Why am I unable to obtain a 90-day Non-O visa in Thailand?

Get visa before you leave!

Maybe it would be easier for you not to come in on a visa exemp, but get a tourist visa in your home country. When you can arrange a visa before you come, it is more relaxing to be here.

@David ***********

first off there is no such thing as a 30 day visa. If you show up here without a visa in your passport and are stamped in for 30 days for free you got in on what's called a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp.

Be that as it may;

You can indeed get a 90 day Non-O visa based on being over 50 (retirement) from the Buriram immigration office.

Unless I'm mistaken you need at least 21 days left on your current 30 day visa exempt entry stamp to apply AND you need to show proof of 800K baht transferred in from overseas into a thai bank account in your name only. it cost 2000 baht, it goes under consideration for 3 weeks then you go back get the 90 day Non-O inked in.

I would say there is some "lost in translation" thing going on.

ALSO, just so you know, you can get a 30 day extension on a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp at the immigration office for 1900baht AND you can indeed bounce out and back in at a land border for a NEW 30 day visa exempt entry stamp TWO times in a calendar year (Jan 1 - Dec 31).