Will I be able to stay in Thailand for the full 9 months on an STV issued in May?

If you enter Thailand under the Special Tourist Visa (STV) in May, you will not likely be able to stay for the full 9 months. It appears that the maximum stay eligible is around 6 months, and to extend further, an application for a third extension must be submitted before a September 30 deadline. Following this procedure could allow you to stay until December 30, but there are concerns about the stringent requirements and the possibility that the government may not renew this visa after the initial period.