Visa issues etc
 

Hello people

Used to be on this forum when I was in Malaysia. Sadly due to a monumental cockup on the side of my last sponsor (my college, whom, in their infinite wisdom got me a visa that expired before my exams ended) I ended up overstaying by three months. I was effectively 'deported' from the country (tried to visit other half in Sarawak, got turned around, sent back and surrendered myself to Immigration back in KL for processing etc then got on a plane to Qatar) which was quite upsetting even for me and devastating for my other half.

I'm looking to come back and wondered if anyone could help me clear up any issues there may be due to my unfortunate overstay. I've been out of Malaysia for 6 months now, currently camped out in Qatar trying to put things back together, so I think I should have cleared any blacklist requirements which are 2 days for every 1 day overstayed if I am not mistaken.

However I am also aware that I have the balance of an unpaid bill of about 1500 odd RM with my college (never settled in the rush to get out) which, of course, will cause problems if they have reported it.

Also there is the minor issue that I went to Qatar not the UK as I was 'supposed' to (you submit a ticket showing you are going back to your country when you pay any fines to get the exit visa) since, well, there is nothing for me in the UK and it would be a wasted flight. I did speak to the Immigration guy who handled my case at the time about going back there and he said it should be no issue so long as they saw the UK ticket so I doubt it's a problem (or if they can even tell).

Anyway, questions;

1. How would I confirm my status with Malaysian Immigration? I know there is a blacklist and I've tried the Embassy where I am staying (in Qatar) and they were about as much use as a chocolate teapot (can't tell lah, have to go to Malaysia and ask lah), similarly phoning Immigration themselves results in going around in circles or speaking to someone rude. So I was wondering what I should do to actually see what, if any, problem they may have with me coming back.

2. After finding out the above how do I resolve it? I assume I will get some sort of vague instruction from Immigration so perhaps someone knows a good agent or has dealt with something similar before.

3. Is anyone aware of overstay etc affecting, for example, applications for PR or business visas? Despite our somewhat strained relationship I do get on very well with Malaysia and would, eventually, like to settle with my business over there.

As always thanks again in advance for your help. Teh Tarik is on me when I get back.

Re: Visa issues etc
 

Reading that you seem to be your own worst enemy acting like to typical 'bad' ex pat.

I hope you do get sorted and that someone will be able to assist but please in future follow the guidelines.

Re: Visa issues etc
 

If it was me, I think first thing would be to clear debts at the college. I am sure you can do a bank transfer? Then get someone to acknowledge that your debts are paid - email whatever, so you can wave that piece of paper about, if needed.

Contact the Immigration guy who was handling your case and tell him all about it, and see what he suggests.

Re: Visa issues etc
 

Agree; ultimately I should have checked (exams and all that) and worst thing is during all my time in Malaysia I didn't have so much as a speeding ticket and got on with things, exemplary expat all round if I don't say so myself! I'm looking at claiming off the college (they are really going to regret teaching me law) as they cocked up hugely; both getting the wrong visa and then telling lies to both me and the Immigration service as I tried to sort it out. But mostly I just want to be back... being back in the sandpit is depressing and I'm aware enough to realize that rocking the boat in Malaysia without Dato level protection is probably unwise ;)

Re: Visa issues etc
 

Thanks for the advice, know anyone who's been down this route before? I do need to find a friendly Immigration person if anyone has a contact up there or knows an agent but they are pretty hard to find.

And while I do shudder at paying those *&%$(*&%@ another sen, come to think of it they have yet to even tell me if I am in debt to them, but you're probably right, unpaid debt is pretty big in Malaysia.

Re: Visa issues etc
 

How about asking the college to give you some help with your return? (Once you've paid you debt of course!)

Sorry if it's a daft suggestion - but since they cocked it up so badly for you they may be willing to help - or at least be able to point you in the right direction for some help.

Re: Visa issues etc
 

Good reply.

Maybe get things sorted before you go after the college who might have connections which you don't.

Re: Visa issues etc
 

Hey, so what happened? Did you resolve this issue? Were you able to get back in Malaysia without any probs? Please let me know as I am facing a similar situation.

