Posted by
mayafox
19 yrs ago
I'm going away to KK for a long weekend and this will be the first trip I take since I really started showing (I'm 26 weeks). Has anyone ever had any hassle at immigration in Malaysia?
This sounds ridiculously paranoid even to me, but a friend of mine nearly got turned away from the UK because the immigration official thought she was trying to sneak in to give birth there. Any tips to avoid a similar experience? I have a return ticket, obviously, and a doctor's note indicating that I am fit to fly.
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Should be fine. Plenty of people I know have gone to KK pregnant, and there was no problem. The Malaysian imigration is a lot nicer than UK immigration.
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Thanks, docboat, that's good to know... Although I guess it still means I have to brace myself for a fight at Heathrow when I fly in at 30 weeks next month!
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Really? How terrible for your friend.
Actually, what is the cut-off date for travel? When should I 'ground' myself?
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I think it depends mainly on the airline's own restrictions, and most airlines allow you to fly until 36 weeks. Perhaps I am being naive, but I can't realistically believe that any country will explicitly say that pregnant non-nationals are not allowed to land if they have valid travel documents, but I guess you never know...
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Hi mayafox,
I was actually in KK last weekend at 34 weeks and had no problem at all. In fact they did not even ask to see my Obs letter claiming me fit to travel.
Enjoy - I had a fabulous time
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Midwife -- So glad to see your post! Really looking forward to spending four days waddling between the spa and the pool...
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HKC
19 yrs ago
I would check with the airline as I was told that Malaysia Air would not let a non Malaysian fly after 24 weeks but that it would be no problem with Immigration so we flew cathay Pacific who didn't even want to see my OB letter!
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I heard the same thing about Malaysia Airlines. Luckily, we are flying Dragonair, who let you travel until 36 weeks.
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Dragonair let you fly until 36 weeks? What a suprise. It wasn't all that many years ago that passengers would sit in the aisles and prepare a little meal on their gas ring stoves, lol.
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It gets even better -- turns out the flight I am on is a code-share between Dragonair and Malaysia Air, which means that whilst Malaysia Air would not let me on the plane, Dragonair are happy for me to do so for another 10 weeks! Love these only-in-HK quirks!
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Just an update now that I am back -- Malaysian immigration didn't bat an eyelid that I was entering the country pregnant. The most hassle I got was checking in at HK airport express where I had to sign about three different documents absolving Malaysian Air, Dragonair and the HK airport authority of any responsibility should there be any complications.
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In the period before the handover there were many HK mothers who flew to The USA and Canada as tourists with the intention ofdelivering there so that the child would geta US or C birth certificate and hence passport which might be useful if the worst fears about HK had been realised. This was a strain on the Canadian system particularly and efforts were made to contain the problem, now things are much more relaxed.
The letters are not for immigration but for the airline.
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OMG Hen -- did they not let you on the plane??
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That's terrible Hen.
To be honest, I just did a business trip to Shanghai last week and it knackered me. Am only 25 weeks but have decided that's it for business travel. Would like one last weekend away before the baby come though.
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How awful! That said, Bali is my favourite destination in Asia and I am sure you had a better holiday there than you would have in Malaysia.
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