Extension Changes

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Scott,

The income option always was a less detailed option, never ever was mentioned you should maintain that income (as was stated for FD's). I guess they assumed you never quit or got sacked.

As per your suggestion, I've sent an email to Motour, just asking them to confirm their list of requirements is everything I need (without mentioning FD or income, I don't want to put words in their mouth).
When (or if) I get an answer I'll cross my fingers and take a copy to Putrajaya, just in case.

regards, Danny

BTW, Kuantan is my favourite place, as you might have guessed. Easy-going, laid-back, friendly and those fab beaches, but you need to know where to go.

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Well, with us we've visited the Immig in Prai three times including the initial visit when we first applied in Aug. 2004.
I only had 2yrs 3mths left on my passport-expire Dec.2006 and was given 2 yrs.MM2H visa stamp-visa expire Sept 2006. My husband had 3yrs 7mths on his-expire May 2008 and was given 3 yrs MM2H visa- visa expire Sept. 2007.
My new 5 yr passport was issued last yr-will expire June 2011 and we went to Immig in Prai July 2006 to get the balance, but I was only given one yr and not 3 yrs.-visa expire Sept 2007. So that both visas expired together on the same date-Sept 2007.
My husband received his new 5 yr passport this yr- will expire June 2012.
We went back to Immig in Prai in Aug this yr and we both were  given balance of the remaining visa till Sept. 2009.
So I have 2 yrs, 1 yr and finally 2 yrs (total 3 visa stickers).
My hisband has 3 yrs and 2 yrs (Total 2 visa stickers)

I anticipate when we do our next 5 yr Renewal/Extension we'd have to drop by Immig.3X again.

To answer Danny: the few times for Renewals we just wrote the sponsor's infos in the IM12 form, no need for the sponsor to be there. We applied under the FD, so just brought a copy of the Original 5 yr FD we showed them initially in 2004...No Questions asked.
But, I do have a question though. Since our sponsor is my dad who is 84. I just wonder what if he happens to pass away - if I can just get my mom to be the next sponsor or to pay the dreaded agent - any one thought of this?

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The positive side is they maintained september as cut off date and not july/august being the moment you stepped into their office to get the balance.
Fortunelately our passports (me and my wife) were issued on the same date so we don't face the weird timing scenarios you experienced.

As for the sponsor, I asked a Malaysian friend of mine, but it can be your neighbour as well (as friends of us on Penang did). As Scott also indicated it is just a formality, they lines are in the form, so they need to be filled in.
I first assumed they do some cutting and pasting, but I understand you got a brand new visa.
Could you wait for it or do they actually need 14 days to stick it into your new passport?

Regards, Danny

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Yes, I'm glad Immig gave us the same visa expiry date Sept.
Brand new visa stickers each time.
Since we went in person, we brought along the Real copies of FD, the Approval Letter they first issued and Marriage Cert,but they didn't ask to see them this time (last yr when I did it they wanted to see the Original Approval Letter!) They took the copies of the FD, Approval Letter and Marriage Cert. tog with the IM12 form, copies of our passports - old and new (we just made copies of the pages with our photos/infos, the page that says it's the property of our country and the page with the mm2H visa).
It was a rather busy day at the Prai office compared with the other times we were there, yet it took only about 2 hours from getting the 'number slips' at information window to being called to the payment window and another 30 mins/less to getting our visa stickers.
I'm not sure what's the procedure for other States.

Yes, I remember the requirement for a sponsor was removed for a short time, but I wonder if one can just change sponsors now that they require the Agents to be sponsors....according to a recent article in the Expat Magazine, they are asked to put up bonds for their clients, so they say they have to increase the Application Fees!! For those of us who DIY, I'm still not sure if it's more a formality...I do hope it is.

