DON'T PANIC.... well, maybe a little bit.

[make_batik_great_again]

This is affecting me too - my BF is currently living with me and using the VOA visa to be here with me (he isn't working here nor is he a digital nomad). However, I think Indonesia just wants to get foreigners out of the country and I kinda understand why they might want that (less people for them to worry about and less international headlines if a local person dies compared to a foreigner). I really don't want to be left alone in the current situation here but I've been encouraging my BF to get out before he can't leave. Borders are closing so fast we don't know what tomorrow will look like.
If i was here on a VOA/ temporary visa right now I would just take the risk to fly and get out.

On a VOA I think I would fly out, too. At least, if my GF/wife has family or friends who can support in case of infection / help needed.
Since you wrote 'don't want to be left alone'...I hope you did not really mean that he is the only person around you and you would still have somebody around you to share thoughts, fears etc. and who could support you in case of infection. Otherwise, it would be a really difficult situation and decision for your BF and you.

 

[gemima]

On a VOA I think I would fly out, too. At least, if my GF/wife has family or friends who can support in case of infection / help needed.
Since you wrote 'don't want to be left alone'...I hope you did not really mean that he is the only person around you and you would still have somebody around you to share thoughts, fears etc. and who could support you in case of infection. Otherwise, it would be a really difficult situation and decision for your BF and you.

I have friends here of course and am still working every day so I have my colleagues too! I'm not 100% alone but with social distancing actual interactions will have to cease in a lot of cases.
I'm youngish (less than 40), healthy and female so the stats are in my favor regarding COVID-19. I'm mostly worried about being stuck here for an extended period (I'm sure they will have to shut down Jakarta at some point - maybe sooner than later).

 

[Balifrog]

The problem, for the different posts above, is that soon you will have nowhere to fly to.
I mean, even going back to your home country could mean they will put you in isolation / quarantine.
And that is, if they even let you board your flight.
All those decisions taken successively by different countries with immediate application are creating a gigantic mess.
Personally I am on retirement Kitas and dont plan to travel (to go where anyway ?), so I dont worry.
And concerning worrying about the virus, well I am 67 and I have zero worry or stress level.

 

[Euc-]

Many of us here at Lake Toba are in this situation now as well. Came in on VOA or 30-day stamp and flying back to Penang/KL now are stranded. Indo immigration needs to acknowledge the humanitarian and safety aspects of this and WAIVE overstay fees until this blows over. Forcing us to leave is NON-ESSENTIAL travel. Public transport is NOT-SAFE, with people coughing and sneezing on us. Also, forcing us to travel to immigration office (3 hour journey here) to apply for longer stays should be nixed. All responsible countries are insisting on self-isolation and quarantine. Does indonesia want to be seen as profiting from hapless travellers over this?

So in your opinion the Indonesian government should just have all these foreigners on tourist visas staying put? What if their money runs out? Indonesian government will be responsible for accommodation, food, basic hygiene etc?

No, its not a time to travel, unnecessary travel is advised against indeed. Traveling to your home country is not unnecessary travel but is required imho.

 

[dafluff]

To be fair, when they shut down all flight to China, all the Chinese tourists in Bali were allowed emergency extension to their stay permits. If/when travelling out becomes impossible for other nationalities, I'm optimistic that they will allow the same extensions.

 

[nd_eric_77]

To be fair, when they shut down all flight to China, all the Chinese tourists in Bali were allowed emergency extension to their stay permits. If/when travelling out becomes impossible for other nationalities, I'm optimistic that they will allow the same extensions.

It is compassionate to waive visa extensions, but this does not really address the risk of running out of money for food & lodging.

 

[Jaime C]

It is compassionate to waive visa extensions, but this does not really address the risk of running out of money for food & lodging.

Just wait for the hordes of bules, with signs begging for money.

 

[butthunter]

It is compassionate to waive visa extensions, but this does not really address the risk of running out of money for food & lodging.

This is so ignorant.
1. What do you think is the cost of bare essentials in Indo. I really, really doubt VOA/visa hoppers don't have the funds for medium term bare minimums. Hell you can go probably live on 5 bucks a day here add a little more for a bunk in a cheap hostel and u r good.
2. With lockdown don't you think supply and demand reduces accomodation prices.
3. How about some compassion? Some of us are here prior to our weddings etc., and it's damn hard sorting everything out and we dont want to leave our loved ones here alone through turbulent times.

 

[Bad_azz]

This is so ignorant.
1. What do you think is the cost of bare essentials in Indo. I really, really doubt VOA/visa hoppers don't have the funds for medium term bare minimums. Hell you can go probably live on 5 bucks a day here add a little more for a bunk in a cheap hostel and u r good.
2. With lockdown don't you think supply and demand reduces accomodation prices.
3. How about some compassion? Some of us are here prior to our weddings etc., and it's damn hard sorting everything out and we dont want to leave our loved ones here alone through turbulent times.

