Bali Expat Forum - Bali Travel Forum

Hey all,

I know there are a lot of posts on visa issues here.....and I have read them all....but I am thinking that it would be good to get updated info on the subject. If you want to participate in the thread answer the below questions...Thanks in advance.

1. What type of visa do you currently have?
2. How long is your visa good for and how many extensions is it eligible for?
3. Do you use an agent or do it yourself? If you have an agent who is it and how are they to work with?
4. How much do you pay for your visa and extensions?
5. Where do you go for new visa's (Singapore, Malaysia, Bangkok, etc) and how much does that cost you?

Thanks again for all of your input....

Keep up the good work on the forum....it is one of the best I have seen yet...

Are you trying to start a visa agency?

Or are you doing a Ph.D. on visas?

colorful wrote:Are you trying to start a visa agency?

Or are you doing a Ph.D. on visas?

No I am not wanting to start a travel agency or get a Ph.D on visas. Actually, I was hoping to put together a reference tool for myself and others that want to use it for cost saving comparisons for applications/extensions...nothing tells cost comparisons like a spreadsheet. This way maybe we all can make informed decisions based upon others experiences.

I have been living outside of the USA for the last 6 years on and off. Normally, it is difficult to find visa information with most developing nations. Expats like myself and many others are reliant on first hand information of others. It is irrelevant as to what is accurate because as with most developing nations...laws are vague and change on a moments notice. As with most things to do with visas there are more than one way to skin the cat....

I know for myself getting my work visa in China was nothing less than a giant pain in the ass...going to a visa agent was useless...going to talk to the government was useless. It wasn't until I talked to other expats about this issue that I fully understood what I was allowed and not allowed to do on certain types of visas...which led me to the visa that I currently hold here.

I now have talked to 7 different visa agencies in Bali. I have sent the same very detailed email to each of them. This email contained all my current and future business plans, current corporations, ISP location for my websites, current banking practices, and my plans for incorporating Bali made products into my businesses. They all came back with different information. There are multiple variables as to why they were all different. Financially driven (they want to make more money), they do not know, or the policies/laws have changed lately. SO who am I to believe? Well I would rather believe those that have been in Bali for a few years going through these hoops.

I hope that explains why I would like this info....I encourage you to all share and I assure you that I will post the results on this forum.

Cheers,
Seeker

For what it’s worth, going on to my 11th year of 24/7 here in Bali and I’ve been on three different visas. I’ve gone to both Singapore and Bangkok for visas, but Singapore is the quickest and the fastest.

Seeker, I think most of us that are living here have already posted, ad nausea on this topic including our own stories, fees, etc. It’s all there in the archives.

While not trying to discourage your efforts at a “spread sheet” approach to this, the fact is by the time it’s done, it will be out of date, or need revisions. Cheers.