What is the process for applying for a 1-year NON-O extension in Thailand before my current visa expires?

You can submit the application up to 30 days before the expiry of your current stay permit

“before the expiry of the stay permit”. . is this understood? NOT before the visa expires, this is something else!

In Bangkok, Korat and Chiang Mai it up from 45 days before

Please do not confuse it: the duration of the visa validity is NOT the same as the duration of the “admitted stay permit” granted

You should already be registered with TM30, otherwise you will not be served at immigration!

I would visit Immigration as early as possible because should Immigration request additional documents and other evidence because something has changed again, or new documents are required, you may be under time pressure

Example: the recently required 12-month statement from the bank regarding the 400.000.- THB or 800,000.- THB balance for Expats using the "family" or “retirement" extension

Some bank branches issue the “bank letter of guarantee” immediately for a period of 2 months, but many require up to 10 days for a 12-month statement, be warned of the time delay.

For the duration of the next extension, it doesn't matter when you submit the application - the new one-year extension will always count from the day your current stay permit expires.

For example, my EOS has expired on the same day for 16 years - always on January 4th.

Some immigration offices make the mistake of starting to count from the following day, which causes the date for applicants to move forward by one day every other year.

Whether the new “Extension of Stay based on family or retirement” is stamped and given to you immediately, or can only be picked up a few days later, depends on the specific immigration.

At the immigration I use, the process takes around 20 to 25 minutes (!) and I don’t have a single pre-filled form on me when I enter the office.

During this time they manage

*** to issue the 1-year extension

*** to stamp a re-entry permit

*** to take note of the 90 day report and attach a new 90 day report date to my passport

An Extension of Stay “on the basis of being married to a Thai” is generally NOT issued immediately.

You will get a stamp saying that the application is for “4 weeks under consideration” (subject to review) and the date stamped on it when you can pick up the passport with the new extension four weeks later