MM2H: how long did it take for you?

Getting a Journey Performed Visa

Journey Performed (JP) visa is a special visa that is required by the Malaysian Immigration Department for citizens bearing passports from countries not listed in Appendix 1.  So, for those holding UK, Netherlands, USA and Tanzania do not need a JP visa whereas those from India, Pakistan, Japan, China and France require to.

JP visa costs approximately RM520.00 per person and it is not covered by our normal application fees. JP visas are stamped on your passport alongside with the MM2H visa. They are issued by the Immigration at Putrajaya or the MM2H Center on the day of passport endorsement.  JP visa is only issued in Malaysia.

JP visa is a one-time visa unless you let the MM2H visa expires.

MM2H visa is given up till the expiration of your current passport. MM2H visa will expire just months before the expiration of your current passport. If you enter Malaysia before the MM2H visa expires (with your new passport), then you will continue to get the remaining years for your MM2H visa. If you enter Malaysia after the MM2H visa has expired, you will enter as a tourist and you have to pay an additional RM520 (approx) per person for the JP visa. Thus, it is best to enter Malaysia before the MM2H visa expires so that you can continue the MM2H visa without paying for the JP visa. If your MM2H expires and if you are holding a passport from countries listed in Appendix 2 (like Pakistan China, India), then you need to get a tourist visa from the Malaysian embassy or high commission before coming to Malaysia. If you do not get a tourist visa, you cannot enter Malaysia as your multiple entry visa in your MM2H has expired.



APPENDIX 1

Citizens from the countries below DO NOT require JP visa during MM2H passport endorsement
Caribbean and Americas    Africa    Pacific    Europe    Asia
Antigua and Barbuda    Botswana    Australia    Cyprus    Brunei
Bahamas, The    Kenya    Fiji    Malta    Maldives
Barbados    Lesotho    Kiribati    United Kingdom    Singapore
Belize    Malawi    Nauru    Netherlands   
Canada    Mauritius    New Zealand    Switzerland   
Dominica    Namibia    Papua New Guinea    San Marino   
Grenada    Seychelles    Samoa       
Guyana    Sierra Leone    Solomon Islands       
Jamaica    South Africa    Tonga       
Saint Lucia    Swaziland    Tuvalu       
St Kitts and Nevis    Uganda    Vanuatu       
St Vincent and The Grenadines    Tanzania           
Trinidad and Tobago    Zambia    Blue = non-Commonwealth countries   
United States of America               

Citizens from countries NOT listed above require JP visas during passport endorsement.

APPENDIX 2

Citizens from the countries below require a visa to enter Malaysia, which they must obtain at a Malaysian embassy or high commission before flying into Malaysia. Only those with valid visas are allowed to enter Malaysia. No visa, no entry.
Africa    Asia    Europe    Americas
Angola    Afghanistan    Serbia Montenegro    Colombia
Burkina Faso    Bangladesh    Yugosalavia   
Burundi    Bhutan       
Cameroon    China       
Central African Republic    India       
Congo Democratic Republic    Myanmar       
Djibouti    Nepal       
Equatorial Guinea    Pakistan       
Eritrea    Sri Lanka       
Ethiopia           
Ghana           
Guinea-Bissau           
Ivory Coast           
Liberia           
Mali           
Mozambique           
Niger           
Nigeria           
Rwanda           
Western Sahara           

** Visa-free entry into Malaysia for citizens from countries NOT listed above

Hi, all.  I'm new to this forum.  I just got my approval letter yesterday and is planning for my trip to KL in March / April.

ericsbwong wrote:

FuzzyLogiche, finally, someone answered my call!! Here is the information I confirmed with MM2H staff,

1) Yes, direct applicant need to collect the approval letter in person,
2) Journey Performed Visa, for Hong Kong passport holder, we can go to Malaysia with the the passport and convert the Entry Visa to Journey Performed Visa for RM530 per person at the immigration unit in MM2H center.
3) A family medical plan cover myself and my spouse is acceptable (i.e. no need for separate medical plan for two of us).

I finally pick Progressive for my medical plan, but they need a copy of the official approval letter to proceed. We can do everything in advance via email, but we need to collect the final documents from them in their office in person. The date of commencement of the policy should be the date we obtain the MM2H visa.

Above are all I confirm for the moment.

