TallGuyJohninBKK

If you mean the Red Line, a couple of reasons based on past experience: 1. the logistics for me aren't very good, with a long ride on the Blue line subway, then a long walk from its Bang Sue station to the Red Line's Bang Sue station, and then moreso, last time I tried, about 30 minute headways between Red Line trains, meaning I was sitting there wasting a lot of time. and 2. When I finally got off the Red Line at Laksi last time I tried, there were zero car taxis anywhere to be seen when I came down out of the Laksi station into the IT mall area heading toward BKK CW. Last week, I left home at 7 am, went the BTS to Mochit and then tollway taxi to BKK CW route, and walked in the door at Immigration at 7:55 am.

FWIW, I had to go to BKK CW last week in order to get my stamps transferred to a newly issued passport. As part of that process, much to my surprise, the IO there required me to do TWO things that normally are only required for new extensions -- provide photocopies of my bank passbook pages covering the past year, and update my bank passbook that day to show the current balance. I don't think they ever required that bank stuff last time I got a new passport 10 years ago. But last week, at BKK CW, I checked with a supervisor, and she confirmed that the bank book update and bank passbook photocopies now are going to be standard requirements anytime any of us with extensions based on Thai bank deposits are doing ANY business with the L section there.... (and that includes merely having stamps transferred to a new passport). PS - In my visit last week, I had TWO bank passbooks, a full one that ended a few months back, and a new one covering the past couple months. And the IO who handled my stuff wasn't troubled by the notion of my having two bank passbooks for the same account, each covering a part of the year. Nor did they require a bank issued 12 month statement, and were fine with my photocopies of the pages from both books.

BKK CW seems to run hot and cold on the issue of providing a copy of one's TM30 form as part of retirement extension renewals paperwork. Two years ago, to my surprise, they wanted a copy of mine, which fortunately I had. One year ago, they didn't ask and didn't care. Wonder what they'll say when I go back again there later this week for my annual visit.

For retirement extensions at BKK CW... for those applying on the basis of Thai bank deposits, USUALLY, BKK CW will be satisfied by inspecting your bank passbook AND you providing them with signed photocopies of your passbook covering the past 12 month period prior to your application -- which shows you met their 400K and 800K balance requirements. They DO NOT usually require a formal 12-month statement issed by the bank... as long as you have the bank-issued letter certifying the current balance of your account.

Anyone been out or around BKK CW Immigration in the past couple days? Any info if there's any impact there, either on their operations or access to the area, from the flooding that's apparently occurring in the Laksi area?