retirement extension of stay. The point being with this example that you have almost two years to transfer the money from the US to a Thai bank before you apply for your retirement extension. Or if you get a new Non-OA from the US you never have to show the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank.

@Gregory ********

Indeed, keeping that much money in a bank account is not something I'd necessarily recommend if I were a financial advisor, but once you've accepted that requirement it's a pretty painless way to remain in Thailand indefinitely. And of course, the money always belongs to you, if you decide to leave Thailand you can withdraw the money and any interest earned. By contrast the fee paid for the Thai Elite Visa isn't ever coming back.

My costs to remain in Thailand consist of 1,900 baht for the retirement extension, 200 baht I pay to my bank to get a bank letter and statement, and the gas used in my motorcycle on the two trips I have to make to my immigration office every year. (My immigration office makes you apply one day, and return the next day to pick up your passport with new extension. It would be nice if it could be done in one day but apparently the officer in charge only likes to sign off on extensions once a day. On the other hand, my extension visits are very short, about half an hour to apply for my extension on the first day, and about 10 minutes to pick it up the next day.)