Hi ericsbwong, Congratulations!  I'm from HK and got my approval letter from agent yesterday.  I'd like to get the quotation from progressive for the medical coverage.  Would you mind to provide me their email address?  Thank you in advance.

jacobcat wrote:

Hi, all.  I'm new to this forum.  I just got my approval letter yesterday and is planning for my trip to KL in March / April.

Hi Jacobcat
Could you share with us your reference number and when did you apply? So that we all know the current progress of MM2H center

Geely175

Hi Geely175,

I applied through agent in mid July last year with ref. no 435xx.

1openmind wrote:

Any idea if they will extend the 6 month window to come and finish the visa due to the Corona Virus?
Sarawak isn't letting people in who are coming from China.

A few weeks ago when I asked, my agent in Penang said the situation was fluid and it may change but for now the recommendation was to hurry up and get there and finish up the process.  I am trying....

And yes, we will not be stopping in China...

Hi jacobcat11,

jacobcat wrote:

Hi Geely175,

I applied through agent in mid July last year with ref. no 435xx.

Congratulations on your MM2H approval. I am in the midst of applying same visa for my parents too.
Do you mind me asking how long it took for your conditional approval letter to be issued to you?

Hi,

For those who already obtained Mm2h visa, need your advise on documents needed to make extra copy. ( self applicant)

1. FD
2. Letter from the bank confirmed the lien of FD
3. Medical report
4. Form for the bond with rm10 stamped by inland revenue ( LHDN)

5. Passport ( this is the one I am confused, make copy on personal particular page and the entry visa page will do ? OR copy the whole passport pages
including those blank pages ?

And 2 copies each for the documents stated above ?

( for me, medical insurance exempted because I am above 60)

Thanks

It took around 7 months.

Dear Caivin 1977,

This is what read in some posts from the other members about documents delivery date.
Hope it helps:

Got there at 6:30 and already people waiting. The problem is the amount of agents. Queue token machine was switched off by 08:30. Got everything done by 11:30.
This is the process~ Get your ticket and wait for your number. Present all your documents and if in order and accepted go and sit down again and wait for your number to be called again (this time to make payment). Make the payment and go and sit down again. Wait for your number to be called again, go and collect passport with MM2H stamp.

Tip # 1. They want photocopies of the original Approval letter, fixed deposit certificate and passport details page and entry stamp page.
Tip #2, to ensure that you get the full 10 year visa make sure you're passport is valid for 10 years. Mine wasn't and only got a 5 year visa.

Hi, what will happen If i renew my passport between submitting the application with earlier passport and the time while I submit the new and renewed passport for MM2h visa stamping after getting the approval. Will they accept new passport or there will be some administrative delay

Hi, I am based out of Dubai and planning to apply for MM2H, can anybody recommend any good agent whom I can approach from Dubai, Thanks

Granted I am using an agent (so I don't know what is happening behind the scenes) but I did in fact recently renewed my US passport after already applying for the MM2H using my old passport so that I get essentially the full 10 years worth on that MM2H stamp.  I paid extra to expedite the passport renewing service since I am flying to Malaysia in a few months and once my passport came I made a scan copy and forwarded it to my agent who then forwarded to the Immigration Dept. 

I realize it is about $2k to use an agent, but so far mine (Alter Domus) has been good about hand holding me through the process.  My schedule for that time when I am in Malaysia is planned for and it really sounds like they got it down to a science.

Thanks VWC, It helps.
is this the website of the agent you are using : https://www.penangmyhome.com/

Thanks again

Yup, that's them.  Eleanor has been great so far, providing suggestions like advising me to use a local medical clinic since more drop-in than say a hospital where more set appointment times are observed.  She is recommending an insurance carrier/plan, so that is being taken care of for us.  The banking I am trying to do from here via HSBC but she did recommend Public Bank because apparently everything could be set up before reaching Malaysia through them.  I want to use HSBC only because we have accounts with them already but honestly if they don't perform we have time to go with Public Bank.  All in all again, I am glad I went with them.

That's good to hear, thanks. I already contracted them...
in case you don't mind, for you how long was the waiting to get the approval
thanks again

Applied in March, 2019 and technically got approval letter last month.  Folks on here suggested checking status directly through MM2H website and sure enough when I happened to check in late December I was showing approved status.  My understanding is that October, 2019 was a big month for approvals so it may have been then but why it would take so long for the approval letter is news to me.

