I am a US citizen who wants to marry abroad

[mike_d_godfather 3]

Hello! My sister a US citizen wants to marry her fiancé in the Philippines. What documents does she need to secure here in the US for her wedding? Also documents she needs coming back here. Any answers or comments will be appreciated. Thank you!

[TeapotGirl 66]

Divorce decree if your sis has been married before

CENOMAR for the groom

Marriage Licence (to be lodged at the municipality where the marriage will take place)

Birth Certificate (both parties)

If 18 to 21y/o must have parental consent in writing, those age 21 to 25 must have written parental advice (a written indication that the parents are aware of the couple's intent to marry).

See also this link http://www.filipinafianceevisa.com/Marriage_Philippines.htm

Edited October 1, 2011 by teapotgurl1983

[Scott and Mhay 57]

Check this link out: manila.usembassy.gov/marriage.html

Be sure to make an appointment for the legal capacity to marry.

[pushbrk 13,254]

Check this link out: manila.usembassy.gov/marriage.html

Be sure to make an appointment for the legal capacity to marry.

And plan a long enough stay to actually accomplish the marriage. Less than two weeks is not enough and only two weeks means no time for honeymoon. More than 21 days requires a visa or a fine.

[godsgrace 2]

Hello! My sister a US citizen wants to marry her fiancé in the Philippines. What documents does she need to secure here in the US for her wedding? Also documents she needs coming back here. Any answers or comments will be appreciated. Thank you!

She must bring her original birth certificate. Very important is her legal capacity which she can get at US Embassy. She must make an appointment for the legal capacity to marry.

Our local municipal office just asked my husband's both original and photo copy of birth certificate, passport and legal capacity to marry. What we did, we made an appointment at

US embassy before he arrived in Philippines. We just got married last July.

Besides, her fiance must asks their local municipality what requirements they need for marriage.

Hope this help. God bless =)

[Kehinde 45]

Hello! My sister a US citizen wants to marry her fiancé in the Philippines. What documents does she need to secure here in the US for her wedding? Also documents she needs coming back here. Any answers or comments will be appreciated. Thank you!

All I needed when I married abroad was my birth certicate. And when I came back I made sure I had my original marriage license cos you will need it when you file for your spouse.

[Anh map 2,098]

All I needed when I married abroad was my birth certicate. And when I came back I made sure I had my original marriage license cos you will need it when you file for your spouse.

There may be Philippines specific requirements for marriage which the OP should investigate.

[pushbrk 13,254]

There may be Philippines specific requirements for marriage which the OP should investigate.

There ARE and other countries differ. Try jumping through the hoops to marry in China. Doesn't take as long as in the Philippines if prepared but it's more complicated. A statement like, "This is what it took for me to marry abroad." is not helpful. Substitute the country name for "abroad" and then you're helping people who want to marry in a specific country.

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

*** Moving from K3- an obsolete visa- to Philippines regional forum as question is not about a US visa, but marrying in Phils ***

[Grant PDX 183]

Others have answered the questions about documents which are basically your birth certificate and divorce decree(s) if any, and an appointment with the US embassy.

I checked into this in the past. I was planning a 2 week trip with the following plan:

Fly into Manila over the weekend, likely Sunday night 10pm arrival in Manila.

Monday morning, go to the US Embassy (appointment made in advance) to get the certificate of legal capacity to marry.

Monday evening, fly to her province.

Tuesday morning, go the local registrar to apply for marriage license - 10 day wait.

Friday, the following week (10 days later), pick up marriage license.

Saturday, get married, have reception, party, etc.

Sunday, fly home, no "honeymoon".

Because of a slight delay which caused me not to be able to be there early enough I decided not to push it this hard and instead enjoyed the 12 days we had together and then just applied for a fiancee visa.

Other people have gotten married in the Philippines and some have been able to "expedite" the 10 day wait through an "expediting fee". If you are willing to pay under the table and/or have connections in the local civil registrar you might be able to accomplish the marriage without the 10 day wait. I have friends who've done it.

Instead of that, we did a big engagement party in her province with over 100 friends and family. It satisfied her need for a big wedding with her family and took a lot of stress out of the process. Like some others, I would have preferred to marry in the Philippines and do a spouse visa because of many advantages in my opinion, but not at "any cost". This turned out to be the best option for us.

This isn't meant to be advice, just personal experience that might be helpful.

[DaveE 178]

This is from the US Embassy in Manila web site, about the Legal Capacity to marry Certificate.

"Instead, the U.S. Embassy provides an Affidavit In Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry. In late 2011, the U.S. Embassy learned that the following local registrars had refused to accept the Affidavit In Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry as a viable alternative to the Philippine document: Makati City, Quezon City, Davao City."