⚠️ Urgent Immigration Advice Needed: Expired MERP and Return to Indonesia with KITAP

[Kukibunki]

Yes, I'm aware of that. If I assume that my KITAP will be cancelled should the situation not be resolved before I fly, do you think it would be prudent to apply for VoA in advance?

 

[Hawk256]

Yes, I'm aware of that. If I assume that my KITAP will be cancelled should the situation not be resolved before I fly, do you think it would be prudent to apply for VoA in advance?

You can't get a VOA if you have a KITAP showing as active. This had turned into quite a mess.

 

[marcus]

... If I assume that my KITAP will be cancelled should the situation not be resolved before I fly, do you think it would be prudent to apply for VoA in advance?

My suggestion is : assume your KITAP will not be automatically cancelled (due to not having an IMK/MERP) and continue trying to get the new IMK/Re-Entry Permit .

I have read most of the Immigration rules and I am almost sure that there is no rule stating that we must have a Re-Entry Permit . Long ago until 2014 I remember requesting the Re-Entry Permit only when I needed to go abroad (In 2012 I requested one valid for only 3 months) . Only in 2015 I got an ITAS issued with a Re-Entry Permit .

 

[Kukibunki]

Okay, so my wife has finally managed to log into the system. Does this mean her data has now been verified? Maybe my frantic e-mails to Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi worked?

That said, we still can’t seem to find any option to extend the MERP. Searching for it returns no results. Are we doing something wrong? I attach screenshots for your review.

And by the way, thank you so much, everyone. You’ve really helped keep me sane and focused over the last few days.

 

[harryopal1]

What used to be called MERP is now called IMK.

 

[Kukibunki]

I understand, but that's also not listed as an option. In other words, there doesn't seem to be a way for her to "claim" my KITAP as a guarantor.

 

[marcus]

... Searching for it returns no results. Are we doing something wrong? ...

When using it for the first time , after login I selected "SERVICES" (not "MY APPLICATION") , then "Find Existing Stay Permit" , then I typed my Permit & Passport numbers , then the Stay Permit's data appeared .

At the right side of your ITAP data , select : "Action" (in green color) , then the following options will appear : Reporting for , Extend , Conversion , Change Data , Bridging Stay Permit , Reporting , Application IMK for ITAP , and Exit Permit Only .

Note : If you hired a visa agent for your last Immigration process , things may not work too . If so , see Balikbob's case at https://www.expatindo.org/community...onesian-spouse-how-i-did-it.8157/#post-114428

 

[Kukibunki]

The data appears but these are the only two available options for the sponsor, neither of which pertain to MERP/IMK I believe?

minimin hosted at ImgBB

Image minimin hosted on ImgBB

ibb.co

 

[marcus]

The data appears but these are the only two available options for the sponsor, neither of which pertain to MERP/IMK I believe?

Try the Mas_dam solution below . If it doesn't work too , try using a different browser (I used Google's Chrome) and/or Immigration's help .


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From https://www.expatindo.org/community/threads/imigrasi-on-line.8128/page-2 (post no.24)
harryopal1 said:
When I clicked on action it then only just shows Bridging Stay Permit

mas_dam answered:
When using the "Find Existing Stay Permit" function, the displayed options under "Actions" appear limited.
After you found your KITAP, click again on "MY APPLICATION" > STAY PERMIT (sub section). Your KITAP should still appear, but now with additional options under "Action" (Extend, Conversion, Change Data, Bridging Stay Permit, Exit Permit Only, ..)

 

[Kukibunki]

Thank you, Marcus. I only see those additional options when I log in as myself, but NOT when I log in as my wife (the screenshots above are from her sponsor account). I tried mas-dam's suggestion, but nothing. Also, when I try the IMK option under my own account, it simply tells me to contact my guarantor. It’s bizarre.

And I would love to get Immigration's help, but they're not responding. I've been peppering them with e-mails over the last few days, but to no avail.

