Middle-aged non-employed / non-landowning Thai GF has about 6 months left on 10-year visa. 

Several visits to US in the past 10 years, all proper, but no travel in the past few years.

Anybody have any recent experience with renewals in Bangkok?

Is it pretty much automatic, or is every visa as painful as the first one? 

Thanks, Retiree

Since US immigration requires biometrics for visa applicants yes they need everything like applying for a new visa. Like bank account, letter from employer etc. My wife renewed hers 2 years ago and she provided everything all over. Letter from employer,bank account,social security records,house registration (title) and also yes she needs to provide all the dates her previous visits to US. They didn't require all these for renewals some years ago because there was no finger printing.But once she gets her renewals then she will not need to provide everything all over again 10 yrs later since her fingerprint is in the database.