Thank you both so much for your quick and detailed reply! I really appreciate! And will check with Mukdahan immigration on Monday. And if not finding a solution there and failing with plan A, I still have a plan C to go back to Germany to apply for the new visa there (although I definitely would like to avoid this costy option)!

@James *******

'Cannot', as my flight from Germany to Thailand will be the return flight on my ticket? So, if booking single flights from Germany to Thailand and from Thailand to Germany, it however would work (as I could show the GER-THAI ticket only), right?

BTW: The system does not require me to upload any ticket.

@Tod ********

Thanks again to everyone for all the helpful input. We phoned with the Thai embassy in Vientaine just yesterday and they confirmed that they are issuing Non-O based on retirement for foreign nationals. And they confirmed that the requirements according to their website are up-to-date. So I am confident, that it would work.

I have just one question left and if I could get some input from people who know and not just guess, it would be great, too. On the eVisa page of the Thai embassy Berlin they write that the application can be done only, if the applicant is doing it from Germany. As said, I would prefer to do it while still in Thailand because my stay in Germany is 9 days only and I don't want to risk not to get the visa in time (they write it might take 15 working days). Does anyone know on whether this requirements will be checked/enforced?

@Tod ********

Thank you so much, Tod. So I understand that apart from the data page of my passport I will not need any proof of my residence. That sounds great. But the Germany trip I mentioned is scheduled one month after my current extension of stay expires (which will be in early October) and therefore no way to wait for that trip. However, I am facing another trip to Germany this March and of course could apply for the Non-O via eVisa in Berlin before leaving here (to be on the safe side to get the visa in time for my return to Thailand), go to Germany then without a re-entry permit and return with the new Non-O. Applying for the extension of stay in April and visiting Germany in November with a re-entry permit again. This way I still would need one re-entry permit but would have sorted everything including the 1-year-extension the soonest possible in a quite convenient way. Without the need to go to Laos. And if the Non-O through Berlin will not be issued for any reason, I still can return via visa exempt, then go to Laos and apply for the visa there. :)

@John *********

I still do have a German passport. And they issue Non-O retirement visa. But their requirements for applying for a Non-O visa say, that I have to prove my German residency. And as the passport does not state a residencial address, I would need something else to do so. My ID card however has the sticker 'no German residency'.

@John *********

Maybe, but I am 58 years only and don't get any retirement income yet. And the third option, applying for the visa through the Thai embassy in Germany, I read their website, that I would need to have German residency, which I gave up when I moved to Thailand a few years ago. So unfortunately it seems as if applying through Laos will be the most convenient option. Therefore I would concentrate on that option now.

@Tod ********

Good point, however, I have been there already, asking exactly that question, but they don't issue Non-O visa at all there. They recommended to go to Laos.

@Ellie ******

Really? That is the trick and will work? Wow. Thank you so much.

@John *********

I do have funds 800k+ THB in a Thai bank account since years, but transferred them via Wise. And they, according to their business model, categorize them as Local Bank Transfer. And my Kasikoen Bank is not able (or willed) to provide me with a certificate, stating they come from abroad.

And for the extension my immigration office does not ask for the funds' origin. They just ask for the bank statement (1 year), the general bank certificate and a copy of the updated bank book.

@Ellie ******

Sounds great and exactly had been my initial thought. But I was a little confused when reading their application form.

One side question: On their application form they also ask for name and contact of a Guarantor in Laos. Does anyone know whether this is an essential information? Frankly speaking, I do not know too many people over there...!