It may seem ignorant to you and may not be pertinent to your own situation but believe me, I know quite a few WNA here on the breadline with no savings just eeking out a meagre living, it won't take much to unbalance their situation.
I have personally had to bail out at least 7 of them over the years.

As for bartering down the prices of goods/accommodation, it is a time of crisis & I feel that may well be taking unfair advantage of some who are at risk of losing their livelihoods.

 

[butthunter]

It may seem ignorant to you and may not be pertinent to your own situation but believe me, I know quite a few WNA here on the breadline with no savings just eeking out a meagre living, it won't take much to unbalance their situation.
I have personally had to bail out at least 7 of them over the years.

As for bartering down the prices of goods/accommodation, it is a time of crisis & I feel that may well be taking unfair advantage of some who are at risk of losing their livelihoods.

Oh yes, anecdotal evidence. We should rely on it and your collection of irresponsible friends to form foreign policy.


Everything in life is a trade-off, how about you look at the flip-side and consider that the majority of VOA/short term visa people (like myself) are good people who have enough funds for at least the next few months. This is probably even moreso true when you consider most landlords here require 6-12months of rent paid up front. Now take those good people and think about what they ADD to the economy which is even more important when you consider how much will and is being taken away. I myself spend on average 150k a day on gojek/grab for example and I use one of those fit kitchens for weekday lunches and dinners.


Your last point shows a complete lack of knowledge about how industries actually work. Hotels and other forms of accommodation exist in a physical form and they are well aware of what their margins are like. Some money, even slim margins is better than none particularly as it probably also helps to keep some people employed and so on and so forth. There's no evil foreigner here who 'will take unfair advantage' there's just an uncertain time where people make sacrifices and work together.

Think positively lol.

 

[Vanhelsing]

To be fair, when they shut down all flight to China, all the Chinese tourists in Bali were allowed emergency extension to their stay permits. If/when travelling out becomes impossible for other nationalities, I'm optimistic that they will allow the same extensions.

I'm hearing from travellers here in Kuta, Lombok, that VOA holders will soon be entitled to an emergency extension - this coming from agents as well.

 

[Bad_azz]

Oh yes, anecdotal evidence. We should rely on it and your collection of irresponsible friends to form foreign policy.


Everything in life is a trade-off, how about you look at the flip-side and consider that the majority of VOA/short term visa people (like myself) are good people who have enough funds for at least the next few months. This is probably even moreso true when you consider most landlords here require 6-12months of rent paid up front. Now take those good people and think about what they ADD to the economy which is even more important when you consider how much will and is being taken away. I myself spend on average 150k a day on gojek/grab for example and I use one of those fit kitchens for weekday lunches and dinners.


Your last point shows a complete lack of knowledge about how industries actually work. Hotels and other forms of accommodation exist in a physical form and they are well aware of what their margins are like. Some money, even slim margins is better than none particularly as it probably also helps to keep some people employed and so on and so forth. There's no evil foreigner here who 'will take unfair advantage' there's just an uncertain time where people make sacrifices and work together.

Think positively lol.

We go easy on the newbies in the forum.
You seem to have just bounced in being negative and judgemental... welcome to the forum, perhaps you might want to wind the attitude in a little bit?
*for the record, some people have been irresponsible, some have been very responsible but have had their entire livelihood wiped out by natural disasters here, but you seem to have a lot to learn, so I shall bow out on you for now & leave you to get educated.

 

[butthunter]

We go easy on the newbies in the forum.
You seem to have just bounced in being negative and judgemental... welcome to the forum, perhaps you might want to wind the attitude in a little bit?

Wait, so I debate your points, only talk about the facts and use working examples as to why you are incorrect and your only response is 'watch out newbie'. Lmao get real dude, when someone spouts nonsense they deserve to be told it.

You are literally basing a negative opinion of short term visa holders on a handful of your irresponsible friends over the course of a few years and failing to understand the basics of how economies and industries work in the meantime. Free your mind a little bit and stop being a child

 

[gemima]

This is so ignorant.
1. What do you think is the cost of bare essentials in Indo. I really, really doubt VOA/visa hoppers don't have the funds for medium term bare minimums. Hell you can go probably live on 5 bucks a day here add a little more for a bunk in a cheap hostel and u r good.
2. With lockdown don't you think supply and demand reduces accomodation prices.
3. How about some compassion? Some of us are here prior to our weddings etc., and it's damn hard sorting everything out and we dont want to leave our loved ones here alone through turbulent times.

I'm in a similar position re the VOA and a loved one (I posted previously in the thread). These are very stressful times so I understand it's easy to get a bit upset reading something on here that goes contrary to your viewpoint but I do see that there are 2 sides to this argument. If I was in a position of power in the relevant ministry here I also might want to get as many foreigners/ non-residents out of the country. I have a horrible feeling this is going to get very serious very fast here.

