Why bother with the O-A? As you note, more money to deposit, plus the additional expense insurance, plus the additional req's of Medical and Criminal checks. See my Step-by-Step Instructions posted below for obtaining Retirement Stay after arrival in Thailand.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS -- APPLYING FOR RETIREMENT STAY AFTER ARRIVAL IN THAILAND: i. You may arrive either Visa Exempt (currently 45-days), or on a 60-day Tourist Visa. ii. Then, immediately after your arrival, you must haul arse to open a Thai Bank Account, and transfer 800,000 Baht into Thai Bank Account (if married, some Immig. Offices like CM, accept Joint Account with 1.6 Mil. Baht. Also Note, that either Passbook Savings or Fixed Deposit is acceptable, but not Investment Account. Finally note, that some Immig. Offices, but not all - e.g. CM, require proof of foreign source of funds. WISE is an inexpensive, easy & reliable service to transfer funds). iii. Then, you apply for a 90-day Non-O Visa at local Thai Immigration Office. If on Visa Exempt, you use Form TM87, if on Tourist Visa TM86. You are required to apply with minimum 15-21 days remaining on permitted Stay, depending on Office (Chiang Mai, requires 21 days). Requirments: TM87 or TM86 (Note: Fear not, only 1-page Form simple to fill out in English with only basic info., name, address, passport info., arrival info, and stated purpose: "For Retirement"), 2000 Baht, Copy of all relevant pages of Passport (i.e. Facepage, and Entry Stamp); copy of TM30 (that is the required arrival form that is either completed by your Hotel or Condo, or you do yourself at Immig. Office w/i 24 hrs of arrival); copy of proof of residency (Rental Agreement, or Hotel Reservation -- some offices may not allow if only staying at a HOtel); and most importantly proof of the money in Bank (Copy of Bank Book, and a certified Letter from the Bank usually costing 100 Baht). Above is all simple and straightforward, so no need for spending money on a Visa Service. iv. If all docs. in order, Immig. Office will put a Sticker in your Passport that you are "under consideration", and a date to return to pick up your Visa Stamp (prior to your Stay expiration). v. Next, when you have 30 days remaining on the Non-O (and your Bank Money has "seeded" 60 days -- i.e. stayed on deposit), you go back to Immig. Office to apply for the 1-yr Retirement Extension. Requirements.: TM7 (Req. for Extension of Stay); 1900 Baht, and all other same docs. as above (newly updated of course). And, you will receive 1-yr Extension of Stay -- usually same day, if you arrive in morning. Note: For both processes above, your Bank Passbook Balance must be updated same date as application, and the Bank Letter should be no more than 7 days old -- easiest just to do both same day just before going to Immig. Office). vi. Finally, you should/must get a Re-Entry Stamp -- easiest/best to just do immediately after you get your 1-yr. Extension stamp. It can be single Re-Entry for 1000 Baht, or 3800 Baht for unlimited multiple Re-Entry. The Re-Entry Stamp allows you to leave and return to Thailand, without invalidating your 1-yr Extension. If you fail to do that, then your Extension of Stay is nullified, and you must start the process again. (IMPORTANT: If you want or need to leave Thailand while on the initial 90-Day Non-O, same thing -- must get Re-Entry Stamp.). Hope that is all clear. (NOTE: Advantage of above IN-Country Method, to getting initial Non-O OUTSIDE Country at a Thai Embassy/Consulate: No Medical or Criminal Check requirements. Only "Disadvantage": slightly less time once you arrive to get your Thai Bank Account Open and Deposit the req'd 800,000 Baht).

@Graham *******

Works one time, until end of current O-A Visa validity. After that, however,

@Ivan **********

's suggestion is a good one, provided you can afford to deposit the req'd 800,000 Baht in Thai Bank. Then, you won't have to pay the unnecessary and expensive cost of the insurance. That is not req'd for Non-O Retirement. and subsequent 1-yr Extension. See Post below for Step-by-Step Instructions.

