@Richard *******

What you got in the past was a tourist extension. That means you entered Thailand as a tourist, either with a tourist visa or no visa at all and entered visa exempt. This time you did not enter as a tourist, so you cannot get a tourist extension

Tourists are not eligible for bank accounts. Get the non-O online from a Thai embassy BEFORE you travel. That's how it's meant to be done.

You are asking how to live in Thailand. You live in Thailand by getting a long-term visa.

Which extension were you trying to get? A non-O based on marriage can only be extended 2 ways:

1) a One-year extension based on marriage to Thai, including proof of funds in your Thai bank account for 2 months, and a large number of other things which varies by immigration office

2) a 60-day visiting Thai family extension based on your Thai wife. Not all immigration offices offer this extension.

For both of these, your wife would need to be with you and your marriage would need to be registered in Thailand at an amphur office.

Normally they want to see 3 months of statements, but the balance only needs to meet the requirements for the last month statement.

Or keep it free and just be hard on those abusing the system, like they're doing now

Yes

London is usually very fast, 2-3 business days. But expecting that when the website says up to 15 days can lead to disappointment.

@Doug ******

yes, you can do that

Get the non-O with your bank balance in the US. Come to Thailand and use that non-O to open a bank account and get yourself setup for the future.

Then before you come next time, get another non-O visa, and once you arrive you can transfer the money into the Thai bank account you already opened and you'll be well positioned to apply for your 1-year extension.