A 44-year-old American male reportedly asked for a villa in Jimbaran to shelter him as he had run out of money to continue his Bali trip.
Pictures of the traveler waiting in front of the villa’s gate went viral recently. After the villa’s staff turned him away, he was reportedly taken away by immigration authorities.
The American, known by his initials TCF, arrived via the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on April 13. He later obtained a visa extension that allowed him to stay on Indonesian soil until June 11 – which was Sunday.
However, TCF claimed that he lost his passport.
Online, locals are saying that the case illustrates the need for more stringent screening of travelers by Indonesian immigration.
“Us traveling abroad: return tickets, proof of accommodation, minimum savings in bank account, insurance, sponsor. Them going to Bali: act as they please due to flattery, work illegally, run out of money,” one user commented in the post above.
Ngurah Rai Immigration Office Head Putu Suhendra Tresnadita told DetikBali that his department had contacted the US Embassy about TCF’s situation. They also suggested that TCF apply for an emergency passport.
Suhendra added that immigration would deport TCF if he, indeed, is broke in Bali.
