Eightfour more countries to get free visa

DenpasarHouse

Are you using an agent? Are you saying you're able extend your VOA after 30 days and then again after another 30 days? Because what you're describing shouldn't be possible. Are you sleeping with someone at the Immigration office?

DenpasarHouse

paulseawind wroteThere's another Visa I have used 2-3 times out of Darwin. It gives 60 days to start with and then it can be extended 4 more times for 30 days each time, thus providing 180 days stay here. A mate used to do that. But I have never extended one because, back then, I had to show up in Darwin during the first 60 days.

Oh Ok, I get it. I used to use that loophole too. The 60 Day Tourist Visa had the same Visa number (211, if I remember correctly) as the Sosial Budaya Visa (which gives you 180 days), so I'd just enter on the 60 Day Tourist Visa and then pretend I was extending a Sosial Budaya Visa. I'm not sure if that loophole still exists though, it was great while it lasted.

DenpasarHouse

paulseawind wroteAh, OK. Me being me, I wouldn't do that. I am a stickler for not breaking the law. I don't want to give the Authorities even a tiny chance to ping me.

Oh yeah? How's those compulsory Indonesian Tax Returns treating you? :)

balibule

paulseawind wroteIf I can't extend the Visa then I must leave every 30 days.

Instead of coming in the country of the free visa just ask to pay for the $35 visa on arrival which you can extend once as you've been doing.

mugwump

Seem to recall someone spilling his guts on this site relating how clever they were in avoiding immigrasi and suddenly learned that we had a mole!

balinews

The government is set to waive visa requirements for another 84 countries starting this week in an effort to boost arrivals of foreign tourists to the country. "We decided to apply the visa-free policy to 84 more countries starting this week," Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Rizal Ramli said after a meeting at the ministry's office in Jakarta on Monday, as quoted by news agency Antara. Australia, Brazil, Ukraine, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Palestine, Honduras, Pakistan, Mongolia, Sierra Leone, Uruguay, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Costa Rica, Israel, Albania, Mozambique, Macedonia, El Salvador, Zambia, Moldova, Madagascar, Georgia, Namibia, Kiribati, Armenia, Bolivia, Bhutan, Guatemala, Mauritius and Paraguay are among the countries mentioned by Rizal, whose nationals would no longer need a visa to enter Indonesia. "The total number of countries so far [that fall under the visa-free entry policy] since October is 174," added Rizal. Hopefully, said Rizal, the extension of the free-entry policy would be able to boost foreign tourist arrivals to the archipelago, which was targeted to reach 20 million by 2019. The number of foreign tourists reportedly increased by 19 percent year-on-year following the application of the policy to 47 countries in October. - See more at: Govt to include 84 more countries in free-entry policy | The Jakarta Post

davita

What is compulsory 'location registration' to the police. If meaning the old SKLD or STM......that requirement was cancelled on 1 Jan 2014. Only those who stay in RI in excess of 6 months are required to file a tax return and have an NPWP tax ID. Unless running a business, or having an IMTA, I don't know anyone who does register...even they stay permanently.

Normy

@10... This why people plough through even the 'boring' stuff on this forum. You usually learn something you never knew.

geedee

paulseawind wroteThis is good news for me, (I think), being on an Aussie passport. But I wonder how it will work. For 3 years I have been extending my VOA (doing it again as we speak). Currently it costs around Rp500K (512 I think) to get the VOA when arriving and a further 355K to extend it plus I get my photo taken and stored and they also take my fingerprints. I like that because it proves where I am at that time. Pls, nowadays I am paying Rp200K a time to be driven to Imigrasi to do the extension. So it costs me Rp1.467.000 each extension. But I do get 60 days. And I use those trip to Imigrasi as shopping trips. I bought a vacuum cleaner yesterday, for example. If I can't extend the Visa then I must leave every 30 days. That costs Ro450K to be taken to the airport. And Rp450K to ba collected and taken home again. Then fly out and back. If to Darwin that's at least $350 which is Rp3.500.000 Quite a lot more, and there's the special fee I pay the hskpr to sleep over to mind the dogs - Rp50K for each night or part thereof. All in all, this 'free' Visa will cost me an extra $400-500. But, let's see what actually happens. What about the Americans? From NY Dave's recent comments it seems they still must pay the $US35. And what about Scotsmen from Sydney?

1. The vacuum cleaner (was that a xmas present for the wife) and how is she 2.As i asked last month on Balipod I can use my British passport (dual nationality )for free VOA, my son will need to pay on Australian passport, wife is Indonesian so will totally confuse them as it did last year going on Eurostar Brussels to London

Adam

paulseawind wroteThat's true, NRMY. Even though people like MKWT whinge about it. Maybe he thinks he knows everything already. I agree with you. It's all worthwhile even tho' getting bored. Some people on this forum know interesting stuff. In fact, lots of people here know interesting stuff. It's all good.

Don't sweat the whingers, especially the oxygen thief who should have been moved on from this forum a long time ago. Personally I am loving the breath of fresh air that yourself, Davita, DenpasarHouse, Geedee et al have brought to the forum, regardless of the digressions. This forum used to be like that before the tide washed the rubbish in. Thank you all and seasons greetings.

sherm

DenpasarHouse wroteOh Ok, I get it. I used to use that loophole too. The 60 Day Tourist Visa had the same Visa number (211, if I remember correctly) as the Sosial Budaya Visa (which gives you 180 days), so I'd just enter on the 60 Day Tourist Visa and then pretend I was extending a Sosial Budaya Visa. I'm not sure if that loophole still exists though, it was great while it lasted.

