Indo Question: Catatan Sipil how to?

[furble 3]

I've seen this topic posted here many times, never seen an answer that makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

In Indonesia when you do a Muslim marriage you get what is called a marriage book (buku nikah). It's irreplaceable and your only proof of your marriage. Sounds crazy but I'm not the one making up the rules. NVC wants me to mail them ours. Not a chance. If it gets lost the US probably won't even bother to apologize. They will then just ask me to send them new proof of our marriage, which will not be possible to get, thus end of the road. Seems a bit risky to me.

Apparently I can go back to the religious marriage office and get a certified copy from them and get that translated. Sounds ok to me, but some folks in other threads have indicated that sometimes this can lead to an RFE and later NVC asking for the original anyway.

I have a third option, there is a civil registry here (catatan sipil) as well as the religious registry. At this place, from what I understand I can register our marriage with this government office and we will get a pretty normal looking marriage license/certificate. Sounds like a solid plan to me, if it's feasible to do so. I can't find any good English info on how to do this online and my wife read through it and found it daunting herself and couldn't really explain it (government processes aren't really her thing).

So has anyone here gotten this thing? If so, could you outline the process for me? What do we need to bring with us? What should it cost? Can we even still go to the civil registry after already being married a year?

In Indonesia it is important to fully understand any process like this before you start it to avoid getting taken advantage of, and unnecessary fees.

Also, will we have to give the catatan sipil our bukuh nikah for more then them just taking a look at them? If so might as well send them to the US, same difference.

[pushbrk 12,883]

I've seen this topic posted here many times, never seen an answer that makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

In Indonesia when you do a Muslim marriage you get what is called a marriage book (buku nikah). It's irreplaceable and your only proof of your marriage. Sounds crazy but I'm not the one making up the rules. NVC wants me to mail them ours. Not a chance. If it gets lost the US probably won't even bother to apologize. They will then just ask me to send them new proof of our marriage, which will not be possible to get, thus end of the road. Seems a bit risky to me.

Apparently I can go back to the religious marriage office and get a certified copy from them and get that translated. Sounds ok to me, but some folks in other threads have indicated that sometimes this can lead to an RFE and later NVC asking for the original anyway.

I have a third option, there is a civil registry here (catatan sipil) as well as the religious registry. At this place, from what I understand I can register our marriage with this government office and we will get a pretty normal looking marriage license/certificate. Sounds like a solid plan to me, if it's feasible to do so. I can't find any good English info on how to do this online and my wife read through it and found it daunting herself and couldn't really explain it (government processes aren't really her thing).

So has anyone here gotten this thing? If so, could you outline the process for me? What do we need to bring with us? What should it cost? Can we even still go to the civil registry after already being married a year?

In Indonesia it is important to fully understand any process like this before you start it to avoid getting taken advantage of, and unnecessary fees.

Also, will we have to give the catatan sipil our bukuh nikah for more then them just taking a look at them? If so might as well send them to the US, same difference.

Unless the document from the civil registry will show your legal marriage date the same as your current documentation, it won't help. You need an original or certified copy documenting the marriage taking place on the date you already claimed you married.

You could also request from NVC that they allow you to submit a photocopy of the certificate you have on the promise you'll the original can be inspected at the Consulate. Nothing to lose by asking.

Edited June 6, 2012 by pushbrk

[furble 3]

Yes the civil registry is equally accepted by the US govmnt as the current documentation. It's and either/or thing. You can submit both if you want, I don't see the harm since both are listed on the USCIS (or wherever I last checked on it) website as acceptable. Just most people never bother to do the civil registry thing as it's not necessary. It is there for the Hindus, Christian's, Buddhists and other non-moslems. Interestingly for some other country's immigration it is the only accepted document (like Holland).

I spoke with someone at NVC and they recommended that I get a certified copy from the religious office, which should be fine on it's own, and attache a written explanation stating that I will bring the original with me to the embassy in Jakarta for live inspection.

Just seems like the civil registry thing is a better solution. I hate to send something from Indonesia to NVC, then wait a month for them to respond and say do it again or not acceptable.

