When my American nephew arrives in Chiang Mai Tuesday

he is entitled to a free visa for 60 days without further documentation beside passport?

Which before it expires can be extended another 30 days?

Besides the necessary documentation needed for the multiple non-o based on marriage does the wife have to be there?

The last 2 years I have arrived at Chiang Mai Immigration between 8:30 and 9am to get my Retirement visa extension.I was given a number and tentative afternoon time same day and was finished by 4pm.

Let's be clear that all Thai Immigration offices require proof of bank balance to meet amount of money necessary for long term visas. The financial affidavit from all foreign Consulates and Embassy's in Thailand is generally accepted 'instead' of bank statements. Chiang Mai Thai Immigration has till recently followed that policy, but now is requesting proof of the affidavit. The US government..and maybe others..does not require proof when getting the affidavit.

Tod, where is that Aug. 7 statement at the end of your post from?

I used to go to the old Immigration office near the Airport at 5 and 6 am to get my Retirement Visa extension and be finished by 10. If, as they post now, each interview is 15 minutes and they begin at 9 and finish at 12 for lunch till 1 that's 12 interviews in the morning and another 14 in the afternoon till closing at 4:30. At around 8:45 am six weeks ago I was in a short line and given a queue number, as mentioned, for just after lunch. I was not interviewed till 2 because of the carry-over from the morning and was finished an hour later. The previous year was the same. Is it luck?

For the past 2 years I've gotten to the Chiang Mai Thai Immigration office for a retirement visa extension between 8:30 (when open) and 9 and received a queue number for early that afternoon and got the visa by 3.