I just got my passaport back today from Consulate in San Fransisco, the visa is still called a 211 but is printed in a different format than my old tourist visas and previous SOSBUD. I'll see if I can have it extended when I arrive.

Markit

Don't you just love whinging posts about whinging? Written by someone that even in his much missed "hay-day" had nothing of interest or substance to contribute to the sum of Bali knowledge but survived solely on the ideas and experiences of others. If I'm wrong Adam point me to your much loved and informative posts - they (if they ever where) should still exist in the dregs of the forum past and a simple search will put it all to rest.

DenpasarHouse

paulseawind wrote. . . plus the compulsory 'location registration' I do with the Polisi here each time (like everybody else), just like registering with the Foreign Police in Holland when I lived there. It costs Rp25K to register. If you don't and they catch you, the fine starts at around 8 million and goes from there.

That's the Surat Tanda Melaporkan (STM) and has technically been abolished for a couple of years now. However, you'd be stupid to argue the case if it's only Rp.25.000.

paulseawind wroteAm I supposed to fill out a Tax Return? That would surprise me, and I never heard of it before.

Yeah, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if you've really been coming and staying here for over 3 years it's almost certain that you've fallen into the category of a foreigner who's stayed in Indonesia for over 183 days in ANY 12 month period. Your visa type is irrelevant. Note: It's not just in a calendar year, it's in ANY 12 month period. You're supposed to go and get yourself a NPWP (basically a Tax file number) and start submitting Tax Returns every year. You'll need to declare your worldwide income. As you're an Aussie, you'd won't be taxed twice. Basically, you calculate your tax burden in Indonesia but you subtract the tax you've already paid in Australia. (I thinks it's called a Double Taxation treaty that exists between Indonesia and Australia). However, because the tax brackets are different than the Australian ones, it's almost certain you'll have to pay tax in Indonesia. That being said, you'd be a fool to pop your head up and voluntarily register. Just keep going like you have and plead ignorance for as long as possible.

geedee

paulseawind wroteGD, your benevolence is overwhelming and I wonder where you are coming from really. I am with Adam on this one. 100% agree with Adam's sentiments to get rid of the rubbish. Reading between the lines you will see most people think that.

Rubbish is very harsh talk on Christmas day don't you think? One mans rubbish is another mans treasure. I'm certainly not a benevolent guy , just fair and balanced. I thought you liked straight talk and whats up with the truth and humour ? You have a nice Christmas and I hope your wife feels better.

DenpasarHouse

Yes, it is an STM. I just looked at my current one. If it's not required then how do they know who is where. I always thought it was for 'demographics' plus it benefits me because if someone really needs to find me it's a few phone calls to find out which airline I went out/in on, where I am and which street I am in. The Polisi issue me an STM form duly authorised and I think it's the right thing to do to show up and declare your prescence. I moved here in Sept 2012. In April 2013 I went to the local Polisi and introduced myself. The senior dude there (the best uniform with the most badges and nobody interrupted him when he spoke) was really appreciative I did that. They are very nice with me if I ever go there. But I send someone to do it for me instead now and he did say something about not need to but then how do they know where everyone is. I will continue to do it. Sometimes I forget for about 5 days and then when I remember I send my guy to do it. Nobody says anything about being late and I get the STM form. It's the equivalent of when you check into a Hotel and they ask for your passport and they photocopy the info page. Are you saying that doesn't happen any more? I recall it does although I hardly ever use hotels now. If the hotels are doing it then there's a reason. I just asked my friend who manages around 20 Villas and she said she registers all the guests because if there is a problem then the Polisi already have the data of the guest. Makes sense to me. Also, she charges each guest Rp35K so she picks up a bit of an earn there. And for the other info, terima kasih banyak. I will check into it quietly.

For diplomatic reasons you're doing the right thing, but there's absolutely no legal need to do it. In fact, I think you were supposed to do it within 24 hours of arrival, so technically, they probably could have fined you for coming late. Also, it was never the responsibility of the foreigner to do the reporting, it was always the responsibility of the person housing the foreigner. I suppose that's you if you're leasing the place, or your "nominee" if you're using one. See this thread, from post #20 for more of my sticklerism on that issue: https://balipod.com/forum/threads/buying-land-husband-balinese.11239/ Hotels don't need to do it either, but I'm sure it's still compulsory for them to record and store the details of their guests. I suppose the police are just supposed to do the rounds if they're trying to track someone down. You're also supposed to register yourself and any foreigners you keep with the head of the village (Kepala Desa), which I do out of respect, but I have no idea if you're legally obliged to do it. I've never been asked to pay anything for this though.

geedee

Adam wroteDon't sweat the whingers, especially the oxygen thief who should have been moved on from this forum a long time ago. Personally I am loving the breath of fresh air that yourself, Davita, DenpasarHouse, Geedee et al have brought to the forum, regardless of the digressions. This forum used to be like that before the tide washed the rubbish in. Thank you all and seasons greetings.

Thank you for your kind comments Adam. It takes allsorts and I personally think MKT is the first to admit he doesn't know everything (as per his question on property tax yesterday) I don't see him as a whinger but someone who generously gives his advice albeit is his own style as per whats happened to him. He like Davita is among the first to welcome newbies to to forum. Read between the lines of his direct approach and scowls he just doesn't want to see people getting ripped off and make silly life changing mistakes. I'll bet there's a hell of a lot of people who just read this forum , don't contribute and benefit from his advise while getting a good laugh at the same time. I love his humour and this forum would be a less interesting place without it. I hope he never changes. A sincere Merry Christmas to all of you

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