Marriage in Philippines

[Christine n Carl 0]

All,

Sorry for what must have been posted before, but looking for updated information and ideas.

I am engaged to a filipina living in Ozamis City (Misamis Occidental). She and her family would like

us to have a civil wedding in Ozamiz City. She has talked to local Registrar and from this we have run into

several questions/Issues.

1) I am divorced from a filipina from my past where we were married and divorced in the US. During marriage

we were required to file paperwork with Philippine embassy about marriage for passport purposes, thus our US

marriage was recognized registered in Philippines. The local registrar says I must provide a cenomar

from the NSO for myself. First I did not know that was possible, second if so I am sure they have me married to a filipina as

my divorce was done in US and is controlled by states not nationally. So will my marriage show up in NSO?

Can they issue cenomar to foriegn national? if I show as married how do I fix this?

2) As alot of US employee's I am only giving 3 weeks vacation. According to timeline we figured out based on local registrar

reguirements, I would need at least a month in the philippines. This is not possible.

The local registrar is saying 12 days posting based on 5 day work week thus 16 days posting, plus one day filing and one day pickup.

Also a one day seminar after waiting period. not during or before. I have seen posts here saying they did it in 10 calendar days,

same day, conflicts on pre-marriage seminar. Seen posts saying judge expediated etc, we do not see a judge but a registrar that makes the rules in

the city. Is there any place or way we can get married but meet requirements in a reasonable time frame?

We are out of options...

Thank you

Carl Richardson

[Thomas&Cleofe 358]

You will schedule an appointment at the US embassy in Manila to receive your "Affidavit of legal capacity to marry". Bring your divorce decree with you. Check the US embassy website for further details. Cost 50 USD.

I wish you good luck to be married within 3 weeks....we made it happen in 17 days, but we had close friend connections at city hall to help us cheat through.....and a little extra in compensation to help with the process.

[brett and alma 12]

My husband went to the US embassy with out appointment.he was devorced and he did not have the paper.on the paper that he signed he put it that he was single.they are not too srtict about that.we got married within 5 days,we paid for it,we told the local registrar office we are in a hurry to get married.they did not ask my cenomar or my husband back then,they just asked 10 thou,and they will work on it.we paid the judge for 3thou.

[Thomas&Cleofe 358]

My husband went to the US embassy with out appointment.he was devorced and he did not have the paper.on the paper that he signed he put it that he was single.they are not too srtict about that.we got married within 5 days,we paid for it,we told the local registrar office we are in a hurry to get married.they did not ask my cenomar or my husband back then,they just asked 10 thou,and they will work on it.we paid the judge for 3thou.

Wow....you guys cheat the law also......money talks

law states 10 day waiting period from filing the marriage license.

We were married by the mayor of my wife's city, so we didn't pay to much. Just a little extra to city hall employees to speed our process.

But, I don't know if that will work at every municipality.

[Christine n Carl 0]

I know about affadavit, been to local registrar they are not budging, need cenomar for myself and fiancee and must wait 12 days total of 16 plus seminar.

need advise on foriegn cenomar and how to find another way as local registrar has expanded requirements required by Philippine family law.

All,

Sorry for what must have been posted before, but looking for updated information and ideas.

I am engaged to a filipina living in Ozamis City (Misamis Occidental). She and her family would like

us to have a civil wedding in Ozamiz City. She has talked to local Registrar and from this we have run into

several questions/Issues.

1) I am divorced from a filipina from my past where we were married and divorced in the US. During marriage

we were required to file paperwork with Philippine embassy about marriage for passport purposes, thus our US

marriage was recognized registered in Philippines. The local registrar says I must provide a cenomar

from the NSO for myself. First I did not know that was possible, second if so I am sure they have me married to a filipina as

my divorce was done in US and is controlled by states not nationally. So will my marriage show up in NSO?

Can they issue cenomar to foriegn national? if I show as married how do I fix this?

2) As alot of US employee's I am only giving 3 weeks vacation. According to timeline we figured out based on local registrar

reguirements, I would need at least a month in the philippines. This is not possible.

The local registrar is saying 12 days posting based on 5 day work week thus 16 days posting, plus one day filing and one day pickup.

