Our experience going for Affidavit to get married from USEM

[MarkGenefer 9]

Today 6/11 Genefer and I left our apt at 5AM for our 7:30 AM appointment at USEM. We arrived in the RoxasBlvd area about 6:00. Time for breakfast. Jollibee of course! We head to the embassy around 6:45. Since we were going for an affidavit for marriage the line was quick and fast inside in 10 minutes. Now we waited in the courtyard until about 7:15 until they told us and about 50 other people to go to door for US citizens. The staff would not allow Genefer to go with me to the second floor and told her to wait outside. Sucked for her since it was very very humid. But it is the Philippines and it is June. I go to the second floor I'm called to the window to fill out a paper then pay $50 about 2100 peso. The American Consul asks me to raise right hand and swear that everything on the form is truthful. The amazing part is they never asked me to see my divorce papers. They never asked me any questions at all. I had a load of evidence with me but not needed. Oh well good for us. So Genefer and I exit the Embassy at approx 9AM we were there for maybe 1.5 hours total. Now the frustrating part for us was there we were looking at the people going for their K1 and Spouse Visa's and we have not even sent in our petition yet. O well our time will come. First things first. So we head over to Quezon City hall for our marriage license. Now this is quite another story. For any of us who want to complain about Government beauracracy you ain't seen nothing until you have been to this place. Let me say that this is a large bunch of BS! It is all about $$$. You pay for everything! First it is 30 pesos for a Xerox. Then it's150 pesos for this and 320 pesos for Cedula and 195 for Cenomar. Then 5 pesos for another Xerox. Then the tell us that a judge can marry us but our names go into a hat sort of and which ever judge gets it can charge what he wants for the privelage of marrying us. Can you believe this! Later we have to make an appointment for family planning they call it. I guess at 53 for me and 35 for Genefer we need to know about the birds and bees. Again I Love Genefer and will do anything to make her happy. In the end the outcome is that I am married to the most beautiful women I have ever seen. This was quite the day.

[MarkGenefer 9]

Today 6/11 Genefer and I left our apt at 5AM for our 7:30 AM appointment at USEM. We arrived in the RoxasBlvd area about 6:00. Time for breakfast. Jollibee of course! We head to the embassy around 6:45. Since we were going for an affidavit for marriage the line was quick and fast inside in 10 minutes. Now we waited in the courtyard until about 7:15 until they told us and about 50 other people to go to door for US citizens. The staff would not allow Genefer to go with me to the second floor and told her to wait outside. Sucked for her since it was very very humid. But it is the Philippines and it is June. I go to the second floor I'm called to the window to fill out a paper then pay $50 about 2100 peso. The American Consul asks me to raise right hand and swear that everything on the form is truthful. The amazing part is they never asked me to see my divorce papers. They never asked me any questions at all. I had a load of evidence with me but not needed. Oh well good for us. So Genefer and I exit the Embassy at approx 9AM we were there for maybe 1.5 hours total. Now the frustrating part for us was there we were looking at the people going for their K1 and Spouse Visa's and we have not even sent in our petition yet. O well our time will come. First things first. So we head over to Quezon City hall for our marriage license. Now this is quite another story. For any of us who want to complain about Government beauracracy you ain't seen nothing until you have been to this place. Let me say that this is a large bunch of BS! It is all about $$$. You pay for everything! First it is 30 pesos for a Xerox. Then it's150 pesos for this and 320 pesos for Cedula and 195 for Cenomar. Then 5 pesos for another Xerox. Then the tell us that a judge can marry us but our names go into a hat sort of and which ever judge gets it can charge what he wants for the privelage of marrying us. Can you believe this! Later we have to make an appointment for family planning they call it. I guess at 53 for me and 35 for Genefer we need to know about the birds and bees. Again I Love Genefer and will do anything to make her happy. In the end the outcome is that I am married to the most beautiful women I have ever seen. This was quite the day.

Here is an addition to what I typed. I wasn't able to edit for some reason.

The family planning seminar takes place next week and we have to go back to Cenomar to pick that paper up. Then actually file for the marriage license. We receive the license in 10 business days. Then after we get married we can get the marriage certificate takes 3 months!Hope I don't need the cert for the I130. Again I Love Genefer and will do anything to make her happy. In the end the outcome is that I am married to the most beautiful women I have ever seen. This was quite the day.

[stevie b 141]

Here is an addition to what I typed. I wasn't able to edit for some reason.

The family planning seminar takes place next week and we have to go back to Cenomar to pick that paper up. Then actually file for the marriage license. We receive the license in 10 business days. Then after we get married we can get the marriage certificate takes 3 months!Hope I don't need the cert for the I130. Again I Love Genefer and will do anything to make her happy. In the end the outcome is that I am married to the most beautiful women I have ever seen. This was quite the day.

congratulations

sorry, but you will need the license for the 130

you can always risk an rfe and file without it to get the petition rolling

don't forget to get an extra copy or two certified by the issuing agency for future needs

[Tahoma 2,292]

When you applied for a marriage license, did the Quezon City civil registrar accept your Affidavit in Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry? I ask this because Quezon City is on the U.S. Embassy Manila's list of municipalities who no longer accept that document. http://manila.usembassy.gov/marriage.html

Also, did the Quezon City civil registrar require you to submit a CENOMAR for yourself (the U.S. citizen)?

By the way, you can file your I-130 using your marriage certificate from the civil registrar. That way, you won't have to wait for the NSO copy of your marriage certificate. Then, when your wife goes to her Embassy interview, she can bring her NSO marriage certificate with her. Also, you can speed up the NSO process for your NSO marriage certificate by applying for "advance endorsement" at the civil registrar's office. You might want to do this in the off chance that the USCIS sends you and RFE asking for the NSO marriage certificate.

[MarkGenefer 9]

When you applied for a marriage license, did the Quezon City civil registrar accept your Affidavit in Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry? I ask this because Quezon City is on the U.S. Embassy Manila's list of municipalities who no longer accept that document. http://manila.usembassy.gov/marriage.html

Also, did the Quezon City civil registrar require you to submit a CENOMAR for yourself (the U.S. citizen)?

By the way, you can file your I-130 using your marriage certificate from the civil registrar. That way, you won't have to wait for the NSO copy of your marriage certificate. Then, when your wife goes to her Embassy interview, she can bring her NSO marriage certificate with her. Also, you can speed up the NSO process for your NSO marriage certificate by applying for "advance endorsement" at the civil registrar's office. You might want to do this in the off chance that the USCIS sends you and RFE asking for the NSO marriage certificate.

Yes I saw that on the us embassy site. However they did accept it. As for a CENOMAR for me they just asked for my divorce papers. Thanks for the info. Let me get this straight tho. I keep the certificate bring it home and add it to my 130 package. Genefer waits for the NSO cert. I think we will ask for 2 copies based on someone elses suggestion.

[Tahoma 2,292]

Yes I saw that on the us embassy site. However they did accept it. As for a CENOMAR for me they just asked for my divorce papers. Thanks for the info. Let me get this straight tho. I keep the certificate bring it home and add it to my 130 package. Genefer waits for the NSO cert. I think we will ask for 2 copies based on someone elses suggestion.

I'm glad the Quezon City civil registrar accepted your affidavit from the Embassy.

Yes, take a copy of the marriage certificate from the civil registrar home with you because you will need it for your I-130 process. Genefer will wait for the NSO marriage certificate which she will need for her Embassy interview. And yes, always get an extra copy of everything.