Bali-Singapore every 6 months for get new visa: expensive?

[Umberto]

Hi all,
my compliments for this Expatriate forum! It's very interesting for all about the life in Bali.

I'm a 28 years guy from Italy and my wife is javanese, now she live in Milan with me but we have program to come to Bali soon and for long time.
I'll get a social visa (I'll come there without job or business, and my wife can be my sponsor) valid for +/- six months (2months+4 monthly extentions) but after that time i'm required to live Indonesia. Right?

After this I understood the better way is go to Singapore with the sponsor letter and get a new social visa for come back in Bali, but I've not yet understand if I can do that forever untill I have a sponsor letter (is there a "maximum" of social visas I can get in my life?).

Other important things I would like to know, is how much is expensive normally a flight Denpasar-Singapore with return (1-3 days after)?
If every six months I'll must go to Singapore for get a new visa, I need to plane the costs of this operation...

Thank you very much in advance, and sorry for my "bad" english...
Terima kasih

Umberto

[Tommy]

Buongiorno Umberto,
It is correct that after 6 months on S/B visa one has to leave Indonesia. A trip to singapore and back cost around US$300 but i can't remember the exact figure. As far as i know there are no restrictions regarding how many S/B-Visas you can get. If you want an agent to take care of the extensions and all the paperwork have a look at the "Visa Indonesia"-link in the upper right corner of this website. They charge 2.2 million rp's for 4 extensions and they are also able to help out with your future Visa-application at the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore. Buon viaggio!

[Umberto]

Buongiorno Umberto,
It is correct that after 6 months on S/B visa one has to leave Indonesia. A trip to singapore and back cost around US$300 but i can't remember the exact figure. As far as i know there are no restrictions regarding how many S/B-Visas you can get. If you want an agent to take care of the extensions and all the paperwork have a look at the "Visa Indonesia"-link in the upper right corner of this website. They charge 2.2 million rp's for 4 extensions and they are also able to help out with your future Visa-application at the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore. Buon viaggio!

Thank you very much Tommy!

Umbi

[Roy]

Of course Umberto, we all know that Singapore sucks. Even my Balinese wife prefers Bangkok to Singapore...and if you stay the week, cheaper too.

[Umberto]

Of course Umberto, we all know that Singapore sucks. Even my Balinese wife prefers Bangkok to Singapore...and if you stay the week, cheaper too.

Ha ha ok Roy, buy I think that my jealous wife would be not so happy if every 6 months I go alone to Bangkok... :lol:
Anyway, I know that Bangkok is more cheaper...and how about the Indonesian Embassy in there? Easy and fast like in Singapore? And the flights have the same price?

[mimpimanis]

Kuala Lumpur is another reasonable option for a visa run.

[Umberto]

Kuala Lumpur is another reasonable option for a visa run.

Thank you mimpimanis! :wink: The Embassy in there is fast for make new visa? Have you alredy try it?? On march I'll be in Bali!!!
thank you.

[mimpimanis]

No Umberto, but I know many people who have. Its a good option for us in Lombok because there is a direct flight from Mataram. I understand it is 4 days but some people pay extra for a faster service. KL is going to be my future destination for all visa runs.

[Sanurian]

Hi Umberto

Welcome to this forum. Various people have given you "advice" about your Social Visa. They are all more or less correct. There is no "official" limit to how many you can have - however, sometimes the officials decide you've had too many and they give you two days to leave the country. It happens (occasionally).

People like Pak Roy hate Singapore. I do, too, but Singapore is efficient, if not much else. Bangkok is a bad joke and you'd have to be crazy to stay there for a week (in my opinion). There are agents in Singapore who can renew your SB in two hours (costs about SG$160-170). You don't have to go anywhere near the Indonesian Embassy/Consulate, whatever. They'll pick up your paperwork from your hotel, or you can go to their office - up to you. And they finish it really quickly. Can be in the same day.

As for agents based in Bali, like PT IDE...they charge way too much. I've been doing my own for many years, using "officials" in the Immigration office in Denpasar. Of course, they charge more than the real price but still less than visa renewal companies. Curently, the first extension (after your 60 days), costs Rp 350,000. The rest cost Rp400,000. Add it up. A total of Rp1,550,00. That's nearly Rp700,000 cheaper than the friendly rip-off companies! And never forget - if the companies screw up, you're nothing in the end.

If you live a long way away from Denpasar, the companies might be an option. If not, do it yourself. Don't worry too much about what the other "experts" tell you. They're probably too rich, too lazy, or both. If you'd like to know an excellent, reliable contact in Singapore, let me know. I'll give you the details. My friends and I have been using this person for many years with no complaints, so far.

I understand that Kuala Lumpur is a bad joke - Bangkok, maybe even worse. Don't believe everything you read or are told.

Best wishes...

[Umberto]

Thank you very much Sanurian!

I have read all the posts of this forum about visa, and I understood that Singapore is the better way, faster and cheaper. But now I'm more confused about "officials" and agents...

More details would be very much appreciate, about your "contact" also. On march I program to come in Bali and I'll get my first SB...!

Another thing: is there the risk that the officials decide you've had too many SB even if you use an agent (like Bali IDE for example)???

Terima kasih :wink: