Bribe Required to Enter Indonesia


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Posted by 1bluedevilfan on Saturday, 30. June 2007 at 07:41 Bali Time:

Beware. You must have a blank page in your passport - that says VISA - in order to get the VISA upon entry.

I had a 'problem' with my VISA getting into Indonesia. There wasn't a blank page in my passport. Actually, there were 4 pages but they did not say VISA. They said "endoresements". So we had a standoff until I removed one of the expired Chinese VISA's.

He said he could not accept this, but for a small payment, he would look the other way and pretend he didnt see it. I had him call my contact who put an Indonesian on the line to negotiate. Net result - $200 bribe. I asked for my passport back, removed the page out of eyesight, inserted the money and returned the passport. I asked him to check again and everything was fine. Never been hit up so blatantly by a government official.

This was a well rehearsed and time honored tradition.

Yes, I am a jackass for not researching more carefully and for accepting such a demand. But he knew I was there for business meeting and thus had no options.

Word to the wise.





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