Am I Considered Married in the Philippines?

[dens 5]

1st. If you are legally married in the Philippines, you are legally married in the USA as well... the marriage in the Philippines is recognized in the USA. The USA does not have a national system for reporting marriage, once you are married you simple put married on all documents. You take a copy of your marriage certificate from the Philippines to SSA to get your SSN updated to your married name. You take a copy of your marriage license to motor vehicles department to get your driver's license updated to your married name.

You go it

As long as you declared your status even though is not recognized in their system. Like in the Philippines, you just show a proof to prove your status just be honest and no lies behind

[SennaBrigante 92]

Okay so I got paranoid and searched for info at the embassy website. Found these two links on the site:

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/325288/packets/K3%20and%20K4%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20-%20English%20_10%20October%202013_.pdf

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/865058/instructionpackets/IV%20Applicants_%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20_as%20of%2017%20September%202013_%20without%20footer.pdf

I guess those are the latest ones they released? Where can I find the CEMAR thing? I really can't see it and I read both documents twice na. Getting dizzy lol

[SennaBrigante 92]

You go it

As long as you declared your status even though is not recognized in their system. Like in the Philippines, you just show a proof to prove your status just be honest and no lies behind

But is my marriage in the US valid in the Philippines even if I don't do any additional steps (like reporting the marriage)?

I don't know why the Philippines complicates these things smh.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Okay so I got paranoid and searched for info at the embassy website. Found these two links on the site:

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/325288/packets/K3%20and%20K4%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20-%20English%20_10%20October%202013_.pdf In this link it is item "D"

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/865058/instructionpackets/IV%20Applicants_%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20_as%20of%2017%20September%202013_%20without%20footer.pdf This is the same link I already gave you and it's item "3"

I guess those are the latest ones they released? Where can I find the CEMAR thing? I really can't see it and I read both documents twice na. Getting dizzy lol

And of course the embassy website... which really nails it with item "11". When you request the CENOMAR being you are married you will be issued the CEMAR.

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3217.html

Edited November 7, 2013 by Hank_

[Hank_ 9,174]

But is my marriage in the US valid in the Philippines even if I don't do any additional steps (like reporting the marriage)?

I don't know why the Philippines complicates these things smh.

Yes your marriage is valid in the Philippines. Not reporting it doesn't change the reality.

[SennaBrigante 92]

Ahhh so it's just a marriage certificate? Haha

I thought we'd just show our original marriage certificate from Texas since we didn't get married in the Philippines....

[Hank_ 9,174]

Ahhh so it's just a marriage certificate? Haha

I thought we'd just show our original marriage certificate from Texas since we didn't get married in the Philippines....

No it's not just a marriage certificate.

[dens 5]

Filipinos who become naturalized citizens in the USA, can still be Philippine Citizens, as long as they retake an oath of allegiance to the Philippines.

Republic Act No. 9225 August 29, 2003

Section 1. Short Title this act shall be known as the "Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003."

Section 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State that all Philippine citizens of another country shall be deemed not to have lost their Philippine citizenship under the conditions of this Act.

Section 3. Retention of Philippine Citizenship - Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, natural-born citizenship by reason of their naturalization as citizens of a foreign country are hereby deemed to have re-acquired Philippine citizenship upon taking the following oath of allegiance to the Republic:

"I _____________________, solemny swear (or affrim) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and obey the laws and legal orders promulgated by the duly constituted authorities of the Philippines; and I hereby declare that I recognize and accept the supreme authority of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto; and that I imposed this obligation upon myself voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion."

I agree the so called Dual citizen

[Caryh 5,206]

Yes your marriage is valid in the Philippines. Not reporting it doesn't change the reality.

it has to be reported to be properly recorded, but failing to do so doesn't make you single in the Philippines.

As to attempting to use the the Texas marriage certificate in the interview, do you really want to be delayed for months or worse yet denied because you don't have a CEMAR?

[SennaBrigante 92]

No it's not just a marriage certificate.

