My non-imm O visa expired in May. Since then I've been doing the monthly border schlep, exiting/re-entering as a tourist. In order to avoid the monthly in/out ritual (which I see the government has taken steps to do away with anyway) I am going back to the ussa at the end of this month where I was planning to apply for a new non-imm O. Does it matter that my original one expired some months ago? By that I mean that since they have issued me a non-imm O in the past will any visa application now simply be looked upon as a belated request for an extension of that original visa? and how would that effect the application process and/or requirements?

note: my original visa was issued no questions asked by a friendly consulate in the states which, I am told, is no longer so friendly. Even if I could find a different friendly consulate would their ability to accomodate me be limited by the fact that I was previously issued a non-imm O?

Thanks

What you had or did not have in the past is the past. Any new non immigrant visa issue will be according to the policy of the Consulate involved at the time you apply.