Marring in the Philippines

[freedavid 0]

Im hopping to glean as much info about getting married in the Philippines as I can. I am an American and have been seeing a Filipino woman for the last few years. Do to circumstances beyond my control a K-1 visa is not the best option for us. So what I need to know is, if I go to the Philippines how long will it take me to get married? Can it be done in a 10 day trip, that kind of thing. And what is the proses, home much will it cost me? Is it better to do it in Manila or her province? Or any thing else I have not covered, or just don't know about?

Thanks'

David

[Pitaya 2,577]

Welcome to the forum.

Here is some info from the USEM: http://manila.usembassy.gov/marriage.html

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[Dennis8 6]

Good day freedavid. May I ask which particular area in the Philippines you are planning to get married? The link that Pitaya provided has the gist of what you need to get married, but some areas may have a few more requirements. One of the things that are unique to marriage in the Philippines is for a US citizen to get an "Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage". Based on my experience it is easier to get it in Cebu City. It's on a walk in basis so unlike Manila you don't have to make an online appointment. I was in and out in less than 3 hours. Other than this advice, the link in Pitaya's post is exactly what you need to read. Good luck!

Edit: Sorry forgot to answer one of your questions. I am afraid that 10 days may not be enough as the process can become a little lengthy depending on location of marriage. And sometimes after you submit requirements they ask you to come back in a week or so for updates. It would be wise to let your wife go to the Local Civil Registrar where she lives so she can ask for their specific requirements and paperworks. And also, both of you must attend a pre-marriage seminar which is scheduled weekly (schedule again depends on your location). One of the things she should also request ahead of a time is a CENOMAR (certificate of no marriage issued by the NSO). Its basically a document that states that neither of you have a record in the Philippines of being married to other people in the past. She should request one for each of you. All this info may sound daunting but once you do research it becomes more understandable.

Edited April 8, 2015 by Dennis8

[freedavid 0]

Hi Dennis8

I was thinking of Manila or Ormoc City, but we have friend's in Cebu City. So let me make sure that I understand this. I can take the fast boat from Ormoc City to Cebu City with no prier arrangement's walk in and be married in just a few hours? I don't have to wait a few days like in the USA.

David

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Im hopping to glean as much info about getting married in the Philippines as I can. I am an American and have been seeing a Filipino woman for the last few years. Do to circumstances beyond my control a K-1 visa is not the best option for us. So what I need to know is, if I go to the Philippines how long will it take me to get married? Can it be done in a 10 day trip, that kind of thing. And what is the proses, home much will it cost me? Is it better to do it in Manila or her province? Or any thing else I have not covered, or just don't know about?

Thanks'

David

It can be done in 10 days BUT it depends on each step being completed and the full cooperation of the government agency that you will be dealing with. Here are the steps.

Have your fiancée go to her local registrar and advise them of your intentions to send a blank marriage application to you here in the states and that you her fiancé will be getting endorsements from a Philippine Consulate in the USA. If the local registrar agrees, she obtains the application and fax or scans as a PDF file and sends to you.

You in turn have to appear in person at one of the Philippine Consulate office here in the States. See website http://www.philippineembassy-usa.org/index.php?page=consulate-finder-main for the nearest Consulate Office. Present the marriage application with just your information filled in on the document. The counselor will endorse the marriage application verifying that this is you who is applying. Bring two ID's, preferable your passport and a pictured driver's license. You as the applicant will need to present the affidavit, death certificate or divorce decree signifying that you are free to marry along with the application and id's. I would call ahead and make an appointment and explain what you are doing and verify my details as to what is required before attending the process in front of a Philippine Consular.

Once you have the endorsements then send to your fiancée by LBC, DHL or other currier to your fiancée in the Philippines. She receives the original document with all endorsements from you and takes the marriage application to her local registrar for filing. She will fill out her part of the application when she is in front of the registrar. Again, she should bring two government ID's with her to validate her identity. She will receive the license either on that day or the next day. Each local registrar is different and she should verify all necessary documents that are required by her local registrar.

If she is between the age of 18 to 21 she 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).

These are the steps and you should begin the process about three weeks before your trip to Philippines.

Edited April 8, 2015 by Greenbaum

[sweet01 39]

Im hopping to glean as much info about getting married in the Philippines as I can. I am an American and have been seeing a Filipino woman for the last few years. Do to circumstances beyond my control a K-1 visa is not the best option for us. So what I need to know is, if I go to the Philippines how long will it take me to get married? Can it be done in a 10 day trip, that kind of thing. And what is the proses, home much will it cost me? Is it better to do it in Manila or her province? Or any thing else I have not covered, or just don't know about?

