Baby On Board What to do???

[seeker]

Hello all,

I have been looking over this site for many months now. I must say that I am overly impressed in the amount of great detail some members have went into to explain the complications and joys of Bali life. As being an US expat for the last 6 years in Australia, China, and Hong Kong.....it has been more than difficult to get the answers that I have needed at times from other expat forums....

Last week my wife and I made the decision to make the move and relocate to Bali. However, we have one glitch in our plans....last March we got pregnant.

I have visited Bali in the past 2 times. The first time was 2 months and the second time with my wife for 1 month. I have dreamed of living in Bali for over 6 years now and I am ready to put all the fears behind me and jump in head first.

Soooo I have made my decision...but I was hoping to get some advise from some of the local expats there. I am an American and my wife is Chinese. We want the baby to have an American Passport (which will happen no matter where the baby is born due to my citizenship). Our main question is that if we decide to have the baby in Bali, will the baby get Indonesian citizenship as well as a default? I know this is a question for the Indonesian embassy...but possibly some of you have had this same issue. Which I am planning on seeing next week.

Secondly, I have a question about the quality of health care in Bali for childbirth. We were planning on having the child in Hong Kong before we made this decision to move to Bali. We are trying to figure out all the options. I have read other posts on this forum and I now know the anticipated costs of the delivery packages. Can anyone tell me what to expect as far as the level of service, cleanliness, and technical ability (if there were any complications with the birth) of the Bali Hospitals.

Lastly,can any of you give me some names of the better maternity hospitals in Bali. I plan to be there in the next 30 days to get a house rented and everything ready to go. That way my wife does not have any of the stress associated with the move other than the cultural shock...that we both are looking forward to.

These are huge questions that we have. We could move there as early as next week or if it is better we will move after the birth....but we both prefer to move ASAP..

Thank you for all your time to reply to my wife an I for this pressing questions.

[drbruce]

Seeker,

Your child will not be eligible for Indonesian citizenship as neither of you are Indonesian. It doesn't matter where it is born. It was only recently that children of Indonesian women and expat fathers were allowed Indonesian citizenship and that only until they are 18. This country does not have the same laws as the US pertaining to where the child was born.

Kasih Ibu in Denpasar is generally considered to be an excellent hospital. My son had an operation on a compound fracture and they did an excellent job. I had an operation there on my ankle with somewhat less than spectacular results, but it was competently done. I know a number of women who have had births at kasih ibu and they were all satisfied with the service and care. Best of luck with your new child.

[seeker]

Dr. Bruce,

Thanks for the reply.

I have one more question, I should have asked in my original post.

Will the fact that my wife is now pregnant affect here eligibility for visa application purposes?

We are planning on coming there on a business visa for the first year and plan on taking our time and looking on what type of business to open there.

I know in many other countries that I have been, if your wife is pregnant this will affect visa abilities. Does this play affect in Indonesia?

[drbruce]

I don't know why it would as it doesn't have anything to do with the child getting citizenship. But, just for your information, there is a whole set of procedures that you need to go through if you have the baby in Indonesia which includes reporting to the government and then getting your child a passport. All this needs to be done rather quickly. I messed up twice with two of my children and had a rather difficult time with immigration because of it. You should check with Joshua Finch, the consular official, for the US in Bali. His office is down just off the By Pass in the Sanur area. He's a nice fellow and very helpful.