Also a one day seminar after waiting period. not during or before. I have seen posts here saying they did it in 10 calendar days,

same day, conflicts on pre-marriage seminar. Seen posts saying judge expediated etc, we do not see a judge but a registrar that makes the rules in

the city. Is there any place or way we can get married but meet requirements in a reasonable time frame?

We are out of options...

Thank you

Carl Richardson

[Thomas&Cleofe 358]

I know about affadavit, been to local registrar they are not budging, need cenomar for myself and fiancee and must wait 12 days total of 16 plus seminar.

need advise on foriegn cenomar and how to find another way as local registrar has expanded requirements required by Philippine family law.

Not all municipalities recognize the affidavit of legal capacity to marry......find yourself a different municipality.

[Artisan 138]

Legally you can get everything done in just about two weeks, however that is going to be very rushed. Not all municipalities will recognize or accept an affidavit from the US Embassy (they warn you about that now due to the number of complaints the Embassy has received). Also note that since you have a recognized marriage by the NSO you will need a court order that recognizes your divorce. Things can get sticky if the NSO shows you as being married already when you file your new marriage certificate.

[Memphis 26]

You will schedule an appointment at the US embassy in Manila to receive your "Affidavit of legal capacity to marry". Bring your divorce decree with you. Check the US embassy website for further details. Cost 50 USD.

I wish you good luck to be married within 3 weeks....we made it happen in 17 days, but we had close friend connections at city hall to help us cheat through.....and a little extra in compensation to help with the process.

Though my wife and I are both are Filipino citizens,thats what we did also four years ago, (paid P5k) just to have our marriage license released the following day after the seminar, so we could be married by the judge in 3 days.. Imagine how money works in the Philippines!

Edited November 18, 2012 by Memphis

[brett and alma 12]

Though my wife and I are both are Filipino citizens,thats what we did also four years ago, (paid P5k) just to have our marriage license released the following day after the seminar, so we could be married by the judge in 3 days.. Imagine how money works in the Philippines!

Correct......

[Artisan 138]

Though my wife and I are both are Filipino citizens,thats what we did also four years ago, (paid P5k) just to have our marriage license released the following day after the seminar, so we could be married by the judge in 3 days.. Imagine how money works in the Philippines!

Yes, bribery and graft can often times shorten your queue. Lately it has also landed a few people in front of a judge. Manila especially is cracking down on graft. Never rely on the possibility that you can get around posted regulations by applying a few thousand pesos in the right hands. If you plan for the proper way of getting things done you'll be better off and you will avoid any questions that may arise down the line.

[brett and alma 12]

Wow....you guys cheat the law also......money talks

law states 10 day waiting period from filing the marriage license.

We were married by the mayor of my wife's city, so we didn't pay to much. Just a little extra to city hall employees to speed our process.

But, I don't know if that will work at every municipality.

10 thou is to expedite

3 thou for the judge,is the payment for the judge when you get married,its like paying 1 thou for a priest.

He was devorced and i was single,if we cheated back then,its worthed.it did not give us any problem.

[apple21 953]

My husband arrived March 2, 2012 (Friday) and we immediately proceeded to the Local Civil Registry (LCR) to apply for marriage license. We planned for a church wedding, so before his arrival, I already have original copies of our NSO birth certificates, CENOMAR, baptismal and confirmation certificates.

March 15, 2012 we received our marriage license. We did the required seminar in between March 2 and March 15. Your marriage license won't be released if you don't attend the seminar. For civil weddings, you only have to attend a one-day seminar.

We were married March 21. Since we want to immediately register our MC, we personally took it to the LCR on March 23. We applied for ADVANCE ENDORSEMENT so we won't have to wait 6 months to get the NSO copy of our MC. According to our more experienced members, you can submit the LCR copy of your MC to USCIS when filing i-130.

My hubby went back to the US on March 25.

May 14 we received our NSO MC. Sent it via UPS to my hubby so he can file my i-130.

My husband was here for 24 days and we were able to comply with all the wedding requirements (without red tape!).

[Artisan 138]

My husband was here for 24 days and we were able to comply with all the wedding requirements (without red tape!).