Regards
Mandy

Re: Visa issues etc
 

Hi Mandy

Well first of all let me wish you good luck! It can be a hard thing to sort and depends on a lot of factors, ranging from who you are to the people you deal with... in fact sometimes it seems the barriers to your re-entry have very little to do with the visa issue you had in the first place ;-)

My first bit of advise is to find the answer to this question; 'what did I do wrong?'. Did you simply overstay by a few days? Or have you got unpaid bills? Work this out first.

Then you have to answer the question 'what does Malaysia say I did wrong?'. This can be something different to the first question, for example it may have been reported that, in your flight/deportation from the country you forgot to return your house keys and as such there is a police report for theft against your name.

This second question is the hardest to answer and the most vital. I'd start by approaching the local Malaysian embassy and stating your case, they may be able to give you a quick answer. Unfortunately in my case the Malaysian Embassy consists of a shed and is dwarfed by the Malaysian Ambassador's house (and three mercs) so they were not much help. Your next step is therefor to contact the Malaysian embassy in your home country, I'm going to assume this is the UK for you, and again, state your case. The Malaysian mission in the UK tends to be pretty good but you may have to keep bugging them as they have a tendency not to answer extensions/emails. I've got various phone numbers of people there if you need them.

Once you've worked out what Malaysia thinks you've done wrong then... well it's a new kettle of fish and tends to be a case of simply following the instructions given to you by the Embassy. Malaysia tends not to ban people permanently, it does however depend upon what you did. If for example it was a simple overstay of about three months you are generally classed as a 'yellow case' and allowed to come back pretty soon. Anything above that get's more and more serious but you start to really push it if you overstayed by more than six months which can carry bans of several years. It also depends on whether a) they caught you or b) you surrendered yourself, the former option carries a lot more weight against you coming back in. Just keep plugging away at your Embassy contact and see where it gets you!

I've got to stress again however for all expats that Malaysia really really really doesn't like overstaying. You can launder money or run an illegal casino but whatever you do, never ever overstay your visa!

Re: Visa issues etc
 

Hey, I appreciate your reply.
This is actually about my bf, he's American, and he overstayed in Malaysia for 8 days, and they asked him to leave and blacklisted him for 1 year. And now I just want to know if he could get back in Malaysia.

I've gone to the Malaysian Immigration and they've only given me vague answers and cannot say with certainty if he would be allowed back in. They're really not much help at all. Disappointing.

Re: Visa issues etc
 

No prob, glad I could kinda help.

Ah, well, that sounds like what I was talking about; your ban all depends upon multiple factors and at the end of the day the person giving the ban out.

Was he, for example, caught at the immigration desks at the airport or did he go down to Putrajaya, stand around all day, and pay a fine to get an exit visa? The former will probably be classed as more severe than the later, it's the whole 'did you surrender yourself or did we catch you' thing. However one year for 8 days seems a bit excessive in my experience, it tends to be two days for every one day over; maybe they just didn't like Americans that day!

I'd approach the Embassy in the US, Immigration themselves are, as you say, not much help at all. Chances are that unless he can get a letter of invitation from a well connected employer or similar, he's stuck waiting the whole year I'm afraid :-S

Re: Visa issues etc
 

Well he got caught as he was exiting Malaysia at Johor Bahru (down South) and entering Singapore to do the visa run as soon as he realized he had overstayed.
Yeah I guess the Immigration people at JB really were in a pissy mood that day :(

Re: Visa issues etc
 

So are you back in Malaysia? What happened in your case if I may ask?

Re: Visa issues etc
 

Sorry, didn't see you'd replied, normally I get email updates.

If he got caught that is why he got a year's ban... all there is to it sadly. If you surrender it is 2 days for every 1 overstayed, they just get pissed off if they 'catch' you. But at least he wasn't detained for trial, count your blessings and all that!

My case is still 'ongoing' and in the end I chose to just set my office up in Brunei and take it from there; at least I was in the right part of the world etc! TBH I expect my case is 'resolved' so sometime I'll just go up the border and see if they let me in, that's if I don't get a straight answer now I have (sort of) found the right people to speak to. Have you tried phoning the Immigration control room or even, on the off chance they will reply, emailing them?

Re: Visa issues etc
 

Dont Worry ...be Happy... send ur mail...i get u a way in...:thumbup: