Request for tourist visa refused

In Indonesia there is corruption, collusion and nepotism. In Australia there is bureaucracy and the public service. My grievance is with the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. After traveling for two hours to Jakarta from Bogor, collecting a form, returning home after another two hours, paying Rp 320,000 for travel insurance, getting photos, obtaining proof of funds and enrollment at a private school, we returned again to the embassy and waited for four hours, paid a nonrefundable Rp 260,000 fee, only to be refused a three-week tourist visa to Australia for my fiancee. We had already organized our wedding for June 26 in the Blue Mountains, near Sydney. The church was booked, the reception arranged, invitations were nearly ready and the only thing that needed to be finalized was my fiancee's tourist visa.

We were refused an interview, let alone an explanation from an official. Michael Christopher, the principal migration officer, wrote, "Regrettably, requests to speak with an Australian based officer will therefore generally be refused." Being an Australian citizen by birth I was very disappointed in what I thought was my representative here. I thought that the embassy staff were here to help Australians, but they refused to even talk with me or explain their devastating decision.

Nancy Novita, the immigration officer, wrote "No review of this decision is available." She also wrote "You have not provided sufficient evidence that you have adequate funds, or access to adequate funds, to support your visit to Australia." I provided official statements of my Bankers Trust fund account of $21,430.88 as well as my official Bank Bali account of Rp 10 million. This totals in excess of Rp 120 million.

I find it preposterous that we need more than that. I suspect that there is either racism, corruption or downright lack of any concern among the embassy staff in the visa section. They refuse to meet me, explain their decision or at least show their concern over denying me, an Australian citizen, the right to return to my home country. In denying my fiancee from going to Australia they have denied me.

The final word of advise from Nancy Novita, the immigration officer, is "Visitor visa will be considered after you lodge permanent resident application." Do Australians have to apply for Indonesian residency if they wish to have a holiday in Bali? I seriously doubt the professionalism and integrity of the immigration staff at the Australian Embassy. I do not in any way criticize the role or function of the embassy staff for their diplomatic role or the security efforts being made in these critical times, but I wish that the embassy would employ staff who have basic competence and concern.

MARK OGILVIE

Bogor, West Java