Procrastinate. Everything is more fun at the last minute, right? Plus, you’ve got the election and the bomb and the odd spot of food poisoning to attend to.

Gather the requisite documents: a sponsorship letter, photocopies of your passport and visa. Proof you do actually plan to leave the country relatively soon can’t hurt either.

Attempt to locate a coherent set of instructions on the process. Fail.

Notice in passing something about needing to extend at least seven days before your visa expires. Wonder if you should be concerned you only have two days. Be concerned.

Finally locate the address of the immigration office closest to your house. Be vaguely irritated that the Department of Immigration’s webpage has not been translated into any foreign languages. (Including English.) Because, clearly, no-one looking for information about visas would have any use for such a thing.

***

After fitful sleep, drag yourself out as early as you can manage. (Not very, sad to say) Head through Jakarta’s hellish traffic to the immigration office closest to your place of residence and your visa sponsor’s address.

Upon arrival, be told you’re in the wrong office. And, consequently, your paperwork can’t be processed. Get directed to an office twice as far from home and work, that is technically in the right district.

A long, expensive taxi ride later, arrive at an office in a part of Jakarta you were previously unaware even existed. [Read more...]