Indonesia
Society
As investigations continue into an alleged extortion case involving former deputy immigration minister Silmy Karim, mixed-marriage families expressed hopes for real improvement in Indonesia’s immigration system.
Deputy Immigration and Corrections Minister Silmy Karim (center) walks wearing a detainee vest on June 4 after questioning at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in Jakarta. (Antara/Dhemas Reviyanto)
Mixed-marriage families said a corruption investigation into former deputy immigration minister Silmy Karim had renewed hopes for long-overdue improvements to Indonesia’s immigration system and the processing of residence permits for their foreign spouses and children.In a recent interview with The Jakarta Post, Indonesian Mixed-Marriage Society (Perca) chair Rulita Anggraini said families in the group had for decades faced a maze of unclear procedures, inconsistent requirements and user-unfriendly digital forms when applying for immigration permits. These conditions, she said, often culminated in requests for additional payments to expedite or complete applications.
