Hi gays… to follow up our WA group conversation, I will tell
you my story
I arrived at Kuningan City Mall (near Ambassador Mall in
Kuningan, Setiabudi, Jakarta Selatan, separated only by bank NISP building) at
11.20, I rode a motorbike and I parked it on the ground floor. I got in through
the west entrance and the UK, Aussie and NZ visa application centre is located on
the 2nd floor (fyi, there is another visa application centre located
on the first floor, it is for other European countries such as Italy and
Norway, so don’t be fooled like one of my friends who waited for her agent at a
visa application centre on the 1st floor :P). I could take either
the lift or escalator. I chose the last one, because I wanted to enjoy the “scenery”
there.
First, I went in through a security door and an officer told
me that I had to turn my cell phone, so I turned it off (which I later regret).
Next, I had to go through another door and take the left alley. Because I didn’t
have the photos needed for the application, I took my pic in the photo booth
there which is located on the right side of the corridor. I had to pay 45k for
it. It was exactly like any other photo booth you can find in the malls.
However, when taking my picture, I was told by the machine to look straight
forward, close my lips and do not smile (do not try Babeh’s expression ya guys :D).
I waited for another minute to get the photos printed and cut.
After taking the photo, there was another door that I had to
went through to get in the waiting room. The Australian centre is on the right
side, the New Zealand’s is on the middle and I sat on the left side to wait for
my turn. First thing that I had to do regarding my application was sign another
documents. Because I used an agent’s service, I just had to sit and wait for
her to call me to do the signings. After that, I waited for my fingerprints and
picture to be taken again in a biometric (mudah2an gak salah inget namanya)
room. They called my name through the PA, I got up and walked to the door, I
saw a press here button to open the door so I pressed that and open the door. When
I went in there, I met a lovely lady who asked me personal questions such as my
name and date of birth. Furthermore, she asked me to see a camera because she
really wanted to have my picture :D. The next thing I did was to give my
fingers to be scanned. My four fingers on the left hand except for thumb, the
other four fingers on my right hand, and the last was the two thumbs together.
The interview itself started at 1.30 pm. Lucky for me,
because I used IBEC’s service, the agent knew all the employees there and
actively questioned them to make sure that I was on the list for the interview,
because she said sometimes the employees forgot and the applicants will have to
wait for a long time. I was then informed that I was the third applicants to do
the interview. I did the interview and then I went back to the office
immediately.
Additionally, it is never too late to start your networking.
I regret that when I saw Mr. Anggito Abimanyu there I did not talk to him. That
was because I met a fellow celebrity :D Well..actually he is not a celebrity,
but his wife is Astrid Tiar. Their daughter was so cute. I did not get a chance
to talk to my good friend Astrid because she was so jealous to see me with
another woman. When she saw us, she decided to go outside and have lunch in
their car. Fortunately, her husband is quite good looking and I got to know
him. He also used IBEC, because he got an LPDP scholarship. He intended to take
his PhD at Newcastle University. We talked about our past and future together. Needless
to say, he was very lucky to have known me.
I guess that’s all.
Well maybe there is one unimportant thing that I left out
deliberately. It is the interview. The conference room is on the left side from
where I was sitting. They told me that the interview will be conducted using
Skype, but when I went in there the camera have broken so it was audio only. When
I put on the headphone, I was greeted by a woman named Lauren. The things that
she asked :
1. My name and date of birth2. My nationality
3. My reasons for choosing the course, the uni, the UK for my study
4. The application process, how did I apply, when was it, when did I got accepted, when did I send the supporting docs. (My answer was online and using agent, apply approx 2-3 months prior, got accepted around two weeks ago, and no docs submitted because it was online and I only scanned them and uploaded it into my application)
5. When did I pay the tuition fee (My answer was not yet, because I got a scholarship and my sponsor will pay the fee after I get my visa)
6. My future plan after finishing the study (My agent told me to say that I will be back to be a gov employee)
7. Where will I stay over there (I told her that I will live on campuss)
I
guess that’s all that I can remember.
Have
a nice day and good luck to us all
Herdy G.G. Pomantow
