In response to the letter to The Jakarta Post on the Aug. 8 from head of the Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Office Dody M. Wibowo, I would like to express a thousand thanks to him for assuring expatriates that he will investigate any reported irregularities and punish immigration officers found guilty of offenses!
I've lived in Indonesia nearly 20 years and in that length of time I've had to visit the black hole of the Immigration office at Soekarno-Hatta, knowing that the officers will demand every rupiah I had (or could get out of the nearby ATM) before they would stamp my passport.
Last year my mother passed away and I had to make an emergency trip back to the U.S., forgetting I didn't have an exit-return visa. Another time I'd overstayed my visa by one day because I didn't know to count the day of arrival as the first day of the 30-day visit.
It would be helpful if he would publish in this column the official fees for these and any other infractions so that we all know what the charges actually are. It would also be nice if we knew we could ask to see an official rate chart when the occasion arises. Is there an official rate chart?
For those who missed his letter, victims can call him at (021) 550-7187 or 0813-1045-0466. He needs your name, address and telephone number; the names of the officers involved; and the time and date of the incident.
LINDA HOFFMAN Yogyakarta
Note: We also received a similar letter from RON MULLERS, our reader in Jakarta
Editor
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