Why would Immigration need to take my passport?

[William King]

Today at work immigration visited for a 'routine check'.

Asked a bunch of questions, asked to see my passport & KITAS. Showed them copies and explained why I prefer to keep them locked at home. (10 mins away).

I ducked home and brought the originals to keep them happy. But then they explained big boss needs to see them and I can visit immigration tomorrow to collect them back.

I have an official looking receipt from them to indicate they have possession of them at the moment.

Is this routine or is something up?

Everyone was friendly and polite. All my docs are in order etc.

 

[Puspawarna]

Yikes. I have no idea. Please keep us posted. Let's hope you get your passport back soon. I hate it when mine is with immigration - I always have visions of needing an emergency medical trip to Singapore, or my son in the US being in a car accident, or ... well, I have a good imagination.

 

[vocalneal]

But then they explained big boss needs to see them and I can visit immigration tomorrow to collect them back.

So why couldn't you visit the office with them tomorrow so the boss can look. I smell a scam in the making? Hope I'm wrong.

 

[harryopal1]

Waiting for Vitas while Immigration hold my passport. Just over 2 months now.

As for visiting a workplace and officials taking a passport this is often done by Immigration depts when checking for illegals and the passport is taken for close scrutiny for alterations or fakes. Hopefully in your case it is just more of a showing who is boss thing and you will get your passport back soon.

 

[William King]

So why couldn't you visit the office with them tomorrow so the boss can look. I smell a scam in the making? Hope I'm wrong.

Indeed....that's what I am wondering.

Hopefully in your case it is just more a case
of a showing who is boss thing and you will get your passport back soon.

Hope so too.

 

[mauricio]

I don't know if we can refuse their request (to take our passports)... hope they are not impostors.

 

[vocalneal]

^ On the basis that it is not "our" passport but belongs to one's respective government.

Just curious. Is it the law in Indonesia, as it is "technically" in Thailand, that foreigners must carry their passport with them at all times? In which case the current situation maybe a wrist slap for not having it with you?

 

[Davita]

Yikes. I have no idea. Please keep us posted. Let's hope you get your passport back soon. I hate it when mine is with immigration - I always have visions of needing an emergency medical trip to Singapore, or my son in the US being in a car accident, or ... well, I have a good imagination.

I had the same concerns when I was ill and waiting for our Kitaps to be processed...the agent said he could get our passports back instantly but I'd have to start the whole Kitap application over on our return. He didn't mention any additional costs...and I didn't ask.

Fwiw we carried the receipt paper that Imigrasi had our passports for about 3 months.

 

[Bad_azz]

My 2 cents, they gave you a receipt, if they were scamming i don't think they would have done this.
They didn't ask you to pop in tomorrow with your original documents as you could either not show & them subsequently get in trouble with the boss, or you could abscond- if you aren't legit.

Them holding on to your original documents is a sensible way of ensuring you show up.
Assuming your documents are in order and that you are not doing anything you aren't supposed to be doing, I wouldn't worry about it. Just go in & collect tomorrow.
IF they throw something up at you tomorrow & you know you are legit, get back to us. Between the lot of us in here we know a shed-load of lawyers.
I certainly know 4 on a personal level.

 

[Bad_azz]

As for it being the law to carry our passports and permits, I don't think so - but I do believe we have to carry some form of official ID.
I carry copies of KTP , KITAP & originals of SIM A & C.

 

[William King]

^ On the basis that it is not "our" passport but belongs to one's respective government.

Just curious. Is it the law in Indonesia, as it is "technically" in Thailand, that foreigners must carry their passport with them at all times? In which case the current situation maybe a wrist slap for not having it with you?

Could well be. I think we (this forum) discussed this not so recently. The conclusion was that the law was slightly vague, as it says we must show original docs to an immigration officer if he choses.... therefore if docs not with you , then technically you are not able to comply.

 

[William King]

Law No.6 of 2011 on Immigration. Article 71(b) of the law states that every foreigner present in Indonesia is obliged to: “Show and submit any travel document or stay permit they possess when required to do so by an active Immigration officer in the interests of Immigration control."

https://www.google.co.id/url?sa=t&s...gg-MAc&usg=AFQjCNHC_WfB8oq_5j0NBNVFrY5fiLzX1A

Here's the same thing in Indonesian (and here's a link to the PDF. http://www.hukumonline.com/pusatdata/downloadfile/lt4dd0e499bfbf9/parent/lt4dd0e447183ec):

Pasal 71 - Setiap Orang Asing yang berada di Wilayah Indonesia wajib:

b. memperlihatkan dan menyerahkan Dokumen Perjalanan atau Izin Tinggal yang dimilikinya apabila dimintaoleh Pejabat Imigrasi yang bertugas dalam rangka pengawasan Keimigrasian.

 

[Smallworld]

..I hate it when mine is with immigration - I always have visions of needing an emergency medical trip to Singapore, or my son in the US being in a car accident, or ... well, I have a good imagination.

My worrying vision is a bit different.... I am afraid in their chaotic working environment my documents will simply vanish in thin air.

 

[Davita]

My worrying vision is a bit different.... I am afraid in their chaotic working environment my documents will simply vanish in thin air.

A very good point.
I wonder what remedy would result if they lost a foreigner's passport. Has anyone experience of this?

 

[mauricio]

One of the good things in this forum is that we can inform and help each other… I’m wondering how to detect an impostor. If he’s an imposter, his receipt is also a fake. It will be the worst that can happen because you just “lost” your passport. If he’s a real McCoy, can we call his office to verify before giving him the passport?

 

[Smallworld]

A very good point.
I wonder what remedy would result if they lost a foreigner's passport. Has anyone experience of this?

I have personally not experience it but I think you have to issue new passport, get all proper "can be faked by potato cut stamp" stamps MERP, KITAP/S, I bet they would go into extreme and ask you to register it as new passport. Basically them loosing your passport is like YOU have lost it.
I doubt you could sue them or demand any retribution from them..... pointless waste of time and nerves.

 

[Smallworld]

...can we call his office to verify before giving him the passport?

What if the person who picked up your call will think you are the impostor? If one will not trust another nothing will be done in business and in life.

 

[Puspawarna]

My worrying vision is a bit different.... I am afraid in their chaotic working environment my documents will simply vanish in thin air.

Oh no! Something new for me to worry about...

 

[mauricio]

What if the person who picked up your call will think you are the impostor? If one will not trust another nothing will be done in business and in life.

Well, if I call and say "Pak X is here, is he one of your staff?". If the answer is Yes, will they think of me as the impostor? I guess they may if Pak X is in his office, not mine. Then Pak X in my office is an impostor. If the answer is No, then Pak X is a fictitious name and an impostor. In this case, do I care what they think of me?

 

[Smallworld]

Well, if I call and say "Pak X is here, is he one of your staff?". If the answer is Yes, will they think of me as the impostor? I guess they may if Pak X is in his office, not mine. Then Pak X in my office is an impostor. If the answer is No, then Pak X is a fictitious name and an impostor. In this case, do I care what they think of me?

What I am saying here is that this information can be maybe classified for someone to be given via phone that's all.