(1) I understand that certain immigration offices such as Pattaya encourage the submission of such applications from up to 90 days before the expiry of the latest “admitted until” date in one’s passport, but when, officially, is the earliest such applications may be submitted?

(2) Are extensions given on the basis of latest “admitted until” date + 1 year or application approval date + 1 year?

Within the last 30 days is normal.

You do not lose any time by applying early.

The new extension will start when your current stay expires. Not when you apply.

The rule is up to 30 days before the expiry date of your current extension to stay.

An extension always start when your current extension of stay ends. You won't lose any day by extending early and are always adviced not to wait till the last day, in case you need some etra documents.

The latest info from Pattaya (local press release plus a more recent poster report) is that they welcome retirement extension applications 60 days early without an excuse and 90 days early accepted with excuse (travel the most typical). The press release last year was 90 days no excuse but a poster here was recently told they want an excuse if over 60 days early.

I agree Thailand-wide 30 days early with no excuse is generally the rule. Some offices will accept earlier with an acceptable documented excuse. As far as I know an "official" Thailand-wide written rule on this detail does not exist. If someone knows that it does, it would be interesting to see it.

Edited November 14, 200916 yr by Jingthing

I went to the Khon Kaen office @ approx 80 days and was told (very politely) to return between 30 to 20 days............