Manila Direct Filing vs Spouse Visa

[uverseman 5]

Hello all,

First post and I have not yet started my timeline, but will in about 2 months when the process gets started.

Briefly, I am US citizen, about to go to Philippines to stay with fiancee in August, and married in September/October time frame. I will stay and live with her there until she finishes her education in march 2011. Given the fact I will be there longer than 6 months and can possibly get a permanent residency, I am considering just filing with the Consulate directly. Has any one here done this and what, if any, would be an advantage or disadvantage compared to just filing a spousal visa right after marrying? I have a legal place to return to in USA when I get ready to return.

Thanks, any advise is appreciated.

[TOM&Riz 4]

Hello all,

First post and I have not yet started my timeline, but will in about 2 months when the process gets started.

Briefly, I am US citizen, about to go to Philippines to stay with fiancee in August, and married in September/October time frame. I will stay and live with her there until she finishes her education in march 2011. Given the fact I will be there longer than 6 months and can possibly get a permanent residency, I am considering just filing with the Consulate directly. Has any one here done this and what, if any, would be an advantage or disadvantage compared to just filing a spousal visa right after marrying? I have a legal place to return to in USA when I get ready to return.

Thanks, any advise is appreciated.

We have just moved back here to the US from Tagum City Philippines after living there for a year, here's the scoop, for whatever visa you plan on using to live there just document that, if you plan to get an ACR card that will help you, however if you file DCF there, and I highly recommend that, plan on staying there just a bit longer as 1) you can file after conditions are met being married to a filipina, having lived in her country with her for at least six months and able to prove domicile there so if you are getting married in sept/oct. plan on sending your application after you have been there for 6 or seven months and staying there until you have at least received your NOA 1. By going DCF your only shaving maybe 1200 off the total cost of a LPR visa but the experience of living with your wife in her country and fighting her battles with life and finding a better way as well as the visa process in person is absolutely priceless. Good luck to you, and if you need any information we or most anyone here that has experience on this way of applying for a CR1/IR1 I am sure will be more then happy to answer your questions.

[uverseman 5]

Tommy and Riz,

Thanks for reply. I wanted to get married shortly after arriving in PH, and plan on staying with her long enough to apply for the permanent residency, which i think is 6 months. Any idea how long this will take to get approved? Must I have the permanent residency complete and in hand before using a DCF? Or can I use the DCF after living with her for 6 months ( to establish residency ) there without actually having the PR card in hand?

I guess maybe the 6 month wait for residency, then the 3-5 month wait at the consulate would be equal to the wait if filed with the USCIS right after marriage? Either way I do have the privilege of being at her side and living with her as my spouse while we wait for the filings to be approved. I am just looking for the shortest time after next march tha twe could leave together to the states.

[TOM&Riz 4]

Tommy and Riz,

Thanks for reply. I wanted to get married shortly after arriving in PH, and plan on staying with her long enough to apply for the permanent residency, which i think is 6 months. Any idea how long this will take to get approved? Must I have the permanent residency complete and in hand before using a DCF? Or can I use the DCF after living with her for 6 months ( to establish residency ) there without actually having the PR card in hand?

I guess maybe the 6 month wait for residency, then the 3-5 month wait at the consulate would be equal to the wait if filed with the USCIS right after marriage? Either way I do have the privilege of being at her side and living with her as my spouse while we wait for the filings to be approved. I am just looking for the shortest time after next march tha twe could leave together to the states.

your welcome, actually you can apply for an ACR the day you arrive,and you should as the wheels of justice turn mighty slow there, check the Ph BI wedsite www.immigration.gov.ph

yea other then saving a few bucks and having the experience you will probably gain 2 or 3 months process time.

[shing 0]

Since you will most likely be returning to USA with your wife in under 18 months, no need to fool around with PH residency. Just contune your PH tourist visa every 60 days for max of 18 months, or after getting married and getting a copy of your NSO marrage document then fly Tiger air to Singapore for $158 for 2 round trip and get a balikbayan spouse 12 month visa upon returning to PH from Sinapore.

Before getting married in PH you first need a approval from the Manila US embassy. Have your GF start getting her NSO birth certificate now. She will need about 10 copies before this is all over. Also be sure to bring copies of past 3 years income tax returns and copies of all previous divorces.

On an other note.

Filipino girls will say any thing on the internet to catch an American husband and once they get to the usa they find a younger man so they can leave you. I have seen this happen more times than I can count. Best advice is to live together for 2 years first, before getting married, so you give her time to show her true colors. And do not get her pregnant or you will be paying child support for the next 18 years. And when she starts with “her family needs money” its time to drop her like a hot coal and find a different girl. Her family needing monthly support money is the first sign you are being USED. Be smart and move slowly.