MM2H: how long did it take for you?

Post from 20 January on another thread

http://dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?New … Vr9lwhzmss

The Director of Tourism Sabah Mr. Mohammaddin seems to be passing the buck..."not our fault"...it's the Ministry of Immigration that's holding up the 3000 applications.

http://www.theborneopost.com/2019/01/10 … ohamaddin/

floaton wrote:

Gravitas wrote:

Last approvals seem to be September 2018 (date of letter).

It was reported this week in media there are 3000 applications in a queue

Which media was this in and did they give a reason as to why?

Copy in your browser:
Approval of MM2H prog under KDN jurisdiction – Mohamaddin

This should be in theborneopost.

Already 8 month since applied and still nothing   Nobody seams to know when will issue back approval for applications !!

I'm in the same situation, with 7 months now passed (37xxx). This wouldn't be so bad if they would only be a tad more transparent, and give everyone an idea of what is going on. If they are about to terminate the program completely that would be good to know, so the people waiting can refocus and try to find an alternative. Currently it's like being stuck in limbo.

I've spoken to my agent, they aren't receiving any information either it seems.

Yeah I feel the same way, for a program that was meant to "attract" wealthier tourists/retirees, the application itself doesn't compare to similar programs in other countries.

Either way we are committed by now 8 months and waiting, might as well sit it out and see if they'll continue with it.

But since nobody that applied after may has received their mm2h yet, I imagine they still have a huge workload by the time they start approving the applications again.

Hello there, for what is worth, here's my input. I applied back end of Aug 2018, up until 2 weeks ago Status showed as "Received for verification", now it shows as "Pending Committee Approval" My application number starts with 38xxx

Any idea on how long it should take from now ?

Thanks a lot for your comments

topazar wrote:

Hello there, for what is worth, here's my input. I applied back end of Aug 2018, up until 2 weeks ago Status showed as "Received for verification", now it shows as "Pending Committee Approval" My application number starts with 38xxx

Any idea on how long it should take from now ?

Thanks a lot for your comments

Fwiw my status has been pending committee approval for 3,5 months. The issue I believe is that the committee hasn't met for a while now, supposedly all the applications after 37000 are on hold, or so I've been told.

Hi, when you application is submitted?

ngmh wrote:

when you application is submitted?

It was officially accepted on June 6; this is 8 months ago.

Thanks for your input.

Well, I thought this change in Status meant a progress , seems like not meaningful. My Agent told me the Committee in KL is convening by mid February, let's see IF they do so, how many applications are approved. She knew nothing though, about the backlog on Applications # 37XXX and above

I'll keep you posted if  know of any change. Cheers

We went to the Ministry Of Tourism, Art & Culture (MTAC) in Putrajaya today. We've been told that our documents were approved by their office at the Committee on January 20 and our file was passed to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

We went to the the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kementerian Dalam Negeri, or KND), Komplex D.  They checked our application number and din't find it. They made several calls and told us that our documents actually went from MTAC straight to the Police Department for police records verification.
After this is done at the Police Department, documents will go to MTAC's Immigration Department and then to KND for the Minister to sign the approval.

Really kafka bureaucracy nightmares...

I am only telling you what we've been told and you can see that even MTAC personnel doesn't know where the documents are. There is no centralized tracking system.

So, we expect  that the process may take many more months.

That is Malaysia :-(
So, what is your status under MM2H's web site?

ngmh wrote:

That is Malaysia :-(
So, what is your status under MM2H's web site?

expat000 wrote:

We went to the Ministry Of Tourism, Art & Culture (MTAC) in Putrajaya today. We've been told that our documents were approved by their office at the Committee on January 20 and our file was passed to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

We went to the the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kementerian Dalam Negeri, or KND), Komplex D.  They checked our application number and din't find it. They made several calls and told us that our documents actually went from MTAC straight to the Police Department for police records verification.
After this is done at the Police Department, documents will go to MTAC's Immigration Department and then to KND for the Minister to sign the approval.

Really kafka bureaucracy nightmares...

I am only telling you what we've been told and you can see that even MTAC personnel doesn't know where the documents are. There is no centralized tracking system.

So, we expect  that the process may take many more months.

That is Malaysia :-(
So, what is your status under MM2H's web site?

ngmh wrote:

So, what is your status under MM2H's web site?

It is : Pending Committee Approval

Thanks for the update, sorry to hear i didn't produce better news though. Sounds like a mess! FYI my status is "Pending Committee Approval" as well, application approved July 3rd.

How long was your process from the day of accepting all of your documents by the office to issuing the letter of approval,please do let me know as per,its urgent please do get in touch.

Well I think it's pretty clear by this thread that the normal time would be 5-7 months, but at the moment nobody knows due to the implemented changes.

Correct, we've been waiting 8+ months. I think everyone who applied in June or after that is "on hold".
But it would be nice of course if anyone who sees a change in their application would reply in this thread.

Patrick_J wrote:

the normal time would be 5-7 months

It was "normal" for the applications made before June 2018. All later applications are processing much slower now, because more bureaucratic steps were added last summer or fall.

My application number was 36..., submitted back in May 2018 and still waiting, waiting and still waiting.
Status remains at "Pending Committee Approval" for quite some time now.

Has anyone receive Visa approvals with registration numbers between 36000 - 36999 and if so.  please advise dates will be great? Thanks!

Some of the ongoing delay is probably due to the government seeking to bring all immigration under one department so east and west Malaysia processes are aligned.

