Annulment? Which visa should she use?

[Mrs Rogers 3]

Hello,

I am writing on behalf of a friend - she is seeking visa advice and options.

My friend is a Filipina with three children (21, 18, 16). She was married in the Philippines in 1999 but separated from her husband three years ago - she has been living in Thailand since the separation. She has since moved on and has found love with an American citizen. They plan on starting their life together in the US. Unfortunately they have found that getting an annulment is proving to be a problem. She doesn't have the funds to move forward with an annulment and her ex will not agree to it.

Her questions are:

1. Is there any other way to get the annulment? Since she's been in Thailand, could she petition for a divorce there? And possibly get married there before moving forward with the US visa process?

2. She read that she could get a divorce in Mexico and this is recognised. Is there any truth to this?

3. Do you know of any success stories involving marriage annulments? Is there something she needs to do?

4. My friend also has a sister in America - she lives a few hours from her bf. Would she have better success getting her sister to petition for her? Is there a family visa she could go to the US on?

5. Her sister has been late on paying taxes - she is paying regularly now, but will that affect her petition?

6. Is there anything she should do now to help her out with the visa process later on?

Thank you so much for reading. We look forward to reading your responses xxxx

[kris&me 572]

If she does not have the funds to proceed with an annulment,, how can she afford a Mexican divorce?

She can try one in thailand but seems serving and getting papers signed by an ex for any divorce would be hard

best bet and i am not really aware of all things is to return to Phillipines and divorce legally there as you say husband is not wanting one / she needs to prove many things to get one

No, sister would not be fast / takes several years

there is no fast way to get around this

[Mrs Rogers 3]

If she does not have the funds to proceed with an annulment,, how can she afford a Mexican divorce?

She can try one in thailand but seems serving and getting papers signed by an ex for any divorce would be hard

best bet and i am not really aware of all things is to return to Phillipines and divorce legally there as you say husband is not wanting one / she needs to prove many things to get one

No, sister would not be fast / takes several years

there is no fast way to get around this

She read about a Mexican divorce. I don't think she was planning on it. Just curious. Yeah, unfortunately it's not as easy to go to Philippines to get a divorce - only annulment and it'll take quite a few years too and quite expensive. The way I'm looking at it, it'll be expensive anyway she goes about it. Hmm

[Unlockable 7,314]

Mexico?

Any divorce would still need to be recognized by PHL.

Her sister can petition her but it would take 20 years.

Best for her to go ahead and get an annulment in PHL. It may be hard but as you can see there are no short cuts.

[Mrs Rogers 3]

Mexico?

Any divorce would still need to be recognized by PHL.

Her sister can petition her but it would take 20 years.

Best for her to go ahead and get an annulment in PHL. It may be hard but as you can see there are no short cuts.

Thank you for your response!

[Boiler 45,525]

If possible divorce in Thailand.

[Mrs Rogers 3]

If possible divorce in Thailand.

Do you think Philippines will recognise this?

[Boiler 45,525]

Shy does it matter either way?

[Umka36 781]

Have the US citizen fiancé/boyfriend fund the annulment if she doesn't have the funds?

[Mrs Rogers 3]

Shy does it matter either way?

Well I was just worried that maybe if she went this route that the US would see she didn't have it annuled on the Philippines end. Idk. Just thinking out loud..

Have the US citizen fiancé/boyfriend fund the annulment if she doesn't have the funds?

That's an option. I know he will be helping with flights

[Boiler 45,525]

It is going to be a long process no matter what.

[Sagot 1,548]

Hello,

I am writing on behalf of a friend - she is seeking visa advice and options.

My friend is a Filipina with three children (21, 18, 16). She was married in the Philippines in 1999 but separated from her husband three years ago - she has been living in Thailand since the separation. She has since moved on and has found love with an American citizen. They plan on starting their life together in the US. Unfortunately they have found that getting an annulment is proving to be a problem. She doesn't have the funds to move forward with an annulment and her ex will not agree to it.

Her questions are:

1. Is there any other way to get the annulment? Since she's been in Thailand, could she petition for a divorce there? And possibly get married there before moving forward with the US visa process?

2. She read that she could get a divorce in Mexico and this is recognised. Is there any truth to this?

3. Do you know of any success stories involving marriage annulments? Is there something she needs to do?

4. My friend also has a sister in America - she lives a few hours from her bf. Would she have better success getting her sister to petition for her? Is there a family visa she could go to the US on?

5. Her sister has been late on paying taxes - she is paying regularly now, but will that affect her petition?

6. Is there anything she should do now to help her out with the visa process later on?

Thank you so much for reading. We look forward to reading your responses xxxx

1. Yes. If she is a resident of Thailand she can look into the requirements for completing a divorce there. The divorce, of course, would not be accepted in the Philippines, BUT it would be accepted everywhere else in the world... and will work just fine for being free to marry in the USA if you pursue a fiancee visa, or free to marry in Thailand and complete a spousal visa to enter the USA.

2. Answered above.

3. Annulment in the Philippines is roughly a two year process, costing upwards of P200,000. I know of a 4-5 Filipinas, ( processing through the embassy in Manila), that had a divorce from a foreign country (where they filed for the divorce) and easily completed the visa process. Even though the divorce was not accepted in the Philippines, thus in the eyes of the government there they were still married, they had no issues with CFO either.

4. The family visa would take upwards of 20 years.

5. see above.

6. Check into the divorce requirements in Thailand.

Edited November 15, 2016 by Philippines^Sagot

[Mrs Rogers 3]

1. Yes. If she is a resident of Thailand she can look into the requirements for completing a divorce there. The divorce, of course, would not be accepted in the Philippines, BUT it would be accepted everywhere else in the world... and will work just fine for being free to marry in the USA if you pursue a fiancee visa, or free to marry in Thailand and complete a spousal visa to enter the USA.

2. Answered above.

3. Annulment in the Philippines is roughly a two year process, costing upwards of P200,000. I know of a 4-5 Filipinas, ( processing through the embassy in Manila), that had a divorce from a foreign country (where they filed for the divorce) and easily completed the visa process. Even though the divorce was not accepted in the Philippines, thus in the eyes of the government there they were still married, they had no issues with CFO either.

4. The family visa would take upwards of 20 years.

5. see above.

6. Check into the divorce requirements in Thailand.

Thank you so so much for your indepth reply!! I will be showing her this asap! Youre a godsend! Thank you!!!

[Umka36 781]

So they would be a bigamist in the Philippines going this route? I assumed the US embassy would apply the visa based on the beneficiary's country of citizenship not resident. If I'm wrong, I learned something new.

Edited November 15, 2016 by Umka36

[Sagot 1,548]

Yes to your 1st question. For the most part, in regard to your assumption, you are learning something new, I would never ASSuME The divorce acceptance is based upon the USA requirement.