A while back I read a note (can't find it now ) that quoted from sources that said Tourist Visa applications from the Thai Embassy in Malaysia would be treated the same way that Nong Khai immigration treat Tourist visa extensions - i.e. You have to have a confirmed air ticket exiting Thailand within the time of the visa.
Someone, at that time, asked if the Laos Embassy was adopting a similar stance. Apparently not, quite the opposite .
A friend of mine has not long returned from the Embassy & he got a dual entry Tourist Visa - something I did not even knew existed from Laos. On return through the bridge immigration they have written a 1 & the date on the visa, so in 60 days he can do a duty free run only & get another 60 days.

Has anyone else heard of this??? Not that it is a worry for me for another 12 months, but it is nice to know all the options....

BTW the visa cost 2,000 baht, double the single entry's 1,000...

I thought a Tourist visa was free ? Maybe the extra money is for the extension of 30 days.

No, no Aadvark a "Visa Exemption" which you get on arrival (and subject to a 90 in 180 day requirement) is free but cannot be extended within Thailand and is valid for a maximum of 30 days. The tourist visa is only obtainable from an embassy and is valid for a 60 day stay, but canbe (with certain conditions) extended within Thailand for an additional 30 days.