Name change/CFO/Travel questions ...

[Zanby 1]

Some backgrounds...

I am a US citizen who got married to a Filipina just last month here in the Philippines.

We are planning to settle in the US so, the DCF is next once we get the NSO Marriage Certificate.

We did the 'Advanced Endoresment' and we are waiting on it.

I have two questions...

1- What are her IDs that SHOULD to be changed while in the Philippines, if any?

I told her not change anything to avoid making any mistakes besides, there was no reason to??

Is the name change manadatory in the Philippines? I know it's not in the USA.

Assuming a change is needed, what IDs should be changed?

2- This December, we planning on going abroad. It's just a trip out of the Philippines then back to tend for the DCF.

However, I booked her plane tickets the same way she had her name in her passport! but I just realized the CFO issue.

Does she need to do the CFO thing before taking the trip? I think yes but would prefer not to.

If she does it, does she need to do it again after the USEM interview? I am thinking no since it's a one time thing?

Any suggestions or best way of doing things would, of course, be appreciated.

PS: I searched on this issue but couldn't find a reliable answer, mainly, to #2.

[ARosario 2]

Some backgrounds...

I am a US citizen who got married to a Filipina just last month here in the Philippines.

We are planning to settle in the US so, the DCF is next once we get the NSO Marriage Certificate.

We did the 'Advanced Endoresment' and we are waiting on it.

I have two questions...

1- What are her IDs that SHOULD to be changed while in the Philippines, if any?

I told her not change anything to avoid making any mistakes besides, there was no reason to??

Is the name change manadatory in the Philippines? I know it's not in the USA.

Assuming a change is needed, what IDs should be changed?

2- This December, we planning on going abroad. It's just a trip out of the Philippines then back to tend for the DCF.

However, I booked her plane tickets the same way she had her name in her passport! but I just realized the CFO issue.

Does she need to do the CFO thing before taking the trip? I think yes but would prefer not to.

If she does it, does she need to do it again after the USEM interview? I am thinking no since it's a one time thing?

Any suggestions or best way of doing things would, of course, be appreciated.

PS: I searched on this issue but couldn't find a reliable answer, mainly, to #2.

For question #2, CFO isn't needed for an out of the country. CFO is only for immigrants.

[cristina16 81]

As long as she have a passport you can go out of the country.

For name change, if she wants to use your name on her passport she can do that, atter your trip.

[Thozelle 16]

If you decide to do the name change and you are a foreigner she will require CFO certificate to do that. At least that was my spouse requirement for married name to her passport. The CFO stamp only after US visa is issued.

[cristina16 81]

Additional info for your reference:

http://www.dfa.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=246&Itemid=557

For spouse of foreign national:

• Marriage Contract (MC) in Security Paper (SECPA) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or Certified True Copy (CTC) of MC issued by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) and duly authenticated by NSO. Transcribed Marriage Contract from the LCR is required when entries in NSO Marriage Contract are blurred or unreadable.
  
• 
  
• Report of Marriage duly authenticated by NSO if married abroad
  
  • Original and photocopy of Commission of Filipino Overseas (CFO) Guidance and Counseling Certificate of Attendance (required for first time applicants or renewal of passport to be used for the first time the surname of the husband)
    
  
  

[Zanby 1]

Thanks all for the your input!

So, if NO name change, we could travel to another country and back to PI when we want to! That's a relief

I think the officer would question it if the trip was to the US, which we don't intend to.

I don't see a reason to change her name even though, she wants to? I think it's a PI tradition and the fact that she might feel more 'comfortable' if she does that. But for any official purpose, I don't see a reason?

My current plan stays the same then. Get the NSO MC certified (keep her maiden name), do the DCF with her maiden name.

She could travel anywhere later with just her passport. No need to prove anything to anybody!

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Thanks all for the your input!

So, if NO name change, we could travel to another country and back to PI when we want to! That's a relief

I think the officer would question it if the trip was to the US, which we don't intend to.

I don't see a reason to change her name even though, she wants to? I think it's a PI tradition and the fact that she might feel more 'comfortable' if she does that. But for any official purpose, I don't see a reason?

My current plan stays the same then. Get the NSO MC certified (keep her maiden name), do the DCF with her maiden name.

She could travel anywhere later with just her passport. No need to prove anything to anybody!

Here is my take. Make your life less stressful by not changing the name till which time you are finished with all that needs to be done in the Philippines. Once your in the USA then change the name but it is not required for either country. The Philippines "request" that she change her name.

Any flights that you book needs to be booked using the passport name.

Immigration will know what you are doing because your passport and ticketing will be endorsed with your visa and ticket to USA. They are trained to figure this stuff out.

CFO is only needed when immigrating and yes, immigration will know that to.

