Renewing your Malaysian Passport in just 30 minutes– 21 April 2018

My daughter’s passport expired! My criteria was:-

·  Must go to the immigration department on a weekend, simply because I do not have sufficient leave

·  Should not have queue

·  Avoid “Puasa” month and weeks before and during school holidays

I normally go to Wangsa Maju on a weekday to renew my passport. I will make sure that I start queuing before 7a.m. and get one of the first 10 numbers given out, so that you can collect your new passport before 9a.m. and perhaps go back to work after that.

But this time, I could only choose immigration departments that open on weekends. According to the immigration website, UTC Keramat, UTC Sentul and UTC Pudu are the only offices for Wilayah that open on weekends. I’ve been to UTC Pudu before and there were no numbers left when I arrived in the evening, so we decided on UTC Keramat as it was very close to my home.

I set the alarm clock at 6a.m. and wanted to go and queue for a number but was too tired so decided to abandon the idea. I told my husband, let’s go and check out the place at Keramat after my daughter’s swimming lesson, finishing at 6p.m.

Entrance to UTC Keramat

We arrived UTC Keramat at 6.25p.m. and casually walked around to find that place and we found the counter to give out numbers. I asked the officer, “Do you still have numbers?”. Surprisingly, he said yes and asked me, do you want a number. Luckily, I brought along all the original documents required for the renewal. He checked and said there may be other documents that are required since my husband is a foreigner. Anyway, I was given a number.

Take your number here and present your original and photocopied documents. You won't miss it as you will see the counter prior to going to the entrance of the immigration

Check out the number that I got

I was called immediately and I presented my documents. For Malaysians, it’s simple. You don’t need to fill up any forms now. You just need:-

Adult

·         Original NRIC and a copy of it

·         Original expired passport

Kid

·         Original birth certificate and a copy of it

·         Original expired passport

·         Parent’s original NRIC

·         Original marriage certificate and a copy of it (not sure you need this or not but just bring, in case)

But for a Malaysian mother with a foreign father, the officers want to see the following:-

Malaysian Kid with a Foreign father

·         Original Malaysian birth certificate and a copy of it

·         Original expired passport

·         Original marriage certificate and a copy of it

·         Both parents’ NRIC and passport and copies of it

·         Foreign Parent’s entry permit stamped in the passport  

·         Foreign Parent’s work permit

When I applied for my daughter’s passport for the first time at Wangsa Maju branch, I don’t remember needing to bring all those documents above. All I did was fill in a form (you don’t need to fill in any forms now), MyKid, birth certificate and parent’s NRIC and copies of it. THAT’s ALL!!! But at UTC Keramat, they asked me for all those things above.

Anyway, since there wasn’t any queue, we were happy to comply with their request and my husband went home to get those original documents that we didn’t have. If you did not bring photocopy of your documents, you can make photocopy at this shop. A copy will cost you only RM0.20 (no mark-up unlike some other places that may charge you RM0.50 per copy). 

This shop opens everyday and until 10 p.m. It's just nearby the immigration office. 

The moment we had all the documents we wanted, we went back to see the same officer and he checked to ensure that all was in order. Once in order, he will key into the system and asked for my mobile number to be keyed in as well. Then, he proceeded to take the passport photo. PLEASE REMOVE EARRINGS AND ENSURE THAT YOUR HAIR IS NOT COVERING YOUR FOREHEAD AND SIDES OF YOUR EARS. That’s the requirement for passport photos. The he will print out a form for the parent and kid’s thumbprint.  

Seating and getting ready

Once done, please wait to be called to make payment. After making payment, we waited for 20 minutes and VOILA, passport renewed!! Collect your passport and acknowledge receipt by providing the parent and kid’s thumbprints again!!

That's the counter for collecting your new passport

I told the immigration officer at the payment counter that I did not expect things to be done so fast. He said of all the branches in Wilayah, UTC Keramat is the most quiet one. “CHEN – CHEN – CHEN”. You know where to go next……

So if you are a Malaysian, renewing your passport it is easy at UTC Keramat. You can go and renew at your convenience. Here are the summary of how to make sure you are able to renew your passport in just 30 minutes (or perhaps just being lucky on that day):-

PLEASE BRING ALONG:

Adult

·         Original NRIC and a copy of it

·         Original expired passport

Kid

·         Original birth certificate and a copy of it

·         Original expired passport

·         Parent’s original NRIC

·         Original marriage certificate and a copy of it (not sure you need this or not but just bring, in case)

AT THE IMMIGRATION OFFICE:

·         Submit your documents to the immigration officer for checking and you will be given a number and wait for your turn

