Business Visa 212 - Exit and Re-entry issues (ex. on same day?)

**frontpack** · 26-08-12, 18:06

Hi everyone, I recently got a Business Visa 212 (1 year multi-entry - required to exit Indo every 60 days) in Singapore after being in Jakarta on a 60-day tourist visa. As I was entering Singapore the immigration officer there questioned why my next destination was Jakarta and said, "No U-turns." I told her I was making a different visa and she said ok I better because I can't do a U-turn.

This confused me because it was my understanding that you can even exit and return on the same day and that the important part is only that you leave, not anything about the amount of time.

My first 60 days will be up in a few weeks so I'm wondering if anyone has experience/knows the details on this and what I'm allowed to do. Also wondering if what the Singapore immigration officer was saying has anything to do with new regulations, as I noticed atlantis mentioning something about upcoming changes in this thread: http://www.livinginindonesiaforum.org/showthread.php/19653-Just-got-visa-212-different-from-last-time!-Advice-needed-urgently/page2

Appreciate your help!

**Davita** · 26-08-12, 20:20

Odd that a Singapore Immigration officer was concerned. I have done u-turns on a 212 Sosbud multi-entry in KL and never had an issue.

I've even talked to Jakarta Immigration about the absurdity and how much money his Dept. could make by reforming this and permitting multi-entry foreigners to leave Indonesia at the International departure, go down to International arrivals and re-enter........for a price. No response

The changes that Atlantis refers have still not been implemented....we still await.

**atlantis** · 27-08-12, 06:11

There is abslutely nothing in the Indonesian law supporting the Singaporean immigration officer's assertion. I don't have a clue about The Singaporean Law, but have often transited a day in Singapore, getting my passport stamped in the morning and exiting singapore later the same day after a visit in the city and going to my next destination. I would be very surprised therefore that anything in the Singaporean law forbids a U-turn.

The important thing is to collect an exit stamp. Should you return to Indonesia minutes after to collect an entry stamp, you would be legit. However, one has to bear in mind that entry at the Indonesian TPI (immigration check point) is the sole decision of the Indonesian immigration offeicer, and this even if you have a valid visa in your passport.

This being said, they can NOT decide arbitrarily who gets in or not. They have to justify their decision with a valid motive, as per the Immigration Act. The "no U-turn" is not a motive listed in UU 6/2011 and the immigration officer would have very hard time to justify his/her decision should he refuses you entrance and should you report him/her. They may try to discourage you, but if you insist they will let you in.

It's just a consequence of the directives concerning long term foreign resident population who stay in Indonesia with visit permits (visa/izin kunjungan). There is a sure will of Immigration to decrease a lot the sosbud/business visa population and it is at the moment enforced differently all over the archipelago and depends mainly of the mood of the kepala seksi lalu lintas (for anything concerning entrance at the TPI) or kepala seksi statuskim (for extensions of permits). If he is eager to please DitJenIm and show "statistics showing his efforts to limit the number of long timers, then you may be sure that he will instruct and ask results to his staff at the loket.

**PapuaBoy** · 27-08-12, 19:20

It is rather odd that the Singaporean Immigration Officer mentioned the "No U-Turn". Officially there is no law in Singapore preventing same day U-Turns because there are a lot of businessmen in Malaysia and Indonesia who come to Singapore just for 1 day for legitimate business reasons, such as a business meeting or training or trade show, etc.

What Singapore Immigration does frown on is doing the 1 day U-Turn on a frequent and regular basis without having some sort of permanent visa for Singapore.

This may just have been a case of an Immigration Officer being a little pinikity and over zealos in applying the rules.

**jstar** · 27-08-12, 19:56

Pfff, have done many short visits to Spore, even for 2 hours ....eh dinners only, and never an issue.

**frontpack** · 28-08-12, 11:57

Ok thanks guys, appreciate the responses. I think I'm going to try to do Singapore for one day then. Will let you know if there's any problems.

**frontpack** · 21-09-12, 14:04

Update: as indicated by you guys I didn't have any problems with a day trip visit to Singapore.

Only notes I guess would be that the Indo officer upon leaving mentioned to me (as I was right on my 60 days) to be careful because if I was over it would be 200k rupiah per day over. I thought I've seen that this is usually more like 50k, but anyway I guess it can be more. The Singapore officer upon arrival there just made a note on my form that I was a "day trip."

Maybe I'll try a day trip to KL for my next visa run.

Thanks

**Jaime C** · 21-09-12, 19:07

I thought overstaying was 100k per day.

I'm going to have a 3 month, plus a couple of days stay later this year and was debating if I needed a short trip to SIN, or just get two VOA extensions, and pay 3-4 days late fee. I'd be coming back 5 weeks later, so wouldn't want to mess up reentry.

**marcus** · 21-09-12, 19:50

Originally Posted by frontpack

Only notes I guess would be that the Indo officer upon leaving mentioned to me (as I was right on my 60 days) to be careful because if I was over it would be 200k rupiah per day over. I thought I've seen that this is usually more like 50k, but anyway I guess it can be more...

The Indonesian officer told you correctly . It is indeed Rp200k per day .

For more details , see the ref. below .

http://www.expat.or.id/info/docs.html (visas/documents)

**marcus** · 21-09-12, 20:00

Originally Posted by Jaime C

(1) I thought overstaying was 100k per day.

(2) I'm going to have a 3 month, plus a couple of days stay later this year and was debating if I needed a short trip to SIN, or just get two VOA extensions, and pay 3-4 days late fee...

(1) Rp200k per day .

(2) Why you don't get a Social Cultural Visit Visa ?
Note : Each 30 days VOA can be extended only once , for additional 30 days .