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Is the NSO Marriage Certificate *absolutely* required... We were married in the U.S.

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PHIL > AZ Contributor

PHIL > AZ   6

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Philippines
 Timeline
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Does the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines require us to have an NSO marriage certificate if we were married in the U.S.? We already have a U.S. marriage certificate issued by the State of Hawaii. Can that work in its stead? We were married while in college in the U.S. and had to come back to the Philippines because of the J-1 two-year requirement.

My wife and I are currently living in the Philippines trying to get back to the states. We have been sent to more "government" offices than I can count. It seems like reporting our marriage here in the Philippines is going to be an absolute nightmare. We would rather not do it now if we don't have to.

Thanks in advance for your experiences and replies!

I-612 Waiver of J1 Two Year Rule
12/31/2011 - Wife Entered U.S. on J-1 visa, Foreign Residence Requirement Applies
9/28/2013 - Married in the U.S.
7/23/2014 - NOA1 form I-612 for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement (Basis: Extreme Hardship)
8/8/2014 - RFE Received
11/14/2014 - NOA2 I-612 Waiver Denied, Could not establish hardship
12/15/2014 - Sent another I-612 packet to U.S. Dept of state (Basis: No-Objection Statement)
12/15/2014 - Sent in application to Philippines Govt. for No-Objection Statement
1/14/2015 - No Objection Statement granted
4 months of waiting - The Philippines Govt. forgot about us!!!!
5/8/2015 - After multiple calls and emails the No Objection Statement was finally transmitted to DOS
6/4/2015 - I-612 Waiver APPROVED!

IR-1 Visa
6/3/2015 - Sent I-130 to Phoenix Locbox
6/4/2015 - NOA1
108 Days of waiting
9/22/2015 - NOA2
9/24/2015 - Case sent to NVC
10/1/2015 - Case received at NVC
10/14/2015 - Case number assigned
10/15/2015 - AOS Fee Paid online
10/19/2015 - CEAC AOS Fee status changed to "Paid" - AOS and IV packets sent to NVC
10/27/2015 - DS-261 was reviewed over the phone
10/29/2015 - DS-261 confirmed complete (over phone) and IV Bill Received - Paid online immediately "In Process"
10/30/2015 - Scan Date
11/2/2015 - IV Bill marked "Paid" and DS-260 completed

12/4/2015 - Case Complete (need to bring 1 corrected doc to Embassy)

1/6/15 - Medical Exam Complete

1/19/2015 - Interview Date

1/22/2015 - Visa Received (yellow envelope damaged)

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curiousgeorgina Collaborator

curiousgeorgina   52

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Does the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines require us to have an NSO marriage certificate if we were married in the U.S.? We already have a U.S. marriage certificate issued by the State of Hawaii. Can that work in its stead? We were married while in college in the U.S. and had to come back to the Philippines because of the J-1 two-year requirement.

My wife and I are currently living in the Philippines trying to get back to the states. We have been sent to more "government" offices than I can count. It seems like reporting our marriage here in the Philippines is going to be an absolute nightmare. We would rather not do it now if we don't have to.

Thanks in advance for your experiences and replies!

It was my dilemma at first, U.S. Embassy emailed me about the nso version but during my actual interview they accepted our U.S. Marriage certificate.

I still reported out marriage at dfa consular affairs, only took two months and after two months you call them to get the dispatch number and another code so you can go to nso main to get the nso certificate. It only took us two weeks.

I now pushed through with getting it for my cfo seminar as when I called them up they said they will need the nso version If our report of marriage.

But another vj member here wasn't asked for it and accepted the U.S. One when she went for her seminar at cfo :)

Edited by curiousgeorgina

CR1

  • Consulate : Manila, Philippines
  • Marriage: 2014-10-01
  • I-130 Sent : 2014-10-16
  • I-130 NOA1 (Email) : 2014-10-22
  • I-130 NOA1 (Hardcopy) : 2014-10-26
  • I-130 NOA2 (Email) : 2014-11-26
  • I-130 NOA2 (Hardcopy) : 2014-12-03
  • NVC Case Received : 2014-12-10
  • Case Number Received : 2015-01-15
  • Submitted DS-261 : 2015-01-20
  • NVC Received AOS and IV Packages : 2015-02-25
  • Case Completed at NVC: 2015-03-30
  • Interview Scheduled: 2015-04-18
  • Interview Date: 2015-05-27
  • Interview Result: Approved
  • Visa Received: 2015-06-05
  • POE: 2015-07-03 (JFK)
  • Received Greencard: 2015-08-15
  • Returned Greencard: 2015-08-23
  • Recieved Corrected Greencard: 2015-11-16 (JFK)