Thanks'

David

Hi freedavid,

Pitaya's link is a good read. I'm not sure if a 10 day trip will be alright since there will be papers and appointment dates for the civil wedding or church wedding as well as the license but..your fiance can arrange this before you go to the Philippines because that's what my uncle did when he got married to my aunt, it's all arranged already (the church wedding, license/permit etc..) In a catholic wedding, you need to go to a seminar (few weeks) before getting married. I just don't know with other churches.The cost of wedding depends on how many guests you will have or will it be simple like a civil wedding. Her province will be a good place to have a wedding Wish you all the best

[Dennis8 6]

Hi Dennis8

I was thinking of Manila or Ormoc City, but we have friend's in Cebu City. So let me make sure that I understand this. I can take the fast boat from Ormoc City to Cebu City with no prier arrangement's walk in and be married in just a few hours? I don't have to wait a few days like in the USA.

David

Unfortunately no, the "Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to contract Marriage" is not a marriage license but an additional document you have to secure from the US consul or embassy that states that you swore to a officer of the US that you are free to marry. Unlike in the US, the Philippines has an organization called the NSO (National Statistics Office) that keeps track of marriages, births, deaths etc2. You must secure from the NSO a document called a CENOMAR (certificate of no marriage). The United States cannot provide you with a document equivalent to a Philippine CENOMAR so they provide you with the "Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to contract Marriage" instead. Aside from these 2 documents there are other requirements which was in Pitaya's post. Just ask if you are confused about anything.

Greenbaum's post looks like what you need , I was not aware that you could do some of the processes from the US

Edited April 8, 2015 by Dennis8

[Greenbaum 12,259]

One more item I neglected to add and that is the "Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage" which will be required. After landing in Manila you can go over to USEM to get your affidavit. Follow the instructions below:

You apply for the "Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage" at the Embassy's American Citizen Services Branch (US Embassy in Manila) by appointment only. There is a fee of $50.00 or its peso equivalent for the affidavit, payable in cash only. If you do not want to experience the hustle and the bustle of Manila, there is a U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu that you can visit to get this Affidavit.

If you are marrying in the Catholic Church this will not work in 10 days because you are required to take the marriage class required by the church. If you are going to do a "Justice of the Peace" style wedding you can pull this off in 10 days.

[freedavid 0]

Thank you to every one who has responded to my post, I found you info to be very helpful !

Thanks

David

[madtownguy 164]

Im hopping to glean as much info about getting married in the Philippines as I can. I am an American and have been seeing a Filipino woman for the last few years. Do to circumstances beyond my control a K-1 visa is not the best option for us. So what I need to know is, if I go to the Philippines how long will it take me to get married? Can it be done in a 10 day trip, that kind of thing. And what is the proses, home much will it cost me? Is it better to do it in Manila or her province? Or any thing else I have not covered, or just don't know about?

Thanks'

David

You may be aware of this, but Philippines doesn't really allow divorce. My wife pushed for us to get married there but that stopped me. Now we have lived together for a couple years so it would be different, but living with the American mind frame that you can have a do over might not be possible. I personally think you need to live together in normal every day life for awhile before you take the do overs off the table, and if you're planning to live in the U.S. you can't possibly know how she will acclimate. Obviously thousands of people do it, but just food for thought.

[RWD 2]

You may be aware of this, but Philippines doesn't really allow divorce. My wife pushed for us to get married there but that stopped me. Now we have lived together for a couple years so it would be different, but living with the American mind frame that you can have a do over might not be possible. I personally think you need to live together in normal every day life for awhile before you take the do overs off the table, and if you're planning to live in the U.S. you can't possibly know how she will acclimate. Obviously thousands of people do it, but just food for thought.

FYI the Philippines will recognize divorce if the Filipino citizen is married to a non-Filipino citizen and the non-Filipino citizen initiates the divorce.

See here:

http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/FAQs/FAQS-legal.htm#4

Edited April 8, 2015 by RWD

[madtownguy 164]

FYI the Philippines will recognize divorce if the Filipino citizen is married to a non-Filipino citizen and the non-Filipino citizen initiates the divorce.

See here:

http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/FAQs/FAQS-legal.htm#4

Sounds great, but I don't think it's as easy as you make it sound. Even on the website it sounds like they will make an exception, but first you have to get divorced in the U.S. and then in the Philippines, that could take years. I wouldn't do any kind of contract in a foreign country, so maybe it's just me but I was also warned by a couple of people.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

You stated that in the first post you can not do a K1 visa. So my questions is if you are going to do a CR visa or just live in Pinas?

[j&ana 363]

It will be very hard to get married in the philippines in 10 days. There is a 10 day waiting period for the marriage license to be issue after you apply for the license

[j&ana 363]

Sounds great, but I don't think it's as easy as you make it sound. Even on the website it sounds like they will make an exception, but first you have to get divorced in the U.S. and then in the Philippines, that could take years. I wouldn't do any kind of contract in a foreign country, so maybe it's just me but I was also warned by a couple of people.

you only have to get divorce in usa not both usa and philippines for the divorce to be reconize there

Edited April 8, 2015 by j&ana