I refer to a "By The Way" article entitled "Being Indonesian and proud of it", (The Sunday Post, March 29, p. 1). I couldn't agree more with you that the visa application process is, most of the time, very tiring and time-consuming. Nevertheless, I do believe that we are not alone in feeling this way. Other nationals from other countries feel the same - that the visa application process is too complicated.

I live abroad and had one experience when a foreigner was complaining about our visa application process. He was very demanding and tended to get bossy by telling our government officials behind the consular counters that his visa should be ready by the time he came back (that is, the next day).

Your comments:

Indeed, the visa is always a good topic for discussion whether in developed countries or a country like Indonesia. But as far as I can see, maybe immigration officials in Indonesia could learn from or exchange ideas with colleagues serving outside of Indonesia (such as the KBRI), they are more businesslike and responsive in dealing with immigration matters.

The culture in Indonesia of "No Money, No Service" has made this problem. The government should improve salaries of its staff so that the bureaucracy can be minimized. We must always remember: The role of immigration is very important.

According to 2008 statistics, 4 million tourists came to our country, compared to 10 million who went to Singapore - which earned S$12 billion. The KBRI in New Zealand may be a good example in terms of service ... Self introspection is always better than trying to make another excuse.

Mac Mach Doem

Pak Roy Wahab (the author), I definitely agree with you. Among developed countries let's take the UK for example. From the experience of an Indonesian friend of mine who had lived in Australia, the visa process there took 25 working days (and possibly longer), and yet their website only gave an apology for this delay without giving any explanation as to why it took so long. This friend booked a ticket for the 9th of that month and the visa application had been made one month before.

And guess what? until H-3 (three days prior to the flight) the visa had not yet arrived and so my friend took the initiative to call the visa office because obviously applicants cannot track the progress of their visa applications (unlike the UK visa system in Jakarta) and the answer received was totally unsatisfactory.

The woman on the phone said simply that my friend had to wait because (the application) had not yet been lodged for 25 days and, surprisingly, that the submitted data was not even showing up on their system. Therefore, it is reasonable for us to question why the British ask for a better service from us if they couldn't provide a good service to our citizens from their side.

This shows the arrogance of a Western country who thinks that all the services they provide are perfect, when they are actually not. I agree that based on the reciprocity principle, the Indonesian government should think about this issue. I would personally say that we should be supportive to our country because if you look at the particular country I am referring to in this letter, seriously, their services are no better than ours.

Iwan

Maybe it is time for us (Indonesians) to review the prevailing rules and regulations of our visa application process and start to think about reciprocity. Please do that and I am sure it will be the end of foreign tourists arrivals ... simply because other ASEAN countries like Malaysia have a much more friendly entry policy. The reason why Western countries have much stricter visa policies is to curb illegal immigrants/fortune seekers. A problem that hardly applies to Indonesia.

Teuku Agam

Roy Wahab is not completely informed. When I apply for a visa B 211 for Indonesia, I have to show the following documents: Application form, a recent picture, my passport, an invitation letter for my sponsor, a copy of the KTP from the sponsor, a copy of my ticket or booking, a proof of my income, a copy of my insurance. These are all needed because I'm more than 60 years of age.

All this I have to bring to the Indonesian Embassy which is 200 km from my house. They need two weeks to prepare my visa. After that period I have to travel again 200 km to pick it up.

A. Mulders

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