Bali Expat Forum - Bali Travel Forum

[Sam]

I'm taking my Indonesian girlfriend over to the UK for a holiday, but have read someplaces that getting a visa can be difficult and that the UK immigration like to see some prove that she will return to indonesia. I also understand that she would have to pay a fiscal to leave the country.

Has anyone had any experience like this or can offer any advice.

Cheers
Sam

[pongken]

Sam,

If the UK is anything like the US, then you must show that your girlfriend has economic incentive to return to Indonesia (like a business or land). It would probably be good to show that she is Hindu, and not a member of J.I. If you marry her then her visit to the UK will get easier.

Ken

[DrIvEr]

(empty)

[Roy]

And yes, she will be required to pay an departure tax of Rp 1 million.

[DrIvEr]

oh yes... i knew there was something i forgot.

[Sam]

Thanks everyone.

Would it be best to provide her with Travellers cheques to prove that she could support herself for the duration of the holiday and would this avoid having to provide sponsorship details. I was thinking as she will be going through a seperate immigration channel to myself she could show a return ticket and a financial means of supporting herself for the duration.

I'm not sure if going through as a couple would suggest to the immigration in the UK that she was not intent on returning to Indonesia.

Any thoughts ?

Cheers
Sam

[Roy]

Sam, I think if I were in your shoes, at UK immigration, I would stay with her in her line, i.e. foreigners, even though that would not be the right channel for you, apparently a UK citizen. I’d explain to the immigration official why you are in her channel, and that in fact, “she is with you” and you are taking full responsibility for her while visiting your home. It would be a noble gesture on your part, and it seems to me, it would be understood as well as appreciated by the immigration official.

Anyway, since I’ve only traveled with my Balinese wife outside of Indonesia once, I’ve only done this once and it worked fine. I’d be interested in what others think about this as I’d hate to be offering you bad advice that makes matters worse. But in my experience, immigration officers are fairly savy people, able to size up a person fairly quickly, reading body language and things like that.

[newquay]

Sam

Your didn't actually say that you were a UK citizen yourself?

I can't understand the British authorities. It seems if you write asylum on your papers, wether or not that's true, you can get in. If you claim it's a holiday it is more difficult. Oh Well.

My Balinese girlfriend and I have been together 2 years now.I'll be back out there in July.It is likely I could be in the same situation in a couple of years or so. So let me know how you get on.

Keep me updated.

Regards
Glen

[Roy]

Glen,

Are you kidding? Asylum? Like she is fleeing for her life from Bali because of what? Sharia Muslim extremists are going to kill her?

Nah, I can’t believe for a New York second that’s the way to go. I admit I don’t know the right way to go, but asylum for sure seems not at all even close.

[newquay]

Sorry Roy

it wasn't meant to be advice. I was poking fun at the lunacy that seems to exist in the British customs and immigration system.

Asylum, economic migrants, illegal workers or whatever you call them (the BBC can't decide either!), is a big issue in the UK at the moment. We have a lot of people, already inside the country, seeking Asylum here. Some suggest it's because its so easy to get in by claiming Asylum

I know they are trying to protect the country, but, the new rules don't seem to solve the problem of the ever incoming tide of Asylum seekers. They just inhibit those, like Sam's girlfriend, who are just trying to make genuine 'holidays' with their partners in the UK. It really makes me laugh.

I hope that clears things up.

Regards
Glen

[Roy]

Yup, sorry I took you seriously! An Aussie friend of mine recently took his Indonesian girlfriend back to Oz. He and she had a mound of paperwork to fill out, and the whole process took nealy six months!

[pongken]

I'll say it again. Does your girlfriend have any economic incentive to return to Indonesia? Can she prove it? (land deed or business ownership) This is a key consideration for U.S. immigration officials, and may be true for U.K. officials as well.

Ken

[Sam]

Hi Ken

No she doesn't have any financial incentive to return. I was hoping to get around that by showing the immigration a paid return airfare and travellers cheques sufficient to support herself for a two week holiday.

[mimpimanis]

Hi Sam

I brought my husband to UK. I was in UK at the time. he booked his ticket with Bidy Tours who were to arrange the visa for him.

he had to have the following

Return ticket,
Certificate of land (financial incentive to return)
Letter of sponsorship (he had two, one from me & one from my mum)
Wedding certificate
£5000 in the bank!!

I had to borrow the money to send to put in his bank. He photocopied the book with the balance and then sent the money back. Bidy's agents in jakarta would not accept the photocopy & wanted a letter from the bank but I could not send the money again.

After a call to the foreign office in London I established that because we are married that he did not have to have the £5000. It took a lot of effort to get Bidy to apply for the visa without it. They would not take Made's word that we did not need the letter and it was only when I called Jakarta and said just apply, if we dont get, we dont get it that they would.
Happy to say we did get it.

It took weeks for the whole thing to be sorted out and we are married.
I hope that you have better luck than us

[DrIvEr]

(empty)

[Sam]

Thankyou all for your views and very useful feedback.

It appears that the procedure is not entirely set in stone and if there is a formal procedure, as I'm sure there is, it is not followed to every rule. I imagine that how smoothly our holiday to the UK will go will depend on who we deal with in Indonesia and the immigration officer that welcomes us to the UK.

If all else fails it will not be the end of the world. We'll only be back in Indonesia earlier than expected and I don't mind that at all!