What's with the ICA Website?

Arrrgggghhhhh, what is wrong with the ICA website?

Yes, I deserve it. We are flying off to Melbourne in 2 weeks' time and I have finally decided that I should change Lil Shauna's passport bcos her pic was taken when she's 5 months old and it looks nothing like her now. There is no way to add in an updated photo now bcos of that micro-chip thingy embedded in the passport. The only way is to apply for a new passport at $70! Then again, we have not apply for our visa, which will take 1 to 2 days. If we are to apply for a new passport for Lil Shauna, we can only submit the passport details for visa application after her new passport is ready as there will be a new passport no.

A while ago, I was feeling stingy and refused to spend that $70. Afterall, we have been to cruise so many time with her outdated photo and she cleared the immigration everytime. Then her passport is still so new. Only 4 stamps so far when she enter and exit Malaysia on 2 occasions.

However, S advised us to change the photo just in case we got stopped at Australia Immigration. I called ICA to try my luck and see if they allow photo updating. As expected, we are required to make a new passport. They also advised that the Australis Immigration will decide if they would allow us to clear the immigration.

I sprung into action immediately. It was too much risk to take. I dun want to be turn away at the Australia Immigration! So, I called my SIL who kindly helped to take a pix of Lil Shauna against white background. They had a hard time doing so bcos Lil Shauna has just learned a new pose and I had been encouraging her to strike the pose whenever I take her pix. -.o"

Either her hands were in the way or that she cant sit still. It was after many attempts that they got this shot.Then I had to re-size the pix to the right file size. Actually not me, I had to ask Daddy Lim and also my boss to help. I am such a computer idiot. Hoho.

I was happy to submit online for her. I tot that it will be faster (less the postage time) and I will be able to track the status online. I submitted the photo and was doing work while the system runs. When I returned to the web page, it was blank and I happily assumed that it was done. I was happy and I continued working.

While in the car to fetch Lil Shauna, I suddenly realised that the online application did not ask me to pay online wor. I started scratching head. Daddy Lim joked that maybe there is a promotion and ICA is making passports for free for this limited period. -______-" I made a mental note to check when I am home.

True enough, the application was incomplete bcos the system prompted me for the reference no., which I have none. So I tried to apply again but the system keep hanging after making me wait for the longest time. Arrgghh, I almost pull hair. When it finally worked, I tried to submit the pix that Daddy Lim has re-sized and found that he has accidentally cropped off Lil Shauna's chin. -.o" Like that wun pass lor. The application will end up taking longer than usual and we will have to bring a new pix on the collection day and to wait up to an hour while they add the photo into the new passport on the collection day. We do not have that luxury of time.

I tried cropping the pix but it was bad. I dun even noe which tools to use. So I have to wake Daddy Lim up, who was already happily in dreamland. He was an unhappy man who refused to get up but still crawl out of the bed bcos he knew that I was terribly upset and frustrated over the submission.

Finally, we managed to submit online. Hohoho.
Lil Shauna has such a nice pix this time. Ahhh.. I feel like kissing her already.

I do hope that her new passport will be ready soon. Then Daddy Lim will have to take leave and collect the passport on Lil Shauna's behalf. They say that the passport applicant has to be present too. How about her case? I better call and ask.

By the way, do you wonder why I know so well of the consequences of improper photo submitted? Cos we did just that during the 1st application. We posted a filled-up form to ICA but forgot to paste her pix. *palm-face* Hohoho, Lil Shauna has gu-gu parents.

Bb, thank you for waking up to crop the size. The application almost killed me. Hohoho. Muaks.

Mummy Lim