Request for tourist visa refused

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