Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Humble Origins @ NUS Ventus

Decided to have lunch at this very secluded location in NUS. Very nice place to sit back and relax. Didn't know NUS has such a nice hidden gem.

Nice scenery from table


Choices are limited but coffee is pretty decent


Lookin' good. Just plain good. 


Weird-looking tree. But hey, it makes the whole place feel lush and green...


Did I mention that the croissant tastes awesome? Well, now I did. 

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Renewing Malaysian Passport in the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore (updated Apr 2014)

So after a few failed attempt of renewing my passport in Malaysia (system down, change process so that cannot collect in one day), I decided to do it in the High Commission in Singapore. As this is my first time, and they change the process quite regularly, I think it's worth a blog. This might help busy Malaysian PRs in SG renewing their passports in the future, especially if in a rush due to work commitments.

The process was smooth enough. If you want to read up on it, it's available here on the official website. http://www.kln.gov.my/web/sgp_singapore/passport_renewal. In a nutshell, this is how it went for me:
Day 1 - Get queue number, submit documents and old passport along with S$124 when queue number called. Took me from 7:40am ~ 8:25am
Day 2 - Collect new passport at 2:30 - 4pm

Day 1

So I arrived at the embassy at 7:40 with all these documents ready:
  • Completely (more on this later) filled IM.42 form (Use Singapore address for part A.7)
  • 2 White-background passport-sized photographs (3.5x5cm)
  • Malaysian IC with photocopy
  • Singapore PR with photocopy
  • Original old passport
  • S$124 exact change
UPDATE:
- Photographs must be taken without teeth visible, else they will ask you to retake.
- Instant photobooth and photocopy machine available if you need them
(thanks mUsiCMeL)

These are the requirements for the most common application, 18 and above, with Singapore long term pass. As these requirements change regularly, I recommend checking the above link to confirm that they are still the same.

There was already a small crowd outside the side gate to the entrance when I arrived, but what they (the people there) didn't tell me is that I needed to change a pass from the guard house at the main gate (maybe because I didn't ask). So off to the guard house I went. I got pass #9. Pretty good for a start, I thought.

The counter doesn't open till 8am. So after the Indian lady guard checked our forms and documents, she seated us in a very orderly fashion towards the left of the hall. Later on, she will ensure that you move to the queue number collection counter in just that order. She's quite bossy by nature, so play along and she'll be an easy one.

This is when I realized that the number on the pass from the guard house doesn't really matter. It is at this step where your position in the queue is determined. So it does pay to come prepared, completely prepared. I was one of the first to verify my complete documents (and sucked up to the guard a little by proudly showing my form to her like a teacher's pet would, hey, don't judge me, I had to rush off to work). When the queue collection counter opened, I walked off with queue #1001. The queue starts from #1000. I'll post the example forms on the notice board here so you can come prepared too (though there's no saying when this will change):

Needless to say, I didn't have to wait much. All I had to wait for was for the actual document handling counter to open. After handing over everything, the lady behind the counter (who happen to be the same one who handed me my queue number back at the other counter) took my left and right thumbprint a couple of times, digitally and once with the traditional stamp pad thingy. And I got me a ticket number to collect me brand new passport tomorrow afternoon! I didn't even have to take time off, and was actually early for work, Surprise!

Day 2

Collection was a very different story. I arrived at 2:50 and went straight to the guard house to exchange for a pass. This time, the pass number is actually the order with which you collect your passport. So my advice for the collection is to arrive as early as you can, and make a beeline straight for the guard house.

Collection itself is a pretty fast process, the line moves at a healthy pace, it was around #50 or so when I arrived, and in 15 minutes the guard was already calling for #81 - #85.

Remember one important thing my Malaysian boss reminded me to do, check all the information on the first page of the passport before signing the acceptance form. He had a bad experience once when they refused to change the info on his passport allegedly because he has already signed. He had to apply for amendment, which is a whole different process again.

So there, my experience of renewing passport at the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore. Hope this helps any Malaysians in Singapore planning to renew their passport but not planning to have a long trip back to Malaysia.

One more thing...

Have this change lately? Is your experience different from this? Feel free to share in the comments section to help other fellow Malaysians in their future passport renewals!

UPDATE 26-Feb-2014: Passport photo is now white background. Included the change above. --Thanks, Yvonne!