Accordingly, the present invention is a process for preparing a polybenzoxazole or polybenzothiazole filament, said process comprising the sequential steps of extruding a polybenzoxazole or polybenzothiazole dope filament; drawing the dope filament while in an air gap; contacting the dope filaments with a stress isolation device while the filaments reside in the air gap; and coagulating the dope f