Should I get a new passport before I apply?

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I have about 10 pages left in my passport, I anticipate this should last me about another 5 months or so max (I travel regularly for consulting work). If I get issued a 10 year visa, and then within 2-3 months I need to transfer/renew it to a new passport, is it an easy process and will I be much out of pocket? Or should I just apply for a new passport first and apply with it? Or, can I apply with one number and switch it if I get a new passport by the time it's approved?

On a related topic, does having a LOT of malaysian entry/exit stamps in your passport harm in any way chances of approval? I've been using KL as a weekend destination for about the past two years while working for a US company, so have collected a lot of stamps (without question so far).

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Get a new passport will save you aggro having to get the visa put in a new passport

Cheers

Brian

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hi, Risky,

When I applied I had loads of Malaysian in/out stamps plus a few "4th month extensions."

These were not raised as a problem when applying for MM2H.

On your covering letter, it helps to put something like "As a tourist I have visited Malaysia many times over the last few years and have fallen in love with the beautiful country and wonderful people." It explains it all.

Anyway it's pretty much what happened to me, and I also fell in love with the cheapness of stuff.

regards, Scott

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One other option:  If you are a US citizen you might be able to get extra pages added to your PP at the US embassy in KL.  You don't need an appointment and a US citizen gets to the front of the line there...jr6020, USA   

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Thanks guys. I submitted my new passport application today, mainly because I wanted to avoid going through the process of getting a second MM2H visa within a few months of getting the first. I read somewhere since that if the passport you apply for MM2H with is less than a year old, you need to attach a copy of the previous one too. I guess that means I have 128 pages total to be copied

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I don't recollect ever copying pages of the passport??

Is this a new ruling?

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We had to  have each page copied and if I recall these had to be validated as well !! This was February 2007

Cheers

Brian

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hi,

The need to copy all pages of the passport, even the blank ones, is a fact that's been around for some time. The copied pages need to be certified as, "a true copy" and this done by a notary. If you're overseas you can get a  Malaysian official to do it.

Amongst several posts/threads on this, you could check out : Advice on Documentation, Please

regards, Scott

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When we submitted our application just recently, we had to supply copies of all pages in the passport, but only the ID page/s had to be certified as true copies. 

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If I get issued a 10 year visa, and then within 2-3 months I need to transfer/renew it to a new passport, is it an easy process and will I be much out of pocket?

Or, can I apply with one number and switch it if I get a new passport by the time it's approved?

I know this is a bit of an old thread and risky decided to get a new passport anyhow BUT nobody seemed to answer the two questions above.  I'm particularly looking for an answer to the first question.

Why I don't just get a new passport now?  Well we may start the MM2H fairly soonish.  My passport does not expire till July 2011 but, if I am still residing in Thailand next May/June (hopefully not but not impossible), I will need to get a new passport next year to satisfy the Thai visa requirements.  Boy, it does get complicated.

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hi,

One bit at a time.

The commonsense answers are :

Q). 10-year visa, 2 to 3 months transfer to new passport.
A). Yes, it's extra time, trouble and you may not get the visa in the first place if your current passport has less than 6 months to run. Why would they put the visa in such a short duration passport. They'll think you're having 'em on.

I also think that there's a 6 month passport validity rule. There is for renewals, well, I think there is. Too tired to check.   

Q). Can I apply with 1 number and switch it if I get a new passport?
A). Yes, if you're really, really good at explaining, have a very honest face, and can convince the authorities that you're not people smuggling. After all, the Letter of Approval will be for honest Joe Bloggs PP 802347899 retiree, and not for illegal worker Joe Bloggs PP 563425671.

Why would anyone want to make it more tedious than it is?

So, IMHO, get a new passport, stop messing around with waiting for a correct/convenient alignment of dates, years, planets. Stop counting the days and months of validity. If you've decided on mm2h then get an application in BEFORE the requirements go against you.

Phew, tough guy talk. 

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If you plan to start processing for MM2H soon, then I would go ahead and get a new passport to coincide with the 10 year Visa. I think if you apply for a new passport before the old one expires you can get as much as 10 years and 5 or 6 months, which makes sense if a passport becomes virtually worthless with 6 months still to run!!!

Why do they have these stupid rules? Beats me!!!

If you passport had 2 weeks to expiry and your are leaving/entering a country with a return ticket for a day or even a week.....then why should the passport not be valid???

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If you've decided on mm2h then get an application in BEFORE the requirements go against you.

Phew, tough guy talk. 

Thanks Scott, Fizzy.  We pretty much came to Scott's conclusion last night (and nicely put  ).  I'll go for current passport though.  It's not about to expire yet, some way to go, but if I tell you that 18 MONTHS on the passport is required in Thailand and this is a yearly requirement, that'll give you some idea of my thought processes    I won't come unstuck until mid next year and, with any luck, we'll have skedaddled off to Malaysia by then.

So... we've started the paperwork this morning and flights to Swampy have been booked for a couple of weeks time to see the Thai Police for fingerprinting  and get Police Clearance letter.  Will update on the LGC thread later.

Yvonne confirmed that 7 months is required on passport for MM2H.