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strong>Aug. 27, p8

We had a disappointing experience with the Indonesian immigration service on Aug. 20 concerning a so-called '€œexpired tourist visa'€.

Maybe this issue is very common and you'€™ve already heard thousands of complaints, but it is still very surprising when you come from Europe, where corruption is a bit more subtle.

We spent one month here and were told by an official that our 30-day visa had expired one day before and we had to pay the penalty.

At first we laughed, but not for too long, as the official took us to a small and dirty room one hour before departure. I wasted my time explaining that on arrival, to deliver the document, the immigration service just asked the date of departure and decided the duration and price of the visa, obviously making a small mistake at this moment. (By Piotr Krzakowski, France)

Your comments:

What I see here is that this guy has made a mistake and, in some way, is trying to blame Indonesia for his lack of understanding. Look at what he writes: '€œ[...] the immigration service just asked the date of departure and decided the duration and price of the visa'€.

What is he trying to say here? Is he suggesting there is a whole range of visas available at different prices according to how long you want to stay? There isn'€™t. There is just one visa on arrival. It costs US$35 and is for 30 days (there is a process for extending it just once for another 30 days but that is done at around day 14 of your visit, at the Immigration Office '€” not at the airport on your arrival).

Terry

I'€™ve had it happen to me on a couple of occasions, mostly for schedule slips within my company. If you just put your passport down, tell the immigration officer right there at the desk that you overstayed, maybe even with a small apology and have cash ready, they will just calculate your days of overstay, you pay and move on into the departure area.

You won'€™t be taken into the back office, unless you act like a recalcitrant whinger, to avoid shouting matches in the open immigration area.

Cuku

Everybody is speaking about the validity of the visa and blaming that poor guy for not paying attention. Fair enough and obviously debatable but I think the main point is where the $120 fine ended up: in an immigration officer'€™s pocket! Common practice in Indonesia doesn'€™t make it fair or acceptable.

Benam

Well, the '€œpoor guy'€ did not pay attention. It is not debatable, he was one day overstayed, period. The fine may have increased from $20 (the sanction is actually Rp 200,000 but that appears fixed at 10,000 to the $US per PP38/2009) per day per person to $30 per day per person, in which case the fine would be exactly what it should have been. I'€™ve been told that the visa-on-arrival has increased from $25 to $35 in July so the overstay penalty seems in line.

HB Mccoy

Sorry man, I'€™ve lived in Indonesia for seven years, and am rather up-to-date on immigration rules and fees. Your entire letter was nothing more than complaining about nothing. Yes, Indonesia has the odd habit of being one of the few countries where the entry date of your visa counts as the first day, and you need to take this into account when adding 30 days.

With the information you provided, there was nothing going on that even hinted of corruption; you were a day late, simple as that. There were four people in your party, all a day late.

The current overstay fine (official fine, mind you) is Rp 300,000 '€” but at the airport it'€™ll be $30. Four times 30 still adds up to 120, and as such you weren'€™t asked for any extra money; you were asked to pay the official fine.

The officer who told you that it'€™s your job to be aware of regulations is also not wrong; it is your job. It'€™s your responsibility to be aware of when your visa expires, and to take appropriate steps to ensure you comply with all laws and regulations attached to said visa.

As far as not having a card facility, that is normal. If you pay by card, then exit the country, you can still reverse the charge. That is why they only accept cash.

What irritates me is that everyone has pointed out already that there was nothing untoward going on '€” it was dealt with as it should have been, no extra money asked, no favors asked and no corruption in sight. And yet you, a tourist, choose to ignore what people who have lived in the country for years are telling you.

I know it sucks to admit you were wrong, but don'€™t start pulling that '€œThis tourist knows it all much better than you guys who have lived there for a while'€ card '€” after all, if you knew what you were doing, you wouldn'€™t have been in this position to begin with.

Ben van Staveren

I caused myself a headache once. I hold a couple of permanent resident cards from two countries. I left the card at home in the country I lived in and I found out about it when I landed in Bali.

I went to the consulate in Bali to get a Transportation Letter, but they told me I had to go to Surabaya. I flew to Surabaya, only to be told to wait for information from their country.

A few days later I called them from my kampung in Central Java '€” no news yet, they said. Then I decided to call Jakarta. They asked me to come and get the letter! Wow, I felt relieved!

I drove for six to seven hours to Jakarta to get a piece of paper that cost me almost $200. Then, when I went back to the country, immigration held me for hours to verify all my documents and look at my record to see if I was ever involved in terrorism, drugs or stuff.  

I know how it feels to be in a frustrating situation, but it'€™s our fault. There'€™s nothing you can do about it; the more you whine and complain will actually not do you any good. Chill, life'€™s too short to be a whiner and unhappy! Follow the rules, shut up and don'€™t laugh at the officers, you'€™ll be fine!

Snap

The tourist made a mistake and wanted to blame someone for it. It is 30 days, not a month.

Read the visa; it'€™s very clear. The amount was the correct overstay payment. No story here, just some tourist that can'€™t work dates out.

Paul

Our airports are a joke. It must only be African countries and Indonesia where you have to pay for your airport charge in cash. So what if a tourist spends more time spending more money in Indonesia '€” most decent countries'€™ officials would simply waive them through.

Indro T