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Mixed-marriage families rejoice over new visa policy
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Indonesian visa (Shutterstock/File)
J
akarta resident Minanty Karyani says she was overjoyed upon receiving a limited stay visa for family reunification (VITAS 317) two weeks ago, after being separated from her family for the last seven months.
The seven-month separation was because her husband, a Singaporean, does not possess a stay permit to enter Indonesia while Minanty herself does not hold a long-term visa to reside in Singapore.
“I’m very happy about [the new visa policy] and I’m sure that this will bring joy to other mixed-marriage families,” said Minanty in a video message broadcast during a webinar on Wednesday.
Minanty and many other mixed-marriage families have been able to breathe a sigh of relief as they can now reunite in Indonesia with their family members who were abroad, thanks to a recent change in visa policy.
The Law and Human Rights Ministry’s Immigration Directorate General announced on Sept. 14 that it would allow foreign spouses and children of mixed-nationality marriages living abroad to apply for a VITAS 317 to enter Indonesia.
The policy comes after immigration authorities had suspended almost all visa application processes, including for family reunification, and generally restricted foreigners from entering Indonesia since April 2 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Read also: Mixed-marriage families struggle to stay together during pandemic
