I am a Consultant in IBM's GBS Public Sector. I have been with IBM over four years. Fortunately, I applied and was accepted into IBM’s Corporate Service Corp (CSC) Program this summer. The CSC was launched to help provide IBMers with high quality leadership development while delivering high quality problem solving for communities and organizations in emerging markets. I am documenting my experiences with the program to benefit, and hopefully also entertain, past, current, and future CSC participants. The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent IBM's positions, strategies or opinions.
Karen Goes East: Adventures with IBM's CSC Program
Isn’t it pretty? I’m so relieved to finally have it in my possession, but I should tell the story from the beginning…
My application was rejected the first go around because I had IBM book my flight back to the States out of Hong Kong and the Embassy wanted to see a flight departing Indonesia. Since I wasn’t sure my exact plans I booked a cheap flight from Indonesia to Singapore and re-applied.
Four business days later I was so excited to go pick up my visa! I was showing it off to everyone in the office when I realized it said 30-day! This was problematic since I planned on being in Indonesia for 33 days! I called the Embassy and they said I would have to come back in.
I guess its important to mention I live 15 minutes away from the Embassy so while it may be inconvenient, it was manageable. Although the limited visa office hours made things tricky!
So back I go, apparently just to hear in person that they are not willing to make any changes and I would have to have IBM Indonesia take it up with Immigration. Yikes!
However, after emails and suggestions and advice from many, I finally got a hold of someone at the Embassy who admitted they could cancel the original visa and issue a new 60-day one.
So 6 trips to the Embassy, 4 passport photos, and $90 later, viola! I have my 60-day visa! Yay!
#ibmcsc Indonesia
