People warned against using fake documents to enter U.S.

Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government has warned citizens against using fake passports and visas to attempt to enter the United States, which has increased the penalties for illegal visitors.

Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Yuri O. Thamrin said on Friday his office had noticed an increasing number of Indonesians using forged immigration documents to try and enter the U.S. in search of jobs.

He said that so far this year, 20 Indonesians had been arrested in the U.S. or on their way to the U.S. for using forged passports and visas.

"This will affect Indonesia's image in the U.S. If this continues, other Indonesians will be inconvenienced when entering the U.S. For example, visitors will have to spend a long time going through immigration screening," Yuri said.

Under the strict U.S. immigration policy, illegal visitors can face criminal charges, he warned.

"In the past, an illegal visitor would be deported to his or her home country. But now, he or she could spend time in prison and have to pay a fine," Yuri said.

The spokesman indicated there were syndicates that provided passports and visas to the U.S. for Rp 30 million (US$3,043) to Rp 35 million.

These syndicates, he said, take a valid passport with a visa obtained from the U.S. Embassy and change the passport photo.

An Indonesian identified as Agung Tri Kuncoro is currently being detained in California for immigration violations, Yuri said.

Four other Indonesians, identified only as Felix, Andreas, Nikodemus Jansen and Joseph Indrajaya, were "lucky" to be deported to Indonesia rather than being jailed for immigration violations, he said.

Another Indonesian was nabbed with a fake visa while transiting in Manila, while another was detained in Los Angeles with fake travel documents. Both were deported.

Yuri said the foreign ministry was working with the police and the immigration office to address this problem.