@Marine ********

My pleasure, and Happy New Year🙂

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS -- APPLYING FOR RETIREMENT STAY AFTER ARRIVAL IN THAILAND: i. You may arrive either Visa Exempt (currently 45-days), or on a 60-day Tourist Visa. Then, immediately after your arrival, you must haul arse to open a Thai Bank Account, and transfer 800,000 Baht into Thai Bank Account. Then, you apply for a 90-day Non-O Visa at local Thai Immigration Office. If on Visa Exempt, you use Form TM87, if on Tourist Visa TM86. You are required to apply with minimum 15-21 days remaining on permitted Stay, depending on Office (Chiang Mai, requires 21 days). Requirments: TM87 or TM86 (stated purpose: "For Retirement"), 2000 Baht, Copy of all relevant pages of Passport (i.e. Facepage, and Entry Stamp); copy of TM30 (that is the required arrival form that is either completed by your Hotel or Condo, or you do yourself at Immig. Office w/i 24 hrs of arrival); copy of proof of residency (Rental Agreement, or Hotel Reservation -- some offices may not allow if only staying at a HOtel); and most importantly proof of the money in Bank (Copy of Bank Book, and a certified Letter from the Bank usually costing 100 Baht). Above is all simple and straightforward, so no need for spending money on a Visa Service. If all docs. in order, Immig. Office will put a Sticker in your Passport that you are "under consideration", and a date to return to pick up your Visa Stamp (prior to your Stay expiration). Next, when you have 30 days remaining on the Non-O (and your Bank Money has "seeded" 60 days -- i.e. stayed on deposit), you go back to Immig. Office to apply for the 1-yr Retirement Extension. Requirements.: TM7 (Req. for Extension of Stay); 1900 Baht, and all other same docs. as above (newly updated of course). And, you will receive 1-yr Extension of Stay -- usually same day, if you arrive in morning. Note: For both processes above, your Bank Passbook Balance must be updated same date as application, and the Bank Letter should be no more than 7 days old -- easiest just to do both same day just before going to Immig. Office). Finally, you should/must get a Re-Entry Stamp -- easiest/best to just do immediately after you get your 1-yr. Extension stamp. It can be single Re-Entry for 1000 Baht, or 3800 Baht for unlimited multiple Re-Entry. The Re-Entry Stamp allows you to leave and return to Thailand, without invalidating your 1-yr Extension. If you fail to do that, then your Extension of Stay is nullified, and you must start the process again. (Also, if you want or need to leave Thailand while on the initial 90-Day Non-O, same thing -- must get Re-Entry Stamp.). Hope that is all clear.

@Stuart ********

Yes, but NOT Chiang Mai.

@Tod ********

Ana is absolutely correct. At CM, there is NO requirement to prove origin of funds for Bank Deposit method for either the initial change to Non-O or the subsequent 1-yr Extension -- only required if using the Monthly Income method.

In CM, the Hotel Screen Shot of TM30 is not acceptable. They will have OP go to back of building to the TM30 Office to "convert" to hard-copy of TM30 Slip. No biggie, though there can be a big line, so OP should either go early, or perhaps get the TM30 Slip on a different day and return for Extension. (I would Posted this Addendum, but you turned off comments).

@Tod ********

Yes, I know. Just wanted to let Patrick know there was another alternative. Apparently, I see from his recent reply he prefers not to deposit the money in Thai Bank.

Alternatively, since you are over age 50, you could arrive and enter Thailand "Visa Exempt", immediately apply for Change to 90-Day Non-O, and then 60 days later, apply for 1-yr Extension of Stay, along with Re-Entry Stamp. Cost of all above almost identical to cost of O-A, but no requirement for Insurance, or any of the other requirements for O-A. Though, you would have to either Deposit 800K Bath in a Thai Bank, or qualify based on Monthly Income of 65,000 Baht deposited into Thai Bank.