Visit Visa - Socio Cultural conversion to KITAS

[cup1981]

I am reading something online where people are saying they cannot convert their Visit Visa - Socio Cultural (formerly known as a SosBud) to a KITAS. They are saying something about needing a Telex and such. To my understanding, the Telex is nothing more than the approval letter from Imigrassi, which I had to get 8 years ago when I converted my SosBud to a KITAS.

Is this something new that I may run into an issue with? People are saying you have to leave to go to Singapore to get the Telex and such, but they are very unclear online as to what actually caused the issue.

My plan is to arrive on a Visit Visa - Socio Cultural, get my wife's paperwork in order (KTP, KK, etc.) then immediately convert to a KITAS and then a KITAP. Is this still possible without a run to Singapore?

Thanks!

 

[dafluff]

The SosBud (now Ijin Kunjungan) is convertible to KITAS within Indonesia, no need to go to Singapore. I believe the sponsor (your wife) has to be the same for both the SosBud and KITAS.

 

[jstar]

Can you provide us with a link, @cup1981 ? I'm not aware of any change and that the 'SosBud route' would be frowned upon now...but perhaps people are somewhat pushed to take the 'vitas route'?

 

[john madden]

Someone here reported that kanim Jember were running the vitas only story a while ago.

 

[jstar]

It's a kelas II right? Perhaps they want to be trendsetter or like a good hoax?

 

[harryopal1]

After organizing a Sosbud visa while in Australia we then applied for Kitas in Bali and were told we would have to go to Jakarta for the Kitas. That was not necessary. It may have been faster in Jakarta but at considerably more cost with air fares and accomodation so we didn't mind waiting. Then before Kitas expired we applied for Kitap. That took 5 months but we didn't have to go anywhere other than backwards and forwards for multiple visits to immigration offices.

 

[cup1981]

Can you provide us with a link, @cup1981 ? I'm not aware of any change and that the 'SosBud route' would be frowned upon now...but perhaps people are somewhat pushed to take the 'vitas route'?

My wife is the one who found it and showed it to me. Once she wakes up, I will get the link from her and share it.

I told her I have a feeling it is just a local we-made-this-rule-cause-it's-easier rule at the office level. The other issue could be the variation in sponsor -- maybe the wife/husband wasn't the SosBud sponsor, creating an issue in conversion.

 

[ratu_tuaq]

This is the same story from KanIm Mataram. My friend came in on a SosBud 2 months ago and when she went to KanIm Mataram to start the conversion to KITAS, she was told she needed a VITAS Index 317 from outside the country, as now only the VITAS can be converted to KITAS in-country, not the SosBud. In fact, I cross-checked her SosBud against mine from 5 years ago, and it does indeed have a different number. So I have suggested she go to Singapore or KL to get the VITAS. But yes, apparently this is the case now, SosBud (Visa Kunjungan) can no longer be converted to KITAS.

 

[cup1981]

This is the same story from KanIm Mataram. My friend came in on a SosBud 2 months ago and when she went to KanIm Mataram to start the conversion to KITAS, she was told she needed a VITAS Index 317 from outside the country, as now only the VITAS can be converted to KITAS in-country, not the SosBud. In fact, I cross-checked her SosBud against mine from 5 years ago, and it does indeed have a different number. So I have suggested she go to Singapore or KL to get the VITAS. But yes, apparently this is the case now, SosBud (Visa Kunjungan) can no longer be converted to KITAS.

Yup, this is exactly what my wife read. I was going to drop in a link, but it is just a bunch of random Facebook posts, so there was no way to link to them all and make any sense of it.

Now, a follow-up question. The Consular here already issued and sent me my SosBub. While that was being processed, we got my wife approved online as a sponsor for a VITAS (I didn't realize this was possible until after we sent off for the SosBud). Can I just not use the SosBud and continue the application for VITAS? Or do I have to jump through hoops to get the SosBud canceled before doing that?

Basically, I am trying to avoid having to spend a week, or so, in Singapore to get the VITAS done.

 

[ratu_tuaq]

Now, a follow-up question. The Consular here already issued and sent me my SosBub. While that was being processed, we got my wife approved online as a sponsor for a VITAS (I didn't realize this was possible until after we sent off for the SosBud). Can I just not use the SosBud and continue the application for VITAS? Or do I have to jump through hoops to get the SosBud canceled before doing that? Basically, I am trying to avoid having to spend a week, or so, in Singapore to get the VITAS done.

