Sydjapan
Hi....has anyone recently (last year or so) made a visa run to Bangkok for a Social Bud visa? The post I found on here was from 2009 and not clear. I will be in Bangkok and have 3 days. I found posts online in reference to 60 day tourist visas from Bangkok but nothing specifically referring to a social bud. Just wondering if a social would follow the same time and/or basic procedure as a 60 day tourist visa in Bangkok? I realize Singapore is easy and reliable and not expensive but will be in Bangkok, so.... Thanks in advance.
gilbert de jong
to process it will take two days, for example bring on tuesday morning and pick-up on thursday afternoon.
Fillout the form and along with the sponsorletter and copy of sponsors KTP go two pictures of you, and ofcourse your passport, all this you give to the lady on the left....she will check if filled out ok and if so she tells you to go to the window next to hers...there you hand over your paperwork again, pay the 45 USD (no other currency accepted) and get an receipt from that lady.
After two days you can pick up your passport with the visa in it, bring the receipt.
Don't forget to bring USD to pay for your sosbud..it will safe you a 400 meter walk to the money-changer :)
Have fun in Bangkok
Sydjapan
Thanks for the quick reply! Sounds relatively simple! As far as the American dollars go...sort of a non-related question... Where would a person get PERFECT Am dollar bills with no blemishes or even creases in them - either in Bali or in Bangkok.? This is for a trip to Myanmar. If this seems weird, everything I've researched says this is a must. I was skeptical and then kept reading the same thing. Bank somewhere, maybe? Thanks again.
gilbert de jong
you're welcome,
for USD on Bali, I always go to mandiri...but that's because I have an USD account there.
but I am almost positive they also sell them against your rupiah's, just at another counter in the bank :icon_wink: BCA is another option...
just don't buy 'm at a moneychanger roadside in kuta for example.
oyeah for the bangkok embassy, make sure the bills you buy/get are not only clean-crisp, but also new, if I remember right not older then 2006.
If somehow you don't succeed in getting USD on Bali, if you're in Bangkok...opposite of the embassy (other side of the broad street), facing the embassy about 150/200 meters to your right is a little store/moneychanger..they have a moneychangersign in the window/door..all people who show up at the embassy without the USD are send there to get USD...
btw, they also sell quality silk there also non-related, hahaha.
Sydjapan
Thanks again! You've been really helpful!
JohnnyCool
If you've got a good scanner, decent printer and Adobe Photoshop, you could print your own (for Myanmar).
Sorry - that wasn't very helpful. Still, it's a thought. I'd print some anyhow and try to pass them off nonchalantly in Rangoon. Then again, if you get caught, you'll probably be shot.
Doubly sorry...
:icon_wink:
Sydjapan
[b]Update On Visa Run to Bangkok....[/b]
UPDATE...I went to the Indonesian Embassy Wednesday. Easy peasy...Took a meter taxi (From KhoSanRoad/Grand Palace area) at about 8:15. Traffic was a bit on so it took about 20 minutes and 71 Baht (about 30 Baht to the Am$). It is next to Panthrip Plaza - the huge electronics plaza. YOu can also walk from a BTS station in about 10 minutes if you are staying somewhere other than KSRoad. For anyone looking for American Dollars (which is only what they take for the visa) you can look up/down the street on the opposite side from the Embassy and see the First Hotel. Walk a few 100 meters and take the foot bridge across and right at the bottom of the stairs beside the hotel is a jewelry store that sells Am $. Very nice ladies! They had 100$ bills as well as smaller denominations. Whatever I wanted. They even checked for the "newest" ones without my asking. Interesting side note is that most of the bills were "like new" (no creases or marks) for anyone traveling to Myanmar - these might do?
Next door to this shop is a small photo shop where they do passport type photos. They knew exactly what I needed for the Indonesian visa. They gave 4 photos (red background) for 120 Baht. They also had a photocopy machine (3 Baht per copy) if you need your passport page done. She even suggested and copied the departure card/page for me. Not 100% sure if I needed it, but they took it with my other papers at the embassy.
I needed:
Application (they give it there)
Letter (with the 6000Rp stamp) of sponsorship (one copy) - written in Indonesian by my sponsor
Copy of my sponsor's ID card
Copy of my passport page & my passport
Copy of my departure card/page (not sure if needed but they took it)
Copy of my air ticket out of Indonesia
2 photos
45$ American
There was nobody there when I arrived at 9:15 and it took 15 minutes total time. There was no mention of bank accounts on the form nor from the woman behind the counter. She only asked what I am doing in Indonesia - to which I answered visiting friends and touring...Otherwise, she just checked everything, I paid my 45$, got a receipt and I was done.
