Have you ever been to a US Embassy? I hadn’t, until this week. Frankly, for the vast majority of any population, the need or even the ability to visit an embassy of their country is negligible. After all, there aren’t any US Embassies in the US to visit. Embassies only exist elsewhere, in other countries. The formal presence of a country in another country. If we’re living in the US and don’t travel overseas we have no need of a US Embassy. We have Post Offices and Social Security Offices and other manifestations of governmental authority and presence.
But in Indonesia, an Embassy is necessary. As a representative institution to the host country, and to provide services to US citizens living, working, or traveling through Indonesia. In the event of an emergency, contacting the US Embassy is an important part of solving or surviving that emergency. In fact, prior to moving to Indonesia we registered our family with the US State Department so they would have a record of us and our intent to move here and stay for some period of time.
In Medan we don’t have a US Embassy. There’s only one Embassy per country (assuming we have diplomatic relations with that country). However additional US presence is accomplished through Consulates. These don’t have the staffing level or service level of the Embassy but they provide some limited services to US citizens in the area and act primarily to promote cultural and other interchanges with the local population.
Traveling as often as I do and also not having a work visa for nearly our first year and a half overseas, my passport book is nearly full. And I have a big passport book – 50 pages! – rather than a standard passport book. And while I have a few pages left, those aren’t going to last the year, and given how quickly my travel plans sometimes evolve, it seemed wise to use a little downtime at the end of the year to try and get a new passport.
I had hoped I could do so in-country through the Consulate or Embassy. Sometimes they can provide expedited passport service in a week or so. However the Consulate told me they couldn’t provide that service and I’d need to wait six weeks or more for a new passport from the US. So I decided to travel to Jakarta and talk with the US Embassy.
I haven’t been to Jakarta much. Just our initial arrival and quarantine back in 2022, and another overnight visit in the midst of travel a few months later. This would be my first time in Jakarta where Jakarta was actually the goal and not just a stopover. I might be there a whole week if they could get me my passport that quickly.
I made an appointment online with the Embassy and then booked a one-way flight and hotel. If they couldn’t get me a passport in a week I’d come back the next day. But if they could I’d just wait it out in Jakarta for a week.
My appointment was first thing this past Monday morning. I wish I could post pictures of the experience but pretty much the first thing they do upon your arrival is confiscate your phone. No electronics are allowed into the Embassy. All the initial security staff is Indonesian, and they are very no-nonsense. They deal with a lot of people – both Americans and Indonesians – every day and have to do so efficiently and authoritatively. It’s not a place to goof around or be sassy. Fortunately I’m not inclined to be either!
Upon arrival I was directed to an entrance. Here they verify my identity with my passport. I pass through a metal detector like you would at an airport security screening. I exchange my cell phone for a ticket and then am directed towards another building. The doors to these places are amazingly heavy and, while glass, it’s thick glass and I marvel at the simple technology of doors that allows for a massive hunk of metal and glass to open and shut with only a reasonable amount of exertion! Clearly security is a major concern.
In the next building I’m directed to a waiting area and finally my name is called. An Indonesian woman takes my basic request, informs me of options, and once I’ve selected an option directs me to wait until I’m called again.
They can’t process my passport in a week. However she indicates they can do it in two weeks, which is a much better option than I was presented with by the Consulate in Medan! I decide to keep my passport and mail it to Jakarta from Medan, to ensure I have proper ID for my trip back to Medan. I pay my fee and submit my photo and application. A few minutes later I’m called to speak with someone else. This person is American (I assume!) and reviews the basic plan. Everyone is courteous and efficient.
And then I’m back outside again and waiting for a taxi back to my hotel. I was able to take care of everything in about 30 minutes and I’m pleased with the outcome. I’d like to keep my Embassy visits to a minimum but I’m glad to have a better familiarity with it now!
The Nelson Family Indonesia 