Trip to Thai Embassy Vientiane

My Non o visa ran out at Christmas so I needed to get a couple of Tourist Visas to tied me over until I go back to the UK for a visit. Sort of plan to do that when the weather is a little more comfortable, but nothing desperate or fixed up yet.

Anyway arrived at the Nong Khai side of the bridge at about 9am. Nothing too horrific in the way of queues & got through the Thai side reasonably easy. The Laos side was a very different kettle of fish though. There was a long, long queue of people waiting to hand in their passports to get the visa. However the real issue was that the guy manning that window must have had a row with his wife or come into work with a raging hangover as the queue just did not actually seem to move. It seemed to take people an inordinate amount of time to hand in a passport, for what is really a quick check that the documents & money are present.
Took over 2.5 hours to go through the Laos side of the process. Too late to hit the Embassy that day, but I was not exactly working to a deadline.
On getting to the Embassy I was told that a single entry Tourist visa would be fine. A double entry was out of the question & I would get no more Tourist visas from Vientiane while I had that passport as I would now have the maximum number permitted. When I pointed out that the passport actually expires at the end of 2019 & was not a near 9 year ban a little on the harsh side I was told that it was the rules 'of the new boss'...
Talking to one of the Laos 'touts' the next day I was told that the rules were being enforced even on passports that they 'handled'. The suggestion of the day is, apparently 'get a new passport' as all of this is done only on a visual check of the passport, not by any sort of computerised check...
Such is life in SE Asia however I wonder what changes the end of the free tourist visa will have - if any.

I know that the Udon office do put 'difficulties' in place about the extensions & the number they will give - a bit like Vientiane are doing with the number of tourist visas. If I was you I would go along to the office, show them your passport & ask them what they will & will not do in your particular circumstances on the extension front.
I think that you also have to be careful about using the last segment of the visa before the actual expiry date of it as well. But that is just a bit of 'mathematics' for you as the date of expiry is clearly marked on it. The only word of caution you need to use the last portion before that date (the day before) rather than actually on that date.
The Maximum it is possible to get from Vientiane is a double entry (they do not do triple) but, my understanding of their rules is that they would only give you a single as that would equate to the maximum number of Tourist visas that you can have in your passport.
However, from what you have said elsewhere I do not think you will have a problem.
You should be able to go to Vientiane & get a single entry non imm 'o' visa (which will give you 90 days) on the strength of your marriage to a Thai citizen. You will need to supply them with a copy of your marriage certificate.
There is no limitation on the number of those you can receive in your passport, although they are not free like the Tourist visa - I think there is a 2,000 baht fee, but do not hold me to that..
It does have the advantage that you have 90 days in the Kingdom, rather than 60 with the Tourist.