Immigration authorities in Bali have made it clear that they take a zero-tolerance approach to visa violations.
Whether overstaying, conducting activities not permitted on a specific visa, or breaking the law, immigration officials are committed to ensuring foreigners uphold the law while raising the province and the country more broadly.
Bali’s last round of deportations serves as confirmation that the authorities are not backing down from their position.
Leaders are clear that those who violate the conditions of their visa will either face fines, criminal punishment, deportation, or, in some cases, all three.
The first major deportation of the month was confirmed by the Denpasar Immigration Detention Center on 27th July.
Officials from the Denpasar Immigration Detention Center revealed that a family of five from India was deported following a five-year overstay.
The family, originally from Bangalore, arrived in Bali in 2019, each on tourist visas on arrival. In a press statement, the Head of the Denpasar Detention Center, Tovany Arezo, explained that the family has now been deported to Bangalore via I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
He confirmed, “After being deported, they were proposed into the deterrence list at the Directorate General of Immigration.”
Arezo confirmed that the family were deported together on the same flight. The individuals were identified to the media only by their initials: MKAS, 39, a husband and his wife with the initials FBAH, 45, and their three daughters with the initials HB, 16, IA,13, and HZK, 4.
MKAS entered Indonesia through I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport on April 27, 2019, with a Visa On Arrival (VOA), which was only valid for 30 days and which he renewed on May 24, 2019, for a further 30 days.
On May 27, 2019, his wife and two children arrived in Indonesia and received a visa permit for 30 days.
The family visited Gili Trawangan within the first few days of their arrival but told Immigration during a hearing that they could not return to Bali to extend their visas as they ran out of funds.
They then stayed in Gili Trawangan for a further 58 days until funds were deposited into their account by family back in India. However, they then realized they could not pay the overstay fine.
Since FBAH was pregnant when she arrived in Bali, the family decided to stay without permission from the Indonesian authorities. MKAS is said to have reported his situation to the Indian Consulate in Indonesia, who advised him to hand himself in to the immigration authorities.
Arezo explained, “[MKAS] continued to delay reporting to the Immigration Office and chose to stay in Bali. During their stay without permission, MKAS and his family spent time traveling around and enjoying the atmosphere of Bali on weekends and every day running a plywood online business based in India.” The family is believed to have been supported by funds transferred by MKAS’s family in India during their time in Bali.
Bali Immigration Officers have also processed the deportation of a British man who hit the headlines after he commandeered a truck and drove the vehicle to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
Bali Immigration has now been able to confirm that the 50-year-old with the initials DAAH was deported to London on Monday, 22nd July; he has also been added to Indonesia’s blacklist.
Arezo explained, “During the deportation process, the person concerned was escorted by the immigration officer. The name of the foreigner is also included in the banned list according to the violations committed. But the decision is from the Director General of Immigration.”
He added, “From the confession [made by the man] concerned, he had run out of medicine. When he came on vacation, the person concerned had actually prepared his medicinal needs, but in a week, the medicine finally ran out, and the condition in question worsened.”
In the midst of a mental health crisis, DAAH is believed to have searched for a taxi to get himself to the airport to fly to the UK as quickly as possible; however, in his distress, he could not find a taxi and stole the truck.
Denpasar Immigration has also confirmed the deportation of a Nigerian man who overstayed his tourism visa by 35 days. The man, known by his vitals CSO, arrived in Bali on a tourist visa on February 26th, 2024. According to Arezo, CSO lived alone in a guesthouse in Denpasar. CSO is said to have come to Indonesia with the aim of meeting an Indonesian woman with the initials H, who he had met online.
CSO arrived on a Visit Stay Permit (B211) which is valid for 60 days. In addition to meeting his online companion, CSO also planned to live in Indonesia to establish a clothing buying and selling business and intended to apply for KITAS (Limited Residence Permit Card). However, Immigration confirmed that his plan was hampered due to financial limitations, and even extending the residence permit was difficult.
Arezo said, “During his stay in Bali, CSO admitted that all his living expenses were borne by H, but one day, H returned to Java, and CSO also asked his parents for help in Nigeria for living expenses. Although knowing that the residence permit has expired and exceeds the validity period for 35 days, CSO has not taken care of the renewal of the permit due to financial constraints.”
Tourists, travelers, and prospective ex-pats to Bali Province and all areas of Indonesia are advised to be completely up to speed with the conditions of their visas and residency permit plans before arriving in the country.
Immigration authorities have also confirmed this month that the most frequently denied entry to the country is due to travelers having the incorrect visa.
Most tourists to Bali can apply for the e-visa on arrival, or the visa on arrival. This costs IDR 500,000 and is valid for 30 days only, it can be extended one time, in-country, for a further 30-days.
Remove All Ads & Unlock All Articles… Sign up for The Bali Sun Premium
Plan Your Bali Holiday:
Book The Best English Speaking Drivers For Airport Transfers & Tours
Choose From Thousands of Bali Hotels, Resorts, and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties
Book Cheap Flights To Bali
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance That Covers Medical Expenses In Bali
For the latest Bali News & Debate Join our Facebook Community
SUBSCRIBE TO NEW POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to The Bali Sun’s latest breaking news, straight to your inbox.
[email protected]
Tuesday 30th of July 2024
Wow, after 5 years!! What a bull**** information!!
Shorty
Tuesday 30th of July 2024
There will always be people who overstay and abuse visa provisions. No matter where.
Those who choose to fly under the radar, not work or rely on locally generated funds, or get a profile will always be difficult to find. They will of course be nabbed when they try to leave.
Those who have established businesses do so because of the 'blind eye'.
Its ironic that Bali is cracking down, when a large number of us know of many Balinese living and working in Australia on tourist visas.
How many of us have contributed?