Should I apply for a tourist visa before traveling to Thailand or ask for an extension once I arrive?

Extension is the way to go 1900 baht and easy

Where can I get list of counties to see if I fall into the visa on arrival for 30 or 60 days, my flight tickets an all accommodation are booked and paid for 60 days...will arrive in Bangkok on the 11th of September from South Africa

Apply for the correct visa prior to departure

Enough about the stupid visa exempt program change back to 30 days. If you want to come and stay longer just get a visa its not rocket science.

Also reduced to 60 countries.

It doesn't sound like you were denied a visa. They cancel your application if the biodata does not match. For security reasons, the biodata section of the visa application cannot be altered so the application is automatically cancelled

Should be able to get another 30 day extension ok, just make sure they stamp dates correctly at Airport on arrival.

Get a visa now, it's easy

Apply for a tourist visa.

No it hasn’t

Which I'd will my wife needs as she has no UK driving licence please

I am in the same boat. Flying there 6 Oct and staying 37 days. I had hoped they would put off publishing until 1 Oct but alas not my luck.

I applied online for the 60 days tourist visa yesterday.

I have been questioned at the check-in counter (Seattle) before if staying past the allowed days. Once I had an outbound flight before 30 days on a different airline so they were happy once I showed the ticket receipt. The other time the destination only gave 14 days and my return was past that. I explained that I’ve done this numerous times and just got an extension on base…but this time no luck. Finally I pointed out that Northwest (now Delta) was flying me to Amsterdam and I do not need a visa for my 1 day there and they let me fly.

When you complete dates on application forms check if it's the day/month/year format that most countries use. The USA way can really mess things up.

Commences 15th September

Yes it has been published in the Thai Royal Gazette

Hi , has the date been published ?

Havent seen it myself.

as above plus the visa costs less (UK £30) than an extension (1900B)

Personally, I would always apply for the tourist visa over getting an extension from immigration.

The first issue is that your airline might require you to show proof of onward travel within 30 days if you are flying without a visa. If they demand this, you will have to provide it before they let you check-in/board.

The 2nd issue is that a trip to immigration can take an entire day in some places. In Bangkok it's at least 1 hour each way travel time, plus multiple hours waiting in line for the extension. Other provinces probably have a lower wait time but potentially long travel times depending on where you're staying. You will also have to plan this into your trip to go to immigration and get it done.

If you have a tourist visa, both of these issues are negated. You already have 60 days, so the airline will won't question why your flight out is within those 60 days, and you won't ever have to go to immigration at all, nor worry about things like TM30 etc.