John M
Greetings to everyone and I hope this is the correct place to post my introduction as a new member.I have been a frequent traveller to Bali for many years and just left there in early March in order to collect my retirement visa from the consulate in Sydney when the Coronavirus disaster stopped me getting my visa processed when the consulate closed and, as they say, everything else is history. In the interim I'm patiently waiting and I'm sure that I can learn from, and hopefully contribute to, the balipod forum.
spicyayam
Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately Covid upset a lot of people's plans. I wish I could say the situation in Bali is improving, but there was a new outbreak at the Governor's house recently.
John M
Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately Covid upset a lot of people's plans. I wish I could say the situation in Bali is improving, but there was a new outbreak at the Governor's house recently.[/QUOTE]Thanks and yes I've been keeping up to date with the rising Covid concerns via the Sanur Weekly and daily talks with my girlfriend in Sanur. At least I was able to get confirmation from the Sydney consulate via email that when Indonesia opens its borders again the consulate will extend all telexes dated after the 2nd of April by sixty days. Fortunately my retirement visa telex is dated 4th of March so I will have sixty days after Indonesia opens its borders to submit my telex and then a several/six months window (opinions vary) before I have to travel which will probably be necessary as I'm pretty sure that Indonesia will open its borders months before I can escape from Fortress Australia :)
PERtoDPS
Hi John M, welcome to Balipod, lots of knowledgeable people around here (and some smart arses, but hey even they're okay when you get to know them!). Depending on the seriousness of the relationship you [B]may [/B]qualify for a travel exemption. I wish I had more information for you but in about a month I will attempt this process I will report my results back here when it's all approved.[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/definite-shift-in-border-force-approach-to-travel-ban-as-approvals-surge-20200828-p55qfu.html[/URL]
John M
Hi John M, welcome to Balipod, lots of knowledgeable people around here (and some smart arses, but hey even they're okay when you get to know them!). Depending on the seriousness of the relationship you [B]may [/B]qualify for a travel exemption. I wish I had more information for you but in about a month I will attempt this process I will report my results back here when it's all approved.[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/definite-shift-in-border-force-approach-to-travel-ban-as-approvals-surge-20200828-p55qfu.html[/URL][/QUOTE]Hi PERtoDPS and thanks for your reply. I'm hoping that the increasing frustration of trapped citizens will lead to a relaxation of the attached Border Force guidelines in the next few months but currently it would seem that the most likely exit justification for anyone with a partner in Bali/Indonesia is option 6. h: [I]has a compelling reason and will remain overseas for at least three months [/I]with elements of[I] usually resident in a country other than Australia.[/I]The requirements don't appear to be too onerous and appear to be similar to, but much less than, the relationship proof required for an Australian Partner visa application - not surprising since we're dealing with the same department. They seem to basically want proof of a genuine relationship and that the applicant isn't actually going on holiday and coming back in a couple of weeks to clog up the quarantine system. Obviously a key issue is that Indonesia will actually allow the applicant in, currently no problem for ITAS and KITAS holders, but it remains an unknown how Australia will treat an applicant who intends to enter Indonesia, when they open up again, on a lesser 30 day visa as an extension is of course not a certainty. Hopefully common sense will prevail :rolleyes:
PERtoDPS
Hi PERtoDPS and thanks for your reply.I'm hoping that the increasing frustration of trapped citizens will lead to a relaxation of the attached Border Force guidelines in the next few months but currently it would seem that the most likely exit justification for anyone with a partner in Bali/Indonesia is option 6. h: [I]has a compelling reason and will remain overseas for at least three months [/I]with elements of[I] usually resident in a country other than Australia.[/I]The requirements don't appear to be too onerous and appear to be similar to, but much less than, the relationship proof required for an Australian Partner visa application - not surprising since we're dealing with the same department.They seem to basically want proof of a genuine relationship and that the applicant isn't actually going on holiday and coming back in a couple of weeks to clog up the quarantine system. Obviously a key issue is that Indonesia will actually allow the applicant in, currently no problem for ITAS and KITAS holders, but it remains an unknown how Australia will treat an applicant who intends to enter Indonesia, when they open up again, on a lesser 30 day visa as an extension is of course not a certainty. Hopefully common sense will prevail :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]Thank you for posting the document, I do know someone who has been successful in their acquiring an exemption, but it's not my place to make their story public. All the pieces of the puzzle, certainly helpful for me and less tainted with journalists opinion. I plan to stay out of Australia indefinitely until the paid hotel quarantine dies off, but will keep an emergency fund in case I need to do it.