Changing ones name is personal and the wishes of the party who is contemplating the change should be consulted and mutually agreed to between husband and wife. Just my 2 centavos.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Some backgrounds...

I am a US citizen who got married to a Filipina just last month here in the Philippines.

We are planning to settle in the US so, the DCF is next once we get the NSO Marriage Certificate.

We did the 'Advanced Endoresment' and we are waiting on it.

I have two questions...

1- What are her IDs that SHOULD to be changed while in the Philippines, if any?

I told her not change anything to avoid making any mistakes besides, there was no reason to??

Is the name change manadatory in the Philippines? I know it's not in the USA.

Assuming a change is needed, what IDs should be changed?

2- This December, we planning on going abroad. It's just a trip out of the Philippines then back to tend for the DCF.

However, I booked her plane tickets the same way she had her name in her passport! but I just realized the CFO issue.

Does she need to do the CFO thing before taking the trip? I think yes but would prefer not to.

If she does it, does she need to do it again after the USEM interview? I am thinking no since it's a one time thing?

Any suggestions or best way of doing things would, of course, be appreciated.

PS: I searched on this issue but couldn't find a reliable answer, mainly, to #2.

1. - Passport is the main one. Yes it is basically mandatory to change to the married name, you can side step it for a time, but at some point you will want to do it unless your future plans don't involve the Philippines. Need to attend CFO for this.

2. CFO is not needed for the travel (as long as the visa is not in the passport), and if the flight is booked in her maiden name then leave the passport as is until later.

For question #2, CFO isn't needed for an out of the country. CFO is only for immigrants.

Yes and No. Once married the filipina must attend CFO if they want to change their passport to their married name.

[Zanby 1]

Thanks Greenbaum!

Here is my take. Make your life less stressful by not changing the name till which time you are finished with all that needs to be done in the Philippines. Once your in the USA then change the name but it is not required for either country. The Philippines "request" that she change her name.

- That's what I thought too but then I read the US change would be a lot more costlier to do and since we have the choice now, I thought of asking.

Any flights that you book needs to be booked using the passport name.

- Yup!

Immigration will know what you are doing because your passport and ticketing will be endorsed with your visa and ticket to USA. They are trained to figure this stuff out.

- Now I am sure that the US Immigration visa will say it when stamped in her passport hence, the immigration officer would know.

But this means she should be able to fly other countries without the need for a CFO. But if immigration to the US, she would!

CFO is only needed when immigrating and yes, immigration will know that to.

- Yup!

Changing ones name is personal and the wishes of the party who is contemplating the change should be consulted and mutually agreed to between husband and wife. Just my 2 centavos.

- That's exactly why I don't want to change it. It's personal and she doesn't need to follow me. Heck, I don't follow anybody why should she?

The main problem is Filipinos do things like others have done thinking it's a must so it becomes part of their thinking. May be I am wrong here?

Thanks Hank, too!

1. - Passport is the main one. Yes it is basically mandatory to change to the married name, you can side step it for a time, but at some point you will want to do it unless your future plans don't involve the Philippines. Need to attend CFO for this.

- Is it mandatory as a must change in the Philippines? Would she have a problem if she doesn't change it? Examples??

I am thinking long term here...

2. CFO is not needed for the travel (as long as the visa is not in the passport), and if the flight is booked in her maiden name then leave the passport as is until later.

- Yup. That's what I thought too.

Yes and No. Once married the filipina must attend CFO if they want to change their passport to their married name.

- Yup.

[Zanby 1]

I have found an answer to my question here:

Source:

http://www.manilatimes.net/married-woman-obliged-use-husbands-surname/116208/

I now think that it's up to the couple to do it. However, most people do it coz it symbolizes that the two have become one and share responsibilities, etc. And, we all know how romantic Filipinos are!

Source:

http://famli.blogspot.com/2008/04/miss-ms-or-mrs-philippine-law-on.html

[cristina16 81]

Ones a Filipina got married, part of the excitement is to change and use our Hubby's name. No question about that. A Filipina wife is that proud to be a MRS _________. So actually you don't have to ask - "Babe do you want to us my name? lolzzz

[Zanby 1]

Thanks Cristina for confirming the suspicion I had

The thing is, I wouldn't mind the name change but that would require me dealing with the dreadful government red tape which really is getting me lost! Aside from getting me crazy

For instance, to get married, I had to go to the Hall of Justice (HJ) and apply (pay), then go some court in another place and apply (pay) to get married then go back to the HJ to do the "Advanced Endorsement" to get it quickly (pay).

I called the Hall of Justice today to inquire if they got it done... They had said it would take two months with the "Advanced Endorsement Without it? 1 year

The HJ said, we don't know so call the NSO

I called NSO and they said, call at the end of the month and once it's here, you'd have to come and fill a form to get it. Oh.. 140 P each copy The NSO btw is in another place too.