AFAIK you need to enter Indonesia using the VITAS as it is now the only visa that can be converted to a KITAS, so basically your SosBud is now useless in terms of using it to convert to a KITAS within Indonesia. I see from your other posts you are in the US, so I think you can organise the VITAS from there, rather than needing to go to Singapore. I would suggest the Singapore route for people who are already in Indonesia like my friend who has the incorrect visa. This is my understanding, and it is possible I am incorrect.

 

[cup1981]

AFAIK you need to enter Indonesia using the VITAS as it is now the only visa that can be converted to a KITAS, so basically your SosBud is now useless in terms of using it to convert to a KITAS within Indonesia. I see from your other posts you are in the US, so I think you can organise the VITAS from there, rather than needing to go to Singapore. I would suggest the Singapore route for people who are already in Indonesia like my friend who has the incorrect visa. This is my understanding, and it is possible I am incorrect.

What I am curious about is since they already issued a SosBud will they also issue the VITAS. My assumption is they will, given the sponsor is the same, but I am unsure... hmmm... And since we don't have an official address set up in Indonesia, maybe I should just go on my SosBud and do the Singapore deal because it looks like they also need a statement from the RT/RW once I get to my city. But we will officially be in a hotel for at least the first week. We are using her aunt's house as the "permanent residence," but it does not match her KTP address. So dang confused lol.

 

[ratu_tuaq]

What I am curious about is since they already issued a SosBud will they also issue the VITAS. My assumption is they will, given the sponsor is the same, but I am unsure... hmmm... And since we don't have an official address set up in Indonesia, maybe I should just go on my SosBud and do the Singapore deal because it looks like they also need a statement from the RT/RW once I get to my city. But we will officially be in a hotel for at least the first week. We are using her aunt's house as the "permanent residence," but it does not match her KTP address. So dang confused lol.

Same as my friend's case, she already has the SosBud but has been told to go out of the country to get a VITAS and then come back into Indonesia and convert that to a KITAS. So my guess is that it would be no problem issuing the VITAS when you already have a SosBud.

I don't know about the statement from the RT/RW because I did my SosBud to KITAS conversion in-country 5 years ago, but I personally have had no issues with my sponsor (Indonesian husband) residing in a different address to the one on his KTP. I am aware that other people in Java have had problems with this same issue, but I myself have had no problems at all here in Lombok, first converting from SosBud to KITAS, and then KITAS to KITAP, all while we lived in a different address from the one on my hubby's KTP. We just told the immigration guys to come to our residence for the interviews, and they had no objection to that at all.

And yes, it can all be very confusing, especially when the rules change so frequently, as they appear to have yet again!

 

[cup1981]

Same as my friend's case, she already has the SosBud but has been told to go out of the country to get a VITAS and then come back into Indonesia and convert that to a KITAS. So my guess is that it would be no problem issuing the VITAS when you already have a SosBud.

I don't know about the statement from the RT/RW because I did my SosBud to KITAS conversion in-country 5 years ago, but I personally have had no issues with my sponsor (Indonesian husband) residing in a different address to the one on his KTP. I am aware that other people in Java have had problems with this same issue, but I myself have had no problems at all here in Lombok, first converting from SosBud to KITAS, and then KITAS to KITAP, all while we lived in a different address from the one on my hubby's KTP. We just told the immigration guys to come to our residence for the interviews, and they had no objection to that at all.

And yes, it can all be very confusing, especially when the rules change so frequently, as they appear to have yet again!

Fantastic! I will apply for the VITAS here and keep my fingers crossed. Worst case, I am out just Rp100,000 and arrive on SosBud to convert later.

Thanks tons for all your help! This is so much different than when I did it 10 years ago lol. Easier, but significantly different .

 

[cup1981]

OK, so while ratu_tuaq and I were going back and forth, my wife got the official word from Immigration in Indonesia.

The ability to convert a SosBud visa to a KITAS is dead. There may be some smaller offices that have not been fully socialized in this new process, but the stance of Immigration is you cannot convert a SosBud into a KITAS. Only a VITAS can be converted into a KITAS.

 

[ratu_tuaq]

Fantastic! I will apply for the VITAS here and keep my fingers crossed. Worst case, I am out just Rp100,000 and arrive on SosBud to convert later.

Positive thinking - that's the spirit! Good luck mate.

Thanks tons for all your help! This is so much different than when I did it 10 years ago lol. Easier, but significantly different .

