Job Discussion Forums

munchie · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 8

My boyfriend and I have accepted positions at Real English in Yogyakarta and were due to start on the 2nd of February. However we have just been informed by the HR man that the Indonesian embassy is re structuring their sytem which will delay the issuing of our visas by six to eight weeks! We have spent all our money on flights and have given notice on our flat in the UK. If we don't go now we will be homeless and penniless! My question is should we go anyway and collect the visas when they are ready or not go at all!!??? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

Call me a cynical old scrote, but something doesn't quite smell right here. 6-8 weeks is remarkably similar to the period of time it takes to raise and grant a work visa. I'd bet that the school screwed up on the visa process and had to start over, and the 'restructuring of the embassy' tale is merely a face-saving device. I've just cruised the London embassy website and can't find anything about visa delays either in English or Indonesian.

If you hold return tickets to Indo then this is not such a problem because you can enter on a tourist visa which you pick up on arrival at the airport in Indonesia. This is valid for 30 days, during which time the school should send you out to Singapore for a day or two to pick up a pukka work visa there. Contact the school immediately and ask them if they will do it that way.

munchie · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 8

Hi thanks for the reply. It sounded a bit fishy to me too and have had a look at the embassy website which, as you say, has no mention of delays!
Our problem is that we only have one way tickets to Kuala lumpur as this is where we were meant to collect the visas from. We intended to book forward tickets to yogyakarta before we fly out from london. Really not sure what to do! I have emailed the school but won't hear back until tomorrow.
Do you think we could enter Indonesia without an outbound ticket or would they send us back?
Thanks

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

Firstly, you will need to book the onward tickets to Yogya before you try to fly out to KL as you can't get into Malaysia without an onward ticket. I suggest that you buy a cheap return KL-YOG-KL and that way you can enter Indonesia without any hassle. If you try to fly from KL to Indonesia with a single ticket and no visa they almost certainly won't allow you to board the plane.

scooby doo · Joined: 30 Oct 2009 Posts: 48

That is quite disappointing...
It does sound fishy, like malu said. Try asking them to sponsor you on a socio-cultural visa. This visa does not allow you work legally but it is valid initially for 60 days (giving more time for the permanent visa to be sorted out). I don't think you need an onward ticket to enter on this visa, but I'm not entirely sure. the good thing however, you can get it fast at any embassy, all it requires is a sponsorship letter from the school, a copy of their local school permit and the ID card of the Indonesian sponsor (probably the manager or owner of the school). If they refuse this option, then something is indeed not quite right.

General advice in the future; arrange your flights, etc after you have proof that the school is indeed sponsoring you. All it takes is for the school to send you a scan of any document with your name on it that is relevant to the visa application process. Or better yet, wait for the visa to actually manifest before purchasing a ticket. (even if the fares are higher...) you will feel more reassured that the school is about to honor its commitment. Also, ask to be updated on the various stages of your visa application, ask tons of inane questions to get a sense of whether the school is handling your papers efficiently.

Good Luck, I hope you make it to Indonesia!

aku_tonpa · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 63

Hi,
If you come on a tourist visa and your working visa isn't ready in 30 days, you will have to fly out anyhow and re-enter on a new tourist visa. Therefore, you will need an outbound ticket regardless. I guess the same is true if it was ready; going to Singapore or KL to collect it (you might be able to get this money back from the school).

Saying that, I have entered Indonesia on a tourist visa without paying for an outbound ticket.

munchie · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 8

Thanks for all the opinions, I did want to wait until the visa had gone through but the guy handling all our application etc said he neede our flight details before he could submit the paperwork. We were so excited about going to Indo and now feel like it might not happen and that this guy is maybe trying to rip us off somehow!! Thanks

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

Nothing so far suggests this is a rip-off, more like a bit of good old fashioned incompetence.

Remember that the employer has to go to a lot of expense to raise visas and obviously they don't want to do that if there is a risk of you simply not turning up - that is probably why they asked for flight details. By the same token, you don't want to lash out money only to find the employer hasn't delivered on the visa.

Find out asap what the school suggests as plan B then check it out on this forum or the 'livinginindonesia' expat forum (do a Google search).