TIL: waiting for entire day is still possible!
Last Sunday (16 Dec 2018), my family and I reached UTC KL at 9am, the queue there was quite long already. As I got my number 221, the officer humorously suggested us make good use of our time "go for a movie and come back at 3pm (it was 9.30am)".We did wandering around the area for some quick bites and got back at 3pm, and the queuing number still has around 100 (ours was 221)...
In short, weekend (or maybe just on December) is really a bad time for passport renewal!
Final thought
I did call to UTC service center, they actually know the busy and availability status of different UTC branch.
I wonder how do they know that, but with that information in hand, why don't they make a website or an app to inform the public about which is a better goto branch? Just so the public can make wiser decision and manage their time well without wasting time waiting blindly. (I call it "blindly" because you'll never know the correct eta of your turn, all you could do was just sit still and wait helplessly while looking at the queuing number.)
5 years now, after my expiry of my passport. That also mean I'll have to renew my passport again after my post about Passport renewal in UTC Sentul on 2013.
For this time, I went to UTC KL, it's been 5 years time since my last renewal,
a lot has changed, the efficiency and friendliness level has fairly improved, in no doubt I'm amazed!
In my previous experience on 2013, I remember the hours of waiting time from morning until late afternoon. Today, Friday (maybe it's because of weekdays), I reached UTC immigration office at approximately 5PM.
Due to my damaged IC, a friendly officer quickly guided me to do another step to get it exchanged (usual passport renewal do not need this step).
Seeing queuing ticket number quickly jump from one number to the next one, I am convinced to better stay a bit more focused and wait for my turn instead of doing thing that fully hold my attention (eg. watching movie with headphone on).
Reached at 5pm,
wait for my turn,
present your old last passport,
pay RM200,
and collected my passport at 6.30pm!
One more note, every pass renewal will get 5 years active period,
no more different price tag for different active term.
Which it's better deal than previous RM300 for 5 years active term in my last renewal 5 years ago!
Stuff you need to bring (for renewal)
- bring last passport
- RM200
- bring IC
- bring 1 photocopy of IC (or get photostated one there for 10cents/copy)
- NO NEED passport sized photos (you'll get photo shot on the spot, for free)
Thanks for the efficiency!
Thanks for the everything!
Good job Immigration Department of Malaysia!
