Should I wait for my spouse to process a Sosbud application?

harryopal1

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Thanks for all the input about which way to go with visa applications.
We are planning to return to Indonesia in December to begin the permanent residence application for the spouse of an Indonesian citizen.

My wife's ID has expired and her Kartas Keluarga just shows her previous status as a divorcee. At the moment we are looking at my wife leaving ahead of me to go to Bandung with the Indonesian Embassy Australia confirmation of our marriage registered in Australia. We are then intending to settle in Bali. I was to follow to Bali with a VOA and then look at beginning the sponsorship for a KITAS. (And I understand that I will necessarily have to leave Indonesia and return again with that procedure.)

Given the various posts about it being simpler to begin with a SOSBUD entry I am wondering if it were better to wait for my wife to make that application in Bali first before our joining up. A key question then is how long it might reasonably be expected for a SOSBUD to be organized?

We cannot do that from Australia with her ID and Kartas Keluarga not being up to date.

I would be appreciative of your thoughts and thanks again for all the information available through these posts.

Yours tropically, Harryopal
 
Given the various posts about it being simpler to begin with a SOSBUD entry I am wondering if it were better to wait for my wife to make that application in Bali first before our joining up. A key question then is how long it might reasonably be expected for a SOSBUD to be organized?

We cannot do that from Australia with her ID and Kartas Keluarga not being up to date.

The SosBud itself does not need to be organized in Indonesia. Instead, as long as you have a capable sponsor, you can bring their letter to the Indonesian embassy in Australia and have them issue the SosBud. Turn around time is between 1-5 days depending on location, and motivation of the clerks at the Embassy. This also doesn't need to be your wife, however if the sponsor is not the spouse, it won't be able to convert into spousal KITAS, so that requires a trip abroad to enter with either a new spouse sponsored SosBud or VITAS.

Your situation is a bit of a curve ball, because your wife's papers are registered in Bandung, but you want to live in Bali. Immigration will require that you deal with the local office that has jurisdiction over where your sponsor's papers are issued.

So the first step would be for her to go to Bandung, and get KTP and KK updated. If everything is in order, this should take maybe a few days to a week. I am not sure about the details, because we have a great Kelian (Bali's equivalent to RT) and he did everything, we just had to show up for photos and signature.

With updated KTP and KK, she can then mail you a sponsor letter, and you can get SosBud, and join her in Bandung. You can then start your first KITAS from Bandung. Alternatively, if she is up to it, she can directly try for VITAS. You will have to register yourself in Bandung however, then move to Bali.

When you move to Bali, your wife will need to update her KTP and KK to reflect that, otherwise you won't be able to extend your KITAS from Bali. You will also need to report your change of address to Imigrasi.

If living in Bandung even for a couple of months is out of the question, then your wife will have to move to Bali first, update her KTP/KK to reflect this, then you can apply for KITAS in Bali.
 
The other point to note is; is she registered in kota Bandung or outside the city limits- the kabupaten?
If kabupaten it will be a pain in the bum because everything is all over the place.
We live out the north east of the city and have to trail to Soreang for Catatan Sipil stuff & then it moved location to Ngamprah, Padalarang. We avoid doing CapIl stuff as much as is possible due to all the traipsing about for miles & miles & miles...
If she is coming alone and has no family or friends here, PM me & we will do what we can to help out.
 
DaFluff,
Thank you for the prompt response.
Fortunately we now have direct flights from Townsville to Bali and off season they can be cheaper than flying interstate. So.... plan B.
My wife will return to Bali and Bandung towards the end of this month. She will update her ID and Katas Keluarga in Bandung. She will then go to Bali and arrange an update of her ID with a sister's address in Bali.
Next, return to Townsville and then apply for a Sosbud.
Having read about the problems of arranging consignments of personal goods to Indonesia a common suggestion was just take what you can in suitcases. We can get up to 40 kilos of baggage each for $80 and then I looked at cheapest flights and worked out the cost per kilo. On that basis we can look at what we have and what is worth taking or replacing in Indonesia. So an early trip to Bali for my wife with 40 ks of personal stuff fits in with that.
Dafluff.... what have I overlooked?

Thanks again. Yours tropically, Harryopal
 
God, I am prudish ... I find it very hard to address you as "Bad Azz". But thank you so much for your kind offer to assist. My wife's mother lives in Bandung so that is not a problem. However, my wife asks if you know the address for Ngamprah, Padalarang?
Thanks again.\
Yours tropically, Harryopal
 
DaFluff,
Thank you for the prompt response.
Fortunately we now have direct flights from Townsville to Bali and off season they can be cheaper than flying interstate. So.... plan B.
My wife will return to Bali and Bandung towards the end of this month. She will update her ID and Katas Keluarga in Bandung. She will then go to Bali and arrange an update of her ID with a sister's address in Bali.
Next, return to Townsville and then apply for a Sosbud.
Having read about the problems of arranging consignments of personal goods to Indonesia a common suggestion was just take what you can in suitcases. We can get up to 40 kilos of baggage each for $80 and then I looked at cheapest flights and worked out the cost per kilo. On that basis we can look at what we have and what is worth taking or replacing in Indonesia. So an early trip to Bali for my wife with 40 ks of personal stuff fits in with that.
Dafluff.... what have I overlooked?

Thanks again. Yours tropically, Harryopal

That looks good to me. The only other wrinkle is that the transfer of ID from Bandung to Bali may require your wife to establish some sort of residence in Bali. The reason being that in Bali they have been trying for years to reduce the influx of migrant workers from elsewhere in Indonesia, and may require proof of actual residence, such as a lease, or a land certificate. If your wife has a sister in Bali, you may want to consult with her on what her steps was to get KTP from Bali.
 
I think I read somewhere that a non-resident worker in Bali gets a Kipam..... and that has been used instead of a Bali KTP to qualify for a spousal sponsorship. Best search for Kipam.
 
I think I read somewhere that a non-resident worker in Bali gets a Kipam..... and that has been used instead of a Bali KTP to qualify for a spousal sponsorship. Best search for Kipam.

I've heard some hits and misses with the use of KIPEM, but it doesn't hurt to try. KIPEM stands for Kartu Ijin Penduduk Sementara, basically a temporary KTP.
 
BA and DaFluff.
Thanks again
My wife replied to the posts with the last reply Thanks B_a.....You are right , but my wife KK and KTP in Kabupaten Bandung.

KK / KTP :Kecamatan Cileunyi.
Desa /Kelurahan :Cinunuk.
Kabupaten Bandung.

So, I hope that doesn't cause confusion. My wife has a sister in Bali and can use her residence. Hopefully it will all sort out.
Yours tropically, Harryopal.
 

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