NVC Marriage certificate question

[Bule&Cantik 8]

Will NVC accept a Notarized copy of a marriage book for the "original/certified copy" ?

We have a "Buku Nikah" (marriage book) from Indonesia (which is not replaceable if it becomes lost).

[sulhaq 60]

Certified copies of a marriage certificate are accepted by the NVC if they bear the original seal of the issuing authority according to the DOS website, however, there's no guarantee that you wouldn't receive an RFE for it based on what country the certificate is from. In many cases NVC doesn't like the certified copy and sends an RFE for the original (just my personal experience). Keep this in mind.

Further, your reciprocity by country states:

"A marriage certificate (Akte Perkawinan or Surat Nikah) is issued by the following offices for the following population groups: 1) Moslem - the Kantor Urusan Agama (KUA - Office of Religious Affairs); 2) all other religions - a solemnization certificate must first be recorded with the Civil Registry office (Dinas Kependudukan and Catatan Sipil). Please note that the marriage is considered legally valid from the date of recording, not the date of solemnization.

Do you have available something to the effect of above? If so, a certified copy would probably be okay.

Edited April 17, 2012 by sulhaq

[Bule&Cantik 8]

Certified copies of a marriage certificate are accepted by the NVC if they bear the original seal of the issuing authority according to the DOS website, however, there's no guarantee that you wouldn't receive an RFE for it based on what country the certificate is from. In many cases NVC doesn't like the certified copy and sends an RFE for the original (just my personal experience). Keep this in mind.

Further, your reciprocity by country states:

"A marriage certificate (Akte Perkawinan or Surat Nikah) is issued by the following offices for the following population groups: 1) Moslem - the Kantor Urusan Agama (KUA - Office of Religious Affairs); 2) all other religions - a solemnization certificate must first be recorded with the Civil Registry office (Dinas Kependudukan and Catatan Sipil). Please note that the marriage is considered legally valid from the date of recording, not the date of solemnization.

Do you have available something to the effect of above? If so, a certified copy would probably be okay.

we have Buku Nikah, from KUA....it is a "issued one time only book". they claim if lost it cannot ever be replaced. (Sounds silly, but the KUA appears to stand firm on this).

I would rather not send in mail (to NVC) a document that KUA has informed me can NEVER be replaced.

I am hoping that the Civil Registry Office can issue a certificate that I can send to NVC.

Currently I have a photocopy (notarized) to send to NVC of our Buku Nikha.

** I guess the real questions are as follows:

1. will NVC accept the photocopy exerpts from our Buku Nikah (notarized) ?

2. if not, will we be able to get a certificate from Civil Registry Office? and IF we can get it, will NVC accept in place of our Buku Nikah?

3. how to ensure safety of an irreplaceable document (Buku Nikah) if we must send it to NVC ?

4. (sidenote question) what is it with KUA that we cannot ever get a replacement Buku Nikah if ours becomes lost or damaged?

Thanks for any help!

Edited April 17, 2012 by Bule&Cantik

[raian 2]

1. will NVC accept the photocopy exerpts from our Buku Nikah (notarized) ?

2. if not, will we be able to get a certificate from Civil Registry Office? and IF we can get it, will NVC accept in place of our Buku Nikah?

3. how to ensure safety of an irreplaceable document (Buku Nikah) if we must send it to NVC ?

4. (sidenote question) what is it with KUA that we cannot ever get a replacement Buku Nikah if ours becomes lost or damaged?

Thanks for any help!

I am in the exact same situation. here is what i know:

1. NO. i called the NVC about this exact question and it must only be a CERTIFIED COPY or ORIGINAL.

2. as long as as it's a CERTIFIED COPY from the agency where you originally got it from. you then might have to translate the certified stamp into english.

3. i am sending my ORIGINAL marriage book to the NVC. it's a risk, i'm willing to take. my wife told me that some people from Indonesia did get RFE's with CERTIFIED COPIES. at least my spouse in Indonesia will still have her marriage book if ever mine's gets lost.

4. good question, but i don't know the answer to this.

[Sikandar ali 0]

Salaams bros. i have the same problem as u do with your marriage certificate. I also lost my original marriage certificate during the Operation in swat . Plz if anyone have the solution let me know thankx.

[Bule&Cantik 8]

found solution on expat site

My wife went to KUA, the gave her a 1 page Certificate (got stamps and seals,etc) stating our names, marriage, etc. Of course in Indonesian. She will get translated, and have a translator statement, and we will mail that to USA (NVC).

However I do like the idea of sending my Buku Nikah instead of hers. If for some reason NVC doesn't accept the KUA issued Marriage Certificate then we will send my Buku Nikah.

Edited April 18, 2012 by Bule&Cantik

[raian 2]

found solution on expat site

My wife went to KUA, the gave her a 1 page Certificate (got stamps and seals,etc) stating our names, marriage, etc. Of course in Indonesian. She will get translated, and have a translator statement, and we will mail that to USA (NVC).

However I do like the idea of sending my Buku Nikah instead of hers. If for some reason NVC doesn't accept the KUA issued Marriage Certificate then we will send my Buku Nikah.

how much did it cost to get the certification?

[Bule&Cantik 8]

how much did it cost to get the certification?

50,000 IDR

what a bargain !

plus some to have translated....issued in only Indonesian language

[raian 2]

50,000 IDR

what a bargain !

plus some to have translated....issued in only Indonesian language

Thank you for your reply. which "some" had to be translated?

[Bule&Cantik 8]

Thank you for your reply. which "some" had to be translated?

the entire document needs to be translated....the "some" i was referring to was "some more rupiah" to pay a person for a translator.

not sure what she worked out with translator, but we have to pay something for translation and of course a statement about the correctness of translation.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/translations