Retire visa extension quandry.......start again ?

[portly]

  I've had retire visa for last 8 years ...the 800k in bank  route  ,    my visa runs out 10 February  ,  this time I do not have the full amount   and will not till early next year.     Can I fly out to Penang or elsewhere, in Feb , to get a non O visa and come back to Chiang Mai  and reapply for  retire visa,  ?   this may have to be done twice  to  get the full 3 months in Bank necessary................    

 

Is Penang suitable for visas these days  /  (last visit was about 12 years ago}    are their easier options ?      thanks for any input / help.

 

Things do seem to get so complicated ,  especially when your knocking on 70     

[ubonjoe]

You cannot get a single entry non-o visa for retirement without financial proof at any nearby location.

Your best option may be to get a single entry tourist visa and then apply for a change of visa status at immigration to get a 90 day non immigrant visa (category O) entry when you have the 800k baht in the bank. The money only has to be in the bank on the day you apply (no 60 day requirement). Then apply for the one year extension during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry and have the money in the bank for 60 days since it will be the first extension on a new 90 day entry.