Advice On Types Of Visa(s)

[digibum]

I'm somewhat in transition at the moment so I have a couple of scenarios I would like to ask for advice on.

I am leaving my current employer and have a 3 month notice period on which I will most likely be put on gardening leave (still officially employed so as to keep me from working for a competitor but no requirement to work) during the 3 months. So I was thinking of spending that time in the LOS. I would like to stay in BKK and use that as a base to travel around Thailand and other parts of Asia (HK, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, etc).

From my reading here it sounds like my best bet is to get a tourist visa for the first 60 days (I'm a US citizen) and then apply for an extension (30 days). Will I get any sort of hassle going into and out of Thailand multiple times during that 90 day period?

Also, do I run into any issues in regards to the 90 days in six months rule? In other words, if I wanted to come back in 2 months for a 3 week vacation will I have expired the 90 days?

Now, the second part has to do with what I do after the 90 days is up. I have a few offers back here in farangland but one possibility might be to get my current employer to keep me as a consultant. I also have had some offers to do freelance reporting (on a specific industry) and writing which along with some money generating websites I own would pretty much keep my earnings around what I'm making right now. So, I was thinking that it might make sense to set up an Amity company, get myself a work permit via the company, and funnel some of my earnings through that company to show it as a ongoing business.

I was quoted a price by a well-known services company in Thailand of about 93,000 baht for the setup which seems outlandish. Granted 10,000 of that is for a "virtual office" which they said I needed a physical presence in Thailand and the office would serve as the physical presence. Assuming my apartment would serve the same service that's still 83,000 baht. Does that figure sound high/low?

Also, if my plan is to eventually set up such a company and I know this before I leave, might it be better to get a non immigrant visa rather than doing the tourist visa? Is that even possible?

Thanks in advance for any advice or insight that can be offered.

[scifi]

Regarding the office requirement, it is unlikely your apartment will be sufficient. A few years ago, the regulations changed from needing only a 'virtual office' to needing physical office space, with at least a desk and a company sign. Offices must meet certain criteria - off the top of my head I am not sure what they are, but they are above the requirements for residential locations. I am in the same situation: it would be preferable for me to use my home as my office, but instead I pay a similar fee to rent a desk and sign in an office. 83K is still well over the odds for company formation, but I expect that figure includes a few other services - WP application, etc. Even so... And, yes, if you are certain you will set up a business, you may as well get a Non-Imm B before you leave the US - it will save an extra admin step when you arrive. You will need a sponsorship letter from a Thai firm - the services company you contacted would do that for you; perhaps that is included in the 93K? Not sure about the Amity thing, that may change the rules for you, someone here will know.

[Mario2008]

If you are planning to get in and out of Thailand frequently, just get a tourist visa for 60 days. You than have a visa and no problem with having to have proof that you will leave the country within 30 days, as you would have on a visa exempt entry.

After you enter Thailand you can just leave and enter again on visa exempt entries. You can stay a maximum of 30 days in Thailand of them, without having to leave the country. In total you can stay 90 days on visa exempt entries in a 6 month period. Staying 10 times 9 days is also fine. A visa exempt entry is free.

[digibum]

Mario and scifi, thanks for the advice.