New Passport, KITAP, and MERP

[Banana72]

So my (US) passport is expiring May 2020 and my MERP is expiring in Aug 2019. KITAP is expiring Aug 2020. I've been trying to decide what's the best way to renew...and which one first...and/or most efficient, etc.

Pretty much I can't use my current passport anyway after Jan 2020 since it will only have less than six months validity by then. End of 2019 is still quite a while...but so far I only have one international trip in mind (possibly only to Singapore).

I'm thinking of renewing my passport this year, then apply for a one year MERP (which will be valid until around July 2020). My KITAP I will renew next year. After getting the new passport, I will still bring my old passport with me to show the immigration my KITAP stamp (as well as my kitap card, which normally they ask when arriving at/leaving the airport).

Am I missing a step?

Another thing is...originally after getting my KITAP I thought i was going to do the extension myself...but now I'm thinking I might hire a reasonably priced (oxymoron...i know) agent to do it instead....I'm open for a good recommendation.

 

[snpark]

Get your new passport now first, before you worry about anything else

 

[Banana72]

Applied for a new one today.....fresh and crisp one expected in a couple weeks!

 

[Banana72]

It has been a while since I've been to the newly renovated building...still enter from the same gate, but the inside is quite huge. Nice except I had to walk past the big picture of the current Pres...waiting was a bit long, but once my number was called...the whole process maybe took about five minutes...ah if only my KITAP extension were this easy.

 

[Banana72]

Back to my original question.....can I just travel with two passports? Old one with the KITAP stamp on it (until it expires Sept 2020) and the new one with the MERP? So far I can't find any information online for the 'mutasi' for the KITAP from the old passport to the new passport

 

[snpark]

Yes

 

[colroe]

Back to my original question.....can I just travel with two passports? Old one with the KITAP stamp on it (until it expires Sept 2020) and the new one with the MERP? So far I can't find any information online for the 'mutasi' for the KITAP from the old passport to the new passport

A few years back I did the same hut on KITAS. Just stapled old passport to back cover of new passport. Worked on that occasion

 

[Euc-]

Last year I was in a similar situation and my HR/agent had the KITAS/MERP “converted” with a stamp in my new passport. Agent didnt even charge for it if I recall correctly.

I still had to carry both passports although from numerous trips abroad I’ve never actually needed to show the old passport, I was asked if I had changed passport and when they saw my old passport in my hand they just wove it away and stamped the new one.

Obviously any of this information may be useless as even if it was yesterday, if the boss wakes up with a bright new idea to implement something new today that’ll have to be followed.

 

[Banana72]

Got my passport yesterday! But now as I am trying to get a one year merp....one of the requirements (as told by my agent) is ktp orang asing..anybody here applied to merp lately without it (yes...I dont have one at this time).

 

[Helpful Herbert]

I didn't submit my KTP when getting the MERP for my KITAP last time (a year ago). Also you really don't need an agent to get a MERP, the procedure is very simple (filling one form, submit it with the passport, make a payment, pick up the passport a couple of days later).

 

[Banana72]

I didn't submit my KTP when getting the MERP for my KITAP last time (a year ago). Also you really don't need an agent to get a MERP, the procedure is very simple (filling one form, submit it with the passport, make a payment, pick up the passport a couple of days later).

Herbert...which office did you apply it to? And you only did it with passport only?

Maybe my agent was playing scare tactics with me..asking kk, ktp OA, ktp of my sponsor, letter of company...after I corrected him that I'm not considered a foreign worker (TKA), he then said only KTP OA, KK and ktp of my sponsor needed.

If there's really a clear and simple process I can access somewhere, I wouldn't be using an agent...same with KITAP extension. I took a chance four years ago of doing it myself...after getting through a long four months I finally got my KITAP. At that time I was feeling euphoric and said i will do the extension myself, but now I am having reservations since so far there are not many cases on KITAP extension stories to read. Very likely I'll just use my agent and have him make me a KTP OA and hopefully in a few years I can just report myself (hoping my dad will stay healthy for the next five years as he is 78 years old this year).

 

[Helpful Herbert]

Dear banana, I do apologise. I have just checked my notes and I did submit the KTP. I had forgotten about that, so indeed it may now be a requirement (whereas in earlier years it wasn't).

It was Jakarta Selatan. These are the notes I made on the MERP process, to help me as a reminder for next time, so I hope it could be useful:

• Complete form 25 (either get it before and fill it in at home or complete it onsite). [TIP take a photo of the completed form so you will know how to fill it next time, as a couple of questions are unclear]
• Need to submit BW copies of the following documents (and take all originals just in case they ask to look at them)
• Passport – and copies of photo page, kitap page, merp page. [they will take the passport]
• KTP wife
• Kartu Keluarga
• My KTP
• Marriage registration from Catatan Sipil
• Sponsor letter signed by wife (no materai needed)
• Kitap
• Go to 3rd floor, get a pink folder from counter 8. Go to the entrance counter, he will check all the documents and give a ticket queue (4-00x is for MERP I think)
• When called go to the counter and submit the documents
• They give a “Bukti Pengantar Pembayaran” – have to go down to the lobby and pay it at BRI in cash. 1,805,000 (2018)
• Go up to 3rd floor again and get a photocopy of the “Bukti Pengantar Pembayaran”, costs 500-rp for the photocopy service. And give it to the counter where documents were handed in.

Come back the next day between 1pm and 5pm to pick up the passport.

 

[Banana72]

Thanks Herbert do you have a sample of the sponsor letter?

 

[Pak Tani]

I'm in the middle of my MERP application. When I asked the officer at kantor imigrasi what they need from me for the process, he printed out the draft below and ticked the numbers that are applicable to my sitiation (Kitap sponsored by spouse)



He also gave me a sample letter for the sponsor to write and sign:

 

[Banana72]

Thanks Pak Tani

 

[Helpful Herbert]

One more comment from me, although it seems I did submit my KTP, I'm not sure that it was actually required or compulsory to do so, I think I did it because I have it, and took it just in case. I notice it is not on Pak Tani's list.

 

[Banana72]

I ended up using an agent since I dont have my ktp oa yet and by the time I saw pak tani's response I had already given my passport to my agent. Original merp fee was 2.5 jt after I negotiated! (Yes I know how much the official price is)...here's the thing..I was asked to fork over 700rb more just to move the "kitap stamp" from the old passport to the new one. I even said to the agent I know that this can be done for free..but since they already got my passport I pretty much just had to agree to the price...nothing short of robbery.

 

[Banana72]

Now the immigration office asks for 'akte lahir'....