Hi, Can somebody help.
How the Malaysian authorities conduct the process of verifying bank statement,  as I spoken with my two banks in Dubai, they said they generally don't respond to any such request. Though I am talking with my RM, but they said they dont have a process or official protocol to respond to such requests,
Any idea

bhat1234 wrote:

Hi, Can somebody help.
How the Malaysian authorities conduct the process of verifying bank statement,  as I spoken with my two banks in Dubai, they said they generally don't respond to any such request. Though I am talking with my RM, but they said they dont have a process or official protocol to respond to such requests,
Any idea

Are you referring to during the process of getting your passport stamped?  I thought a confirmation letter from the bank that is holding your fixed deposit and actual bank book or receipt/temp statement showing your balance would work.  I believe that is what my agent is wanting from me either before or done asap upon arrival to Penang before the agency reps head to get our passports stamped.

Got my mm2h visa endorsed today.

Arrived motac building around 7 am. Surprisingly not many people, but quite a lots of agents there. Took my number  (22 in line) and been served around 9am. Then the lady advised me to go for breakfast and back to wait for payment after 10am.

I am the only one for the new visa endorsement ( for direct applicants), not sure about the agents, and all the direct applicants today i chats with, are mainly doing visa transfer only. ( from old to new passport)

I saw some people come in after 10am still got the number and been served within 10 mins.

My number was called for payment around 11am and in less then 5 mins, the guy handled my passport to me and DONE.

PS: when I said less people today doesn’t mean same situation everyday. Still advise go early and get things done.  Those came later might get things done after lunch which might waste more time there.

Good luck everyone !!

Calvin1977 wrote:

Got my mm2h visa endorsed today.

Arrived motac building around 7 am. Surprisingly not many people, but quite a lots of agents there. Took my number  (22 in line) and been served around 9am. Then the lady advised me to go for breakfast and back to wait for payment after 10am.

I am the only one for the new visa endorsement ( for direct applicants), not sure about the agents, and all the direct applicants today i chats with, are mainly doing visa transfer only. ( from old to new passport)

I saw some people come in after 10am still got the number and been served within 10 mins.

My number was called for payment around 11am and in less then 5 mins, the guy handled my passport to me and DONE.

PS: when I said less people today doesn’t mean same situation everyday. Still advise go early and get things done.  Those came later might get things done after lunch which might waste more time there.

Good luck everyone !!

Thanks how long it took in total for you ?

Neo83 wrote:

Calvin1977 wrote:

Got my mm2h visa endorsed today.

Arrived motac building around 7 am. Surprisingly not many people, but quite a lots of agents there. Took my number  (22 in line) and been served around 9am. Then the lady advised me to go for breakfast and back to wait for payment after 10am.

I am the only one for the new visa endorsement ( for direct applicants), not sure about the agents, and all the direct applicants today i chats with, are mainly doing visa transfer only. ( from old to new passport)

I saw some people come in after 10am still got the number and been served within 10 mins.

My number was called for payment around 11am and in less then 5 mins, the guy handled my passport to me and DONE.

PS: when I said less people today doesn’t mean same situation everyday. Still advise go early and get things done.  Those came later might get things done after lunch which might waste more time there.

Good luck everyone !!

Thanks how long it took in total for you ?

It took 11 months for me from the day I submitted till received email for approval. Then wait for another month for immigration dept to issue me the conditional approval letter.

For my case took a bit longer, because 4 months after I submitted my application, they requested the latest letter of good conduct as the one I submitted was out of date ( dated year 2017, I submitted my application Jan 2019).

Then somewhen is September 2019, they send another email to clarify my address as my application for mailing address I filled in application form was KL address. And asking me what visa I am holding now ? ( told them I am holding tourists visa). - I had been live in Malaysia for 8 years only holding tourists visa, I go out Malaysia to Singapore or HongKong or Bangkok or Bali for 4-5 days then back to Malaysia again for 8 years, maybe I am lucky, the immigration officer at the airport never ever asking any question about why I had been doing it for years... not problem to give me 90 days visa every time when I enter Malaysia.

My application was approved in the committee meeting in October 2019, only late December 2019 then received email notified me my application was approved.

Someone posted in this forum got approved maybe took only 5-7 months.. so depending on the completeness of docs submitted I guess.

Good luck

Yes it'd faster these days..
8 years on tourist visa crazy...
I can imagine the officer wondering why this guy hold a domestic address :-)

Thanks Superman911 for very useful info.
I have 2 questions:
1. What about people from not from Appendix1 or Appendix2, like Indonesia, do they need to get JP visa and would that be able to get converted into MM2H visa ?
2. Also, for Chinese citizens, can they get E-Visa, then get converted into JPV to get MM2H visa?

