20 Foreign Nationals deported from Palembang

Palembang, S Sumatra - Immigration authorities in the South Sumatra provincial capital of Palembang have deported 20 foreign nationals to their countries since early this year for overstaying their visas, a spokesman said. The foreign nationals came from Malaysia, China and Britain, head of the information and communication section at the Palembang city immigration office Ian F Markos said here on Wednesday. Last year, 12 foreign nationals were deported from the city for a similar reason, he said. He said the 20 foreign nationals were deported pursuant to article 78 of Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration. Under the law, foreign nationals who stay in the Indonesian territory less than 60 days after their permits of stay have expired must pay charges or face deportation, he said. Since early this year, the immigration authorities have issued permits of limited stay to 463 foreign nationals, consisting of 135 from China, 104 from Malaysia, 41 from South Korea, 32 from the United States, 36 from Japan, 19 from Thailand, and 17 from Britain, he said. He asked foreign nationals in the city to always check whether their permits of limited stay have expired in order to avoid fines and deportation. (*)