paulo69

I'm a UK man living in Thailand for the past seven years. I recently met a Malaysian person, and the attachment has developed, but marriage route to visa is impossible. I'm 59. My income from banks and pension taken early is about 7000MR a month.

I have an MBA and several other tickets. I am still involved a little in TEFL (have all the certs, incl. IELTS testing), but now only work part-time via internet. In Thailand, I don't need to work much. At a push, I could return to Uni teaching in Thailand, but at 59 I'm quite old. I know the KL area quite well now, and I reckon part-time (or any) work might be hard to get, despite my experience.

Anyway, the question is: Move to Malaysia? How?

I found a website which showed that there were about five ways to immigrate. Professional person, working visa, and a few more. MM2H was not shown--I am wondering whether it still exists. I have been advised that, if it does exist, it is more strict about the money stuff, which has gone up compared to previous years. I have about 430,000gbp in offshore banks, but only about half of that is in easy access accounts (I'm giving that detail because I'm not sure what MM2H asks for).

Interestingly, I have a Brit friend who lives in KL with his partner, but cannot afford MM2H and cannot get work. He has existed for about 6 years by flying out every three months to BKK or SPore for 2-3 days, and flying back to KL. I can't believe that he can do this, but he does, and he has never been stopped at KLIA. That could be an option while I settle--is it legal... or a grey area?

So--can anyone advise the best way to move to Malaysia? I'm not sure that I have enough cash for MM2H, and I don't have a job lined up.

Apologies if this is old ground. I'm new to this site, and new to the idea of actually moving to KL. All advice, formal or informal, or PM, will be gratefully received.

Paulo.

Davita

Hi Paulo and welcome as it is your first post.
May I suggest you refrain from searching using the word immigration. None of the visas you are suggesting mean immigration...they are visas which permit residency. Immigration means eventually becoming a Citizen.
The MM2H route is really simple and, with GPB 430,000 as an asset, with a little manipulation I have no doubt you can apply successfully. However, with a few exceptions, MM2H does not permit being employed in Malaysia.
The advent of internet work is a grey area and probably under the radar as far as the above restriction...who will know unless reported.

There is a Gov't website that explains MM2H and a forum where all aspects of MM2H are freely discussed by those who have one, and those in process to get one.

IMO the MM2H visa is extremely generous and not difficult to achieve. At your age it is required to set-up a fixed deposit of MYR150,000 in a bank in Malaysia, in your name but with a lien to MM2H, the interest is payable to you.
The visa lasts 10 years and is renewable. It permits in & out for any lengths of time and the recipient can buy property, with some restrictions. It is also tax efficient as any income derived outside Malaysia is tax exempt.

Sorry, I cannot help with other visas...maybe others will chip-in.
Good luck.

InVinoVeritas

Hi Paulo and welcome to the forum.

MM2H is alive and kicking and there are plenty of support websites - just Google MM2H and you'll find them. The official (but not necessarily the most helpful) is www.mm2h.gov.my/index.php/en/

You easily meet the capital requirements but you're a bit light on the monthly income requirement which is 10,000RM per month but you can maybe find a way to top this up with income from capital. You'll need to prove this income over a 3 month period so it may be you'll need to wait before applying.

There are plenty of agents who can help with the application (for a fee) which can be done from overseas.

You've come to the right place as there plenty of people on this forum who have a more detailed knowledge than I have.

Regards IVV

paulo69

Thanks to both of you.

Although I would not propose the 3 monthly repeat Visa option (too risky once settled?), it may be useful to do this for 6-9 months while I tie up loose ends and apply. Does anybody have experience of this?

It may be possible to "show" capital as income by making transfers for a short time. Presumably the deposit of 150k is not included for monthly income, or is it?

It seems that there might be some element of 'flexibility' in MM2H, if an understanding agent is found.

Can anybody recommend a forum which answers specific Qs? The MM2H seems very complex initially.

Finally, I have BUPA in Thailand. Is it possible to convert this to BUPA Malaysia?
Is it a requirement to take out Insurance?

Paulo

Davita

good luck and ask anything.

paulo69

Thx again. Re. the website, I was only trying to find out which one people found most useful, rather than look at all.

Re the "3 month visa"--yes, I refer to the 90 day tourism visa stamped at the airport. My friend has a UK pport but has no capital for MM2H and no degree or desirable skills. He needs to stay in KL, so he flies out after 90 days and flies in again. He has done this back-to-back at least 16 times. I am, frankly, quite amazed...because he must show up on the computer at Immigration. Even in Thailand, which is not a beacon of virtue, this could not be done.

Evidently, MM2H is a better and more secure option, although this "grey area" seems to exist (?). It could be useful while waiting for MM2H but seeking property and tie-ing up loose ends over 6-12 months. Is my friend the only person in Malaysia who plays the system like this?

Perhaps there is some laxity because long-stayers contribute to the economy etc?

I am very surprised that he is able to do this. I neither condone nor condemn, because it allows his relationship to continue.

Paulo

bakedbean

Hi Paolo. If you want to pursue MM2H, there's a Read Me topic right at the top of this Malaysia section. There are some helpful links in there too, though I think the most important ones, the MM2h gov website and the MM2H my2home site has already been mentioned above.

Yes some folks do visa runs for a long while and get away with it. Some don't get away with it. I have a friend in KL suburbs who visa ran for donkey's years then got a "spouse" visa recently.

Another couple, who were struggling with MM2H requirements, got a good grilling from immigration many times and they ended up back in Europe. So you take a chance with long term visa runs.

paulo69

Thanks BB. Sounds like the luck of the draw. My friend has done runs for 5-6 years because he is hitched. But, he is in a same-sex hitch, so I guess that spouse visas don't happen. Plus, he has no way the cash for MM2H. Must be awful if you don't know your fate when you fly in next time.

I guess that the compromise between a tourist visa and MM2H is a work visa. I believe that there is some sort of extended stay visa as well. Is it possible to extend a tourist visa to 6 months or one year by just applying? Or is there some other type of visa?

Thailand has retirement extension visas (annual), but the income proof and/or bank deposit is 'smaller'. I am guessing that the malay equivalent is MM2H. I can't find any other compromise, but I am a total newbie apart from 5-6 stays in KL.

Paulo

bakedbean

I had the Thai retirement visa before. It's an easy one to get but you do have to report to immigration every 90 days (unless rules have changed recently). That visa goes through Thai immigration.

The Malaysian MM2H is different. Not as easy to get but you do get 10 years renewable (bit different to 90 days) and it goes through Tourism I.e. They do actually want you.

A lot of your questions have been covered on here recently. Suggest you either browse through the forum and have a good read, or do a search (search box is up on top right).

InVinoVeritas

I'm sure Bakedbean would be able to advise but I think it would quite wrong to assume that the way rules are applied in Malaysia bear any resemblance to the way they are (or aren't) in Thailand.