UK, in and out

Hello peeps!

I have been back in Maidenhead since beginning of February and plans have changed a fair bit during that time!

India had already been off the table for a while, but now Maldives has also been put aside :(

That is because the volunteering role I was trying to finalize fell through a few days ago. Reading through the info pack I got - 4 days ago (!) - from the NGO, it appeared that I need to have a CRB check done as part of the work will be with children! I was a little bit peeved off as this is a piece of information they could have communicated back in January when I first contacted them. The procedure takes 4 weeks to complete so I could have started it as soon as I arrived at the beginning of the month, but now I have no chance of getting it in time for 1st March!

A bit disappointing, but nothing that can't be turned around. I am now heading straight to Indonesia to start the 7 months long South East Asia leg of the trip.

I will be arriving in Bali next Wednesday and I can't wait to get going. Not only because of the trip itself, but because I am really suffering from the cold at the moment. In just the 2 months I was in the Caribbean, my body got completely unused to coping with cold weather. I NEED some warmth big time!!

It was nice to be back in Maidenhead for some time though. I saw a few close friends and I had loads of time to sort out travel and non travel related paperwork, tickets, hotel and read through the Lonely Planet guide a few time :)

Definitely not as rushed as I was before the trip to the Caribbean. It is just the cold buggering me - a lot!

The only thing which I did not do whilst here is the 60 days visa for Indonesia. When I looked into it, it seemed a whole lot easier to just get a 30 days visa on arrival in Bali, then renew when I am there. Much less hassle!

A few more days to go now, then the big jump! Going back to the Caribbean was not such a big stretch. I was going back to a place I know, people I know and a culture I understand. Now though, I am going into the big unknown - places, people, culture, language, all will be alien to me. Scary, but good scary.

Bring it on!

The Fabulous World of Visas - Indonesia

Hello peeps!

Third installment in the series, looking at visa procedures for Indonesia.

All the official info is available here: http://www.indonesianembassy.org.uk/consular/consular_visa.html

Citizen from Israel cannot enter Indonesia as tourist unless special authorisation from the Immigration Office and applications have to be sent directly to the Immigration Office in Indonesia.

If you have a passport from the 11 countries listed here you do not need a visa for a stay up to 30 days. You only need a valid passport and a return/onward ticket.

Citizen from the 19 countries listed here  will require approval from Immigration Office in Indonesia before traveling. The approval takes a good 6wks to be granted, then a further 6 days are needed for the visa to be issued.

Everybody else will have to go through the procedure to get either a 30-days visa on arrival or a 60-days visa to be requested before entering the country. Luckily, the procedure is a lot quicker than for the fellows on the unfortunate list of 19 above!

1. Visa on arrival

30 days, extendable once. List of countries eligible for the visa on arrival here. You will need the following:

• Passport valid for a minimum of 6 months
• Embarkation/disembarkation card provided by the airlines
• Be able to demonstrate sufficient means to cover the duration of heir stay in Indonesia
• Not be listed on any official blacklist of individuals prohibited from entering the country 
• Fee: US$ 25 for 30 days visa and US$ 10 for a 7 day vis

 2. Application in advance

For stays longer than 30 days or citizens from countries not listed as eligible for a visa on arrival. You will need the following:

• Passport valid for a minimum of 6 months
• 1 recent passport-sized colour photograph
• Visa form printed double-sided, filled in capital letters, all questions answered
• Be UK or Ireland resident
• Travel itinerary (proof of booking), including details of onward or return journey 
• Bank Statement dated less than a month with a minimum balance of £ 1,000
• A recent letter (less than 1 month old) from applicant's employer. If self employed, a confirmation letter from applicant's solicitor, or accountant, or Bank Manager. For a student, submit confirmation letter of attendance from school, college or university. "Au pair" or domestic help will have to show employer's passport and submit copy of the said passport and letter from employee. All of the above type of letters must certify the applicant's obligation to return after the visit to Indonesia

From the UK, applications should be submitted Mon-Fri, 10.00am to 1.00pm at the Visa Section of the Indonesian Embassy at 38a, Adam’s Row, London W1.

Visas will be collected from the Embassy 2-3 working days after between 2.30pm and 4.00pm. Please note - the Indonesian Immigration authorities at the port of entry reserve the right to refuse entry into Indonesia.

Travel to Papua is subject to a special permit issued by the Indonesian Immigration Office and the State Police Department in Jakarta before entering these areas.

Phew!

Happy travels :)

The Fabulous World of Visas - India

Hello peeps!

Second installment of the serie.
 
Remember how border crossing in the Maldives was easy peasy?Well, let me introduce to visa procedure, Indian style!


All the official info is available here: http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/

If you have a passport from Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand or Singapore then lucky you little bugger - no need for advance procedure, you can get a 30 days visa with single entry on arrival in Delhi and Mumbai ONLY.
 
The rest of us will need to get a tourist visa before entering the country. Usually a 3 to 6 months visa with single, double or multiple entries, no extension possible.

You will need for the application:

• Passport valid for a minimum of 180 days with at least two blank pages.
• 2 recent 50*50 size photographs. Check they are the correct size!
• The online application form with signed declaration.
• For the double entry visa you will also need to submit a tentative travel itinerary

That's only the start.

If you are like me a non UK passport holder you will also need the following:  

- If you have been in the UK more than 2yrs, you will need to provide:

•  A stamp of indefinite stay OR
• A utility bill for the current month and for at least 2yrs back. Only landline phone, gas, electricity, water, council tax and tenancy agreement are accepted - no bank statements and no mix and match of the utility bills.

- If you have been in the UK for less than two years there is a form to fill in and processing time will be minimum 10-15 working days in this case.

The application form is filled in online, then you print it with all the forms and document check lists required. Make sure everything is signed where needs to be.

Either post everything including your passport to the Hayes mission or book an appointment and drop the paperwork at your local application centre. The appointment time is issued when you do the online application but can be modified after.

It takes about 1wk to process the application. You can choose the delivery option for your passport when you do the online application.

Happy days :)

The Fabulous World of Visas - Maldives

Hello peeps!

I thought I might do a serie of "informative" post rather than just my usual ranting and outpouring of thought. I will do this from time to time on different topics, so if you ever think about visiting the same countries, at least I can give you a head start on what to expect and how to avoid the pitfalls.

Sooooo... Welcome to...

THE FABULOUS WORLD OF VISAS - or how to get lost in bureaucracy!

Aside of all the excitement of planning a round the world trip, one of the tings i found decidedly not glamorous is the think about the visas I will need along the way.

First thing first - I will be going for a year, so not point getting all the visas I could possibly need before I go because chances are most of them will expire way before I get anywhere near said countries!

I will however get some before I go and the rest I will just pick up along the way. Wish me luck :)

Today's topic is the Maldives.

All official info available here: http://www.immigration.gov.mv/index.php/entry-to-maldives.html

There no procedure to go through before entering the country. A 30 days free visa issued on arrival.

You will just need to show: 

• A valid passport
• A valid ticket onward ticket
• Enough funds to cover the expenses for the duration of your stay - US$100 + $50 dollars per day - OR a confirmation of reservation in a Tourist Resort or a Hotel.

It is that easy!
 
A word of caution: the Immigration officer is well within his/her right to issue anything up to 30 days. Sad but true - so smile, be polite and look smart. Could prove a bit of a challenge after a 13hrs journey, but just think about that cocktail you will sip when you arrive at the hotel - it is worth the hassle!

Happy days :)