What alternatives do I have if my O visa is expiring while waiting for my LTR visa approval in Thailand?

I know people who applied at the end of Sept and their applications are still in that Pending status. SO that doesn't mean you're close to getting it. I'd get the next year extension but that's me..

I had the same problem and ended up getting another one year extension. Another thing to know is that they are very picky about the format of all your document submissions. I’ve submitted passport photos three times. I applied Oct 3rd and I think I am very close to getting it.

If you are married to a thai or have thai children you could get a 60 day visit thai family extension,

If you are not, then no 😕, there's nothing available to you extension wise except another year retirement extension.

You could bounce out and back to get OFF the retirement extension and on to a 45 day visa exempt entry stamp (which you could extend for 30 days if you needed to)

BUT

Keep in mind even people who are approved are running out of time on their stamps because of the back log in scheduling them to come in for the 10 year visa and 5 year stay stamp to be inked in 😮

More than a few people were told by LTR staff they would need to bounce out and back again to buy time because there were no openings to get their stamping done.

I would say; IF you meet the requirements to get another year extension of stay based on retirement just do it. I mean it's 1900baht and you wouldn't need a re-entry permit because you would hopefully get your LTR before the next year ran out 😮

You can leave the country and re-enter on a 45 day entry stamp, which can be extended a further 30 days. This gives you the potential of a further total of 75 days, which should be sufficient time.