Thank you!

Superman911 wrote:

Getting a Journey Performed Visa

Journey Performed (JP) visa is a special visa that is required by the Malaysian Immigration Department for citizens bearing passports from countries not listed in Appendix 1.  So, for those holding UK, Netherlands, USA and Tanzania do not need a JP visa whereas those from India, Pakistan, Japan, China and France require to.

JP visa costs approximately RM520.00 per person and it is not covered by our normal application fees. JP visas are stamped on your passport alongside with the MM2H visa. They are issued by the Immigration at Putrajaya or the MM2H Center on the day of passport endorsement.  JP visa is only issued in Malaysia.

JP visa is a one-time visa unless you let the MM2H visa expires.

MM2H visa is given up till the expiration of your current passport. MM2H visa will expire just months before the expiration of your current passport. If you enter Malaysia before the MM2H visa expires (with your new passport), then you will continue to get the remaining years for your MM2H visa. If you enter Malaysia after the MM2H visa has expired, you will enter as a tourist and you have to pay an additional RM520 (approx) per person for the JP visa. Thus, it is best to enter Malaysia before the MM2H visa expires so that you can continue the MM2H visa without paying for the JP visa. If your MM2H expires and if you are holding a passport from countries listed in Appendix 2 (like Pakistan China, India), then you need to get a tourist visa from the Malaysian embassy or high commission before coming to Malaysia. If you do not get a tourist visa, you cannot enter Malaysia as your multiple entry visa in your MM2H has expired.



APPENDIX 1

Citizens from the countries below DO NOT require JP visa during MM2H passport endorsement
Caribbean and Americas    Africa    Pacific    Europe    Asia
Antigua and Barbuda    Botswana    Australia    Cyprus    Brunei
Bahamas, The    Kenya    Fiji    Malta    Maldives
Barbados    Lesotho    Kiribati    United Kingdom    Singapore
Belize    Malawi    Nauru    Netherlands   
Canada    Mauritius    New Zealand    Switzerland   
Dominica    Namibia    Papua New Guinea    San Marino   
Grenada    Seychelles    Samoa       
Guyana    Sierra Leone    Solomon Islands       
Jamaica    South Africa    Tonga       
Saint Lucia    Swaziland    Tuvalu       
St Kitts and Nevis    Uganda    Vanuatu       
St Vincent and The Grenadines    Tanzania           
Trinidad and Tobago    Zambia    Blue = non-Commonwealth countries   
United States of America               

Citizens from countries NOT listed above require JP visas during passport endorsement.

APPENDIX 2

Citizens from the countries below require a visa to enter Malaysia, which they must obtain at a Malaysian embassy or high commission before flying into Malaysia. Only those with valid visas are allowed to enter Malaysia. No visa, no entry.
Africa    Asia    Europe    Americas
Angola    Afghanistan    Serbia Montenegro    Colombia
Burkina Faso    Bangladesh    Yugosalavia   
Burundi    Bhutan       
Cameroon    China       
Central African Republic    India       
Congo Democratic Republic    Myanmar       
Djibouti    Nepal       
Equatorial Guinea    Pakistan       
Eritrea    Sri Lanka       
Ethiopia           
Ghana           
Guinea-Bissau           
Ivory Coast           
Liberia           
Mali           
Mozambique           
Niger           
Nigeria           
Rwanda           
Western Sahara           

** Visa-free entry into Malaysia for citizens from countries NOT listed above

Hi
I saw your 17 / Dce / 2019 post. Did you get an approval letter?
Thank you

The Journey Performed Visa is a requirement for those that enter without a a visa (but require one to obtain another visa). It is only good for 24-hours.

It was originally created to deal with those that came to Malaysia on a tourist pass and were seeking jobs. That's against the rules, One is supposed to be "invited" by an employer prior to entering the country and get the employment visa OUTSIDE.

So they gave such people a choice. Go back to their home country and get the PROPER visa, or purchase a fictive "Journey Performed" visa...which essentially acts "as if" you had performed the journey.

So you have two choices when applying for a MM2H. Get the short-term visit visa in your home country at a consulate (usually between RM6 and RM40) or pay for a Journey Performed  (@RM500) after entering on a Tourist Pass. SOME countries are not allowed to enter on a Tourist Pass, at all.

cinnamonape wrote:

The Journey Performed Visa is a requirement for those that enter without a a visa (but require one to obtain another visa). It is only good for 24-hours.