I'm so confuseddddd it says marriage certificate there. What is it then? They make it so complicated

it has to be reported to be properly recorded, but failing to do so doesn't make you single in the Philippines.

As to attempting to use the the Texas marriage certificate in the interview, do you really want to be delayed for months or worse yet denied because you don't have a CEMAR?

I wasn't planning on reporting our marriage to the embassy until next year when I fly back to the US since my POE is gonna be in LA and we'll be staying there for a couple of days... I thought might as well do the reporting in person and update my passport

[Caryh 5,206]

I'm so confuseddddd it says marriage certificate there. What is it then? They make it so complicated

I wasn't planning on reporting our marriage to the embassy until next year when I fly back to the US since my POE is gonna be in LA and we'll be staying there for a couple of days... I thought might as well do the reporting in person and update my passport

You really should update your passport and report the marriage. Your green card will be issued in the name on your passport. I'm not sure how Texas handles changing your name after marriage, but failure to start using the married name after getting married, can mean you loose the right to use it in the future.

[SennaBrigante 92]

I was actually going to do the green card thing after we report the marriage in LA. Isn't the I-1551 stamp on the passport valid for a year?

So our plan was actually to get the CR-1 rolling, use our existing Texas marriage license for the interview and the CRBA and passport application for our baby (due on April), re-enter/enter the US through LA, report the marriage at the Philippine Embassy and then have my passport updated.

I guess there really is no way around it. It's just added expenses and they ask for so many copies of the documents it's annoying. And if you mail it in it has to be notarized. Govt procedures here are so medieval lol.

[SennaBrigante 92]

Last question.

My husband and I are planning to have a civil wedding here in the Philippines too at 2015 or 2016. If I report the marriage in the US, will we still be able to have that civil wedding? Our families are of different denominations so a church wedding will just be awkward all around (and which church will we use? lol) so we thought a civil wedding is the most neutral thing we can do.

Again thanks for everyone's help!

[Hank_ 9,174]

I'm so confuseddddd it says marriage certificate there. What is it then? They make it so complicated

I wasn't planning on reporting our marriage to the embassy until next year when I fly back to the US since my POE is gonna be in LA and we'll be staying there for a couple of days... I thought might as well do the reporting in person and update my passport

Read this earlier post to you from me and the link.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/464298-am-i-considered-married-in-the-philippines/?p=6633334

[Caryh 5,206]

I was actually going to do the green card thing after we report the marriage in LA. Isn't the I-1551 stamp on the passport valid for a year?

So our plan was actually to get the CR-1 rolling, use our existing Texas marriage license for the interview and the CRBA and passport application for our baby (due on April), re-enter/enter the US through LA, report the marriage at the Philippine Embassy and then have my passport updated.

I guess there really is no way around it. It's just added expenses and they ask for so many copies of the documents it's annoying. And if you mail it in it has to be notarized. Govt procedures here are so medieval lol.

The issuing of the CR-1 visa, means you will get a green card. There is an immigration fee you need to pay after the visa issuance, which failure to pay would cause your green card to be delayed, but the name the green card will come with, is the name in the passport you used when the visa is issued. The CR-1/IR-1 isn't a K-1 with an AOS application required later.

You can use the Texas marriage certificate to file, but they're more than likely going to want to see the CEMAR later in the process.

Yes all the required copies for the report of marriage contracted abroad is a pain, but the fee is only $25. Getting signed and notarized forms is going to be a pain with you two living apart to. Too bad you didn't do this before heading back to the Philippines.

Last question.

My husband and I are planning to have a civil wedding here in the Philippines too at 2015 or 2016. If I report the marriage in the US, will we still be able to have that civil wedding? Our families are of different denominations so a church wedding will just be awkward all around (and which church will we use? lol) so we thought a civil wedding is the most neutral thing we can do.

Again thanks for everyone's help!

You don't actually get married again, as you're already married. You have a second marriage ceremony without the marriage license, sometimes called a renewal of vows, or a blessing. Many people do this, but I believe its more common to have a civil ceremony and then return to have a church ceremony.