Go to the website of the Thai Embassy in your Home Country - look under Visas. All the info for the O-A visa is there.

Or Elaine in you Home Country apply for a Non Immigrant O-A Via (age 50 or over) with certain financial requirements

Elaine "Retirement 'Visa'" is more of a nickname. But the pace to start is to get a Non Immigrant O Visa 90 days ... Then apply for a One Year Extension of Stay based on being age 50 or over.

The Labor Ministry took 5 days to issue the Official Letter - then there was Mailing time. It was not the Agent is was more the Labor Ministry in Krabi having their rules. Any particular Provincial Labor Ministry Office could have the same time delaying policy. Unfortunately not all Labor Ministry offices act in the same more reasonable and efficient way as the one in Bkk

If you go to a Non Imm O 90 day visa, then get an Extension of Stay (Over age 50 / Retirement) - it is not too difficult as has been said.

However, if later you decide to get a B Visa and Work Permit it complicates the issue. When Applying for a B Visa and WP from the status of Extension of Stay Retirement a person has to use the WP.3 Application process which requires the applicant to have to leave Thailand to complete it. Since the B Visa and WP are intertwined this time out of Thailand to process the WP.3 Application can mean 7 to 14 days out if Thailand.

I described a Business B Visa which you get by becoming employed by a Thai Registered Company or start such a company of your own. A twelve month visa is not available to someone under age 50 unless it is a B Visa or an O visa based on Marriage or caring for dependent Thai children. There is an Ed Education Visa but that now is a series of 90 day visas that must be renewed.

Your best shot is the METV Multi Entry Tourist Visa that has a term of 6 months with a series of 60 day stays which can be renewed with a Border Bounce and Extended by 30 days at a Thai immigration office. You can get the METV to last 8 to 9 months by timing a border bounce just a few days before the 6 month expiry - getting another 2 months which can be Extended 30 days. You get the METV at the Thai Embassy / Consulate in your home country. Requirements are proof of having a job in your home country /outside of Thailand, or business ownership, plus have a bank account with the equivalent of $7,000 in it. Plus, some other minor requirements.

Yes you can

12 month multiple entry Non imm visa in Penang, Malaysia. Must Exit and Reenter Thailand (Border Run / Border Bounce every 90 days. The 90 day Border Bounces require No documentation, no traveling to the interior of the neighbor country. Not as good as a one year Extension but better by far than getting a new non imm O every 90 days.

Thank you Daniel - Jingjo's is still worth going to for the fine cooking

If you stop on the Thai side in Nong Khai go to Jingjo's Guesthouse and wonderful food. Say Hello to John the Aussie who runs the place