Thanks for the input, but is it a fact that all approvals will be moved from Motac to Immigration Dept.?
I am afraid in this process some submissions might be messed up. Just my unfounded feeling.
My agent is going next week to Motac as soon as I know something different I will post.
Bregards

Gravitas wrote:

Some of the ongoing delay is probably due to the government seeking to bring all immigration under one department so east and west Malaysia processes are aligned.

I think the lady at the Ministry of Tourism in Kuching who is currently doing a minor re-write of their rules for MM2H, who I spoke to very recently, would take exception to your suggestion. Every sign is that Sarawak will stick to doing it their way.

Suggest she and you  read the news.

The idea is not to take away autonomy but to have records in one place. Hence the use of the word 'aligned'

The Federal government has pledged that  there will be no illegal immigrants in Malaysia from 2020 and thereby need to engage east Malaysia in that process.

topazar wrote:

is it a fact that all approvals will be moved from Motac to Immigration Dept.?

When we talked at  the Ministry Of Tourism, Art & Culture (MTAC)  and also at the Ministry of Home Affairs two weeks ago, there was no indication that there is any reorganization going on. At least, they don't talk about it to us.

We've been told at MTAC that our documents were approved by their office at the Committee on January 20 and our file was passed to the Ministry of Home Affairs. We filed in June 4 and we've got an approval at MTAC in 7.5 months instead of finishing the whole process in 3 months as they promised.

At the the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kementerian Dalam Negeri, or KND), they checked our application number and din't find it. They made several calls and told us that our documents actually went from MTAC straight to the Police Department for police records verification. After the verification is done at the Police Department, documents will go to MTAC's Immigration Department and then to KND for the Minister to sign the approval.

So, we may wait several more months for the whole process to be finished.

Gravitas wrote:

Some of the ongoing delay is probably due to the government seeking to bring all immigration under one department so east and west Malaysia processes are aligned.

What is the source?

Latest news published today

https://www.edgeprop.my/content/1482212 … -approvals

Hello everybody
I've got the MM2H on Oct 2017 did any one know if we can get ID or any document in order not to kerp our passports in our pocket during next visit to KL
thanks for your advice

They stopped issuing Mykad to Mm2h holders several years ago. Just carry a photocopy of identification details and visa pages.

This question was raised at one of the regular UK consular meetings when Mm2h representatives were present and they confirmed there were no plans to reinstate them.

Gravitas wrote:

Suggest she and you  read the news.

The idea is not to take away autonomy but to have records in one place. Hence the use of the word 'aligned'
The Federal government has pledged that  there will be no illegal immigrants in Malaysia from 2020 and thereby need to engage east Malaysia in that process.

MM2H issues do not contribute to illegal immigration and are totally different issues. Illegal immigrants do not travel freely from East to West Malaysia.

expat000 wrote:

Gravitas wrote:

Some of the ongoing delay is probably due to the government seeking to bring all immigration under one department so east and west Malaysia processes are aligned.

What is the source?

Gravitas wrote:

Latest news published today

https://www.edgeprop.my/content/1482212 … -approvals

I didn't find in your source a mention that the government in KL is seeking a way " to have records in one place" for West and East Malaysia.
East Malaysia has its own immigration and allows only one month travel visa to Western Malaysians.  MM2H in East Malaysia has several different requirements than in the west. Why would East Malaysia like to keep their MM2H files in one place with West Malaysia?
Whatever they do, they need to work on making the process more efficient. At this time, West Malaysia is loosing money with this program.

Read around the subject more widely and you should pick up useful information.

I think you have misinterpreted the word Aligned amongst others.

Of course one article does not cover all aspects.

Understanding the Federal versus State roles is important. The move is toward more centralised data and transparency.  It's the peninsular Mm2h that is under scrutiny.

The purpose of the moratorium is better general immigration control. This is a primary goal. Mm2h just fits into the bigger picture.

Expat000, many thanks for your detailed info.My agent went to Putrajaya and basically confirms your findings. She was told that some applications submitted in May/June 2018 are yet to be approved.She also mentioned that Head Immigration is re-vetting some of the "Pending Committee Approvals". These delays also comprise some Residence Permits, as she is dealing also with these ones besides MM2H. In her opinion a thorough reviewing of the Process is being carried out right now at Immigration Dept, which for us, applicants, translates into undetermined delays. I re-asked, does this mean a few months or a year ? Not a clear cut answer I might say...

Some relief soon to the bottleneck????  My papers should be received by Alter Domus any day now.....

https://www.thesundaily.my/local/faster … e-EE600006

Sound like a good update as people can see the light from the end of the tunnel within a few months.

If I understand well the article, this is meant to clear the backlog at MTAC , but how fast will KDN be in the final green-lighting ? Just hope a backlog at MTAC does not translate into a backlog at KDN...

Does the article say the setting up of a task force will take place from March to July 2019? Would that mean 4-5 more months before any action?

Quote
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture will set up a task force to speed up the approval process of the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.

Its minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi said the task force would have representatives from various government agencies, including the Immigration Department and police. Its setup is expected to commence in March and will be finalised by July.

This is about the Sarawak MM2H

Obaydullah wrote:

The Sarawak MTACYS webpage in an update on 22 February says: 'The S-MM2H Coordination committee is now reviewing the requirements and regulations for the programme.' Can you guess what the new requirements and regulations may look like?

https://mtacys.sarawak.gov.my/page-0-17 … -MM2H.html

Tightening of background financial chscks

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia … me/1728776