LL----I have yet to see a short line..

Please do LL. Our timing for leaving the US the 1st of Feb and needing two visas for our arrival in Bali 6 weeks later and then Myanmar in late March, combined with the slow mail at Christmas time has us planning on doing the VOA in both countries. The horror of a passport getting lost so close to travel time makes the thought of long lines manageable...though only just barely.

Cwn, arriving in Denpasar Airport there were guys offering to expedite proceedings for $20 US per person. I only had enough US currency for VOA, so declined the offer, and I still don't know whether they are official or not.

People were using them though...

sartoric. You're right, plus you can organise a fast-track online as I mentioned earlier in this thread. Is it a done deal? Well, pay your money and take your chance!

There is also very recent discussion on TA on the subject, which suggests that the fast-track service is currently suspended. I'd post the links, but apparently I'm not supposed to be too helpful on this Forum.

I've also read that sometimes the immigration/VOA queues are deliberately slow-moving to encourage folk to pay up in order to fast-track.

I'm sure the time of year, religious festivals/local holidays, number of flights arriving at the same time, have a lot to do with the length of queues.

I did go over and look at the links on TA.....sometimes the info over there is good sometimes not so much. But I do use TA in planning for these big trips.

We will be arriving on a mid March Sat, mid day from Melbourne so the timing is probably not that good.

sartoric

Usually the mainline air carries will just pop me in a wheelchair and take me and my "burro" (DH) through immigration and customs formalities with the crew. We travel BC and always ask for a wheelchair as I am usually very stiff and not so sure footed after a long flight (this one at 6 hours meets that test). Have never flown on Virgin Australia, but have asked for assistance and will be flying BC So we will see. Of course Bali's rules will impact the process also.

Virgin Australia will be okay - we flew back to Brisbane from Bali in May with VA. Apart from the outrageous charge for 15kg of checked luggage at $65 per item, they were fine.

We need 14 day visas for Bali next April. However we will be in Thailand Jan - April (side trip to Laos) and have not found a way to get our Indonesian visas’ in advance in Thailand. Any suggestions?

You can get a 60 day tourist visa for Indonesia at the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok. You have up to 90 days to "activate" the visa by entering Indonesia.

Or you can just get a 30 day Visa on Arrival when you arrive in Bali.

Marmot, I am looking to get a 60 day visa for a trip to Indonesia next year and I am being told by the London embassy that in need to show them air tickets in and out of Indonesia before they will grant a visa. Are you saying that the Bangkok embassy will issue an open visa without air tickets? If so, do you happen to know if the same applies in KL?

PS, I would also like to pick your brains re an itinerary but will post separately.

I read elsewhere today that the VIP fast track at Bali Airport has been suspended for the next two months.

Crellson, No, as far as I'm aware, round trip tickets in and out are required in order to obtain an advance visa.

I believe (but I've not actually done this) that it wouldn't be a problem to change your itinerary in the 90 days between the time when the visa is issued and you actually enter Indonesia.

Thanks marmot.