First post, but have been reading for some time. I have a question about the feasibility of my plan and would appreciate any thoughts. I'm up to speed about the challenges in certain airports (DM and BKK) and limitations of entries per year, land vs. air, red flags for IOs, etc.
My situation: US passport, over 50. Relatively unused passport until I first came to Thailand in 2022. I generally have stayed in Thailand for about six months each year for past 2 years -- all on visa entries via BKK or CM. In 2023 I stayed for just under six months (left in November) on an METV that I got via evisa (NYC embassy) while back in the US. 2022 had been two SETVs. (I will likely try to get a retirement visa this year or next. My GF lives in Thailand, works in government and cannot travel much.)
I've been out of the country for two months (HCMC / KL and now Penang). I am planning to apply for a single entry tourist visa this month or next here in Penang -- I planned to air things out for about 90 days, but want to get back to Thailand!
Can anybody offer their opinion of the likelihood of getting another single entry tourist visa soon followed by an METV evisa from the US later this year (after a couple more months out)? (So, it would be 60 days start in Feb maybe extend until May then back to the US for 2 months or so before applying for another METV in July / August. I prefer to enter on visa vs. the 30 day.)
I hadn't been too concerned about this until I saw an article, referenced in one of the posts here also, about Penang only allowing one tourist visa per year. That seems odd to me given that I got a second tourist visa in KL in 2022. I also have general concerns about backing up tourist visas with two months space in between, but have gathered that some significant time in between helps (hence my plans).
All of my entries will be through air In Chiang Mai. I had no problem there last year each time I returned from METV bounces (I never extended).
Any thoughts on the semi-back-to-back-TR question or this Penang limitation (or rumor)?