My story is similar. I arrived in Manila on Thursday night on Feb 2nd. I went to the US Embassy on Friday morning. I had scheduled my appointment for the affidavit before I left the US using the Embassy website. As soon as we got the affidavit we took a taxi to Manila City Hall and attended the late morning Family Planning seminar after which we filed the application for our marriage license. We spent the next 10 days sightseeing and picked up our marriage license on the 14th (I teased her about skipping the wedding at home and getting married at City Hall on St. Valentine's Day). On the 15th we flew to Virac, Catanduanes. We booked the photographer and the official for our wedding later that day. On the 17th we were married at a wonderful beach resort with her family in attendance all for less than what my sister paid for her wedding cake alone here in the US.

It can be done in two weeks legally and without paying bribes. You just need to be organized and know what needs done in what order.

[A_& T_ 3]

All,

Sorry for what must have been posted before, but looking for updated information and ideas.

I am engaged to a filipina living in Ozamis City (Misamis Occidental). She and her family would like

us to have a civil wedding in Ozamiz City. She has talked to local Registrar and from this we have run into

several questions/Issues.

1) I am divorced from a filipina from my past where we were married and divorced in the US. During marriage

we were required to file paperwork with Philippine embassy about marriage for passport purposes, thus our US

marriage was recognized registered in Philippines. The local registrar says I must provide a cenomar

from the NSO for myself. First I did not know that was possible, second if so I am sure they have me married to a filipina as

my divorce was done in US and is controlled by states not nationally. So will my marriage show up in NSO?

Can they issue cenomar to foriegn national? if I show as married how do I fix this?

2) As alot of US employee's I am only giving 3 weeks vacation. According to timeline we figured out based on local registrar

reguirements, I would need at least a month in the philippines. This is not possible.

The local registrar is saying 12 days posting based on 5 day work week thus 16 days posting, plus one day filing and one day pickup.

Also a one day seminar after waiting period. not during or before. I have seen posts here saying they did it in 10 calendar days,

same day, conflicts on pre-marriage seminar. Seen posts saying judge expediated etc, we do not see a judge but a registrar that makes the rules in

the city. Is there any place or way we can get married but meet requirements in a reasonable time frame?

We are out of options...

Thank you

Carl Richardson

Our story is different from above, husband stayed for 18 days, arrive and second day came USembassy manila to get legal capacity,they only need your divorce decree and $50,on the second day went to Civil registrar had seminar and same day applied marriage licensed, came home and waited 10 days for the Released,but we are lucky we did advanced wedding.,someone work for our papers and we paid $300 for the advance civil wedding.everything went perfect.we paid additional 1000 pesos for the early endorsement to NSO.after 30 days got our NSO marriage certificate..

[Joshuaching 11]

The worst thing you could do is to circumvent the local registrar's requirement for a CENOMAR for you and your wife. DON'T DO THIS despite what you have read from other posters about them giving grease monies to the authorities. The consequence for you if you happen to get caught and punished is for you to be deported! This is very serious.

The reason for the CENOMAR for you although you are a foreigner is to make sure that you're not making a career of picking up a bride there, divorcing them in the States, then coming back to marry another one. Some foreigners make a profession of this and this is called "human trafficking", and that's the reason for the CENOMAR. It is to make it difficult for foreigners to marry again, and again in the Philippines. More and more municipalities are requiring this, but not all. What you could do is to find out which municipalities do not require this and get married there.

When I got married in the Philippines (Metro-Manila), some of the cities within the Metro do not honor the "Legal Capacity Affidavit from the US Embassy". What they require is a "certification" from the US Embassy that you are really divorced and legally able to marry. The US Embassy, of course, said "hogwash" and would not conform as they do not have the administrative capacity to check up on the authenticity of your divorce papers. What I did was to look for a city that honor the affidavit from the US Embassy and found Marikina City. Your fiancee is required to obtain her marriage license from her town of residence, but this is easy to obtain from another city as all she has to do is pay the "residential tax" for another place (about P20) and she's good to get a marriage license. Once the marriage license is obtained, usually after 10 working-days of posting, and the family-seminar is attended, you can get married ANYWHERE in the Philippines.