Are foreigners required to attend pre-marriage seminars?

[Zanby 1]

Besides that is the way things are done in the PI, I don't know why the solution to everything is go get a lawyer.

To the best of my limited knowledge EVERYONE needs to attend the LCR seminar which includes family planning / responsibilities in the afternoon. The morning session at least for us was mostly English for my behalf, the afternoon mostly Tagalog. I thought it would be mostly bola-bola and was trying to get my asawa to find a way out. It wasn't and we both found it to be worthwhile.

My suggestion which worked for us is first to see what day seminars are conducted at the LCR you are using. Arrive in PI 2 days before. Day 1 go to USEM to get the previously scheduled Legal Capacity doc. Day 2 go to LCR seminar. Chill for 10 day waiting period. Day 12 get married.

You can then leave and wait for all the filings to catch up. You need to send at last a copy of the nso MC with your I130. Original must be able to be shown at interview.

The 10 day wait MAY be able to be shortened depending on how accommodating the lcr clerk is.

If you are planning for a Catholic church wedding it gets more complicated because you are SUPPOSED to attend a 6 week pre-cana seminar. Some parish offices may collapse that into 1 day if you explain your situation and again if the priest will accommodate you.

The Lawyer does two things. One is he knows the process two is he has all the contacts and fixers (expediters) know him.

However, he would charge for his services, of course.

In the PI though, it's dependent on the person handling a case. It's not like there is one law that all would follow? Each interprets it as best for him (and his pocket).

[Brassballs 47]

The Lawyer does two things. One is he knows the process two is he has all the contacts and fixers (expediters) know him.

However, he would charge for his services, of course.

In the PI though, it's dependent on the person handling a case. It's not like there is one law that all would follow? Each interprets it as best for him (and his pocket).

How true, how true.

Sad thing is that your response does not pertain only to the PI. I'm sure that other country specific forums have the same issues that the lawyer can 'fix'!

[Andy&Jiezel 0]

Thanks everyone for their advice!

I got some good news about applying for the marriage license. My fiance's brother has a friend who works at City Hall and they'll have the marriage license already encoded, so all we need to do is show up at City Hall and sign it. I emailed copies of my birth certificate, divorce decree and will email them the Affidavit in Lieu of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage' after my USEM appointment. No need to attend pre-marriage seminars either. We still have to wait ten days, but Mayor will perform civil ceremony and we can have the marriage certificate expedited through NSO. My fiance said no need for "expediting fee", just bring them some JCO doughnuts and they'll be happy.

Now just hoping all will go as well with USCIS and NVC.

[king2565 1]

Does anyone know a lawyer that can help me get a marriage license in Cebu. I will get there 3 days before the wedding. 

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 minute ago, king2565 said:

Does anyone know a lawyer that can help me get a marriage license in Cebu. I will get there 3 days before the wedding. 

A lawyer?  You must apply in person.  There is a 10 day waiting period.  You may need to stop by the embassy to get an Affidavit.

 

Marriage in the Philippines: 

USEM info - Getting Married

You will need a Legal Capacity To Marry document,  “Affidavit In Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry” ,  from USEM (U.S. embassy in Manila), to make an appointment click HERE.

If you are a dual citizen of the Philippines you do not need the "affidavit", you will need a CENOMAR from PSA.

If getting married in Makati, Quezon City or Davao City you will need to get a PSA CENOMAR as these cities will not accept the embassy affidavit.

https://psa.gov.ph/civil-registration-page   

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

You are riding 3 days before the wedding in the Philippines… that wedding is not going to happen unfortunately if it is to be considered legal.

[king2565 1]

Most of the articles I read there is a way of getting everything done except the affidavit before I get there. The wedding is in February. 

[Hank_ 9,174]

Well then follow the instructions in those articles ... they must know some special tricks.

[king2565 1]

Here is how to do it under 10 days. But everyone, including the officials, must be on the same page to pull this off.

1. So have your fiancée check with local registrar to see if this will work for you. Most times you could file for the license in advance and complete other requirements when you arrive. You need to check with the registrar and see if they will do this.

2. Then you go to the Filipino Embassy near you with a filled out marriage license (just your half) and asked them to certify the document. They should do this and usually will cost about $25 and a return visit the next day to pick up the form.

3. Once you have the document and then send it to your fiancée. Next have her fill out her part and take it to her local registrar for filing. Do this about three weeks before your arrival to help in meeting the 10 day requirement. She also has to give the registrar her CEMAR.

4. Upon arrival go to the US embassy (you must make an appointment), and get a legal capacity to marry. Cost $50 fee.

5. Now take your legal capacity to marry and a copy of passport entry to the registrar. They may give a release date of the next day for marriage license. However you need to attend the family planning seminar. 6. Returned after the seminar, and get the license. Now go and get married and have a happy life together.

This has been done before but your actual mileage may vary. Good luck.

[king2565 1]

 

On 8/28/2015 at 7:53 PM, Brassballs said:

The Lawyer does two things. One is he knows the process two is he has all the contacts and fixers (expediters) know him.

However, he would charge for his services, of course.

In the PI though, it's dependent on the person handling a case. It's not like there is one law that all would follow? Each interprets it as best for him (and his pocket).

 

[Hank_ 9,174]

Better hope she doesn't have a CEMAR.          

 

...   trips to the Philippine consulate here in the USA?   .... yikes!!       No one does that one to "bypass" the 10 day rule.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[king2565 1]

7 hours ago, Hank_ said:

Better hope she doesn't have a CEMAR.          

 

...   trips to the Philippine consulate here in the USA?   .... yikes!!       No one does that one to "bypass" the 10 day rule.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s not the way I understood the statement but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But I will try it and see. If Christopher Columbus listen to everyone he would not have learned the world was round.  

[RO_AH 1,659]

We had 2 choices. Attend the seminar or pay 250 peso. I wanted to just pay but my wife and her friend knew the people at the municipal building. We just went to the office where they do the seminar and talked for a while and left and they marked us down as completing the seminar.

[John & Rose 7,239]

On 8/24/2015 at 9:30 PM, Andy&Jiezel said:

Hi,

This is a list of documents I read are needed to get married in the Philippines, but I don't know if as foreigner I'm required to attend the pre-marriage seminars. The only thing I saw for foreigners was just the "Affidavit in Lieu of Certificate Legal Capacity to Marry" and copy of my passport page.

1. Birth Certificate
2. CENOMAR
3. Pre-marriage counseling certificates by DSWD
4. Cedula (1 original, 2 copies)
5. At least 2 valid ID's

6. Passport photo

7. Marriage license application (form 90) from LCR office

I'm going to Philippines in September to get married and want to make sure I didn't miss anything. If anyone could tell me what we need, I'd greatly appreciate it!

We got out of the seminar but we did have to show up together and pick up the completion certificate.  We were excused because we both have 2 kids (15, 18, 19, 21) and are not planning on more.  They were reasonable about that.  We still had to pay the reasonable fee and get the certificate.

[John & Rose 7,239]

If she has a CEMAR she can't marry.  The 10 days starts the day they accept the marriage license application.  They stamp that with the date and by Philippine law it is a minimum of 10 days.  Ours was 11 due to a holiday.  You will know when it is "ripe" when they accept the license application.

 

It takes a month or more to get the PSA marriage certificate after the registrar files the paperwork.  Just another area to pay for an "expedited service"....LOL