·         Hand over your documents at the counter

·         Take photo and sign and thumbprint on the printed form. No filling up of form

·         Wait for your number and make payment

·         Collect your new passport

PHOTO SESSION:

·         Wear dark colours and nothing revealing, otherwise you will be given a shawl for kids or jacket for adults

·         Remove earrings

·         No hair at your forehead and ears

·         SMILE…

PAYMENT:

·         Malaysian (aged 13-59 year old)                                      RM 200.00

·         Senior Citizen (aged 60 year old and above)                    RM100.00

·         Kids (below 12 year old)                                                  RM100.00

The rules and regulations are posted outside of the office:-

Further details:

Pejabat Imigresen Mini UTC Keramat
Kompleks Keramat Mall
Jalan Datuk Keramat
54000 Kuala Lumpur

(opposite Damai Putra LRT station)
Tel:  03 - 4251 1468 / 1469
Fax: 03 - 4251 1414

Office Hours:
Monday - Sunday : 8.30 am - 10.00 pm
(Closed on Public Holiday)

Break: 7.00 pm - 8.00 pm (dinner) & 12.15 pm - 2.45 pm (Friday prayer)

Website: http://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/ms/pasport/pasport-malaysia-antarabangsa.html

Entrance Exam for Primary 1, Kuen Cheng 2 (5 May 2018)

In a follow up to my previous blog at http://onattycan.blogspot.my/2017/03/application-to-kuen-cheng-2-primary.html, this blog will be all about the entrance exam and what to prepare for.

So, after submitting our application to this primary school about a year ago, the moment finally arrived. We arrived at the school early, around 7.05am as we were afraid of the jam and we managed to get a parking space right opposite the school. There were other parents and kids that had arrived earlier than us and all of them were anxiously waiting for the registration.

Upon arrival, we checked for our child’s name (in alphabetical order) on the board and which classroom she had been assigned to. There were 7 classes; classes 1-5 with 32 students each and classes 6-7 with 31 students each.

Check your child's names on the board

At 7.15a.m., the parents were seen lining up in front of the respective class registration tables. At 7.30a.m., parents were registering their children to get the child's number sticker to stick onto their outfit. After registration, everyone went to the school hall. The kids were lining up (sitting) according to their respective assigned group and parents were asked to take a seat for the headmistress’s briefing.

Registration

The school hall

Children lining up in their respective groups

Waiting, waiting, waiting ....sad coz no friends

Once they had all the children, the children were brought to their respective classes and the headmistress started off by welcoming parents and thanking the parents for their application to the school. She spoke in Mandarin and English. The headmistress explained about the school, school’s syllabus, i.e. LINUS programme, co-curricular activities, time table, etc. At the end, there were questions and answers from the parents. The speech was about 1 hour. Then all of us went to the canteen and bought some food and drinks for ourselves and our children for when they are out for a break.

Announcements after announcements, the children were supposed to come out for a break at 10a.m., but it was delayed. We overheard that the exam started late as the teachers needed to calm down the crying children before they could start the exam.

My girl came out at 11.30a.m., feeling sad. She was crying as she wanted her dad to be with her in the classroom. Other children that came out also cried, a few of them. She didn’t want to eat.

At 11.50a.m., all parents needed to send their children back to the respective classroom. Exam for Mathematics started at 12p.m. All finished at 1p.m. HOORAY…..

When I picked her up from her classroom, I noticed that the classroom’s windows were covered with curtains and closed doors with 2 teachers assigned to each class. It may be quite scary for certain kids and can’t blame the kids for being scared inside the room. It’s a proper exam.

Seating position in the classroom

Inside the car, I took the opportunity to ask my girl about the questions from English, BM and Mathematics paper. Here are the following comments (coming from my soon to be 6 year old):-

(a)   BM paper - Construction of sentences. A picture of “bread” was given and students need to construct 2 sentences with regard to “bread”; and

(b)   Mathematics – calculation (add and subtraction). There were Ringgit and Sen.  

Overall, she said the paper was easy!! She could do it.

For the exam, there was no mentioned by the headmistress that the results would be announced. Perhaps, it’s for their own internal assessment of the children.

Conclusion, these are the things that you need to do and bring on the entrance exam day:-

(a)   Prepare your children a year in advance for the exam;

(b)   Sleep early the night before and arrive early for the registration of the entrance exam. There is empty land beside the school, that was open for parents to park their cars;

(c)   Bring stationery and water;

(d)   Prepare some snacks for break time.   

* No documents required for registration. I saw some parents brought the original birth certificate and MyKid. Please check for next year’s requirements.