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View all search resultsIssue of the day: Indonesia's free visa on arrival
International gate: Several immigration officers serve passengers wanting to go out of the country through the Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra
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International gate: Several immigration officers serve passengers wanting to go out of the country through the Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra. The free visa policy is effective in only five international airports: Jakarta, Denpasar, Batam, Surabaya and Kualanamu.(Antara/Septianda Perdana) (Antara/Septianda Perdana)
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span class="caption">International gate: Several immigration officers serve passengers wanting to go out of the country through the Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra. The free visa policy is effective in only five international airports: Jakarta, Denpasar, Batam, Surabaya and Kualanamu.(Antara/Septianda Perdana)
Aug. 14, p8
I am a naturalized American citizen from Indonesia. I once took my two children to Indonesia for a vacation and a wedding. We spent a wonderful four-day stay in Nusa Dua, Bali, with two brothers including the soon-to-be-married one.
We flew to Pekanbaru in Riau and spent several days enjoying wonderful Malay wedding festivities.
After the wedding, we wanted to fly directly from Pekanbaru to Singapore on Silk Air to catch our flight to Paris and Washington, DC on Air France.
Something went wrong at the airport when an officer said we couldn't leave Indonesia from the provincial capital city. (By Yenni Djahidin Grow, Washington, DC)
Your comments:
Why is this letter ' about a tourist who didn't understand the free visa system ' headlined: 'Your letters: Political dynasty?'
Can anyone explain?
Terry McAsee
Perhaps the headline was meant for an article about the Sukarno family? We must never lose hope!
Ms. Yenni Djahidin Grow, what a terrible experience you and your kids had to go through. I really sympathize with you all, and hope you and your family have now recovered from your ordeal.
Thank you for your kindness in asking God to bless Indonesia, in spite of the nightmare you and your loves ones had to endure.
This objectionable and, yes, ruthless situation with free-on-arrival visas has already occurred frequently enough, with unfortunate and ill-informed tourists being the victims, who have to fork out more money for additional travel and hotel costs.
Is this the way Indonesia, which actually needs more income from tourists, treats them? It's scandalous.
Firepooch
As it happens in many other countries, some Indonesian officers are sometimes less wise in implementing policies and laws, without researching or studying the ramifications.
Sadly it is the local consumer who pays the price and suffers.
Not only does the discretion apply to expats but the majority of the local population.
I am sorry your visit ended in such a stressful and inexcusable condition.
Willo
