All you expats out there can I please have your opinion on who you use, and how you rate their services..
I take you are asking about extending a SOSBUD visa (60 days to start with and then up to 4 x 30 day extensions). For about 4 years I used that system and can tell you that I used a really shit hot agent to do all my extensions ...... me!
Seriously guys, I don't know why anyone uses an agent for doing something that is very simple and easy to do. I did my extensions at the main Immigration office in Panjaitan, Renon.
1. Before you start the process go to the office and pick up a folder full of forms. Tell them that you are doing a SOSBUD extension and which one it is 1, 2, 3 4. The forms needed are slightly different. I used to pick up the whole collection of 4 folders of forms for extensions 1 to 4 in one go to save visits to Renon.
TIP on this first visit to the Immigration office ask where the window is for doing SOSBUD extensions. Go to that window/loket and ask about the time scale etc so you know when to turn up with your forms. Ask what ID photos you have you supply and so on. ASK! I found them really friendly and helpful - especially early on when I was learning the process.
30 minutes
2. Get your sponsor to sign the sponsor letter which you keep in your computer and run off each time (don't have that letter? The guys at Immigration will give you a sample!) and attach a photocopy of their UP-TO-DATE (not expired!) KTP. I always kept a load of these in the cupboard with the forms.
3. Pour a large Bintang. Sit down with your Bintang and fill in the forms. It'll take about half an hour - it's very boring and repetitive - but it's easy - Hey guys, the forms are in English (!) as well as in Indonesian. If you don't understand any part of it, just leave it blank and ask when you hand the forms in.
30 minutes
TIP make a photocopy set of these filled in forms to keep at home to help you next time, to remember what you did last time!
4. Go to the office and hand in your folder of forms and passport. They will send you to the photocopy bloke round the back. He's knows how many copies of each are needed. Then back to the loket and hand it all in. They will give you a receipt and tell you when to come back for the next stage.
15 minutes
5. Come back to the office a week or so later (doesn't have to be exactly the day they said - but don't go before). Hand in your receipt - they'll give you a piece of paper which you take to the cashier and pay the fee (used to be Rp.250,000 per extension). Take your receipt from the cashier and hand it in at the loket. They'll tell you to go away and come back again in a week or so.
15 minutes
6. Come back to the office a week or so later - pick up your passport - done!
5 minutes
EXTRA STAGE FOR EXTENSIONS 3 AND 4
5a. At the end of stage 5 above they will give you a letter in an envelope. You take it to the local office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (go out of the Immigration office and turn left. At the end of the road turn right - past the Post Office - it's a few hundred yards further down the road on the right hand side (look for KANWIL KEHAKIMAN DAN HAM). Go in the main door - the receptionist will tell you where to go - hand in your letter. They will tell you to come back in one or two days.
15 minutes
5b. Come back 1 or 2 days later - pick up a letter - go to the Immigration office and hand it in - go home and wait for stage 6.
15 minutes
So there it is. Very easy - but a bit time consuming. Do it yourself for Rp.250,000 - or pay some agent Rp.XXX,XXX - it's your choice!
NB What I've written is my memory of how it was 10 to 5 years ago (now I'm on a KITAP). Of course it will be a bit different now but not significantly so.
Hope this helps!