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I've got the answer from Motour (I almost fell off my chair, that quick):

Dear Sir,
For the renewal of the 5 years MM2H social visit pass, yes you need to fill in the IM12 form, copy of old and new passport, and also photocopy of the new passport. The renewal should be done at the Immigration Depatment where you get the endorsement before.
Regards

DAYANG BALKIS MD. RAMLI
Assistant Director
Malaysia My Second Home Centre
Level 23, Menara Dato' Onn
Putra World Trade Centre(PWTC)
45, Jln Tun Ismail
50695  Kuala Lumpur
Phone Num : 603 2696 3353
Fax  Num     : 603 2698 8533
Website       : www.mm2h.gov.my

Unfortunately we went to Immi HQ for our initial approval so Kuantan is no option (another question answered). I'll hand over the documents as indicated by the Centre and subject email. Hopefully the long drive is not in vain.
About the sponsor or other requirements, it is my understanding the old rules apply to the 5-year visa applicants.

Regards, Danny

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Hi Scott

Been offline a while. the date when we have to proces our visa is fast approaching and I was wondering if it is possible to get an extension on the time allowed (6 months) from conditional acceptance, to when you have to regularise the visa (do FD, medical etc).  an extra month or so would be handy.  Is there any precedence for this??

cheers

Tombo

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hi,

Danny B, many thanks for the update, and let us all know how it goes.

Tombo welcome back. I haven't come across any postings on this site, alloexpat, or the agency sites about being able to extend the 6 month period.

Maybe some other member has experienced this. Meanwhile why don't you send an email to MoTour asap. They seem to be responding pretty quickly these days.

regards, Scott

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Yes I have emailed Pak Dayang and waiting for his reply.  Is his email address still:

dbalkis@motour.gov.my   

That was the last email address I used for him, some months ago.  Can anyone confirm this or suggest another email address for a staffer at MM2H??

Tombo

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hi, Tombo

Try Cindy Lim. She's a staffer and she often replies quite fast. Her email is mm2home@gmail.com

regards, Scott

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Yesterday 2-11-07 we went to Putrajaya to get the balance of our 5 year MM2H visa.
Despite what was advised I went by car and that was surprisingly easy.
- From KL we took highway E2 to Seremban, and exited at Putrajaya
- Follow the signs Precint 2 (there are loads of them at every crossing)
- When you see the green sign Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia follow it.
This brings you right to the building, clearly indicated as such and next to the building is a large free carpark.

In the building, proceed to level 3, there you see the sign: Bahagias Visa, Pas dan Permit
Grab a ticket at window 17 telling them it is for MM2H (we first walked straight to window 9 as suggested, but were told to get a ticket first)
After 5 minutes we were invited at window 9, handed over old/new passport + copies and IM12 form (no photograph required, they just took the old one)
Then a long wait untill your nr is called to the payment window (in our situation # 1)
Pay cash and wait again till your nr is called to collect your pasports.
To our surprise the condition was reading: Permitted until 12 DEC 2010 in West Malaysia and Sabah.
We just kept quiet because we applied in dec 2004!

In total it took us 1 1/5 hours and no other document were required or questions were asked about my income (the option I applied for), sponsor or FD!

Regards, Danny

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How I envy....some people just have that lucky star...a bonus year, good for you Danny  

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Very Interesting Danny. Did you have to pay Rm90 per person for the balance of the total years granted or just the balance of the 5 years???

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I paid for what I got. I don't see this as a hidden rule, but just one of those lucky days in paradise 
Anyway 5 or 6 years, not even close to 10 years as for the new kids on the block.

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hi, Danny,

Many thanks for the latest information, and congrats on the bonus year.

regards, Scott

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The income option always was a less detailed option, never ever was mentioned you should maintain that income (as was stated for FD's). I guess they assumed you never quit or got sacked. As per your suggestion, I've sent an email to Motour, just asking them to confirm their list of requirements is everything I need (without mentioning FD or income, I don't want to put words in their mouth). regards, Danny

Danny,
I see you qualified on income, was this a non Govt pension or another form of income?  I originally qualified on Company pension, and am about to renew. I wonder if anyone else has renewed recently on non Govt pension. If so I would love to know your experience, as I am not keen to tie up Rm150,000 when I spend that amount and more every 6 months here!