cgros

Six weeks:

Received US consulate Bangkok March 3.
Received US passport center March 13.
Mailed from US passport center April 3.
Received CM April 13.

I think lopburi3 is correct the IO saw the Non OA and assumed TM7 required. I may have made a mistake
in the way I showed him the entry stamp. I was not subtle enough? I think he lost face. 
When I return I'll have both TM87 and TM7 filled out.

Yes. I think that is the case. I'm certain I'll have no problems on 5 January. 

That's what I thought as well. But I showed him the entry stamp. I didn't think he was correct. 
But I know from experience not to question what an IO says. I've never seen a Farang win a "discussion" with an IO.

Thursday I did a border hop in order to void my Non OA. The hop was uneventful and amazing easy to do (thanks to the help from the experts on this forum). The next day I had an appointment at CM immigration to obtain a Non O visa using a TM87. I had all the required forms and bank documents, etc. So I foolishly thought that for the "first time" I would complete the transaction without delay. But the IO said the TM87 was the wrong form.  A TM7 was the correct form. I pointed out that I entered visa exempt. So I was using the TM87 to obtain a Non O visa. He said no visa is needed for a long term retirement stay. I only had to extend the "expiration of stay date" stamped in my passport. So needed a TM7.
Knowing that one must respect an IO's authority, I politely asked for all my forms to be returned to me.
I have an appointment on 5 January to try again. 
Is the IO correct? No need for any visa. Just meet the financial requirements. And use a TM7 annually
to stay retired in Thailand until I'm dead.

This link has a concise description of the immigration forms we all will be using.
https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand-visa/thai-immigration-forms

I didn't realize the TM87 is only valid for 90 days.
Eight years ago I obtained a Non OA in LA that was valid for one year. 

Thank you all for the clarification.
 

I called SSA (800-772-1213) last week. Not too bad. Only a 30 minute wait. They were unable to verify the receipt of the 7162. They don't have access to that department. But they were able to look at my account and see that a second 7162 was not mailed to me. And they confirmed that there were no problems with my account.
So if you're concerned about loosing SSA benefits you can call to check the status of your account.

Are you certain a "change of visa" (TM86) is required since Thailand is visa exempt (no tourist visa). I'm doing a visa run this month. I was hoping I just needed a TM87 to apply for a Non O.
Do I really need a TM86 before I can use the TM87?

Good to know. Thank you.

Thank you.

I greatly appreciate your help.

Thank you all for your help. 
I have a question that I realize is a bit peranoid.
My orignal entry visa from 8 years ago is a Non O-A MULTI-ENTRY. Upon entry at Nong Khai
is it possible they will not let me enter using "visa exempt". 
But use the Non O-A multi-entry visa?

Is there any advantage applying at Vientiane

versus Chiang Mai (where I live)?

Here is my plan to change visa to non O:

1.Fly Nok Air direct from Chiang Mai to Udon Thani. 
2.Minivan to Nong Khai and cross to Vientiane. 
3.Use eVisa for entry into Laos.
4.Immediately return to Nong Khai and enter visa exempt.
5.Minivan back to Udon. And fly home to CM.
6.Apply for Non O at CM immigration.

How does this sound to the visa/visa hop experts?

My OA visa extension (based on marriage) ends January 2023. I Do not have re-entry permit.

So I have to do a visa hop because I am on a non OA visa?

Yes I think your'e correct. I got spooked by the non OA 18 month on passport requirement. Does not pertain to non O.

But very strange when I go to the Chiang Mai immigration site. There is an area "Documents to be submitted for CHANGE visa for retirement purposes Non-O" It appears one can CHANGE visa to non-O as long as you apply before 15 days of the
current visa expiration.

Can one really CHANGE a visa without doing a visa hop?
 

Thank you for the requirements link. But please see this link from Thai officials stating 18 months on visa required.https://www.mfa.go.th/en/page/non-immigrant-visa-o-a?menu=5e1ff71bc4281a00c812e8e2

Part 2. "documents required"

I am not challenging your advice. You are respected by me. I just have conflicting info.

Maybe the conflicting info is due to the O-A being obtained outside Thailand. And O can be obtained inside Thailand.

I think I understand now. The 18 month requirement is for first time visa. Only 12 months needed when extending existing visa.

So at Chiang Mai immigration I can apply for a non O retirement visa (not extension) with less than 18 months left on my passport?

Sorry. I think I was not clear enought in first post.
I don't want an extension of my OA because of insurance requirement. (I have policy with AIA).
And I don't want to extend based on marriage due to additional paperwork.
I want to change to non O. Which I think requires 18 months remaining on passport.

So now I could have a total of 60 days. And have enough time to renew passport. So after the visa hop I would have 60 days not needing a passport? 

So I do visa hop and get 45 day visa. Then go to CM immigration to apply for 60 day extension to visit Thai wife.
Can I apply immediately , or have to wait 45 days?
 

Thank you for responding. A Non O yearly extension is a lot simpler than a marriage extension I have been using. If I extend my OA it would require insurance. I have an excellent AIA policy with a good agent.
That's why I want change to non O.

A 30 day extension would work if I could extend now. That would give me 75 days to renew passport. If I can only extend after 30 days That still gives me only 30 days to renew.

Entered on a Non A-O. Last eight years extension base on marriage. I've been too lazy to change. Then covid. But I can no longer resist the simplicity of a Non O yearly extension. So I planned a visa hop to Vientiane to get 45 day visa. Then apply for non-o at CM immigration. But I can't apply because my USA passport expires in 17 months. I don't want to risk not having passport in 45 days, if I renew passport now.
Can I get a 60 day extension on the 45 day visa. That would give time to renew passport. 
My wife says to go to CM immigration and ask them. I think advice from experts here is a better option.