See how messy things are here?

Now...

If I change her name ... Do you know (or anybody) what are the Filipino IDs that I have to change? I want to see how much red tape is involved.

[cristina16 81]

Thanks Cristina for confirming the suspicion I had

The thing is, I wouldn't mind the name change but that would require me dealing with the dreadful government red tape which really is getting me lost! Aside from getting me crazy

For instance, to get married, I had to go to the Hall of Justice (HJ) and apply (pay), then go some court in another place and apply (pay) to get married then go back to the HJ to do the "Advanced Endorsement" to get it quickly (pay).

I called the Hall of Justice today to inquire if they got it done... They had said it would take two months with the "Advanced Endorsement Without it? 1 year

The HJ said, we don't know so call the NSO

I called NSO and they said, call at the end of the month and once it's here, you'd have to come and fill a form to get it. Oh.. 140 P each copy The NSO btw is in another place too.

See how messy things are here?

Now...

If I change her name ... Do you know (or anybody) what are the Filipino IDs that I have to change? I want to see how much red tape is involved.

Well that is just really the bureaucracy that you are dealing with., no short cuts just deal with it. Same elsewhere, my fiance always complains too stateside

It's the same that you apply for marriage certificate and do seminar on family planning (this is actually ridiculous) and file the marriage cert. after the wedding. Same thing elswhere, well maybe except the family planning seminar. hahah

So this is how your marriage certificate is being processed. You filed with the Local Civil registrar (yes, payment and file and pay for courier service- LBC for advance endorsement); Civil registrar forward your papers to NSO for system encoding (scanning to the system), when your marriage cert is in the system that's the time that you can get NSO copy (what you needed to all processing for immigration and passport).

Civil registrar takes their sweet time in sending those (I don't believe they sent it just because you pay the courier - LBC service); they send it per batches. When it get to NSO, among all other documents, they will scan it to the system. When your marriage cert is in the system, you can request for a copy in any NSO ofice nationwide. Yes, wherever you are in the country you can get a copy with a fee. No need to go back to her hometown just to get a copy. So if you wanted to travel, go ahead and you can get a copy from any NSO ofices countrywide.

Just be persistent in calling NSO to check on your MC if it's in the system, that is just like calling NVC ; right??

Yes, you need to pay per copy. They also offer on-line request with courier delivery for a much higher fees of course. https://www.ecensus.com.ph/Default.aspx

On changing names: if you don't intend to stay here there is no need to change much. Is she working? If yes, she just need to inform her employer and submit MC. She will be changing her name on her tax returns (TIN / for BIR purposes), Social Security ID, HDMF, etc. NO Fees in changing names, in changing Social security ID, yes there's a fee.

If she is not working - never mind changing on other local government agencies. That is not necessary, just the passport so that you can file her petition in her married name. This is easier to do here than do the change in the US.

Oh this process is nothing, no red tape on this. That is just the common fees and you just really have to wait and wait. Good luck..

PS. Let someone else go with your wife to process, when they see you prices tends to go up and they will give you excuses etc etc to make it seems difficult and if you wanted to speed things up - you can pay extra. Sad reality.

[Hank_ 9,174]

I have found an answer to my question here:

Source:

http://www.manilatimes.net/married-woman-obliged-use-husbands-surname/116208/

I now think that it's up to the couple to do it. However, most people do it coz it symbolizes that the two have become one and share responsibilities, etc. And, we all know how romantic Filipinos are!

Source:

http://famli.blogspot.com/2008/04/miss-ms-or-mrs-philippine-law-on.html

Yes that new law has been around for a few years, BUT no one seems to care within the Philippines government... they still expect the traditional married name format. I know too many that have banged against this name issue.

Edited September 9, 2015 by Hank_

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Thanks Cristina for confirming the suspicion I had

The thing is, I wouldn't mind the name change but that would require me dealing with the dreadful government red tape which really is getting me lost! Aside from getting me crazy

For instance, to get married, I had to go to the Hall of Justice (HJ) and apply (pay), then go some court in another place and apply (pay) to get married then go back to the HJ to do the "Advanced Endorsement" to get it quickly (pay).

I called the Hall of Justice today to inquire if they got it done... They had said it would take two months with the "Advanced Endorsement Without it? 1 year

The HJ said, we don't know so call the NSO

I called NSO and they said, call at the end of the month and once it's here, you'd have to come and fill a form to get it. Oh.. 140 P each copy The NSO btw is in another place too.

See how messy things are here?

Now...

If I change her name ... Do you know (or anybody) what are the Filipino IDs that I have to change? I want to see how much red tape is involved.

My friend "Welcome to the Philippines" where everything is better because you have to do so much more so more can make a living. There sure a lot of PALMS in the Philippines, and I am not referring to the trees.