Thursday - May 15:
We sent the appropriate forms two days earlier, and were told to call to get early word on the processing status.  We called several times, each time informed that the application was in KIV (Keep In View) Status.  Not knowing what this meant (whether she was on track for being approved or denied), it was somewhat worrying.  Definitely irritating.

Friday - May 16
Our D-Day; the day foretold three days earlier when processing would be done.  We went in the morning and waited for two-three hours, only to be told that more time would be needed for processing.  What I found frustrating is that I saw the counter were our forms were placed, stacked with others just like it.  It looked like it had just been sitting there for three days.

We told them that our maid's tourist visa would expire on Sunday (May 18), and requested for a short extension for her to stay.  The officer assigned informed us that the document that was issued to us three days earlier would suffice if anybody would ask why our maid had overstayed.  With that we left.

Monday - May 19
Did I forget to say that this was a public holiday (Wesak Day)?  No government offices open.  On to the next day.

Tuesday - May 20
Would we finally get an answer?  Nnnnnnnnnnnot yet.  Called several times and were told that the visa was still KIV.  Vacation blues perhaps?  At this point I swore that if they didn't approve it within this week, I'd be telling them off because of all the delays.  On the bright side though, it really did feel that our maid's extension was looking more probable as time went by.  If the chances were slim, they would have just put us out of our misery even before the weekend came and went, or so we reasoned.

Wednesday - Today
The Mrs. called around 9am and from the high inflection of her yelp, I knew it was over.  We went to the Immigration office, and waited a couple of more hours to have the actual visa printed on our maid's passport.

So what else is there to do?  Well, since our maid wasn't with us, we have to go back at least one more time to have her iKad (Malaysian ID) processed.  We also have to go back to the Philippine Embassy to have the Labor Attache provide our maid's OEC (at least that's what I think has to be done).

But essentially, it's a done deal.  So for all of you Malaysian Pinoys who have been reading and wondering what steps you need to take, here's a rough draft:

1. Go to the Immigration office in Putrajaya, and proceed either to the 3rd or 7th floor to request for the required forms the application of a foreign maid (we got ours on the 7th floor).  You'll have to be patient as even most of the folks at Immigration aren't entirely clear on this process as it's been newly introduced (only this year) for Expatriates.  If you're not an expat, you're out of luck.
2. Fill up the forms and proceed to the Philippine Embassy to talk to the Labor Attache if your maid can attain clearance to be processed as an expat dependent under the new Malaysian Immigration guidelines.  If you're granted it, great for you.  If not, you might as well not proceed to the next step.  What is this clearance?  You'll have to clear that up with the Labor Attache or Malaysian Immigration as we struggled to do.
3. Once the clearance issue is settled, go back to the Malaysian Immigration Office and submit your forms at the 3rd floor.  As we explained last time, the 2nd floor is for processing of foreign maids to be employed under Malaysian citizens.  The 3rd floor handles everything related to expatriates.  If they decide that your papers are in order, then there's a very good chance that your maid will be issued the visa.

As you can see, there's a lot of things out of your control if you decide to go through with this.  But take heart in knowing that it has been done before (we're not special).  There is no harm in trying, so go ahead and be steadfast.  It's waaaaaay cheaper than going through an agent.

Feel free to comment with your contact info if you'd like more details.  I'll help you as best I can (free of charge).