I picked it up today (Friday) The receipt had clearly marked pick-up 2:00 to 3:00. Only one hour. I waited and they promptly opened at 2:00 - handed in my receipt and was out in 5 minutes with my visa.
So, if anyone wants something a bit different than the Singapore run and if you manage a cheap ticket (I booked a 20$ Air Asia super special several months ago), I recommend BKK. It was easy...
BKT
Seems like Sos Bud's are a thing of the past, I can't see anyone getting one when a 60 day tourist visa will do the same job.
odez999
!!! UPDATE !!!
60 DAY VISA (Type 911) is same TYPE as SOS BUD one !
So what does this means !?
It means if you are in Bangkok , Singapore etc etc .. and you are applying for Ind Visa .. (AND you want Sos Bud. one - coz it can be later extended up to 4 times in Ind. later)
YOU DO NOT NEED SPONSOR LETTER (or sponsor itself) - less papirology
That you can get WHILE YOU ARE in INDONESIA - C O N F I R M E D (done by me in Denpasar)
So my advise is to go for 60day one (Type 911, I know that 60day one I got in Ind. embasst in Bangkok was type 911) and find sponsor while you are in Indonesia (and apply for Sos. Bud min. 7 days before Visa expires) - TESTED AND WORKING (in Denpasar Kantor Imigras & was told same thin in Tuban Imigrasi)
This is good tip for those who want to go in indo for up to half year ... and want to have less hussle as possible ! (and cheapest ATM) I guess ...
+ In Denpasar .... your Sponsor do not have to be from same area as you are stayin-applying for sus. bud. (or extending) .. it is enough for your sponsor to have KIPP from area where kantor imigrasi is !!! (and it cost like 50 000rup or something for your sponsor to get KIPP if he is there ...)
Again this is tested and working !
And one more thing !!!
BE AWARe OF INDONESIAN + THAILAND hollidays when planing 2-3 day visit to embassy ! I was burnt once ! :D
All was working in Thailand except Indo. Embassy (since it was some kind of Indo. holliday) ! hehe
And I was fighting with ward at the gate of emb.... thought he was trieing to scam me for some $ hahahah (coz he did not knew a word of eng ... except word NO)
Untill some higher ranked steped out and told me on broken english that it is Indo. holliday !
Comedy !
TIP FOR RETURN TICKET:
(if you do not have fixed retur flight... etc)
You can buy (one way) 25$-50$ cost flight from Medan (Indonesia) Penanag (Malyasia) as your return (gurantee) ticket wich must be provided for VISA!
sorry for my bad english (It got so broken... when used with locals in Indo .. hehe) I hope you understand ... moust of it!
Sydjapan
[b]60 day tourist VS Social Visa[/b]
Hi...I thought so, as well? What I can gather from Indonesia Forum, as well.....It seems that all things considered, extending a Soc Bud visa is 100% acceptable and there is virtually no chance (?) of being refused. My understanding is that the 60 day tourist is ALSO extendable (Especially in Bali where people are having it done), BUT it was suggested that this is no "guarantee" and it really isn't supposed to be done - though it IS being done.... Considering it was easy enough for me to get a sponsor letter, the Soc Bud seemed like a more sure bet, for me...? Notice all of the question marks.... Jus my take on what I could research/find....
gilbert de jong
FYI....jakarta is far more regulated then Bali, (or any other part of Indonesia for that matter)...meaning JKT is by the book, and you won't bump into someone there who will (try) charge double with the prices openly displayed in the imigrasi-offices.
man with the gun makes the rules?? don't understand that one..
odez999
Sydjapan wroteHi...I thought so, as well? What I can gather from Indonesia Forum, as well.....It seems that all things considered, extending a Soc Bud visa is 100% acceptable and there is virtually no chance (?) of being refused. My understanding is that the 60 day tourist is ALSO extendable (Especially in Bali where people are having it done), [U]BUT it was suggested that this is no "guarantee" and it really isn't supposed to be done - though it IS being done.... [/U]Considering it was easy enough for me to get a sponsor letter, the Soc Bud seemed like a more sure bet, for me...? Notice all of the question marks.... Jus my take on what I could research/find....
Well if isnt supposed to be done .. and they are doing it (on daily basis in Denpasar) how you would call it ? Illegal activity = indo. reality ??? hehe
"virtually no chance" as you call it ... is non existing term in Indonesia !
I guess if you end up in some shithole immigrasi round Jakarta ... there are no guarate at all .. for any shit .. they even might try to bill you double (not 250 000rp but 500 000rup) for extension if you bump into "wrong person" !
