@Tod ********

Sorry to hijack the thread a bit, but if I have a long history of visa exempt entries in my passport - would that affect chances to get a SETV? and more important - would having a SETV absolve me of my, uh, "sin" of having "too many" exempt entries when I actually enter the country? I'm going to try for a METV in my home country next month, but if I can't get it will settle for SETVs if it means I don't get grilled by the IO again...

Her Fue Not required 200k a month income - just to have 200k balance every month - but check your local embassy/consulate - some do not require this and will be ok with just a current 200k balance in local currency equivalent.

@Robert ******

No doubt. The hard part I'm referring to is not getting 200k - it's having it been there every month for the last 6 months - most people keep that kind of money in investments etc not checking/savings.

Her Fue Money. About 200,000 baht in the bank (some embassies require a 200k balance every month for the last 6 months). That's the "hard" one, lol.

I've been doing visa exempt entries for 2 years and never had a problem until recently - but the last two entries I was questioned quite a bit. Eventually the IO let me in when I showed him an onward plane ticket back home. A friend coming in the same day was pulled aside, told he had "too many days in Thailand over the past year" (which is bullshit since there's no such law) and forced to buy a plane ticket back home before they let him in (this was DMK so YMMV).

Yes. You get 60 days every time you enter within the visa validity. Note you can also extend each entry for another 30 days (total 90 days per entry) which may save you a trip if you want to maximize your time in Thailand.

Why are you worried? You've only entered Thailand twice this year with plenty of time out of the country. Very unlikely you will have any trouble.

Agreed. But they can manage/oversee the company so long as they don't actually "guide". Shouldn't be an issue if there's an actual Thai guide(s), I think.

Was actually looking into a similar thing too. From what I understood (reading, not doing) the legit way to do it is start a company (you do NOT need a Thai partner - it just makes it cheaper if you do). If I understand correctly you'd need 2mil Thai baht "registered" capital if it's a Thai-owned company or 3mil if it's foreign-owned - this gives you quota for work permit for ONE foreign worker who would need to enter on a Non-immigrant B visa, get the work permit, then extend the visa based on the work permit. Basically it's all doable - if you have the money. "Registered capital" is basically the amount of liability the company will accept in case of debts/lawsuits/etc - I am not sure what the rules are about how much (or all) of it needs to be paid upfront or whether you have to maintain the balance later.

When I asked an embassy about that they told me they need a letter with company letterhead stating that I work there. I'd bring extra proof like certificate of incorporation etc just in case, but as long as you have the money I doubt they care...