 

[Kukibunki]

This is what I see when I use my account, but when I click on the relevant option, I’m greeted with a very bizarre message. So the key question remains: how can she “claim” my KITAP?

 

[Kukibunki]

Change Data-Guarantor and Bridging Stay Permit are the only two options listed on her account, and when I try to apply for either of them, I’m greeted with this message. I’ve tried different browsers, but it’s still the same.

 

[marcus]

... I only see those additional options when I log in as myself, but NOT when I log in as my wife ...

I think that only Immigration can solve your problem , because evisa.imigrasi.go.id is decreasing the process options of the sponsor's account , similar to Roytoh's case at https://www.expatindo.org/community/threads/passport-mutation-aka-change-of-passport-number.8228/ .

Note : My guess is that you two (holders of sponsored Stay Permits) accessed your Stay Permit's data from your personal evisa account (when you were not supposed to) , making the Immigration system to cause a problem to the sponsor's evisa account .

Unfortunately Roytoh didn't tell how he solved the problem . But another less similar problem happened with Balikbob at https://www.expatindo.org/community...sored-by-indonesian-spouse-how-i-did-it.8157/ , and he/she solved by sending an authorization letter to Immigration (as per the local Immigration office) + later going to the Immigration Directorate in Jakarta .

From his/her post no.11 : "... Finally after 3 months of emails and visit to Immigration office in South Jakarta we got my KITAS linked to my wifes account, First we went to Kantor immigrasi Jaksel and they gave us a sample letter my wife had to complete and an an email adress to send to at main office Kuningan. 2 weeks later we get reply with another email attache and told to send it to that email address, we did that and got no reply, wife sent email every week for the last 2 + months, no response, finally we went to Head office in Kuningan yesterday, (hard place to get into), Satpam took us to a small annex to the left of the main office where BNI bank is and there is a row of desks with immigration staff, (not in uniform), who were very nice and sorted the problem in 30 minutes, what they did was cut off agent's access to the account, which they had full control off but was in my wife's name and reassigned it to my wife by opening her a new sponsor's account using another email address my wife has.
They said no need for agents anymore and if we have any further problems then to go straight back to them for assistance, we now have full control of my ITAS and we will start the conversion process to KITAP in the next few days ..." .

 

[serious_fun]

any resolution to this issue?

 

[Kukibunki]

Dear all,

First of all, Happy New Year everyone!

Apologies for being away - the last few weeks have been eventful.

The good news first: I’ve successfully landed in Jakarta and cleared immigration. Huge relief, yayyyy!

The main issue turned out to be exactly what marcus mentioned - I had accidentally claimed myself as the guarantor via my account instead of my wife's. After literally hours on the phone, I managed to get my local Kantor Imigrasi to fix the issue on their end.

About 24 hours later, I submitted all the required documents as a single PDF, including the passport, Buku Nikah, KK, KTP, Surat Permohonan, and Surat Pernyataan & Jaminan (both with e-meterai), along with my flight ticket. I also added a veeeeeery polite cover letter in Bahasa Indonesia asking them to kindly expedite the process and processed the payment immediately.

After that, I followed up with my local Kantor Imigrasi again. The IMK was approved within six hours of submission.

One important thing to note: neither my wife nor I received any notification that the document had been approved. I only found out by obsessively checking her account.

Also worth mentioning, despite what they may claim (and what my local Kantor Imigrasi initially insisted), the only real decision-maker in this process is your local Kantor Imigrasi office. I did e-mail Direktorat Jendral, but they were really slow to respond and couldn't help beyond some general advice.

Thank you all once again for your help, particularly marcus, hawk, and harryopal. You have no idea how much your support meant to me.

Cheers!

 

[harryopal1]

Dear all,

First of all, Happy New Year everyone!

Apologies for being away - the last few weeks have been eventful.

The good news first: I’ve successfully landed in Jakarta and cleared immigration. Huge relief, yayyyy!

The main issue turned out to be exactly what marcus mentioned - I had accidentally claimed myself as the guarantor via my account instead of my wife's. After literally hours on the phone, I managed to get my local Kantor Imigrasi to fix the issue on their end.

