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Letter: Good service at immigration office
Recently I became aware of two signs attached to the window of a counter: “We are pleased to assist you sincerely” and “We do not request any donations”
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R
ecently I became aware of two signs attached to the window of a counter: “We are pleased to assist you sincerely” and “We do not request any donations”.
Was I dreaming or was I in another country? Guess where those signs can be found! They were at the foreigners counter at the immigration office in Singaraja, Bali!
“Well, paper is patient”, I thought.
It was the first time I was going through the extensive paperwork for the extension of my KITAS and multiple exit and return permit without an agent. I paid enormous amounts of money to the agent over the last several years, to the strong disapproval of my Balinese wife.
With increasing astonishment, I noticed that the officer in charge, Mr. K.D.Y., went quickly and professionally through all of my (many) papers and forms.
He told me that he would call when I needed to return for photos, fingerprinting and signatures. I have to travel around 100 kilometers to the office one way. A few days later he kept his promise. I drove back to Singaraja. At the cashier counter I paid exactly the official fee (no one asked for donations or cigarette money) and even received a receipt.
After less then three weeks I proudly showed my wife the new permits, to which she commented with a smile and her typical Balinese patience: “You should learn to trust more.”
Many negative experiences caused me to lose faith, but it is never too late.
Singaraja – you are a model!
Michael Beer
Amlapura, Bali
