Markit
I'm trying to pull all the strings together in this thread to see if it's possible for me to understand all the various details, your help with corrections would be very appreciated.1) Applications for Kitas [B]only[/B] possible through an agency. Cost factor 6 million - multiple entry/re-entry visa cost 2 million. 2) Application for 5 year Kitap only possible [B]after[/B] extending the original Kitas (which can [B]only[/B] be done by the original agency responsible for first Kitas?) - i.e. when original Kitas comes up for its 2rd [B]renewal[/B]. (original + 1 extension)3) Several months (4-6) before 2rd [B]renewal [/B]is necessary victim should start processing paperwork him or herself through the immagrazi in Denpasar or Singaraja. 4) When Bali immagrazi have done their magic, victim should take own paperwork from them (how? just ask?) and take it by shortest route to Jakarta Main Imagrazzi (where, what office please?). Or charge a reputable courier service (here? in Indonesia? Is this truly possible?) with taking the paperwork to said Imi offices in Jakarta. 5) Wait 10 days (do Jakarta Imi give out a valid telephone number to contact?) to pick up finished paperwork and return it to Bali Imi to finish processing and after paying the ridiculously small sum of 1.5 or so million, victim is now the proud possesor or a valid 5 year Kitap visa. At what stage and where is the multi entry visa applied for?Re-reading this and it sounds like a fantasy story. Please tell me it aint so!
Dick Rector
It ain't so according to my agent. A kitap for 5 years will set you back around 35 million. Did you ever believed they (imigrasi) stop milking the cow?? The ONLY advantage is you don't have to go back every year but the price is about the same.Please correct me if this is totally wrong.
BKT
Dick its your agent thats milking the cow (cow as in you) . A Kitas to Kitap conversion at Imigrasi is IDR 3,000,000Markit, this thread is about Spouse Kitas to Kitap conversion. What Visa are you on?
Markit
Retirement BKT (unfortunately) just got the first one in August.
BKT
From what I understand the same rules apply, after 2 years on a retirement visa you can apply for a Kitap. There are a few threads on the Living Indonesia forum about this.
davita
The reason for confusion over the cost of Kitas-Kitap conversion on this thread is because a spousal application is DIY direct with Immigrasi whereas the Retirement Kitap needs to be done by the same Agent as the Kitas, as the Agent is the sponsor. The Agent charges what he can get but the price paid to Immigrasi is supposed to be the same (according to Immigrasi law....hehe).
BKT
From what I understand you can't ditch your agent and get a new one either. So basically shopping around for a decent price is not an option.
davita
You are so right BKT....it is a closed shop. I couldn't even do my own MERP without using the Agent...silly law. But what's new!While I'm at it I would like to warn members thinking of a Retirement Kitas that there are some Agents who are NOT licensed. Many say they are but sub-contract from Licensed Agents and make commission. If applying for a Retirement Visa members of the forum should get the licence # of the agent and have him/her verified.A friend of mine was recently visited by Immigrasi to see if they were genuine retirees...they were; but the reason they were visited, I found out, was because they had used one of those unlicensed Agents.
pollyanna
From what I understand you can't ditch your agent and get a new one either. So basically shopping around for a decent price is not an option.[/QUOTE]I've also heard (perhaps on Balipod) that we can't change agents but a couple of years ago when I got irritated with being ripped off by our agent I just found a new one. At the time I had no idea we were supposed to be locked into a agent and changing agents was as simple as going to the new agent and hiring him to act on our behalf. We've been very happy with him but I've never asked to see his license number.
BKT
We chose to pick up the letters from kantor hukum dan ham in Denpasar , and take them directly to jakarta ourselves[/U] ...., and wait for the processing (8 -10 working day turnaround ) to be completed , Once completed we then retured back to bali with the 3 completed approval letters issued by the jakarta office ; one approval letter was for our records , and the othe two letters , we delivered ourselves to kantor hukum dan ham /Denpasar , and kantor immigrasi nugurah rai.[/QUOTE]Hey Balidavo, I'm in the process of converting my Kitas to Kitap now, I pick up my letters from Denpasar tomorrow and plan to fly out to Jakarta ASAP. Do you have the office/immigration address in Jakarta?. How much is the processing fee for the letters? 8 - 10 days seems like long time to wait in Jakarta, hopefully some Uang Rokok can speed up the process
spicyayam
Hey Balidavo, I'm in the process of converting my Kitas to Kitap now, I pick up my letters from Denpasar tomorrow and plan to fly out to Jakarta ASAP. Do you have the office/immigration address in Jakarta?. How much is the processing fee for the letters? 8 - 10 days seems like long time to wait in Jakarta, hopefully some Uang Rokok can speed up the process[/QUOTE]Sorry, I don't know where you are supposed to go in JKT. I did try Googling for the address, but the location still wasn't clear. I am planning to apply for the KITAP soon also, so I will be interested to know how you get on.
