Applying for a B1/B2 US Visitor Visa in Kuala Lumpur

Here's what I did:

1) Few months ago - Went to a photographer at Brickfields to take a picture based on these requirements. If possible, ask the photographer for a softcopy so that you can upload the photo in Step 2. You can bring a USB thumbdrive or email the picture file to yourself. I did not, so I had to scan the photo to a JPEG file format at home.

2) 22 May 2011 at 10pm - Uploaded the photo file and completed the DS-160 form online.

3) 24 May 2011 at 1:45pm - Took the KL monorail to Bukit Bintang station and paid RM435 (the fee is revised from time to time based on current exchange rate) at Lot 10's Standard Chartered Bank branch. I was told to retain the receipt. The UUID on the receipt is needed to schedule for an interview at Kuala Lumpur US Embassy (Jalan Tun Razak).

4) 24 May 2011 at 6:00pm - Waited for more than 4 hours (lag time required by the online visa application system) and scheduled the interview to be done at 8:20am, 26 May 2011.

5) 26 May 2011 at 7:00am - Took a bus to Pasar Seni Putra LRT. Then took the train and stopped at Ampang Park Putra LRT station. Walked about another 15 minutes to the US Embassy located at Jalan Tun Razak. Reached the embassy's entrance gate at 8:00am and queued up to exchange the MyKad ID (Malaysia's Identity Card) with a Visitor's Pass. Put on the pass and proceeded to the next queue to enter the embassy. The documents needed for the interview were:

• a printed copy of the interview schedule from Step 4
• the visa fee receipt that has the UUID provided by the bank from Step 3
• the completed application DS-160 form from Step 2
• a valid Malaysian Passport
• the photo from Step 1 (bring few copies just in case)

6) 26 May 2011 at 8:15am - Swithed off and handed the mobile phone to the security guard because electronic devices are not allowed in the embassy buildings. Went into the Visa Office area, waited for 10 minutes before I was called to hand in all the needed documents to the First Counter. Then, I waited for another 10 minutes to be called for a 10-finger print scan at the Second Counter. 10 minutes later, I was called for the actual interview with an officer at the Third Counter. At the end of the interview, the officer told me the Visa is approved. I was given a receipt that will be used to sign and verify the courier package. The passport with the approved US Visa will be delivered to me on 28 May 2011 at my residence address. So, I left the embassy with the MyKad and mobile phone returned to me at around 8:50am.

7) 28 May 2011 - Waited at home from morning till 5pm for the Courier person to knock on the door. No one showed up. I called +603 2302 3988 (passport tracking call center) to find out what happened. I was given a tracking number and contacted ARAMEX, NO. 12C HEDGEFORD INNOVATION PARK JALAN TANDANG, 46050, Selangor, (Customer Service): +603 (77) 889000. Gave the tracking number, explained my situation and I was told that the delivery person could not find my place because the given residence address was incomplete. So, I checked with her and it turned out that the Apartment Unit and Street Number got mashed up, so it did not make sense to the delivery person. Corrected that and gave my mobile phone number to the customer service staff so that the delivery person can contact me for directions during the next delivery. The Courier company agreed to resend the passport tomorrow by 11am.

8) 29 May 2011 at 11:45pm - The delivery staff called me up and I opened the door to sign the package. Verified the passport and the B1/B2 Visa given is valid for 10 years, from 26 May 2011 to 23 May 2021.