[pushbrk 12,883]

Yes the civil registry is equally accepted by the US govmnt as the current documentation. It's and either/or thing. You can submit both if you want, I don't see the harm since both are listed on the USCIS (or wherever I last checked on it) website as acceptable. Just most people never bother to do the civil registry thing as it's not necessary. It is there for the Hindus, Christian's, Buddhists and other non-moslems. Interestingly for some other country's immigration it is the only accepted document (like Holland).

I spoke with someone at NVC and they recommended that I get a certified copy from the religious office, which should be fine on it's own, and attache a written explanation stating that I will bring the original with me to the embassy in Jakarta for live inspection.

Just seems like the civil registry thing is a better solution. I hate to send something from Indonesia to NVC, then wait a month for them to respond and say do it again or not acceptable.

Only if the dates match.

[Maryamm 1]

me and my husband are still discussing abt what to send to NVC too, original buku nikah or the certified ones? im afraid they will lose it or that it might get lost on the way some1 at NVC told him to get the certified ones if we dont wanna send the originals ...so i went to KUA (also Civil registry office to get them certified/stamped with a doubt in my heart, doubt if NVC will accept them?? now my husband changed his mind, we might wanna send the originals since NVC will send them back to indo using DHL...........

Edited June 7, 2012 by Maryamm

[Bule&Cantik 8]

We did not send our Buku Nikah either.

My wife went to KUA and got a "Piagam". It is from KUA (the issuing agency, has stamps, seals, etc..).

Doc issued in Indonesian, so we also included a translation with translator statement.

It has the date of marriage listed same as on Buku Nikah.

NVC accepted in place of Buku Nikah.

Hope this helps!

[furble 3]

I've spoken with a few people now and seems like everyone says not to bother with Catatan sipil. Regardless I definitely would not send the buku. So if you do that and it gets lost, even if unlikely to happen, what are you gonna do when NVC still wants to see something you will never be able to get again? And then if you end up staying in Indo as a result how are you going to get a kitas. Got bad idea written all over it.

I'm going to go with what bule & cantik did and send that, and prolly also go to Catatan sipil just to have that as well in case something ever happens to the buku in the future.

[furble 3]

And pushbrk makes a good point, the date on the cert from Catatan sipil may be the date they make the cert, this not the same as buku nikah.

I've also discovered that depending on which office of Catatan sipil you go to (depends on province) they may not make the cert because they are considered equal with the KUA and don't want to be rude and do something that may appear as usurping the kua's power. I think most are not a problem though.

[Maryamm 1]

yeah, i got your points guys...im gonna tell my husband again to just send the certified ones. ..BUT but... i just dont wanna go to KUA again cuz i am sure they wud take advantage n ask for extra money (which is unofficial )to make the Piagam

Edited June 8, 2012 by Maryamm

[engineer21 51]

And pushbrk makes a good point, the date on the cert from Catatan sipil may be the date they make the cert, this not the same as buku nikah.

I've also discovered that depending on which office of Catatan sipil you go to (depends on province) they may not make the cert because they are considered equal with the KUA and don't want to be rude and do something that may appear as usurping the kua's power. I think most are not a problem though.

At first I found this surprising that they might put a different date then actual date of marriage. Or that they may refuse to register your marriage. Catatan sipil is supposed to serve as registrar of All births, marriages, and deaths. And then I remembered this is Indonesia.

The wording of the rule in marriage registry is that persons married in a Moslem ceremony need not register with catatan sipil/civil registry.

But this certainly should not mean you can't.

I would try and insist on the same date to be put on for accuracy and correctness. Personally I would pay the extra red tape fees if someone can make this happen. Unbelieveable the amount of disorganization...

[engineer21 51]

For what it's worth the date on my birth certificate from catatan sipil is the actual date of my birth. By this logic catatan sipil should also put actual date marriage. Otherwise it is absolute mayhem coupled with zero centralized records.... Really, just astonishing

Anyways good luck to you!