About 24 hours later, I submitted all the required documents as a single PDF, including the passport, Buku Nikah, KK, KTP, Surat Permohonan, and Surat Pernyataan & Jaminan (both with e-meterai), along with my flight ticket. I also added a veeeeeery polite cover letter in Bahasa Indonesia asking them to kindly expedite the process and processed the payment immediately.

After that, I followed up with my local Kantor Imigrasi again. The IMK was approved within six hours of submission. So yes, the widely advertised “3-5 working days” timeline is essentialy bullshit, provided that you are persistent enough.

One important thing to note: neither my wife nor I received any notification that the document had been approved. I only found out by obsessively checking her account.

Also worth mentioning, despite what they may claim (and what my local Kantor Imigrasi initially insisted), the only real decision-maker in this process is your local Kantor Imigrasi office. I did e-mail Direktorat Jendral, but they were really slow to respond and couldn't help beyond some general advice.

Thank you all once again for your help, particularly marcus, hawk, and harryopal. You have no idea how much your support meant to me.

Cheers!

A great relief and a great start to the New Year.

 

[marcus]

First of all, Happy New Year everyone!

Happy New Year to you too !

.... After literally hours on the phone, I managed to get my local Kantor Imigrasi to fix the issue on their end ...

Could you give us more detail of the conversation between you and your local Kantor Imigrasi ?

And , wouldn't be easier for your wife to deal face-to-face with your local Kantor Imigrasi ? (she could access her Immigration account to show the problem to them)

 

[Kukibunki]

Happy New Year to you too !

Could you give us more detail of the conversation between you and your local Kantor Imigrasi ?

And , wouldn't be easier for your wife to deal face-to-face with your local Kantor Imigrasi ? (she could access her Immigration account to show the problem to them)

Well, tbh, most of it was just me waiting for them to respond. But when they did, it was mostly them asking me to be patient and/or contact Direktorat Jendral, until one guy actually said he would take care of the glitch if I provided some details, following which he did. I have no idea what specifically did he do to fix the issue.

Face-to-face would have been impossible, as we were both abroad.

 

[serious_fun]

I'll need to renew my MERP very soon, but saw this:
Third Amendment to Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration

On September 19, 2024, Indonesia enacted Law No. 63 of 2024, amending the existing Immigration Law.

A key provision affects re-entry permits for KITAS and KITAP holders:

KITAS Holders are granted an automatic re-entry permit with the same validity as their KITAS, typically one year.

KITAP Holders receive a re-entry permit matching the KITAP’s validity, usually five years.

Previously, re-entry permits, such as the IMK, were issued separately for up to two years, requiring additional applications and fees.

The new law eliminates this separate process, integrating the re-entry permit into the KITAS or KITAP.

This change applies to all current permit holders, including those whose KITAS was issued before September 19, 2024

Surely this means that renewal of MERPs is a thing of the past? My KITAP now serves, essentially, as a reentry permit?

 

[Balikbob]

I'll need to renew my MERP very soon, but saw this:
Third Amendment to Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration

On September 19, 2024, Indonesia enacted Law No. 63 of 2024, amending the existing Immigration Law.

A key provision affects re-entry permits for KITAS and KITAP holders:

KITAS Holders are granted an automatic re-entry permit with the same validity as their KITAS, typically one year.

KITAP Holders receive a re-entry permit matching the KITAP’s validity, usually five years.

Previously, re-entry permits, such as the IMK, were issued separately for up to two years, requiring additional applications and fees.

The new law eliminates this separate process, integrating the re-entry permit into the KITAS or KITAP.

This change applies to all current permit holders, including those whose KITAS was issued before September 19, 2024

Surely this means that renewal of MERPs is a thing of the past? My KITAP now serves, essentially, as a reentry permit?

Yes, you are correct, no stamp in your passport for either KITAP or MERP now but you still have to pay 3.5 juta for it, when you renew your KITAP