Marrying Indonesian Man / Citizenship Issue

[Renee]

Hello, All:

Im a rookie here .. so please bear with me on my first question.. here it is.
(FYI, i've looked up some past threads in regards to my issues prior to my first post on this forum.)

My boyfriend is an Indonesian and we both are currently in the U.S.
I am currently already holding dual citizenship (Taiwan & U.S. citizen) and my boyfriend has only Indonesian citizenship. We will be moving to Jakarta by the end of this year or early next year with plans to get married soon (no solid plans yet).

We have both agreed that I will deliver my child, (if any), in the U.S., and I will be visiting the U.S. very often in the future since my whole family is there.

Since my boyfriend will be starting his business once he's back to Jakarta, my advice for him is to not apply for U.S. Green Card after we get married. The reason being that he has no plans to live in the U.S. for such a long time to maintain his status until he gets his U.S. citizenship. And my perspective is that if he has no plans to stay in the U.S., once he applies for green card he has to fly back and forth just to keep his Green Card active and it wouldn't help if he has no plans to stay within the states to get his citizenship. (He has no plans to stay in the U.S., but I suppose he'll visit every once in a while ) I'll be helping him with his business.

As for me, my question to all readers is if you have any advice on what options I have or what status I should apply to stay long term in Indonesia... I would prefer not to jeopadize my U.S. citizenship... (Our family got it via lottery...which was very lucky for us. ) At the same time I am also aware of Indonesia's law not allowing dual citizenship. (I dont know if anyone has a way to get around it :\) Please feel free to ask if you need more background information in order to give me a solid advice. Any comments on my situation are welcome. Thanks in advance!

[tingkap]

Hi Renee,

First of all... Wecome to the Forum!

Let me address your questions one by one.....

1) not to jeopadize my U.S. citizenship - You will need to relinquish your U.S. citizenship if ONLY you acquire the Indonesian citizenship.
2) stay long term in Indonesia - How long? Since you mentioned that you will still need go back and forth the U.S. there are 2 options depending on your length of stay....
option 1 - SosBud (Sosial Budaya) visa - offers you a 60 day initial stay which is extendable up to a total of 6 months. No Work!
option 2 - ITAS (Izin tinggal terbatas) ikut suami (husband as sponsor) - offers you to stay for a whole year (renewable annually w/o going out of the country) BUT strictly NO work allowed.
option 3 - ITAS (Izin tinggal terbatas) company sponsored - offers you to stay for a whole year (renewable annually) and work on a very specified role. Need to pay US$1200 annually in tax and the specified job must not be one that can be performed by an Indonesian. (several other restrictions do apply).

[Mas Fred]

To marry in Indonesia you both need to be of the same faith. Handy to be aware of.
If you already have a baby, I would be tempted to neglect to mention that when you are arranging your marriage over here especially if that faith is Islam.
If you are intending to stay in Indonesia you will be able to get a spouse sponsored KITAS. The sister forum (link at top of page tells you how).
I think you can apply to take Indonesian citizenship after 5 years of that with the same sponsor but I'll stand being corrected if I'm wrong.
Indonesia does not allow dual citizenship so you will have to go to your embassy and renounce your Taiwan passport at that time. (I would be tempted to forget about your US passport and arrive in this country on the Chinese one)
Keep the US one out of sight and never mention it. What no one knows won't bother them very much if you het the drift.
Of course that only applies if you are intending to live here very long term and even retire here.
If not just get the kKITAS/KITAP with MERP (Multi entry).
A couple of years of KITAS and you can get the 5 year KITAP. The downside is you are not allowed to work without jumping through a load of hoops.

[atlantis]

Indonesia does not allow dual citizenship so you will have to go to your embassy and renounce your Taiwan passport at that time. (I would be tempted to forget about your US passport and arrive in this country on the Chinese one). Keep the US one out of sight and never mention it. What no one knows won't bother them very much if you het the drift.

Very good way to loose her indonesian citizenship newly acquire, should the OP want to follow your advice.
If she enters the US with her "hidden" US passport, I would like you to tell me how is she gonna be back to Indonesia, showing a Paspor Indonesia with no US entry/exit stamp on it... What may be the conclusion of a Petugas Imigrasi? What could be the consequence.
We wouldn't like her to run into trouble for an illegal advice given on an Expat Forum, would we?

[Mas Fred]

Very good way to loose her indonesian citizenship newly acquire, should the OP want to follow your advice.
If she enters the US with her "hidden" US passport, I would like you to tell me how is she gonna be back to Indonesia, showing a Paspor Indonesia with no US entry/exit stamp on it... What may be the conclusion of a Petugas Imigrasi? What could be the consequence.
We wouldn't like her to run into trouble for an illegal advice given on an Expat Forum, would we?

I suggesting forgetting about it. No way would I suggest using it at any time. I believe a safety net is a good idea when on a high wire. Not to be unromantic but divorce happens.

[atlantis]

I suggesting forgetting about it. No way would I suggest using it at any time. I believe a safety net is a good idea when on a high wire. Not to be unromantic but divorce happens.

