Visa Hassles

Last Friday I went to the Indonesian Embassy armed with our passports, photos, photocopies, fake airline ticket confirmations, money, credit cards etc.

We were after the 60 day Indonesian visa which IS extendible when you are in the country - unlike the normal 30 day VOA. Indonesia is a big country with a lot of sharp inclines - the standard 1 month tourist visa was just not going to hack it for us.

I was told (nicely) that I couldn't just hand in Richard's paperwork - he needed to submit his paperwork himself as every applicant was interviewed. So I figured we might as well apply together and cycled back to Kepong to break the news to him that he needed to do it himself.

However, I didn't feel that I had wasted my time as I had been told by various people & also read on the Lonely Shit Planet that the following would be required:

1. Passport
2. Photocopy of details page of passport
3. 2 passport photos
4. Confirmed onward ticket out of Indonesia
5. Proof of funds (usually a credit card & photocopy of both sides was acceptable)

I had also heard but only from 1 person that we needed a "sponsor" but I think they'd got confused with the fact that you need when when EXTENDING your visa - not for the initial application.

What the noticeboard and the lady at the reception indicated was required was:
1. Passport
2. Photocopy of details page of passport
3. Photocopy of current Malaysian visa (or Social Pass)
4. 2 passport photos
5. 170 RM

I was relieved no one said anything about any confirmed onwards tickets being required which was the main thing that had concerned us.

This morning we headed back to town, parked our bikes, clothed ourselves appropriately (shorts/t-shirts/flip-flops not allowed and entered.

Today the guard wasn't satisfied with just the Departure/Customs Declaration card that I'd been advised was acceptable on Friday but I stuck my heels in and denied adamantly that I had any other form of id on me (I wasn't about to pass over my credit cards) so he relented.

When will I ever learn huh? Karma's keeping a strict eye on me this year to ensure I behave myself as she clearly feels she's been too lax in the past. I thought I'd got off scot free but she wasn't going to let me off that easily and was just biding her time to slap my wrists.

There didn't seem to be a problem, I was questioned on why I had a Malaysian visa extension and I explained about Richard's return to France for a month. He asked me if I was working and I acted suitably surprised I think and reconfirmed the reason was that Richard had been gone for a month.

The final thing as he flicked through my passport was "what are all these yellow stickers?" I'd stuck a Post-It note on every blank page with the words "Please don't stamp, reserved for visa". I had pulled one out so there was a blank page available as I hadn't forgotten the time at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh when they'd returned Richard's passport saying that they couldn't issue a visa as the yellow post it notes prohibited them using the page. I explained that this was to prevent the border officials from placing their stamps on a new page every time I crossed a border as I needed to save my pages for visas - I pointed out that the passport was only 2 years old yet was already over 50% full and that it was meant to be good for 10 years. He left it at that and I didn't think any more of it.

Back at the office around 1:30ish I got a phone call from a pleasant sounding woman by the name of Sarah from the Indonesian Embassy.

"Would it be ok if we just give you a 1 month visa?" she enquired.

Whaaaaaat?

I explained I really needed the 2 month visa as I was cycling and well, it's a big country etc.

"Oh" was Sarah's response followed by a discussion in the background with another person.

A moment later & returned her attention to me and explained that "it's the yellow stickies you have in your passport - that's why we've decided to only give you 1 month instead of 2"

"Well couldn't you just remove them from the passport? I don't mind" and explained AGAIN why they were there and that I was quite happy for them to remove the stickies if that would aid in the processing of a 2 month visa.

More discussion. Sarah finally told me she'd ring me back.