Recent changes to permanent residency (PR) application procedures for foreign spouses of Malaysians have been met with both optimism and calls for greater transparency. While welcoming the reduced waiting period and simplified process, advocates for foreign spouses are urging the government to clarify the application process, address the challenges faced by widowed, divorced, and abused spouses, and ensure uniformity across government branches.
Johnny Low and his Filipino wife expressed optimism about the recent changes announced by the Home Ministry regarding permanent residency (PR) applications for foreign spouses of Malaysians. However, Low, along with several organizations representing foreign spouses, emphasized the need for further clarity and transparency in the new process. They urged the government to provide comprehensive information about the application procedure, ensuring there are no hidden conditions or uncertainties.
Low, who has been married for 11 years and has two children, shared his experience of previously considering applying for PR but opting against it due to concerns about the difficulties and lack of guaranteed approval. He cited stories of applicants facing lengthy wait times without updates on their application status. Now, with the reduced waiting period and simplified application process, Low plans to submit his wife's PR application later this year. The Home Ministry announced on January 29th that the minimum marriage duration required for PR applications will be reduced from five to three years. The application process will also have a six-month processing period, with the initiative commencing no later than the third quarter of 2023. While welcoming the changes, Family Frontiers, an organization advocating for the rights of foreign spouses, highlighted the need to address the challenges faced by widowed, divorced, or abused non-citizen spouses. They pointed out that existing policies automatically cancel PR applications for these individuals, leaving them in precarious situations. Divorcees and widows are also denied the right to work with their visas, hindering their ability to support their Malaysian children. Family Frontiers emphasized that non-citizen spouses experiencing domestic abuse and subsequently divorcing risk losing their residency status, potentially separating them from their children. They urged the government to implement a clear and transparent standard operating procedure (SOP) for the new PR application process to ensure uniformity and prevent inconsistencies across government branches. They also proposed an appeals process allowing applicants to understand the reasons behind their application rejections. Furthermore, Family Frontiers suggests removing the requirement for wives of Malaysian men to hold PR status before applying for citizenship, enabling them to apply after two years of residence. Child rights activist Goh Sui Lin echoed the need for more clarity regarding the new application process. She questioned whether the granting of PR status will still be discretionary or automatic after a specific period. Goh emphasized the importance of addressing the situation of foreign spouses trapped in toxic or abusive marriages, who remain in dire circumstances while waiting for their PR applications to be approved. She also expressed concerns about potential inconsistencies in application procedures due to varying interpretations by different officers. Goh urged the government to clearly define and publish all PR application conditions on the department's website to ensure transparency and prevent confusion
IMMIGRATION FOREIGN SPUSES PERMANENT RESIDENCY PR APPLICATION MALAYSIA
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