Recently, a friend went for his retirement extension at Udon Thani.

They actually stamped his passport "RETIREMENT" in red, gave him one month while it was under consideration,and he had to go back again to get the yearly one with the 90 days reports. Similar to a marriage extension in that respect.

My friend said he checked on UDON MAP which is a website for Udon and it happened to somebody else who said they changed the rules last September.

Is this something special to Udon Thani or is it to be expected at all immigration offices?

Nothing has changed. Seems to be office specific, but there might have been a small problem with regards to the seasoning requirement and so they oonly got 30 days under consideration?

Problem is they seem to have changed or at least the interpretation has.

Like the way many offices seem to be needing seasoning in the Combo method.

Not good and after the problem this year because 40000baht had not been seasoned I think if I did not have several people who I care for very much and who depend on me I would think about leaving. I love Thailand but there is a limit to how much decrease in Happiness I can take.

I just got back from Immigration in BKK, I went on the 1st, my VOA expired on the 2nd, I wanted a 1 year retirement extension, they made me get a 30 day extension to my VOA for B1900, then paid P2000 for retirement to follow after the 30 day extension expired. I still don't understand why even after they explained it to me.

Sounds like they are trying to squeeze even more money out of the long staying expat.

The rules have not changed. The retirement extension always required entry with a non-immigrant visa. Since the OP did not enter Thailand with such visa, his immigration office agreed to change his status to non-O for the regular fee of THB 2,000 (stated on the application form), and once this was done he could apply for the retirement extension, again for the regular fee of THB 1,900 stated on the aplication.

In other words, Eddy B, you are way out of line. In future, before spouting venom, please ascertain that you know what you are talking about.

I just got back from Immigration in BKK, I went on the 1st, my VOA expired on the 2nd, I wanted a 1 year retirement extension, they made me get a 30 day extension to my VOA for B1900, then paid P2000 for retirement to follow after the 30 day extension expired. I still don't understand why even after they explained it to me.

You had a visa exempt entry, not visa on arrival.

One needs 15 day of allowed stay for a visa conversion, that's why you had to do a 30 days extension first.

Now in next few days you have to apply again for the 1 year extensions, that cost bt 1,900.