Our Love Among Corona

The Sweetheart Visa

"Honey.honey! there is a good news for us!" Luky sounded impatient when he called me.

"What's that?" I also have spirit.

"My government finally passed a regulation to grant the family unification visa exemption. After repeated public insistence, the government has finally responded and promised to unite families separated during the pandemic. Some people call this type of family unification visa with a sweetheart visa" explained Luky.

"Oh wow! really good news for us" I said so excitedly now.

"So what do we need next to get this sweetheart visa?" I'm just impatient.

Luky explained there are some things we need to prepare for. One of them, the father and he will take care of a letter in the local government of Germany to issue a letter that says they invited me as Luky's fiance and want our union in Germany in order to have a marriage. Meanwhile, at the same time, I also need to contact the German embassy in Jakarta to find more information about this.

We celebrate this little happiness. The wait that finally gave us a way to meet. I am so excited and can't wait to prepare for everything that is needed. May this path be made easy, my prayer in my heart. I started calling the German embassy through the phone number on their website.

"Hallo good morning, how can we help you? a woman's voice across the phone.

"Sir, my fiancee is German and we have been separated for almost 7 months since the pandemic and postponed our marriage. I heard that the German government granted an exemption visa called the sweetheart visa to separated families, can I get more complete information?" I was a little excited.

"Yes, this information is correct. But because this regulation was only issued 2 days ago, we have not updated it on our website. Please be patient, in a few days we will update the information more fully" explained the embassy.

I hung up the phone happily, then hugged Mauli and Livi. They danced happily. This is because they are also part of the Love is not Tourism and Love is Essential campaigns. It is also felt for those who are struggling to find and encourage the opening of our relationship.

Luky also sent me a message about his father who made an appointment with the local government at their residence next week. They are writing letters of request to the government. I told my mother that I was getting ready for Germany right now. I told you that the road was open. My mother gave her blessing and was happy.

One big worry is left behind. The Covid-19 case touched hundreds of thousands in Indonesia, this made the government issue a new policy called PPKM or Community Activity Restrictions. The Jakarta government tightens all public access and crowds. Especially offices that are not allowed for more than 50 percent of employees to enter the office. That means only 50 percent can work in the office and another 50 percent work from home.

This policy also affects all access and other public facilities. All stores must be closed except stores that sell food, medicine and some other exceptions. While other stores that are considered not a basic need must be closed. I was worried waiting. The days passed with Covid's increasingly uncertain state.

A week later, I got word from Luky, that he managed to take care of the letter, a letter that became a condition for me to get a sweetheart visa. How happy, because at the same time I have also prepared other files that are needed.

"Tomorrow you'll be there again to get a letter. Then we scan and send to you. Later you just print it and take it to the VFS with other visa files" Luky told me the status of the letter that we will soon hold.

That is it, VFS or Visa Facilitation Services which is the trusted agent of these overseas embassies are in the mall in Jakarta. Referring to the new regulations issued by the government, it is worried that they will be considered as offices that are not a basic requirement at this time. What if they fall into this category.

"You know that your embassy is one of those that VFS Global is working with. Where, they are the ones who take care of all visa files before entering the embassy. I'm worried that their offices are affected by the closure because of the pandemic" I told Luky.

"But now they're still open, right?" he asked again.

"Yes, there has been no new announcement on their website. Hopefully not change. Two more days, until I hold the complete documents and can make an appointment with them" I said expectantly.

"Hopefully!" answer Luky.

I continued to contact my mother, after discussing with Luky. Mother reported the good thing that she had taken care of the required wedding documents from the Office of Religious Affairs and Village Head in Aceh. Mom will send it to Jakarta immediately with lightning delivery. Then I'll be able to legalize it in the ministry to take it to Germany. Hope, all documents are complete and we can register our marriage in Germany.

All this sudden development and effort really made my heart ache. I often can't sleep at night, because I think of all this little process left. My prayers are up to the sky. Make it easy, Lord, ease our good intentions to be able to live together.

I slept tired at night. Until the morning, my passion to open a computer and see the latest developments on the VFS website and the embassy. My heart seemed to stop when I read the new announcement there, which said they closed service during PPKM. Dismissed already, all hope met and fought for my marriage.

I cried among the morning sunlight that began to enter my room through the gap of the curtains. Today, his father Luke will hold documents from the German government for me. When VFS is closed for an unspecified time. All appointment schedules with the Embassy are full until the next few months. I want to catch this pandemic. Mauli and Livi tried to cheer me up. Still trying to find a way.

"Why not meet in a third country?" livi's advice.

"Third country?" Mauli asked because she did not understand what Livi meant.

"Yes, the country that is used as a meeting point by other couples who have no way to meet in their country. I read some posts from yesterday, there are countries that still open borders without strict rules" explained Livi.

"It's not a bad idea, but there are other risks" I said.

"What?" they asked questions.

"Luky has to quit her job, which means she's going to be unemployed. Many people today are losing their jobs and life is getting harder with this pandemic. How will we survive?" I'm considering Luky's side which is of course heavy for him.

"Talk first with Luky. Decisions must be made both with careful consideration. Even if Luky flies to Indonesia, doesn't he have to resign?" Livi's right.