About Indonesia Expat Expertise I am a foreigner from a Western country but have been living in Indonesia for the past 9 years. As a person living and working here, I am able to provide information on transport options and average prices within the country, as well as getting in and out of the country, general hassles people will come up against, visas, recommended homestays, honest and ethical people for legal consultation and private investigation, scams that foreigners should be aware of, safety considerations in certain areas, requirements of living and working here, information regarding leasing houses, apartments, some information on mixed marriages, where to find good medical treatment, jobs, housing, imported foods, cars, restaurants, etc.
Experience I have been living and working here since the beginning of 1999 and have traveled and lived in Lombok, Bali, Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Central Java and West Java.
Expert: Indonesia Expat Date: 6/10/2008 Subject: indonesian-singapore-USA marriage
Question Thank you for your site, I feel relief already when I see it for the first time. My fiance and I studied in US and we decided to get married here in Hawaii. My parents insisted that we also get married civilly in indonesia which is require paper works and possibly a lot of bribing because my fiance is foreigner from singapore.
My question are how far US marriage law can protect both of our rights especially when we return to our homeland? Can we just get married in US and register the marriage in indonesia instead of do the paper works? Thank you for your time and efford in answering my question.
Answer Hi Sara,
If you've already married abroad, normally what you'd have to do is just register your marriage at the Catatan Sipil in Indonesia when you return, within 1 year of your marriage in the US. If you wait more than 1 year, it's no longer possible without bribing somebody.
You also don't say which religion you and your fiance are. Couples who want to get married but one of the couple doesn't want to convert to the other's religion often get married in Singapore or other countries, where there is no ridiculous rule of both people having to be the same religion to get married, and then register at Catatan Sipil as well.
