I was away in Penang for the last 4 days. My maid’s passport is going to expire in July 2007 and her work permit will be expired in Sept 2006. In order to renew her work permit, we were advised by the maids’ agency to renew her passport first.
As this would be the first time for us to renew her passport, I checked their website and found this. Perpanjangan paspor. Not really understand the requirement, I called up the Indonesian Embassy in KL(the general line was so difficult to get through that I was so tempted to call the Ambassador) and was asked to prepare the following:
1. Original passport and to keep a photocopy for ourselves
2. 4 colored passport sized photographs (must have a red backdrobe)
3. Photocopy of the employer’s IC (my hubby’s)
4. RM25
"Come before 8 am, we start work at 9am, first come, first serve." the lady on the phone told me politely when I ask whether there will be a long queue.
With all the items ready, I took a day off to look after my 2 Js so that hubby can send her to the embassy located in Jalan Tun Razak, KL. They were a bit late and left the house at 8.00 am and reached there almost 9.15 am, no thanks to the KL traffic jam. They took a number and there were more than 500 people before them! They patiently waited and by the time it was their turn, it was almost 3.00pm.
The pegawai checked all the documents and hubby almost pengsan when he told them this, "Alamat majikan ialah Penang, maid recruit dari Penang dan permit buat dekat Penag, you kena renew passport dekat Penang punya Consulate." What the heck! What’s the relationship between the permit and passport? Permit is issued by Malaysian Imigration Office and passport is by the Indonesian Embassy. Don’t they have online system? Do we have to go all the way to Penang to renew her passport? Yes, that was what they said to hubby. Hubby didn’t argue (I would have if I were there). Come on lah. It really doesn’t make sense at all.
Looks like no choice, we headed for our sweet kampung in Permatang Tinggi (mainland Penang). I have to take 2 days leave this time. And the following day, hubby brought my maid to the Indonesian Consulate General in Penang. In contrast to the KL embassy, there were only 2 person in front of them when they took the number.
When the pegawai check their documents, hubby got another shock when he said, "The photographs cannot be used. Your maid is wearing a round T-shirt in the photo. She should be wearing a shirt with collar." The heck again. Why didn’t that guy in the Embassy in KL told us when he screened through our items. Then they were asked to go to the photo studio next door to take instant photographs. Luckily my maid was wearing a collared t-shirt at that time, otherwise they may have to make another trip there. Having settled everything, they were told to come back in a week time to collect the new passport.
The next time you want to renew the passport of your Indonesian staff, make sure you have the following:
1. Original passport and keep a photocopy for record
2. 4 colored passport sized photographs, with red backdrobe and make sure the person wears a collored shirt/blouse.
3. Photocopy of the employer’s IC. Make sure you renew the passport at the embassy or the consulat general at the state where you recruit your maid. They have the Embassy in KL, and 4 Consulate General in Penang, Johor, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. Check with the embassy if you are not living in any of these states.
4. RM25 (hubby ended up paying more when he asked the "pegawai" to help him to fill in the forms)
Err… be sure to call them again before you go over. Requirement may change from time to time, we don’t know.