 

ROC

  • Sent I-751 Packet: 2017-05-19
  • VSC Received: 2017-05-22
  • Check Cashed: 2017-05-26
  • NOA1 Received: 2017-05-30
  • Biometrics Letter Received: 2017-06-16
  • Biometrics Appointment: 2017-06-27
  • Interview: 2018-11-20
  • Approval Letter: 2018-11-26
  • Received Greencard: 2018-11-27
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Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,812

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

US Embassies and Consulates will always accept a marriage certificate issued by a US based issuing authority for a US spousal visa case.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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apple21 Veteran

apple21   953

Posted
Filed: F-2A Visa Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

ROM is required if she wants to use her married name on the passport. For everyting else related to the i130, the US marriage certificate is enough.

However, CFO is an entirely different thing. Might depend on luck not to be asked for other documents.

Oh well, you had 2 years to have that reported sooooo its up to you.

:wub:10-year GC holder :wub:

My Parents’ B2 Tourist Visa Application - APPROVED

 

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PHIL > AZ Contributor

PHIL > AZ   6

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Philippines
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

ROM is required if she wants to use her married name on the passport. For everyting else related to the i130, the US marriage certificate is enough.

Thanks for the reply.. The funny thing is that we opted not to officially change my wife's maiden name on our marriage certificate. So if we were to report our marriage to the Philippines and renew her passport her maiden name would not still not change. I wonder if she would need the CFO marriage license still to renew her passport... Hmm...

I-612 Waiver of J1 Two Year Rule
12/31/2011 - Wife Entered U.S. on J-1 visa, Foreign Residence Requirement Applies
9/28/2013 - Married in the U.S.
7/23/2014 - NOA1 form I-612 for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement (Basis: Extreme Hardship)
8/8/2014 - RFE Received
11/14/2014 - NOA2 I-612 Waiver Denied, Could not establish hardship
12/15/2014 - Sent another I-612 packet to U.S. Dept of state (Basis: No-Objection Statement)
12/15/2014 - Sent in application to Philippines Govt. for No-Objection Statement
1/14/2015 - No Objection Statement granted
4 months of waiting - The Philippines Govt. forgot about us!!!!
5/8/2015 - After multiple calls and emails the No Objection Statement was finally transmitted to DOS
6/4/2015 - I-612 Waiver APPROVED!

IR-1 Visa
6/3/2015 - Sent I-130 to Phoenix Locbox
6/4/2015 - NOA1
108 Days of waiting
9/22/2015 - NOA2
9/24/2015 - Case sent to NVC
10/1/2015 - Case received at NVC
10/14/2015 - Case number assigned
10/15/2015 - AOS Fee Paid online
10/19/2015 - CEAC AOS Fee status changed to "Paid" - AOS and IV packets sent to NVC
10/27/2015 - DS-261 was reviewed over the phone
10/29/2015 - DS-261 confirmed complete (over phone) and IV Bill Received - Paid online immediately "In Process"
10/30/2015 - Scan Date
11/2/2015 - IV Bill marked "Paid" and DS-260 completed

12/4/2015 - Case Complete (need to bring 1 corrected doc to Embassy)

1/6/15 - Medical Exam Complete

1/19/2015 - Interview Date

1/22/2015 - Visa Received (yellow envelope damaged)

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   45,298

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted

*** OP has country-specific questions; thread moved from CR-1 Process forum to the Philippines regional subforum. ***

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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Hank_ Grand Master

Hank_   9,174

Posted
Filed: Other Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

Does the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines require us to have an NSO marriage certificate if we were married in the U.S.? We already have a U.S. marriage certificate issued by the State of Hawaii. Can that work in its stead? We were married while in college in the U.S. and had to come back to the Philippines because of the J-1 two-year requirement.

My wife and I are currently living in the Philippines trying to get back to the states. We have been sent to more "government" offices than I can count. It seems like reporting our marriage here in the Philippines is going to be an absolute nightmare. We would rather not do it now if we don't have to.

Thanks in advance for your experiences and replies!

You should be fine to use your marriage certificate from Hawaii.

As for reporting your marriage, you need to send the ROM forms, etc to the consulate that represents the state you were married in.

Hank

"Chance Favors The Prepared Mind"

 

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“LET’S GO BRANDON!”

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