Bali Expat Forum - Bali Travel Forum

I have read a number of the past posts on the site regarding Visas, and I think I am more confused now than when I started. We are planning to come to Bali and would like to stay for around 1 year. Last visit (2006), we applied for our Visa in Malaysia and received a 60 day Visa. As I understand it now, there is only 30 days allowed on a tourist Visa. As I also understand, you can get a 60 day tourist Visa, and you are able to extend it 4 times for a total of 6 months. If this is true, can you leave the country and return for another 60 days, with another 4 extensions, making a total of 1 year?
Option 2 would be to have someone sponsor us for a social Visa, which, I believe, is good for 6 months. Can this be extended to 1 year upon leaving the country and re-entering?
Once in Bali, one of us would like to try and work, or look into starting up a business. Is it possible to apply for a work Visa after arriving in the country? Again, does one need to leave the country and re-enter to change the statis of their Visa.
Also, if my wife or I figure out how to obtain a work Visa, would the family need to leave the country and re-enter, or would they automatically be granted different Visas?
If we are able to find a company that can provide work Visas for a fee, how much does this service usually cost? Same question for Social Visas.
Is that enough questions? Sorry, but reading previous post I am getting conflicting information. Thanks for any help.

There is 10 different answers for each of yoir questions so I would strongly suggest that instaed of asking the questions here go and get some professional help from the likes of Bali IDE or other agencies.

There have been changes to the 60 day tourist/Sosbud visa but as for working on one it is a no no but as I said get professional help. You will not then be confused.

I have an e-mail into IDE and am waiting a response. I have tried for 3 straight days to call into the local consulate for some help. No answer, no reply. I know I have a bunch of questions, but how about trying to answer one of them? As we all know, as in many countries around the world, there is the official regulation, then there are the ways people get around (or through) some of them. I'm not suggesting that you tell me how to break the law, just try and let me know what my best option should be for staying in your beautiful country longer than I am supposed to. I believe I read on another post that you suggested, or agreed that one is able to get a 60 day tourist visa before arrival, then it can be extended by one month, 4 times. After the 6 months, should I try to obtain a different type of Visa, or is it possible to get another social Visa, possibly from another sponsor, as long as I leave the country to do so?

A Sosbud visa is valid for 2 months and you can extend it 4 times after which you must leave the country and start again. You cannot work on this visa. A visitors visa is also for 2 months and you may be able to change this to a sosbud visa after you come but I cannot verify this. You cannot work on this visa.

To work you need a company of your own or a sponsor to get a work permit. All of this information is available on most Embassy web sites but as you will see from most of the archives on visa's here there are many variations on a theme.

I cannot advise you on any way other than the official one because I simply do not know which is why I suggest the professionals at an agency. Good luck in your quest.

Thanks, that gives me a good start.