Then the best advise if she thinks it may happen is to stick to her US citizenship without applying for the Indonesian one. A temprary or a permanent residency status would be very easy to secure for her. No need to commit any offense in Indonesia on fallacious excuses.

[Davita]

Welcome to the forum Renee

I would suggest you should slow down your thinking. You have lots of time and opportunity to do the right thing.

First...I would not even consider giving up your US Nationality. It is hard to get and, you will find, not easy to dispose.
Your Taiwan citizenship could also be useful in the future...who knows.

Your future marriage, life in Indonesia, having children etc, can all be conducted properly; just follow the rules.
As Atlantis has said...otherwise, you could trip up!
Fred is also correct that you need to resolve any religeous conflict before marriage in RI. Especially if your B/F is Muslim. I assume you are not.

Tingkap's post #2 is a good start. He has laid out options for your immediate future.
After you have lived in RI for a while, you will have a better appreciation of where your future lays and then have the knowledge/experience to take the next step.

I would also suggest your B/F not arbitrarily give up his Green Card. There are ways to maintain that even if not staying permanently in the US. He should investigate the re-entry permit for that application:

https://www.usimmigrationsupport.org...ry-permit.html

Good luck

David

[IndoMom]

Hello Renee, Welcome to the forum..

I understand a few other forum members has responsed to your concern, I just like to share with you 'the reverse' cases when a US citizen marry to an Indonesian respectfully, and I hope this will help you a bit; to make it easy - I will put mine next to your concern....


[QUOTE=Renee;59653]Hello, All:

Im a rookie here .. so please bear with me on my first question.. here it is.
(FYI, i've looked up some past threads in regards to my issues prior to my first post on this forum.)

My boyfriend is an Indonesian and we both are currently in the U.S.
I am currently already holding dual citizenship (Taiwan & U.S. citizen) and my boyfriend has only Indonesian citizenship. We will be moving to Jakarta by the end of this year or early next year with plans to get married soon (no solid plans yet). CONGRATS! please consider to talk about pre-nups, the initial wedding ceremony with ONLY one religion (Indonesia do not acknowledge two religions in one ceremony), where to live - better if you have visit Indonesia prior to your permanent move, and other little things that you and your fiance will want to do and plans...so,take your time.

We have both agreed that I will deliver my child, (if any), in the U.S., and I will be visiting the U.S. very often in the future since my whole family is there. Any children born in the US will be authomaticly be a US citizen by place of birth by law and because of the new law from Indonesian side in regards to a mixed children born to Indonesian and it's foreign partner - your child will have the opportunity to hold a dual citizenship (Indonesian & USA) until he/she reach 18 yrs old and then later decide which one to keep for good ( you will have to apply separately to the nearest Indonesian Embassy/Consuler in the US or Immigrations office in your district in Indonesia).

Since my boyfriend will be starting his business once he's back to Jakarta, my advice for him is to not apply for U.S. Green Card after we get married. The reason being that he has no plans to live in the U.S. for such a long time to maintain his status until he gets his U.S. citizenship. And my perspective is that if he has no plans to stay in the U.S., once he applies for green card he has to fly back and forth just to keep his Green Card active and it wouldn't help if he has no plans to stay within the states to get his citizenship. (He has no plans to stay in the U.S., but I suppose he'll visit every once in a while ) I'll be helping him with his business. Because you are a US citizen - your fiance will have to apply for a green card whether he plan to use or not - why?!..because #1 He is married to you - a US citizen ( NO visa will be issue to him), #2 the US will not give him a US citizenship without it. As a green card holders he will have the freedom to go in & out the USA without any restrictions - and yes, the current conditions for him to apply for a US citizenship are including a proof of living in the USA for a solid 18 months prior to his applications (pls, check in regards to the current law and condition with The INS).

As for me, my question to all readers is if you have any advice on what options I have or what status I should apply to stay long term in Indonesia... I would prefer not to jeopadize my U.S. citizenship... (Our family got it via lottery...which was very lucky for us. ) At the same time I am also aware of Indonesia's law not allowing dual citizenship. (I dont know if anyone has a way to get around it :\) Please feel free to ask if you need more background information in order to give me a solid advice. Any comments on my situation are welcome. Thanks in advance! Everyone know how difficult it is to obtain a US citizenship - I will strongly suggest to you to keep those as long as possible, and since you already have a dual citizenship your self - I would suggest you to apply for a long term resident card while you are living in Indonesia as other members has suggested above ( Tingkap post #2 ). Don't be afraid to use your 'Blue' passport to go in & out Indonesia as soon, you will find out that your travelling with your 'blue' passport will make ease your self in case you needs to securing a visa to other country.

Last but not the least, this is just mere a suggestions based on my own experienced as a former Indonesian passport holder married with a US citizen. To keep up with the up date rules and regulations in regards to these - please visit The INS website to get a better view or consult with your Immigrations lawyer.

I wished you all the best,

M