 

[Euc-]

Oh yes, anecdotal evidence. We should rely on it and your collection of irresponsible friends to form foreign policy.


Everything in life is a trade-off, how about you look at the flip-side and consider that the majority of VOA/short term visa people (like myself) are good people who have enough funds for at least the next few months. This is probably even moreso true when you consider most landlords here require 6-12months of rent paid up front. Now take those good people and think about what they ADD to the economy which is even more important when you consider how much will and is being taken away. I myself spend on average 150k a day on gojek/grab for example and I use one of those fit kitchens for weekday lunches and dinners.


Your last point shows a complete lack of knowledge about how industries actually work. Hotels and other forms of accommodation exist in a physical form and they are well aware of what their margins are like. Some money, even slim margins is better than none particularly as it probably also helps to keep some people employed and so on and so forth. There's no evil foreigner here who 'will take unfair advantage' there's just an uncertain time where people make sacrifices and work together.

Think positively lol.

What an attitude.

The visa's that are affected are there for tourism purposes. Very very few people would be a legitimate tourist for 6 to 12 months and pay upfront for a lease for that entire time. I cannot have sympathy for someone who abuses a loophole in the system and then gets caught out.

The situation for Chinese tourists was different, as they were caught out by the fact that all of a sudden all flights to China got cancelled. This situation is now not new anymore, several countries have already called for their citizens to return home before it's too late. Just do it.

 

[Balifrog]

The problem is that in the visa waiver and VOA crowd, there are 2 categories of persons.
First the ones really on a short term holiday, or here on visit, or short temporary stay.
For those of course a certain flexibility should be shown.
Than you have the "professionals" of the visa waiver and VOA, who having lived here (whatever the reason) since a long time and doing visa hops. Amongst them the bloggers, on line workers etc....
In any country the authorities dont like this categorie. The same goes for Thailand for example. Maybe for those there will be less "flexibility" when they show up with their passport full of back to back VOA and 30d extensions.
Personally, going myself through all the obligations to follow the law, I consider them as unfair players, even they may be very symphatic persons.
And well, unfair players are usually shown the door.
Now, flame away if you want....

 

[butthunter]

What an attitude.

The visa's that are affected are there for tourism purposes. Nobody who is a legitimate tourist for 6 to 12 months and pays upfront for a lease for that entire time. I cannot have sympathy for someone who abuses a loophole in the system and then gets caught out.

The situation for Chinese tourists was different, as they were caught out by the fact that all of a sudden all flights to China got cancelled. This situation is now not new anymore, several countries have already called for their citizens to return home before it's too late. Just do it.

When you reply, just read what someone says in the entirety lol. Some of us- like myself- are on these visas as bridging options or in my case just prior to our wedding.. So quick to judge though..

Anyway, I don't want or need hostility, just wanted to make the point clear about assumptions and prejudice. Don't agree, that's fine, it's still ignorant though.

 

[Balifrog]

What an attitude.

The visa's that are affected are there for tourism purposes. Very very few people would be a legitimate tourist for 6 to 12 months and pay upfront for a lease for that entire time. I cannot have sympathy for someone who abuses a loophole in the system and then gets caught out.

The situation for Chinese tourists was different, as they were caught out by the fact that all of a sudden all flights to China got cancelled. This situation is now not new anymore, several countries have already called for their citizens to return home before it's too late. Just do it.

Well, you said it in a more direct way then me....
But I fully agree with your post.

 

[Euc-]

When you reply, just read what someone says in the entirety lol. Some of us- like myself- are on these visas as bridging options or in my case just prior to our wedding.. So quick to judge though..

Anyway, I don't want or need hostility, just wanted to make the point clear about assumptions and prejudice. Don't agree, that's fine, it's still ignorant though.

I have read your posts, but I still do not understand.

You are here "prior to your wedding". So what were you planning to do after your wedding? You don't mention you are marrying a local, but I will assume for a moment you are as you would have no argument to begin with.

You are here on a VOA/waiver program to get married, presumably, so you would be able to convert to a longer-term visa after marriage. None of the visas that are affected by this regulation are changeable to a more permanent one, so you would have to leave the country at some point anyway.

The only difference now is that instead of going to Singapore for your telex you would go to your home country to get it, is that really that big of a deal considering the current situation?

 

[Euc-]

In addition to that, if prior to your wedding, why come in on a tourist visa when you have the intention to settle here for a longer period. You should've taken the Social Budaya visa, extendable up to 6 months and can change in the country to a KITAS after the wedding. Would've saved you a trip to Singapore.

Oh my bad, you were supporting the aviation industry and all those poor airport/gojek/grab workers that wouldn't have a job without you travelling. You're gods gift to humanity.