Bringing My Indonesian Family To Live In The Uk

[Hawkwind]

Hello all

I hope someone can help on my issues!.

I joined a company back 3 years ago and my first job was in Indonesia

On that trip fell in love and started a long distance relationship.

I took it to the next level one year later by getting married to her, 'although it was only a wedding with religion', so not a recognised legal wedding as such!.

Then we discovered she was pregnant and were over the moon about that, but because of the legal issues involved we got married legally last year in Indonesia, with an internationally accepted marriage certificate.

So our first daughter was born and has an English and an Indonesian passport and will have until she is 18 years old to decide what nationality she would prefer to remain.

Currently I left the UK 18 months ago and have been working in Indonesia for 1 year, then my contract changed and have been posted to South Africa for 6 months, with an extension to the end of the year.

After that contract ends I may be re-posted back to Indonesia for a year or two, however the chances are that my company will send me back to work in the UK!.

I will have a guaranteed job, a home to live in and around 10k in the bank.

So from an immigration point of view, I`m assuming I will have no problems as I`m English even if I have been out of the country for a couple of years.

My wife would be allowed to come with me as she is my wife, along with our new daughter?, assuming the answer is yes, if not please explain why and how I deal with it!, but assuming yes with no problems to those questions then comes my main concern!

When I met my wife she already had a daughter from a previous marriage, her blood father left when she was 1.5 years and I have now known her for 3 years, in that time I have looked after her, through love, education, medical etc, absolutely everything!, she regards me as her father and we have a lovely bond, she is currently 7.5 years old if that has any baring.

I have investigated legally adopting her here in Indo, but its a strange law and rather unnecessary as her mother has sole rights to her and now being married to her makes me the father.

I did read somewhere that her mother would need to have sole responsibility, my daughters blood father as I said left when she was about 1.5 years and has not been interested in keeping in contact, providing anything etc, the trouble is we have nothing direct from a court that says the mother has sole responsibility, but they granted her custody and she has looked after her ever since!, clarification on this would be very welcome.

As she is dependant on her mother and me her father is she allowed to come to the UK with us?, especially as we are now all together as a family.
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I need straight answers to this as I have basically six months to get things moving should I have to go back to the UK.

If anyone can help or point us in the right direction of getting this sorted and alleviate any worry, we would be very greatfull.


Best wishes Alan, Rani, Putri & Thalia

[parvus1202]

I don't think there is a problem. Just ask the British Embassy in Indonesia what documents you need. If parents are separated, mother always has the responsibility over the child. If the mother will leave her country she must take the child, the child must be granted a visa. Although sometimes they will ask for a letter of consent from the father, but if the father cannot be located anymore then just get a letter from the Indonesian government that they are allowing the child to travel with the mother.