It was originally created to deal with those that came to Malaysia on a tourist pass and were seeking jobs. That's against the rules, One is supposed to be "invited" by an employer prior to entering the country and get the employment visa OUTSIDE.

So they gave such people a choice. Go back to their home country and get the PROPER visa, or purchase a fictive "Journey Performed" visa...which essentially acts "as if" you had performed the journey.

So you have two choices when applying for a MM2H. Get the short-term visit visa in your home country at a consulate (usually between RM6 and RM40) or pay for a Journey Performed  (@RM500) after entering on a Tourist Pass. SOME countries are not allowed to enter on a Tourist Pass, at all.

Hi cinnamonape,
Thank you for answer the questions. From your answer, it seems that even entering using E-Visa, one can obtain JPV? I saw a conflicting answer on this, hence my question. Thank you!

My understanding is that if you HAVE a visa then you will not be required to pay a JP fee.

If you look at the list in Appendix A you'll see that most of the nations are Commonwealth states. I suppose they get a waiver because of THAT...except for several South Asian Commonwealth states (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal). These are states that Malaysia from which receives a lot of immigrant workers on contract. Malaysia doesn't want these folks coming in and trawling for a job on a tourist pass. They also don't want Africans from Commonwealth states doing similar (Nigeria, Ghana) so they get dumped in with all the other African States that require a visa before entry (Appendix B).

Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia get a break here - they get the Commonwealth waiver. I don't know why the USA, the Netherlands and Switzerland get a break.

The USA has been left off on some lists, and I was charged, perhaps erroneously.  But I didn't know enough about this to ask them to look on the Waiver Appendix A.

Indonesia is not on either list. Presumably you need a visa (I would think that a E-Visa was sufficient)....but that SHOULD mean you don't pay a JP fee.

cinnamonape wrote:

My understanding is that if you HAVE a visa then you will not be required to pay a JP fee.

If you look at the list in Appendix A you'll see that most of the nations are Commonwealth states. I suppose they get a waiver because of THAT...except for several South Asian Commonwealth states (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal). These are states that Malaysia from which receives a lot of immigrant workers on contract. Malaysia doesn't want these folks coming in and trawling for a job on a tourist pass. They also don't want Africans from Commonwealth states doing similar (Nigeria, Ghana) so they get dumped in with all the other African States that require a visa before entry (Appendix B).

Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia get a break here - they get the Commonwealth waiver. I don't know why the USA, the Netherlands and Switzerland get a break.

The USA has been left off on some lists, and I was charged, perhaps erroneously.  But I didn't know enough about this to ask them to look on the Waiver Appendix A.

Indonesia is not on either list. Presumably you need a visa (I would think that a E-Visa was sufficient)....but that SHOULD mean you don't pay a JP fee.

Hi cinnamonape, Thanks again for responding. I am not worried about paying JPV fee, I am worried about getting in using E-Visa and be told to exit the country and get another visa outside Malaysia and go back in to get it replaced by MM2H visa.

From: https://www.mm2h.com/mm2h-application-procedures/
it said: "IMPORTANT NOTICE
If you come from a country which is eligible for an e-visa you should not use this method of entering Malaysia when you come to pick up the MM2H visa. The immigration department requires you to enter on a normal tourist visa or they will not issue the visa. We are appealing this decision but currently they will ask you to return to your country and reenter Malaysia with a tourist visa."

Also from: http://migratemalaysia.com/what-must-yo … -approval/
They also said, dont come in using e-visa.

.........about EXTENSION of conditional approval letter.
My conditional approval letter will expire on 29 April. I was in KL on 22 March. Did RBII in Dr. Goh
office, stamp security bond form and bought medical insurance. But for fixed deposit, because we are from sanctioned countries, it takes longer time to approve (at least 2 weeks). So, we got back to our country and then Covid-19 comes to the scene!!!

Well, as everybody knows, no flights to KL or even not allowed to go there or anywhere.
On MOTAC  malaysia web site you can find an email address for Covid-19 problems which means it works for MM2H too.
I wrote to this email address and today I got an email from MOTAC which gives me an Extension.
To tell you the truth, I think they give everybody an extension, because as they said, it is a pandemic issue. But to be sure, better to write to them and get a permission.
Hope it works.....

