obaydullah

So, there would be no 'permanent' sponsorship in Sarawak! Sponsors can veto applicants/SMM2H recipients any moment. Strange indeed that I cannot understand. Never mind, I will then need a lifelong sponsor.

OriginalSunshine

obaydullah

Hi OriginalSunshine, I agree with you 100 percent and want to stay as a retired person in Sarawak for a long time. But how can I get a long-term visa to stay there? The Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka doesn't provide more than 30 days of visa at a time, and it is almost impossible for me to get such a visa and fly to Sarawak and back home frequently. And without staying there for a long time, I cannot make friends with local Sarawakians to get a sponsor.

Macsta

Interesting, I believe under the MM2H financial requirements a 'freeloader' (by its traditional definition) would not apply to any expat, but your comments suggests this is not the case in Sarawak. Has Sarawak suffered from a 'freeloaders' issue and in what form?

Epicurious

You know, those damn freeloaders who put 100,000RM minimum into a local bank account and pay for every single thing they use when they deign to come and spend their retirement savings in Sarawak.

Actually Immigration do not care if the person actually lives in Sarawak. I know of one person who has sponsored several members of the Indonesian branch of their family, but none of them lives in Sarawak.

the troubadour

Freeloaders? What does this mean? How can one be a freeloader once fulfilling monetary and other requirements? Does anyone seriously think that the Sarawak government care much how many friends one has in Sarawak?
I for one though would not be interested to place my 'fate' in the hands of a stranger, by requiring their on going agreement to act as sponsor in order to remain in Sarawak.

I started to write a thread on impressions when in Sarawak a few months back. For whatever reason never finished it though, more the shame. Always better when these things are fresh in the mind. But my conclusion was thoroughly enjoyable as it was, Kuching probably wouldn't be a preferred option at least at this time. Obviously two weeks in the state was hardly time enough to come to a conclusive conclusion, but more likely go with the mainland, if decided to go ahead with MM2H.

OriginalSunshine

OriginalSunshine

RedApe

You are not allowed to work on a MM2H or Sarawak My Second Home Visa.

And contrary to what Original Sunshine says Sarawak Tourism specifically points out that if one obtains the Sarawak My Second Home Visa that one can live anywhere in Malaysia (the MM2H does not grant unlimited stay time in Sarawak, however...it's a 90-day pass). And both the MM2H and Sarawak M2H do not require residency in Malaysia at all. Neither the Ministry of Immigration nor Tourism really did not seem that interested in whether I intended to live here, how long, etc. It certainly was not a requirement for getting the visa.

I am very "pro-Sarawak" and have even suggested ways that the State government could softly encourage people to spend more within Sarawak to contribute to the local economy. In fact the current structure of the Sarawak M2H, as Original Sunshine points out, doesn't really do that with the Fixed Deposit. While the Fixed Deposit allows withdrawals for property purchase, CHILD educational expenses, and healthcare costs down to a certain level (and once allowed locally made auto purchase...but no more)...those reductions were, in fact rarely used as they didn't apply to most people. So the FD remained static and simply was taken out of the country with accrued interest.

I've suggested that the Sarawak M2H allow withdrawals from the fixed deposit for the purchase of locally produced items and services. This could include things like purchase of tours, event tickets, handicrafts, art work, locally produced books, home or yard maintenance or improvement, restaurant bills, adult educational fees at local schools (Malay, Mandarin/Hokkein or Bidayuh Lessons), give to local charities, etc. Anything locally produced. They could limit it to a certain amount annually, or require enough for emergency costs be kept in (but logically this money is still only accessible once the applicant leaves, except for health emergencies). The FD really can't be argued as an "emergency fund".

If people could draw down the Fixed Account then they would not need to live on as tight of a budget, could spend more locally, etc.

I've also suggested that Sarawak M2H recipients be allowed to invest in local businesses...spurring entrepreneurial enterprises. I don't understand why some large corporation from abroad can do this...but a person who lives locally and sees a hardworking local with a promising idea that needs startup money and assistance cannot?

And to work part-time (20%) in certain areas where they have the necessary qualifications and are not taking away the position from a qualified Sarawakian. The demand for English teachers and tutors is growing immensely, and there are certainly specialists who can teach other things (ranging from specialized engineering skills to a one-off course on biosynthesis of proteins using CRISPR). Thus it would not take a FT job away from a Malaysian (it's unlikely that someone from the peninsula would immigrate for such "bit work") but fill niches for either brief or limited positions with specialized skills. Of course the approval from the government would be there, too.Currently a SM2H or MM2H visa holder has to drop their visa and get a work visa for such jobs.

These changes would actually encourage Sarawak M2H participants to stay longer, participate more, and spend more (externally earned) money in Sarawak.

OriginalSunshine

Jimooi18

spouse of scouse

BE members don't give private immigration advice - if you post your questions on the forum then everyone can benefit from any information provided, and the information can be reviewed by other members for accuracy.

RedApe

No, in fact it's almost impossible. Your health check-up will almost always be a different date than your sponsorship documents, or your personal statement. But I'd avoid submitting anything too old (particularly the health statement). Any proof of pension income should be the last three months.
If you are applying by the Fixed Deposit option then you'll need to submit that after you receive the Letter of Conditional Approval from Sarawak Immigration.

Sent you a Personal Message.

Epicurious

I'll have to differ with you on that point. All of the Kuching banks I went to and MoTAC told me that the FD has to be in place before SMM2H application. You need to get a letter from Dr Rosin at MoTAC, take it to the bank, open an account, fund it with the required amount and get a statement of balance, all before you submit your forms to Immigration.

RedApe

I should have been more specific. There seems to be two pathways to approval. One is to submit your package via the Ministry of Tourism who go through it and will give you a Letter to Open a Fixed Account. Banks seem anxious to get Fixed Accounts.

The other pathway is to go directly through immigration. They even have a flow-chart indicating these two options. http://www.mtacys.sarawak.gov.my/upl...0PROCEDURE.pdf

Did you actually accomplish establishing the fixed account THAT way? How did they know if you had actually obtained your visa, as that is a requirement for retaining a fixed account? Did they ask you to return with your passport and visa with the threat they'd cancel your account if you did not get the visa?

I tried to accomplish the MoT method with a REGULAR bank account and told by EVERY bank (I went to eight) that I needed to wait until I got the Conditional Letter or Visa from Immigration. I had the Letter from MoT but to no avail.