joji gulapetis
Hey Balidavo, I'm in the process of converting my Kitas to Kitap now, I pick up my letters from Denpasar tomorrow and plan to fly out to Jakarta ASAP. Do you have the office/immigration address in Jakarta?. How much is the processing fee for the letters? 8 - 10 days seems like long time to wait in Jakarta, hopefully some Uang Rokok can speed up the process[/QUOTE]Here is site for all Kantor Imigrasi in Indonesia. I used the one in Jakarta Selatan, but thats because I live in South Jakarta. But there are phone numbers included with the addresses. Hope it helps. [url=http://www.imigrasi.go.id/index.php/hubungi-kami/kantor-imigrasi]Kantor Imigrasi[/url]
BKT
Sorry, I don't know where you are supposed to go in JKT. I did try Googling for the address, but the location still wasn't clear. I am planning to apply for the KITAP soon also, so I will be interested to know how you get on.[/QUOTE]I'll let you know, we had a guy from immigration come around last week and interview both my wife and I, just a series of questions about each other to make sure our marriage was legit (some of which I got wrong :confused:) a part from that just a whole bunch of forms to fill out.
davita
I'll let you know, we had a guy from immigration come around last week and interview both my wife and I, just a series of questions about each other to make sure our marriage was legit (some of which I got wrong :confused:) a part from that just a whole bunch of forms to fill out.[/QUOTE]Very funny...I'd love to be a fly on the wall and see the reaction from your wife when you gaffed. :beaten:They made a movie about that....Jennifer Aniston I think
Gozer
I need to ask and I am sorry if this is dumb. Why would I want a KITAP is it just so I wont have to keep renewing my KITAS? The reason I ask it my agent quoted me at it costing like 6 times my KITAS renewal which I am fairly certain I was already being overcharged on so I was like... umm I guess I will just keep using a KITAS. If there is a good reason to switch other than just avoiding the inconvenience of visiting imigrasi I don't see it.
Markit
There is a thread around about doing the Kitap yourself and saving bags of money. The deal with the Kitas is that Indo law says you have to have an agent to do that but I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) you can do the Kitap yourself. If I remember correctly the trick was to transport your docs from the Bali Imi to the Jakarta branch of Imi and then back again. Course the agents here will not tell you this. Surprise, surprise.
davita
It is only the Retirement Kitas/Kitap that mandates a Registered Tour Agent. Spousal visas can be DIY. I tend to agree with the OP about the Kitap route when it doesn't seem to have much advantage...but I'd be delighted to be corrected.It appears exWNI may now be able to get direct Kitap by DIY method. Anyone know about this or attempted to do it?
spicyayam
I need to ask and I am sorry if this is dumb. Why would I want a KITAP is it just so I wont have to keep renewing my KITAS? The reason I ask it my agent quoted me at it costing like 6 times my KITAS renewal which I am fairly certain I was already being overcharged on so I was like... umm I guess I will just keep using a KITAS. If there is a good reason to switch other than just avoiding the inconvenience of visiting imigrasi I don't see it.[/QUOTE]If you get the KITAP yourself, the price is 3 million for 5 years. Not having to visit immigration for 5 years is a big enough incentive to me.
Atlantis
If you get the KITAP yourself, the price is 3 million for 5 years. Not having to visit immigration for 5 years is a big enough incentive to me.[/QUOTE]Beside it, there is other perks:- SIM (driving license) may be issued for 5 years- You get issued a KTP Orang Asing.- MERP/Izin Masuk Kembali are issued for 2 years.- Extension of a KITAP is free. [B](please read additional information in post #46) [/B]I have been a KITAP holder from before the enactment of UU 6/2011 and have been astonished by the change in attitude of people when I am requested an ID and provide my KTP. It's just amazing. Most indonesian believe that I became indonesian, ignoring that foreigners may be issued KTPs. For those not married with a WNI, a KITAP is a prerequisite if they want to become WNI/Indonesian citizen.But as you said spicyayam, the perspective of not having to waste time visiting imigrasi for 5 years is already a big enough incentive.
davita
I suspect this thread should be divided between those contemplating Spousal Kitap as DIY....... and mandated Agent sponsored retirement Kitap which is not.The Spousal Kitap is DIY and the cost is low. The Retirement Kitap cost is generally 5X the annual kitas cost up-front so probably about Rp30-40M/person not including the 2 year merp...and we are two....therefore no real advantage.