No worries, glad to be able to corroborate what your wife heard. I also feel terrible for my friend because it was me who told her to come in on a SosBud, though in my defence, I did check the KanIm website first, and it mentioned (and still does) the ability to convert SosBud to KITAS in-country, which is why I advised her as such.

OK, so while ratu_tuaq and I were going back and forth, my wife got the official word from Immigration in Indonesia.

The ability to convert a SosBud visa to a KITAS is dead. There may be some smaller offices that have not been fully socialized in this new process, but the stance of Immigration is you cannot convert a SosBud into a KITAS. Only a VITAS can be converted into a KITAS.

For reasons stated above, it would be very useful if KanIm updated their website with this information. I can't imagine how many people are coming in with a SosBud expecting to be able to convert it to a KITAS. But 'sigh' this is how we learn about changes here I guess.

 

[centurion]

OK, so while ratu_tuaq and I were going back and forth, my wife got the official word from Immigration in Indonesia.

The ability to convert a SosBud visa to a KITAS is dead. There may be some smaller offices that have not been fully socialized in this new process, but the stance of Immigration is you cannot convert a SosBud into a KITAS. Only a VITAS can be converted into a KITAS.

I have heard that if SosBud is issued through Telex visa approval you can convert it to KITAS.

 

[dafluff]

Has anyone actually tried to do the conversion request via the online forms? Local KanIms can say whatever they want, but they have very little say in what is approved by DitJen in Jakarta. Maybe they meant they can't do offline requests anymore?

FWIW, the law specifically says that an Ijin Kunjungan (formerly SosBud) is convertible to KITAS, and there has been no law made to cancel this.

 

[macvert]

This morning my wife paid a visit to Immigration Ngurah Rai Jimbaran to enquire about converting a Sosbud to KITAS.
While she was waiting for her number to be called, she rang them & the dude who answered confirmed that Socbud can still be converted to KITAS.
When her number was finally called she posed the same question which was once again confirmed. The immigration officer also asked her why we didn't go the VITAS route to which my wife replied that we think about the extra 1million rp for VITAS & in her words, the officer understood.

 

[Saudade]

This morning my wife paid a visit to Immigration Ngurah Rai Jimbaran to enquire about converting a Sosbud to KITAS.
While she was waiting for her number to be called, she rang them & the dude who answered confirmed that Socbud can still be converted to KITAS.
When her number was finally called she posed the same question which was once again confirmed. The immigration officer also asked her why we didn't go the VITAS route to which my wife replied that we think about the extra 1million rp for VITAS & in her words, the officer understood.

Aduhhhhh pusing pusing! I was on the same dilemma, so because I read here you mention the Sosbud route was cheaper I made my mind to apply for the Sosbud in one month, after I read it was not posible trough the Sosbud so I decided to apply for the Telex and Vitas route, and now you are saying the Sosbud route is possible and save 1 million, uhhhhhhhh pusing pusing!
Like many situations in Indonesia and many times, all this make me not feeling totally relax and a 100% sure if things could be going right doing the Sosbud route!
Now wondering if the 1 million rupiah is worthy or not!
Macvert, in your case it seems you will go trough the Sosbud right?
What about the process after you enter Indonesia with the Sosbud? Doesn’t seem easier and quicker the process entering with the Vitas?

 

[macvert]

I

Aduhhhhh pusing pusing! I was on the same dilemma, so because I read here you mention the Sosbud route was cheaper I made my mind to apply for the Sosbud in one month, after I read it was not posible trough the Sosbud so I decided to apply for the Telex and Vitas route, and now you are saying the Sosbud route is possible and save 1 million, uhhhhhhhh pusing pusing!
Like many situations in Indonesia and many times, all this make me not feeling totally relax and a 100% sure if things could be going right doing the Sosbud route!
Now wondering if the 1 million rupiah is worthy or not!
Macvert, in your case it seems you will go trough the Sosbud right?
What about the process after you enter Indonesia with the Sosbud? Doesn’t seem easier and quicker the process entering with the Vitas?

Yes, I understand & know the feeling of not being relaxed & sure of the outcome when it comes to dealing with immigration
Yes, I will go the Sosbud route because it has now recently been confirmed that it can be converted to KITAS by both the Sydney Consulte & Immigration in Bali
Yes, KITAS definitely seems quicker & possibly easier if entering on VITAS ..... from past experience it took 11 weeks when I applied for Kitas 4 years ago after enteng on a Sosbud but I wasn't going anywhere & the local Imigration office was within reach for a day out..