I'm wondering

[Angel n Evelyn 0]

I wonder whats the difference between a CENOMAR from Pasay to the other NSO Offices? Maybe if we get it from NSO Pasay, we should not detach the receipt from the paper because I think that's the only proof that it was taken from Pasay. I got CENOMAR from two different NSO offices and I can tell there's no difference between the two.

[Hank_ 9,174]

I think what the embassy is watchful for is possible forged documents, when in doubt they request new ones from Pasay. One person brings forged documents, thousands have to deal with the additional request... sucks.

[Thomas&Cleofe 358]

I think what the embassy is watchful for is possible forged documents, when in doubt they request new ones from Pasay. One person brings forged documents, thousands have to deal with the additional request... sucks.

I will make this point once again....How can it be forged document when it is printed on "security paper"?

[jimmynug 13]

I am 99% sure that a cenomar specifically from Pasay is not required.

We should start a thread asking how many people get visa approval even if there CENOMAR is from different NSO office.

You are actually 100% right. The cenomar is not required to be from Pasay. However, the embassy will do this any time there is any question raised from the file or during the interview. If you have the money, you can get a cenomar that says whatever you want it to and the embassy is fully aware of this. They just use the Pasay branch because they have a reliable channel there. If you get your cenomar from Pasay yourself, it means nothing more to the embassy than if it came from anywhere else. It still could be fake. They do this more often with older women and women with children. I actually knew one lady that did take a fake to the embassy, and she got caught.

[Joshuaching 11]

I got my CENOMAR from my hometown in Pangasinan, and I got approved.

I don't know, but it must be a case-to-case basis. You just have to probably present your documents and yourself as truthfully as possible, just to avoid the consul from having even a tinge of suspicion about you. Well, that's just my two cents worth.

Anyway, if you just wanna make sure you won't be asked to get another Cenomar from NSO, then might as well get one then. It won't hurt after all. Good Luck to you..

Guys and girls; before you all get sxcited about this CENOMAR! You have to understand that all official CENOMARS come from the Central Office in Quezon City, Metro-Manila. Whether you apply in Pangasinan, Mindanao, Cebu, Baguio, etc. all those official copies are generated by the NSO Central Office and then redisributed to the satellite offices in Pasay, Pangasinan, Mindanao, etc..

Now the other side of this is that FAKE Cenomars abound and almost-perfect replicas could be produced and bought around Metro-Manila and elsewhere. Perhaps the ones generated by the Pasay Office are all legitimate and has some sort of official sequencing; i.e receipt nos#, bar codes, stamps, etc.

If you want official answers to your question, you can always email the US Embassy in Manila. They normally reply within two business days.

[Thomas&Cleofe 358]

You are actually 100% right. The cenomar is not required to be from Pasay. However, the embassy will do this any time there is any question raised from the file or during the interview. If you have the money, you can get a cenomar that says whatever you want it to and the embassy is fully aware of this. They just use the Pasay branch because they have a reliable channel there. If you get your cenomar from Pasay yourself, it means nothing more to the embassy than if it came from anywhere else. It still could be fake. They do this more often with older women and women with children. I actually knew one lady that did take a fake to the embassy, and she got caught.

Yes....that was my thoughts also. It's just a random request if the consulate feels more information is required.

[iluvmy_hubbybunny 9]

I wonder whats the difference between a CENOMAR from Pasay to the other NSO Offices? Maybe if we get it from NSO Pasay, we should not detach the receipt from the paper because I think that's the only proof that it was taken from Pasay. I got CENOMAR from two different NSO offices and I can tell there's no difference between the two.

yeah i got two cenomar too from december and recent one ..(different NSO Office) no difference and yeah maybe they want cenomar with receipt 'coz like me i normally remove it.. well cenomar is only 195.00 pesos i guess it doesn't hurt.. just it took another two weeks .. hayz..

[Angel n Evelyn 0]

You are actually 100% right. The cenomar is not required to be from Pasay. However, the embassy will do this any time there is any question raised from the file or during the interview. If you have the money, you can get a cenomar that says whatever you want it to and the embassy is fully aware of this. They just use the Pasay branch because they have a reliable channel there. If you get your cenomar from Pasay yourself, it means nothing more to the embassy than if it came from anywhere else. It still could be fake. They do this more often with older women and women with children. I actually knew one lady that did take a fake to the embassy, and she got caught.

fake? you mean it was not from NSO?

[Angel n Evelyn 0]

yeah i got two cenomar too from december and recent one ..(different NSO Office) no difference and yeah maybe they want cenomar with receipt 'coz like me i normally remove it.. well cenomar is only 195.00 pesos i guess it doesn't hurt.. just it took another two weeks .. hayz..

two weeks for them to release a CENOMAR? so long! I was thinking to get a new one from Pasay 3 days before my interview. Lucky you said that, now I know. Thanks!

[iluvmy_hubbybunny 9]

two weeks for them to release a CENOMAR? so long! I was thinking to get a new one from Pasay 3 days before my interview. Lucky you said that, now I know. Thanks!

yeah two weeks

[Thomas&Cleofe 358]

This thread is causing big panic to get cemonar or cemar from pasay even if only maybe 1 out of 1000 applicants will be required for this....

[jimmynug 13]

fake? you mean it was not from NSO?

It was not an original NSO cenomar. It looked like one, it showed her as single, but in reality, she had been and still was married. One annulment, hundreds of dollars spent, and four years later, she got her visa.

The embassy does not care which NSO office you get your Cenomar from. If they have reason to doubt, they will be the one to request another one without any involvement from you. They will not just blindly accept one from you even if it came from Pasay. If you have an official NSO Cenomar, regardless of the office it came from, then that is fine.

Please understand that if you are legit, meet and have all the requirements, then you will usually be fine. But also remember that there are people that are not legit and try to fake it through the process, and as one poster stated, everyone else pays for it by everyone being inspected more thoroughly.

[Joshuaching 11]

two weeks for them to release a CENOMAR? so long! I was thinking to get a new one from Pasay 3 days before my interview. Lucky you said that, now I know. Thanks!

You can apply at the main office in East Avenue, Quezon City and get it within a few days. And "DON'T REMOVE THE RECEIPT THAT GOES WITH THE CENOMAR". Unbeknownst to many, the receipt matches with the bar code that's on the CENOMAR and they are matched to show authenticity. If something is doubtful about the CENOMAR, the US Embassy inquires directly from the NSO Office to see if it's authentic.

There are stamps of authenticity by the NSO office that are embossed on the certificate, and many times FAKES do not have these.

Lastly, the US Embassy recommends the Pasay NSO because it is the nearest one to the Consulate office.

[Hank_ 9,174]

I will make this point once again....How can it be forged document when it is printed on "security paper"?

Don't know... just know it happens and part of the reason the Phils in on the high fraud list.

[Joshuaching 11]

I will make this point once again....How can it be forged document when it is printed on "security paper"?

David&Goliath they could fake everything from driver's license to CENOMARS in the Philippines. Their security paper has subtle differences from the real ones that only trained eyes could see. At times they connived with employees of the NSO office and obtain real blank security papers. But no matter how good they are, a trained eye could still see the difference between the two. Sort of like looking at a fake dollar bill and a good one.

When in doubt, get your CENOMAR from the main office at East Avenue, Quezon City. You may also obtain a CENOMAR via the NSO's web site and delivered via FEDEX or other local express mail.

I say again that the US Embassy, IMO, recommends the NSO Pasay Branch because of its proximity from the embassy. My wife who was then my fiance obtained hers from the main office in Quezon City and had no problem whatsoever.