A friend, from the USA, remains here based on extending visa due to retirement and with pension not lump sum. I dont think that he has enough readily accessible money to qualify for extending based on lump sum.

Due to illness he is going back to the USA on 8 May. His extension runs out on 20th Sept and may not have returned by then. I appreciate that there may now not be enough time to sort anything.

Are Nonthaburi immigration likely to allow a very early extension? Maybe could not get a letter from the US embassy quickly anyway.

Suppose if cannot get an extension just get a single re-entry permit and try to come back earlier than 20th Sept. Can he do anything in the USA to extend?

Thanks

Your friend needs to obtain a re-entry permit which will allow him to enter Thailand with his extension intact if a return is made prior to 20 Setp.

If delayed beyond 20 sept he should obtain a single entry non "O" visa and recommence the retirement extension process.

He will not be able to do the extension now. The most he could do it is 45 days early.

He should get a re-entry permit in case he does come back soon enough.

He will have to start all over again if he does not come back in time.

He could get a single entry non-o visa from one of the honorary consulates. And then apply for the extension during the last 30 days of his entry.

Or a single entry tourist visa and then do a change of visa status to obtain a non immigrant visa entry, And then the extension.

He will not be able to do the extension now. The most he could do it is 45 days early.

I thought it was 30 days early, not 45 days ( and for O-A visa, it's 30 or 45 days ? )

Many immigration offices now accept applications as early as 45 days. Bangkok was first and other offices now do it.

It is the same for all extensions of stay (it is not a visa)

It does not matter if you a have a non-o or OA visa entry.