I don't want to claim to be an expert in this but I have seen that for most people the max is 2 renewals. Every renewal after that seems to result in a lot of hassling except in certain special cases where the applicant is studying some very special or obscure art like sword making.

I know of two people doing the sword thing and both of them told me they have been given a hard time after their 2nd or 3rd renewal but have both been able to work it out with a little persistence and help from their teachers.