So I put my bet on everyday practice over "rigid law" !
Man with the gun makes the rules ! :D
odez999
I beleve you ... but ...
I just wanted to say my impression was .. (reading various forums on this subject) that Jakarta is bit more .. what you called "corrupt" on this mather !
And why this guy was "suggested" not to try to go with 60 day Visa extension then (as Sos. Bud) ? Does different rules apply on diferent parts of Indonesia on this mather?
Or is it just dissinformation ? And should he BE ABLE TO extend it anywhere in Indonesia or not !?
man with the gun makes the rules? .. meaninng ... Guys in uniform is right in 99% ! :D Or not ? And in 99.9% is better to "obey" (cheaper)
odez999
gilbert de jong wrote
well, I don't have immediate respect for some Indonesian guy in a uniform, unlike most if not all Indonesian people..
hehe ...
Since you can be considered as "local" bule
(familiar with all the "laws" and tricks .. bla bla ..) you can afford yourself that kind of attitude !
Most tourist cant :D
BTW I bet in most of cases you will take maximum of situation (in your advantage) if your attitude toward any official is like he is someone who is very important ... :D
At the end .. he is .. at that moment .. for you !
gilbert de jong
aahh..Yeah, now I understand the man with the gun comment :D...
well, I don't have immediate respect for some Indonesian guy in a uniform, unlike most if not all Indonesian people..
The chance for a JKT imigrasi officer to get busted by his superior is bigger then for a official on Bali, customers (foreigners) can easily report an officer to his superior.
On Bali too, but I have never heard something like that happen on Bali, maybe because of the 'holiday' ambiance or something like that (I don't know),
but the 'korupsi'/'helping' is normal on Bali...If that's a good or bad thing is a whole other question ofcourse.
As for rules/laws, they should be implemented everywhere in Indonesia in the same manner. He can by the way only extend it at the kantor imigrasi closest to his sponsors adress..
Coming with a 60day touristvisa, and then want to convert and extend would mean if want do so in JKT, the sponsor would need to have a JKT KTP, and all other extensions need to be done at the same location. Well at least that is the rule ;)
gilbert de jong
yeah I blend in pretty good :anonymous:...hell, my skin is darker then most balinese people, hahaha.
But having personal/friendly/business relationships with most top-dogs in Buleleng and Bali, doesn't hurt too when dealing with "uniforms"
for the 'normal' tourist you're absolutely right, there is totally no harm in playing along with an 'uniform' on a power-trip :icon_wink:
I did when I was new on the Isle, and learned from observing and experienced that having patience (meaning blablabla first before getting to the actual point of business is normal and helps)
sometimes it's better to say nothing then to say what you want, there's always tomorrow, don't push your point/raise voice, as it will might get you what that time round, but next time round will be different from the get go.
way of thread already, so sorry..
BaliYogi
Hi sorry I realize this post is over a year old... However I am a little confused... Are you saying to apply for a 60 day visa before you come into indo.. Then apply for a social budaya inside of indo before that visa expires without leaving the country?
Thank you :-)
odez999
BaliYogi wroteHi sorry I realize this post is over a year old... However I am a little confused... Are you saying to apply for a 60 day visa before you come into indo.. Then apply for a social budaya inside of indo before that visa expires without leaving the country?
Thank you :-)
Exactly !
odez999 <--- been there done that !
and If you going to Bangkok (I advise Bangkok amonhg Singapore and Kuala Lumpur as the "best buy" for visa extension) the embassy is in the center of City .. near ATM-s... Banks .. Photocopy shops etc ... UNLIKE Singapore AND Kuala Lumpur !!!!
+ I applied 2 times in Bangkok and never took more than 15min .. and waiting room is like ... 15-20 people max (so go figure how long is average waiting time) UNLIKE the Singapore .. or Kuala Lumpur ... where is always crowed ! (especially KL ..where looks like some sort concert out in the open :D !!!)
But in BKK it takes 3 working days to make it (be aware of holidays/non working days) but in KL lastime I applied at 11:45 mourning ... and picked it up next day at 15:30 !!! (if you apply untill 12:00 you will be able to pick it up next day afternoon)
But ... BKK as destination for Visa extension is far more better (for me) thant the other cities around ! Cheaper !
- embassy in center
- no so much people
- cheap transport (for example from Airport to citycenter is like 2$ via Skytrain)
- cheap hostels/hotels and endless possibility to choose from
and at the end (but not least important) it is a Bangkok .. :D ([I]for reference go watch a movie Hangover - Part II[/I]) :D