I have a question about collecting the conditional approval letter. I have applied directly to MM2H.  I understand that upon approval, they no longer courier MCAL to my home country and I have to pick it up at MM2H center.

Since I will not be in MY at approval, can I either-

1. Ask a friend or relatives in MY to pick up on my behalf?

2. We do need to make a trip to MY anyway to open bank accounts and do medical checks.  Can we pick up the letter and complete the other procedures in one single trip to MY?  Do we have to leave once and return after getting the letter?

Your advise is much appreciated.

Hey there!  Ok, we used an agent granted but I am assuming the process is similar.  Our plan was to fly in to Singapore connect to Penang where our agent is.  Once there, we had plans to finish up the banking at the local HSBC branch and get the med checkups done and then the agent takes all of the docs and our passports to get the passport stamped at MM2H.  So, that meant that we had to hang around Penang for about 3-4 days for the agent carrier to go there and come back with our passports.  From past posts, I believe if you are actually doing it yourself, you need to be at the gov't office very early in the morning to insure a spot.  Now, I don't know if agents have an "in" or not but again that is why I am paying them right? 

Maybe someone else can chime in as to how it work for a self applicant but this was our plan for next month until all plans got derailed by the virus.

You can do it all for one time visit.  Maybe plan for a visit for 2 weeks to collect and do all requirements.  Opening the fixed deposit is the longest time.

Hi I am self applicant，US passport.

As for medical Report and security bond, it can be done both in the morning, simple and fast, ( for your case, you are using agent, u no need security bond)

As for bank account, I used RHB bank,  they only need the original approval letter ONLY. Open a saving account and get your fund transfer in, ( as I called my bank in US to have arrangements to take out large amount of cash from my debit card,so I did it at RHB Bank counter, and put that fund in my saving account, so, I did my account opened and placed my FD in the same day.

Before I went to RHB, I try CIMB, filled out a lots of forms ,  because of the tax purposes for US citizens, then can’t open account immediately, they need to get approval from head office, CIMB also required tenancy agreement too, I guess is for the proved of address. I wait about 4 working days, they called me and said they want the latest tenancy agreement as the one I gave is more than a year.

So I just try my luck at RHB bank, and I was told only approval letter needed. So, I choose RHB.
I opened my account at klcc branch, CIMB is just across rhb，

I don’t know about HSBC, because some bank might have different requirements. If to Avoid the hassle of providing documents required by the bank, RHB is a great choice.

I did my Mm2h visa endorsement in February 2020.

Yeah, I am regretting going through HSBC instead of Public Bank which was recommended by my agent. I just thought because we are customers with HSBC here it would be easier and presumably safer.  Nope.  With everyone quarantined, the international banking dept of HSBC pretty much shut down for awhile and it is only now that we hear from them that something is needing changed from maybe Malaysia HSBC side so we need to go back to the local branch again to endorse some papers.  Really guys???  Surely, you cats have handled transactions for way more than $40K, right????

Banks for the most part SUCK at doing anything anymore.

Agree, RHB and Public Bank are both easy to work with. When I applied for MM2H I used HSBC but I already had my account set up for a few years in Malaysia and owned properties, some purchased with an HSBC loan, so it was fairly easy. But these days HSBC has become very strict about money moving around and always ask for details on everything, even when I transfer from a local Malaysian bank to HSBC, so I prefer to use the local banks. I also purchased a car with a loan from RHB and they were always nice to work with. Anyway, once you have your MM2H confirmation letter, you can open accounts with many banks very easily.

Thanks for that info. I was going to use HSBC had good rates for cd’s. But I think I
Might go with CIMB. Any idea how they are?

I had an account with CIMB before but never liked them that much. The branch at Bangsar Baru was pretty hopeless, but the one at BB Park in Bukit Bintang was great as the manager was a Chinese woman at the time and more friendly and willing to assist me. One of my favourite local banks was Ambank which I frequently used for investing in Fixed Deposits as their rates can be higher than other banks at times. They gave me a great service as I was a Priority customer so I could arrange transactions using WhatsApp with my relationship manager and with one of the supervisors at the bank. I think some branches are better than others though. These days I do a lot with Maybank but only with online transactions.

Also, you should check the interest rates on Fixed Deposits as they can vary from bank to bank. My MM2H FD was only MYR60,000 and I placed mine with HSBC but I would have done better to have placed it with a local bank.