We would like to spend 2.5 months in Thailand but the tourist visa is a max of 60 days. I realize an application can be submitted to immigration while in Thailand to request an additional 30 days. However, issuing an extension is at the discretion of the immigration officer. My problem is the visa application requires copy of purchased airline tickets. Do we misrepresent the length of our stay on the visa application then apply for an extension prior to 60 day deadline and hope it’s granted? The difference in the days for departure can be explained as traveling out and back into Thailand even though this is wrong.

This might be a good question for your local Thai embassy.

Generally pretty easy to get a 15 extension at a local immigration office. If you have a return ticket at that time, there would most likely be no reason you wouldn't get your extension. But I do think it is only for 15 days and not the 30 days that it used to be.... Where will you be when you need the extension? I often get mine in southern Thailand and the local office is rarely busy and they are always very nice and easy to work with...Not sure how busy the larger cities get...

Curt1591, I emailed the Royal Thai Consulate several weeks ago but got no response. Maybe I’ll have better luck with a phone call.
cokesmith, we’ll be in Chiang Mai as we approach 60 days. There are several Immigration offices there.

Generally speaking, they're trying to cut down on people who try to stay in Thailand indefinitely on tourist visas, which means shortening the time of extensions and also restricting 60-day visas granted in neighboring countries.

The best way to guarantee you don't run into trouble is to plan on spending some time in a neighboring country before the end of the 60 day tourist visa, such as Cambodia, Laos or Malaysia, where it's easy to get to. As long as you fly back in to Thailand, you'll get a 30 day visa-free entry when you return.

I spoke with the Royal Thai Consulate this morning. Our tourist visa applications do not require copies of the plane tickets. This requirement is for specific countries, but not US. The consulate representative recommended entering 60 days for the length of stay then apply for extension at an immigration office prior to the end of 60 days.

Great! I'm glad you got an answer. It sounds like a good plan.

Immigration extensions are only for 10 days.

Best to fly out of the country & back to get an extra 30 days.

You can get 15 days for sure. Just did that at the local immigration office in Nakhon. But they offered me 90 because my wife and son are Thai but I only needed 15...But Chiang Mai will be a good place to do it.