el jefe

I just got a Certificate of Residence (CM immigration office near the airport). I needed a copy of the TM 30 receipt. No lease, house book, or landlord appearance necessary.

Depends how long your license has been expired. I believe that if it's over a year, you have to start over again and yes, you'll have to do the tests. Otherwise, the colorblindness test is all you need to do at the Land Transportation Office.

When I renewed my initial license, I got 5 years. I was on a 6 month tourist visa then, but that was many years ago and the rules may have changed.

The length of your initial license isn't based on the type of visa so I doubt you can change/renew to a longer one until 3 or 6 months before expiration. Hopefully, for your sake, someone will prove me wrong.