Verbose visa-giving

"verbiage" - an excessive number of words used to express an idea. -verbose -verbosity




Verbose visa-giving

Every time I travel to Singapore to renew my visa, I always have a tough time re-entering Malaysia. I've never had any problems with the Singapore side, but exiting and entering Malaysia sometimes feels like trying to part the slim sea between these two countries.

The venturesome immigration official at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex flips through every page of my passport, as though trying to find a fault with my international movements.

I'm asked various questions about what I'm doing in Malaysia, the perfectly viable validity of my last visa, and why I don't just renew my pass at the Kuantan Immigration.

"Erm, because I want to visit Singapore...I have friends here (I really do)...because the Kuantan Immigration tells me I have to leave the country after each time I get a sticker from them..."

It seems that there are so many various immigration policies in conflict between Kuantan and the CIQ in Johor Bahru, that it causes great confusion to the innocent traveller. Or, the officials don't really know how to do their job. I'd side with the latter.

After I've been questioned, the onslaught of verbiage between the officer and the boss, whom he has consulted, could last as long as 5-10 minutes while I stand at the counter, waiting.

The end result is always the same: I receive my 3 months visa which could have been done with much less verbosity, Singapore-style, in say 30 seconds.

Since 2002, I've filled an entire passport and am half-way through another.

How many passports/pages have you got through in your lifetime?

Immigration

"immolate" - kill or offer as a sacrifice, especially by burning




Immigration

I have a love-hate relationship with Malaysian immigration, somewhere in the ratio of 10:90.

It's been almost five years since I've been living in Kuantan, and I still have to leave the country every three months as a condition of my social visit pass. It remains difficult for me to obtain any kind of longer visa. I was told recently that I may apply for a renewable 6-month visa, but that it would set me back RM1,700!

On previous enquiries the sum has been set at RM2,000, requiring tons of paperwork, the necessity of finding employment, an employers' letter etc etc... Far too much of a hassle.

Being new to the ordeal of leaving a country, the immigration officials looked dark and scary as they sat at their counters, rigid face, eyeing me suspiciously. Now five years on, the fear has departed as I've realised the rights of entry I possess.

So I've been travelling to Singapore regularly, looking forward to visiting that beautiful country each time.

The Kuantan immigration has been particularly helpful to me during one pickle I was put in, but I've had an abundance of difficulties exiting and entering Malaysia through the Johor Bahru (now known as CIQ) complex. At times I wondered if they wanted to immolate me! I won't detail too many of my immigration complaints, but if you follow this link you read of a couple of my experiences.

Has anyone had troubles/experiences entering or exiting certain countries?