Lets Get to Work (or Spouse Visa Part Three)

Robert Pedrin

Apr 8, 20166 min read

UPDATE (As of October 21, 2019): In 2019, the Malaysian Immigration Department has updated the list of documents required to apply for the work endorsement that would be placed on your LTSVP. According to one of my fellow members of the Foreign Spouse Support Group, Malaysia on Facebook, they have expanded the list that is stated below. (Said member and her foreign-born husband are applying at the Sha Alam immigration office. I still highly recommend that you check with the immigration office in your respective state.)

The updated list is as follows:

1. Letter of employment & contract 2. Company's SSM (registration documents) 3. Company's photos (company's name board & building photo) 4. Letter from Malaysian Spouse to allow Foreign Spouse to work (advisable to be written in Bahasa Malaysia) 5. Income tax clearance / Tax position/ Salary deduction from Inland Revenue Board Office (LHDN) 6. Resignation letter from previous company (if you were to apply for a new working approval for a new company) 7. Malaysian Spouse IC (identification card) (copy) 8. Foreign Spouse Passport (copy) 9. Marriage certificate/registration (copy) 10. Marriage declaration / Surat Akaun Sumpah Perkahwinan (need to be certified by Malaysian Commissioner for Oaths)

* The approval is in the form of an endorsement on the passport. * The endorsement is given free of charge. * The endorsement entitles the holder to work in any legal profession. * The endorsement is effective after the submission and approval of the Spouse Visa.

Hello again, my dear dear Ramblers. For my Ramblers that celebrate, us here at Ramblings of Robert hope all of you had a very blessed and fun Easter Sunday with your loved ones.

Also, one year ago today, I published my very first Ramble. It was the scintillating series titled, "Spouse Visa Part One" and "Spouse Visa Part Two". To recap, I had discussed my experiences in my journey in getting my Malaysian spouse visa (or "Long-Term Social Visit Pass" or "LTSVP") Everything from getting my forms at the JPN, or National Registration Department to saying "I Do" to the actual visa itself. Basically, this involved a lot of forms, running around and of course, money!! Of course, you getting to be with your spouse everyday makes this whole process more than worthwhile.

Today, we shall continue that series. Getting the spouse visa, itself, wasn't the final stage. Nope. There are a couple of further steps to follow. In order for you, the foreign spouse, to be able to earn an income here in Malaysia; this third step is a crucial one for you. There is a little something called a work endorsement that you can apply for.

Before we get to that, let's touch on the renewal process for the Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP). Usually, the Immigration Department will initially issue a one-year visa. Obviously, that means that you have to go back to the main Immigration office in your respective Malaysian state BEFORE the end of the validity period. It is important not to let your LTSVP lapse; as you need to be on one continuously for a period of five years to qualify for permanent resident, or PR. That step is for another time.

Now, we will cover the annual LTSVP renewal process and my experiences therein. This process is somewhat simpler than the initial application (and certainly less $$).

In December 2015, my wife and I made the trip to the Immigration Office in mainland Penang, located in the township of Butterworth. We were able to go through the process without much difficulty.

Like in 2014, this will require a lot of paperwork. Unlike 2014, it will not require another RM2,000.00 security bond. No, this is only RM100 so they can reissue a new visa. For those of you that are currently undergoing this process, here is the list of documents that the Immigration Department will require for your spouse visa renewal:

1) Borang IM 55

2) Borang IM 38 (visa)

3) Salinan Sijil Nikah Perkahwinan

4)Surat Akuan Perkahwinan (Disahkan oleh Pesuruhjaya Sumpah)* Also Surat Akuan Penaja.

5) Salinan KPT Isteri

6) Salinan Passport Pemohon (suami)

7) Bukti sumber pendapatan suami atau isteri dari dalan atau luar negara yang boleh membuktikan pemohon (suami) mampu

8) Salinan Resit Wang Cagaran (Deposit)

Penaja (Jika menggunakan penaja/isteri

1)Slip bayaran gaji untuk 3 bulan terakhir atau Cukai Pendapatan

2)Surat Pengesahan daripada majikan-jawatan atau gaji

3) Surat Akuan Penaja (Disahkan oleh Pesuruhjaya Sumpah)

4)Salinan Kad Pengenalan Penaja/ Isteri

Suami dan isteri perlu hadir semasa mengemukakan permohonan

Yes, I know all of that is in Bahasa Malaysia. The English translation is below:

1) Form IM 55

2) Form IM 38 (visa)

3) Copy of Marriage Certificate Marriage

4) Marriage Certificate (Certified by a Commissioner of Oaths) * Also Sponsor Letter.

5) KPT copy Wife

6) Passport copy of applicant (husband)

7) Proof of income of the spouse within or outside the country who can prove the applicant (husband) was able

8) Receipt copy security deposit (Deposit)

Sponsor (If the sponsor / spouse) 1) Slip salary for the last 3 months or the Income Tax 2) Confirmation letter from employer-position or salary 3) Certificate of Sponsor (Certified by a Commissioner of Oaths) 4) A copy of the Identity Card Sponsor / Wife Husband and wife must be present when submitting the application.

* indicates that this document needs to be stamped by the local Commissioner For Oaths.

For those of you in Penang, here is the local office address:

Goh Suan Bee

20 Lebuh King

10200 Pulau Pinang

If you are not quite familiar with Penang geography, I have kindly Google Maps the location for you. After all, Ramblings of Robert is all about making it easier for my Ramblers!

For those of you not in Penang, a quick Google search of your local Commissioner of Oaths office should suffice to complete this step. Here is another link to find a local Commissioner of Oaths for your municipality.

Plus, you can also directly copy and paste the local Commissioner of Oaths address in the Google Map widget on my Home page, as well.

In addition to the spouse visa renewal, there is also the obtainment of the work endorsement. This is a special stamp on your spouse visa indicating that you are eligible to be employed in Malaysia. Now, if you recall from the earlier Rambles, when you initially get your LTVSP, it explicitly states that you are prohibited from being employed in Malaysia from six months of the issue date. Once that six months has elapsed, you can then go out and seek employment.

According to the Immigration Department, here are the requirements for the work endorsement (Yes, I know..MORE PAPERWORK):

1) Passport of applicant

2) IC of Malaysian spouse

3) Resume/CV Job offer letter

4) Stamped employment contract (Stamp Duty RM10)

5) Company forms 9, 24 & 49 - to be provided by your employer

6) Company License - for certain industry only

7) Letter of application (I took this to mean a letter to immigration applying to be allowed to work)

8) Letter from husband if Malaysian citizen is male, then you need this letter to allow female spouse to work (in my case, a letter from my wife)

9) You will need to fill in the form provided by the Immigration Department

According to the fine folks at Expatypus.com, there will be no charge for updating your LTSVP to "working status". It is recommended for the Malaysian spouse to tag. Once you submit the documents, it will take three working days to process. Your passport will, then, be updated with an additional page of text stating that you are allowed to work. If you are in the process of renewing your LTSVP, bring along a copy of your employment contract to submit with your LTSVP renewal application, in the event that it is asked for. Ensure that your employment contract has the "Stamp Duty" stamp on it, rendering it legal.

What is the next step in this long process? You will have to watch this blog space for the next in this exciting Spouse Visa series. As always, feel free to leave any comments in Comments section on the Lifestyle page. As always, keep on Rambling. You never know what you will find.