i am guy with long hair (hairstylist) from Malaysia, and had spent some effort maintaining it
question is whether i will have to cut my hair for them to accept my photo? i would rather keep my hair if possible

the official website do not have information for guys with stylish/long hair

On Friday, (March 26, 2010) I wanted to go renew my passport at Putrajaya. I should have left at 6.30am but woke up late…very late, at 10.30am. Thank goodness I took leave from work!

That’s because I slept at 4am after going through so many websites and blogs that provided feedback about passport renewal in Malaysia and also using the KIPPAS at Pusat Bandar Damansara. Unfortunately there were more negative comments and it made me worry a lot. Why worry? Because I have to take time off work and its not like I can get leave anytime ok.

I couldn’t make up my mind if it was better to go to Pusat Bandar Damansara or Putrajaya. At 2.30pm, I finally got a hold of myself and left for Putrajaya. My decision was so abrupt and instantaneous that I even left my half-eaten lunch and drink on the table…

On the way, (while waiting for traffic lights and in jam in KL) I called the Immigration Office (03-8880 1070) to enquire and to confirm the location. A sweet, polite voice answered my call at the other end. She asked me where I’m coming from and whether I’d like to go to the nearest office. I told her I’m going to Putrajaya and so she directed me to Putrajaya Precint 15. It is a new branch and you can get the info from the Immigration Office online. The address is at:

Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia,
Cawangan Presint 15,
Bangunan Chancery Place, Presint 15,
W.P Putrajaya.
–Weekdays only (not opened on Sat/Sun)–

**If you use a GPS, you can find “Chancery Place”**

I finally found the location and building at 3.15pm. Parking was free (I don’t think its free for long since I see barriers being erected in the underground car park) and there were plenty of empty parking spaces. The building is like a horse-shoe (U shaped) and the immigration office is on one end of it. It is not a big office. There’s around 60-70 seats; 1 ticket counter; 4 Permohonan counters; 1 Pembayaran counter; 1 collection counter.

After I parked the car, arranged my documents, searched for the lift, waited for the lift and got out of the lift to Aras 1, it was already 3.30pm.

BTW, I already downloaded the form IM.42 from the immigration website last night, completed it and stuck my pictures onto it, too (one pic in front, one at the back). If you’re printing the form out, heed the advice from people to print out on 1 page front and back – not 2 pages. You only need to bring the completed form IM.42 (no need birth cert and no need to insert birth cert no. if you’re renewing like me), 2 recent photographs (3.5cm x 5cm) and photocopy of NRIC (back and front on the same side of a page). Naturally, if you’ve had problems with the law/immigration before, then don’t expect smooth sailing lah. However, if you have no problems then its VERY smooth sailing as what I’ve experienced, which you’ll find out more reading below.

I happend to alight from the other end of the U-shaped building, and had to ask around before arriving outside the Immigration Office at 3.45pm. I walked straight up to the Ticketing counter. The Officer at the counter checked my documents and the gave me a ticket. He was really friendly and chatty. After I got my ticket, I thought, “Ok, here goes…the clock has started ticking!”. I looked around and there were 2 families and 2 individuals waiting; one family at payment counter and one family receiving their passports.

At 3.51pm my number was called and I went up to one of the “Permohonan Kaunter” counters. The Officer checked my form, I passed him my NRIC and then the old passport. He asked for my thumbprint (using ink) and proceeded to ask me for my digital print. There was a minute of silence as I anxiously wiped the ink off my right thumb before I could put it on the biometric finger scanner. Of course, the Officer provided me with tissues.

At 4.02pm I was called to the payment counter. I paid and sat down again. At 4.16pm the collection counter prompted my number and I collected my passport. Now, THAT’s what I call service! Wow! Superb! All done in 31 minutes.

I was soooo relieved after having read so many negative comments from the websites. Maybe the new office had few people, but c’mon Friday afternoon 3.30pm??…I didn’t have any expectations but the reality of actually being able to renew my passport on a late Friday afternoon in 30mins was really beyond me.

I arrived back in my condo at 4.50pm (its faster getting back since already know the way) and prepared for the evening (also writing to you here). I made a damn good decision going to Putrajaya. And I have to convey a hearty SYABAS and thanks to the local immigration service! You are doing very good, doing well and keep up the factastic service lah!

Five Star service!

I also posted the same info on other blogs:
- http://www.bobbyong.com/2009/04/23/malaysian-passport/
- http://www.mrandmrsloh.com/?p=548

Responding to Joanne Yee’s question re: her U.S. visa on an expired passport dated Sept. 18, 09 (if it’s not too late). A valid U.S. visa on an expire passport can still be used to enter to the U.S. so long as the page to which the visa is affixed is not invalidated or mutilated. When entering the U.S., you will need to present both the old passport with the valid U.S. visa and your new valid passport. However, I am not sure what the practice is with Malaysian passport and immigration department, whether they return an old passport to you. A simple justification to them why you need your old passport and why that specific page cannot be tempered should be OK.

It’s important to note that each country has different immigration policies, a valid Schengen visa, for example, will not be acceptable on an expired passport.

@ Moly: a country generally allows its citizen freedom of movement, i.e. that a person can enter and leave his/her country freely, even if the passport is expired. In most cases you will need to be able to establish the relationship between you and your country (that being the proof of citizenship). You may have more problem remaining in Canada with a soon to expire passport.

Where I used to work I dealt with a lot of people from mostly different Asian nationalities traveling to various places. Most countries would require the passport be valid for at least three to six months at the time of entry. Some countries even require that the passport has at least X number of blank pages in the passport before they entertain the idea of letting you in.

A lot of airlines’ websites has open up a program they use to decide whether a passenger is allowed to go on board, you can find out more at: http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/index.jsp

As a general rule, always, always check with the foreign representative you are traveling to on the latest visa requirements, as they may change from time to time, and make sure that your passport is not expiring anytime soon. Just get a new one for the peace of mind if it is expiring in 6 months, especially if it can be done in a matter of a few hours!