Renewal Malaysia Passport 2013

Went to renew my passport again but this time I decided to do it at UTC Pudu Sentral, as it is nearer to my work place and curious about UTC about other people been talking about. Found most of the govt offices are located there. Scouted the place, really quite impressive as you can even do your IC on the same floor.

UTC Pudu Sentral information, the great thing the office hour is 8am -10pm DAILY! So you can pick up your passport after working hours, no need to take leave just for the sake of renewing your passport.

However it was unfortunate event for me this time round as I'm quite surprise quite a lot of people goes there to renew their passport. It needed to take 3 working days, not within 1-2 hours as mentioned after they changed new specification for renew international passport.

Tell you about my experience I faced on May 2013 due to the hiccup in their internal system from the changes specification into the passport cause many people into frustration while waiting for their turn. Some people also unable to get a number to renew their passport, I went there twice and unable to get a number to renew, only the 3rd time successful where I went EARLY in the morning. However the officers were always polite to everyone while confronted by people seeking answer on the delay and hiccup faced.

Queue at 8am, and the office open 8.30am sharp. As the line was long, only got my ticket number at 8.43am. My turn at 10.15am, and took only 5-10 mins to do the process with the officer. Only need your old passport, 2 new photos, and bring your IC. Then I need to wait again for 25 mins for the payment. Total duration roughly 4 hours. 
Then told by the officer, I'm able to get my passport after 3 working day.  However on the 3rd working day, I went there at 8.00pm, got my new passport by 8.10pm. That's less than 15 mins! I think the last call to pick your passport probably 8.30pm, as I forgotten as it is few months back already.

This is the main Immigration website:  http://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/ , you able to update yourself with the latest information on the progress on renewing passport now. Or you can go to their twitter @imigresenmy

The better option will be, renew your passport through online, without queuing. You just need to select the office immigration to pick your new passport without any hassle.

Lets hope the online system will resolved soon!

New Rules to Obtain Chinese Visa

Currently, you able to seek travel agent to the Chinese Embassy to assist you on the chinese visa application by providing your passport to them.

But effective on by next year onwards, seem if you prior heading to China, you have to personally go the Chinese Embassy to do the visa application on your own to provide biometric data like your finger prints for the application process. However Chinese embassy has not official announce the implementation will be taken.

Do read more about it from this article.

Abolished Japan Visa for Malaysia starting 1 July 2013

From 1st July 2013, the Government of Japan has decided to abolish the requirement of short-term visa for Malaysian Nationals who hold ordinary biometric passports with embedded microchip that is compliant with ICAO standards(issued since February 2010) who wish to enter Japan for short-term stay.

However, this visa exemption only apply to Malaysian Nationals holding ordinary biometric passport with embedded microchip that is compliant with ICAO standards. Malaysian Nationals who do not hold ordinary biometric passport with embedded microchip that is compliant with ICAO standards remain advised to obtain a visa to enter into Japan.
The visa exemption arrangement between Japan and Malaysia, which had been existed since before 1993, provides that Malaysian nationals who meet the relevant conditions could enter Japan without obtaining a visa for a period of not exceeding three consecutive months (short-term stay). However, in 1993, the Government of Japan after taking into consideration the situation at the time and in consultation with the Government of Malaysia, began to advise Malaysian nationals to obtain a visa in advance to enter Japan.


Read more information from this link
http://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/English/visit/visa_apprequirement.htm

Such an awesome news! No more hassle to do visa like previously when wanting to go Japan. Japan is an awesome place to visit. It is totally worthy place to vist!

Renew Malaysia Passport_Status

After Immigration Department of Malaysia has changed into new specification on passport since April. Now the citizen will be taking a longer time to renew their passpport from less than 3 hours only to 3 days grace period!

You might not even get a chance to renew your passport even you go earlier or late as the system still break down. Tried to call them up to check on the status many times, no one answer.

I do not know what progressive by "stages" means when all the system breaks down for days. Oh please....test any new system next time "thoroughly" first and do a better planning before try to implement anything.

http://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/component/content/article/2-uncategorised/793-1-pejabat-imigresen-yang-telah-mengaplikasikan-pasport-berdasarkan-mukasurat-polycarbonate-serta-spesifikasi-gambar-yang-diperlukan-2

So, if you want to renew your passport....brace yourself and need a lot of patient. Like old times! From bad to better, and gone to worst service ever.

Here are some feedback on others' comment:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?sec=nation&file=/2013/5/26/nation/20130526070304

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?sec=focus&file=/2013/5/24/focus/13133141