Lost Letter of no impediment to marriage

Ana Indo

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Joined
Mar 2, 2020
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10
Hi everyone, I have somewhat of an immigration issue. It seems I am at a dead end hoping someone can shed some light on a new path. Let me give you the back story:
I got married to an Indonesian national in 2013. We have since had 3 children. I have a KITAP which I'll have to renew for the first time this month.

When we got married I had to get a certifate from the UK Embassy of non impediment to marriage. I then got married, got the certifate and then thought that letter was on absolutely no use. I threw it away or lost it. I was living in South East Sulawesi where immigration have never asked for it. I have since moved and the new immigration office of my new 'domisili' insist I need this paper to renew my KITAP.
The UK embassy, who U have called multiple times about this, can no longer provide me with such a letter as I am now married. They say, which seems logical that the marriage certificate trump's this letter of impediment. However, all the immigration officers says I need it to submit it. I know, what they don't, that I can't as I no longer have this document.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what I can do?

Thank you,

Anna
 
1) Have you tried to do the application on-line? Haven't done it myself, but I don't recall any mention of letter of no impediment in the online process.
2) You can probably substitute a statutory declaration that you prepare yourself and have the embassy stamp/witness. All they really need to see is a piece of paper with the embassy's stamp and the words "no impediment to marriage" somewhere on it.
 
Our immigration office agreed with a surat from the Kelurahan (via the Pak RT/RW of course). It was a combined domicile letter which also included the remark we were still married. The marriage certificate was attached.

Perhaps they will agree with that. You can try an embassy declaration first since -as you found out- normally no embassy will ever re-issue that non impediment letter. The alternative is rather bad; register the marriage in the WNA's home country and then get a civil registry record. But some countries don't do that (anymore) and then you need a declaration from a court.
 
Always keep the original documents in a safe place, plus copies, plus scans. My wife had a binder, with all copies in it, originals in a safe deposit box.
 
Our immigration office agreed with a surat from the Kelurahan (via the Pak RT/RW of course). It was a combined domicile letter which also included the remark we were still married. The marriage certificate was attached.

Perhaps they will agree with that. You can try an embassy declaration first since -as you found out- normally no embassy will ever re-issue that non impediment letter. The alternative is rather bad; register the marriage in the WNA's home country and then get a civil registry record. But some countries don't do that (anymore) and then you need a declaration from a court.

Oh dear, that alternative sounds like a nightmare!
 
Always keep the original documents in a safe place, plus copies, plus scans. My wife had a binder, with all copies in it, originals in a safe deposit box.
Well yes, I most certainly have learnt that lesson the hard way. However, it does go against all logic. That letter was to allow me to get married. The fact that I am married should surely mean that I once had such a letter. I got a KITAS (istri ikut suami) twice and a KITAP without ever needing it. 3 kids later they want a letter saying that I was single at the time of marriage. I mean, it defies all logic! It's so frustrating.
 
I think I'm just going to write a letter myself and see if I can somehow get it stamped. Do you think that would be alright?
Thank you for your helpful responses to my ever so frustrating problem. I am very grateful for all the advice and time you have taken to respond.
 
Yes, you can try that.

If the embassy is not willing to collaborate, create the special version of the Surat Domisili yourself and have the Lurah stamp it.
 
I got married around the same time as you. When getting my first KITAP in 2014, I realised I had lost my letter of no impediment, and the UK embassy would not give me such a letter, but they allowed me to make a sworn statement, and this was the wording:
-----------
AFFIDAVIT
For the purpose of attaining a KITAP, I hereby declare on affidavit in the presence of my Embassy that I am married to my wife (xxx). The date of the marriage was xxx. The place of marriage was xxx.

Name: [my name]
British Passport: [number]
Date of birth:
Place of birth:
----------

I then signed this in the presence of an embassy official, who also stamped it. But the stamp was a very basic one that I could have made myself in a stationery shop (I think it just said British Embassy Jakarta on a circular stamp in blue ink). There was no header or anything else on the page. It didn't look very official (even though it was). Anyway it was accepted by immigration, and when I recently renewed my KITAP at the same immigration office, no-one asked to see it.

So what I would suggest is you make a statement like that, create a stamp, and add a signature. I think all they want is something that enables them to tick the box.

ps - PM me if you want to see the exact format of the stamp they made
 
UK embassy in Jakarta have templates for affirmation/affidavit, but you will need to make an appointment , cost is approx 50 pound, i have to obtain one of these to marry an Indonesian
 
If you got married and registered at KUA, did you not also have something from CatSip that states your marriage? I know we do if married outside the country or for non muslim marriages. This is the official document stating you are married and should be all you need.
 
No Herbert, it depends on the Kantor Imigrasi. Ours agreed to that. But unlike Selatan, the KTP OA was not enough to prove domicile.

NB: now I think about it, I also had to provide the integrasi letter again. Which also doesn’t make a lot of sense
 
Last edited:
I got married around the same time as you. When getting my first KITAP in 2014, I realised I had lost my letter of no impediment, and the UK embassy would not give me such a letter, but they allowed me to make a sworn statement, and this was the wording:
-----------
AFFIDAVIT
For the purpose of attaining a KITAP, I hereby declare on affidavit in the presence of my Embassy that I am married to my wife (xxx). The date of the marriage was xxx. The place of marriage was xxx.

Name: [my name]
British Passport: [number]
Date of birth:
Place of birth:
----------

I then signed this in the presence of an embassy official, who also stamped it. But the stamp was a very basic one that I could have made myself in a stationery shop (I think it just said British Embassy Jakarta on a circular stamp in blue ink). There was no header or anything else on the page. It didn't look very official (even though it was). Anyway it was accepted by immigration, and when I recently renewed my KITAP at the same immigration office, no-one asked to see it.

So what I would suggest is you make a statement like that, create a stamp, and add a signature. I think all they want is something that enables them to tick the box.

ps - PM me if you want to see the exact format of the stamp they made
Thank you so much. This is extremely helpful! As soon as I am able to figure out how to PM you, I will. Would love to see what the letter looks like.
 

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