Card cuts visa red tape<\/p>\n
Duncan Graham, Contributor, Surabaya<\/p>\n
When a top Cabinet minister criticized Australia's visa policy at
\nan Indonesia-Australia business conference in Bali, he certainly
\nstirred the proverbial possum.<\/p>\n
Or, as they say elsewhere, created controversy.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the Indonesia-Australia Business Conference in
\nBali in April, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal
\nBakrie said that relationships between the two countries would
\nimprove if Australia relaxed its visa requirements for
\nIndonesians.<\/p>\n
But it was not only the Indonesians that got fired up. Many
\nAustralian businesspeople agreed that their country's entry
\nprocedures for Indonesians were too harsh.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the same conference, education expert Isla Rogers-
\nWinato was among Australians who cited tough visa rules as a key
\nreason for a 10 percent downturn in Indonesians studying in
\nAustralia.<\/p>\n
Although Australian authorities regularly tout the fact that
\n95 percent of visa applicants to the country are approved,
\ncritics say this ignores the reality that many of procedures are
\nonerous and off-putting, compared to Indonesia's.<\/p>\n
It is much easier for Australians, they say, to use the
\nIndonesian visa-on-arrival system that requires one valid
\npassport, a return ticket and US$25 and gives tourists 30 days to
\nenjoy the archipelago.<\/p>\n
However, few people seem to be aware of a little-publicized
\nsystem to allow easy access for businesspeople to a raft of
\ninternational destinations, including Indonesia, which has been
\nin operation here for almost a year.<\/p>\n
In May last year, the Indonesian government became a partner
\nin the APEC Business Travel Card scheme.<\/p>\n
However, it appears that there are still delays in processing
\nIndonesian locally applicants as some regulations, including
\nfees, have not been determined.<\/p>\n
The scheme allows legitimate frequent-flyer businesspeople
\nvisa-free entry into any country in the APEC region that has
\ngiven them clearance.<\/p>\n
At present there are 14 participants: Australia, Brunei,
\nChile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New
\nZealand, Peru, the Philippines, Chinese Taipei and Thailand.
\nSingapore and Papua New Guinea are expected to join soon.<\/p>\n
Business travellers have to apply for the card in their own
\ncountry, usually through their immigration department. Each
\ncountry determines its own eligibility criteria and fees; in
\nAustralia it is A$155 (about Rp 1.1 million), in Indonesia it has
\nnot been fixed yet but will probably between US$200 and $300.
\nWhile prices charged by customs currently vary, this does not
\nstop Indonesians from getting the cards.<\/p>\n
Checks are then made on the applicant's criminal history,
\nfinancial credibility and business legitimacy.<\/p>\n
If one is approved, the applicant's country then seeks pre-
\nclearance from the destination countries. Put simply, your
\ngovernment applies to foreign governments on your behalf.<\/p>\n
When clearances are received the businessperson is issued with
\nan endorsed plastic card. It's the size of a credit card and
\ncarries a photo. The card is presented along with the passport
\nwhen the holder enters through a special fast-track lane at the
\nairport.<\/p>\n
At present these lanes operate only at Ngurah Rai Airport in
\nDenpasar and Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport here, but at all
\nAustralian international airports.<\/p>\n
All standard immigration, customs and other entry requirements
\nmust be followed, but entry for APEC Business Travel Card holders
\nshould be fee-free. Australian cardholders are allowed up to a
\n60-day stay in Indonesia. Indonesian and all other cardholders
\ncan remain in Australia up to 90 days.<\/p>\n
The cards are valid for three years and linked to the holder's
\npassport number.<\/p>\n
Participants in the scheme have agreed to process pre-
\nclearance requests from member countries within an average of two
\nweeks.<\/p>\n
Most comply; but in some cases it has taken Indonesia up to
\nnine months to grant Australians clearance. China is also tardy
\nin giving approvals. Recognizing the touchiness of sovereign
\nstates to outside criticism, there is little more that the
\napplicant's country can do other than send gentle reminders when
\ndelays occur.<\/p>\n
The scheme was first tested in 1997 between Australia, Korea
\nand the Philippines. It followed long-standing complaints by
\nregular business travellers constantly having to apply for visas
\nand being subject to delays.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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