Marrying girlfriend who is in US and pending annulment

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

She may want to return to her home country at some stage. Failing to follow her home countries laws and returning married to you makes her a bigamist and she can be jailed. Don't be selfish and rush things. Take time to do things right and she will thank you in the end.

Not likely, in a country full of bigamists because of an archaic family code. It only becomes an issue if she wants another fiancee/spousal visa after she tires of the OP and returns to the Philippines. Of course if she becomes a USC, the whole issue, if there ever was one, is mute.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

You should see some of the funerals in the RP, where all the ex-wives and mistresses, along with their progeny, come to pay their respects, to the elder gentleman.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Just make sure that the husband does not have intelligent friends with good connections to make you and your wife to be sorry for not following the Philippines law.

How does Philippines law apply to someone in the US? BTW, I agree with you, money buys a lot of cooperation in the Philippines, although I don't understand the "intelligent" part when you are talking about public officials, corrupt or otherwise.

[TiklingGuy 211]

Would you kindly point out to me where the OP asked for relationship advice instead of immigration advice?

Thank you in advance.

I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the OP. Does that answer your question?

[sunandmoon 450]

I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the OP. Does that answer your question?

this is an open forum. if your intention is to have a personal conversation with a member, you can PM.

[TiklingGuy 211]

I got no problems be the bad guy on this thread. Put yourselves in this philipino mans shoes. How would you feel if you had a bunch of people explaining the process to a guy trying to steal your wife from you. Immigration advice or not. IT'S WRONG. I got no advice what so over for the OP, except do the right thing by perhaps getting out of the situation instead of homewrecking a marriage.

Bring it on people.

[jimmynug 13]

To the OP, the correct answer is that it is not as easy as mentioned earlier. The Philippines does not recognize a divorce in the US of two Filipino citizens. Your girlfriend, still a filipino citizen will have to provide every document that US immigration requires for filipinos. How is she going to get a Certificate of None Marriage from the Philippines if she is still married there? She is not. The document requirement doesn't change based on what country you are in at the time. She needs to file for her annulment in the Philippines ASAP, but even at that, she will not get it all done before her visa expires. If you have the money and a good lawyer, a friend of my wife's just got it done in 4-5 months. Then another 4-5 months for the petition, interview, etc. I don't know any other way around it.

Now Dex22, i just left the embassy section, and a post there that you would probably like. Guy from somewhere around Africa wanted to know if he could take the u s gov't to court cause he had to jump through hoops for a k1 visa. Anyway, as far as this thread you are probably right, but shoot when it comes to stuff like that, who really knows. Most people in the Philippines couldn't afford to get an annulment if they wanted to - and before anyone roasts me for that statement, i am not trying to offend anyone. OP madly in lust/love with a beautiful filipina, sometimes they just have to learn the hard way.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

To the OP, the correct answer is that it is not as easy as mentioned earlier. The Philippines does not recognize a divorce in the US of two Filipino citizens. Your girlfriend, still a filipino citizen will have to provide every document that US immigration requires for filipinos. How is she going to get a Certificate of None Marriage from the Philippines if she is still married there? She is not. The document requirement doesn't change based on what country you are in at the time. She needs to file for her annulment in the Philippines ASAP, but even at that, she will not get it all done before her visa expires. If you have the money and a good lawyer, a friend of my wife's just got it done in 4-5 months. Then another 4-5 months for the petition, interview, etc. I don't know any other way around it.

Now Dex22, i just left the embassy section, and a post there that you would probably like. Guy from somewhere around Africa wanted to know if he could take the u s gov't to court cause he had to jump through hoops for a k1 visa. Anyway, as far as this thread you are probably right, but shoot when it comes to stuff like that, who really knows. Most people in the Philippines couldn't afford to get an annulment if they wanted to - and before anyone roasts me for that statement, i am not trying to offend anyone. OP madly in lust/love with a beautiful filipina, sometimes they just have to learn the hard way.

Since she entered the US legally, she can divorce in the US, and will be free to marry in the US. She doesn't have to worry about the peculiarities of Filipino law, unless she foolishly returns to the Philippines before securing her status to live in the US.

[mr and mrs 187]

How would you feel if you had a bunch of people explaining the process to a guy trying to steal your wife from you. Immigration advice or not. IT'S WRONG.

it's the beauty of the internet. information (be it good, bad, moral, immoral, or madonna's life story) right at your fingertips!!

this is an open forum for immigration information. the OP came to the right place for that.

i am not enamored of the prejudiced laws that prohibit women from initiating a divorce in the philippines. not a level playing field.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Not likely, in a country full of bigamists because of an archaic family code. It only becomes an issue if she wants another fiancee/spousal visa after she tires of the OP and returns to the Philippines. Of course if she becomes a USC, the whole issue, if there ever was one, is mute.

Okay. But who knows what her Filipino husband is like and whether he'll make trouble for her if she ever returns.

Also, not that it really matters either but as an FYI, but the term is "moot", not "mute".

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Also, not that it really matters either but as an FYI, but the term is "moot", not "mute".

I know, but I forget, having used the wrong word for most of my life.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Okay. But who knows what her Filipino husband is like and whether he'll make trouble for her if she ever returns.

Chances are the ex-husband will try to piggyback on her good fortune, especially if they have any children together, or can pass off a close relative as one. The ex-husband can probably be bought off with a small remittance every month. He has more to worry about from her parents, than her ex-husband, now that she is riding the gravy train.

Edited December 31, 2011 by ☼

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I was living in the UK and separated from my British ex. I started dating again and met someone else. He was fine with me not having commenced divorce proceedings. My ex was also okay. I got engaged before my divorce was complete. It's a common story on here. People's relationships end before the legal documents are signed. Get over it.

Though the Madonna addendum was a bit ace, I must admit.

[Tahoma 2,292]

Would you kindly point out to me where the OP asked for relationship advice instead of immigration advice?

Thank you in advance.

I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the OP. Does that answer your question?

^^^ No, that doesn't answer my question. Would you care to try again?

this is an open forum. if your intention is to have a personal conversation with a member, you can PM.

^^^ Dex22 thinks this is his/her own private forum. I wonder if Dex requires us to raise our hand if we want to say something.

I got no problems be the bad guy on this thread. Put yourselves in this philipino mans shoes. How would you feel if you had a bunch of people explaining the process to a guy trying to steal your wife from you. I thought this was immigration advice or not. IT'S WRONG. I got no advice what so over for the OP, except do the right thing by perhaps getting out of the situation instead of homewrecking a marriage.

Bring it on people.

^^^ Uhmmm...Would you mind telling everyone how you know the husband doesn't want his wife to divorce him?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

^^^ No, that doesn't answer my question. Would you care to try again?

^^^ Dex22 thinks this is his/her own private forum. I wonder if Dex requires us to raise our hand if we want to say something.

^^^ Uhmmm...Would you mind telling everyone how you know the husband doesn't want his wife to divorce him?

Tahoma, I never post in here but often read your posts. I just want to take this moment to say: you rock.