How can we complete Philippine Report of Marriage as Puerto Rico Residents?

[arielvelez 0]

Greetings.

 

Is there someone from Puerto Rico (PR) in this group, and living in PR, that has completed the Philippine Report of Marriage (ROM)?

 

We are having trouble clarifying some of the basic requirements for ROM, specifically requirement #11: “For applicants residing in U.S. territories or other countries within the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy, applicants should enclose a treasurer’s, manager’s or certified check issued by a local bank that has a corresponding bank in the U.S. (the US National Bank Association is not a correspondent bank), payable to the courier of choice, in U.S. dollars, to cover cost of mailing, and a corresponding self-addressed courier’s address label. Personal checks are not accepted. For applicants who prefer to use Fedex, please make sure that the account number of the applicant/recipient is indicated in the airway bill as proof of payment.”

 

PR is a US Territory (Commonwealth), but it has no local bank with a corresponding bank in the U.S.

 

Please share your suggestions, comments, or send me private message.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

http://www.philippineembassy-usa.org/philippines-dc/consular-services-dc/faq-dc/#marriage

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

30 minutes ago, arielvelez said:

Greetings.

 

Is there someone from Puerto Rico (PR) in this group, and living in PR, that has completed the Philippine Report of Marriage (ROM)?

 

We are having trouble clarifying some of the basic requirements for ROM, specifically requirement #11: “For applicants residing in U.S. territories or other countries within the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy, applicants should enclose a treasurer’s, manager’s or certified check issued by a local bank that has a corresponding bank in the U.S. (the US National Bank Association is not a correspondent bank), payable to the courier of choice, in U.S. dollars, to cover cost of mailing, and a corresponding self-addressed courier’s address label. Personal checks are not accepted. For applicants who prefer to use Fedex, please make sure that the account number of the applicant/recipient is indicated in the airway bill as proof of payment.”

 

PR is a US Territory (Commonwealth), but it has no local bank with a corresponding bank in the U.S.

 

Please share your suggestions, comments, or send me private message.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

http://www.philippineembassy-usa.org/philippines-dc/consular-services-dc/faq-dc/#marriage

Use a money order from the USPS. Do you have a Bank of America there or a Wellsfargo, one of the large national banks?

[arielvelez 0]

There is no US National Bank in Puerto Rico, and our local banks are not available and/or connected with any US Bank.

 

About using money order from USPS, the requirement states "a treasurer’s, manager’s or certified check" from bank.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

2 hours ago, arielvelez said:

There is no US National Bank in Puerto Rico, and our local banks are not available and/or connected with any US Bank.

 

About using money order from USPS, the requirement states "a treasurer’s, manager’s or certified check" from bank.

 

2 hours ago, arielvelez said:

There is no US National Bank in Puerto Rico, and our local banks are not available and/or connected with any US Bank.

About using money order from USPS, the requirement states "a treasurer’s, manager’s or certified check" from bank.

Where are you doing the ROM at? Because the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC which you should be using says this:

 

1. Processing fee of $25.00 (non-refundable), payable in cash or money order made payable to "Embassy of the Philippines" (or "Philippine Consulate General", if application is made at one of the Philippine Consulates General in the U.S.). Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted.

So yes money orders are good to go and that's what I sent for my asawa's ROM. 

[arielvelez 0]

7 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

 

Where are you doing the ROM at? Because the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC which you should be using says this:

 

1. Processing fee of $25.00 (non-refundable), payable in cash or money order made payable to "Embassy of the Philippines" (or "Philippine Consulate General", if application is made at one of the Philippine Consulates General in the U.S.). Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted.

So yes money orders are good to go and that's what I sent for my asawa's ROM. 

You are correct, sir. That is requirement #10. But if you read the next requirement, #11, this is what it says:

 

"For applicants residing in U.S. territories or other countries within the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy, applicants should enclose a treasurer’s, manager’s or certified check issued by a local bank that has a corresponding bank in the U.S. (the US National Bank Association is not a correspondent bank), payable to the courier of choice, in U.S. dollars, to cover cost of mailing, and a corresponding self-addressed courier’s address label. Personal checks are not accepted. For applicants who prefer to use Fedex, please make sure that the account number of the applicant/recipient is indicated in the airway bill as proof of payment."

 

Puerto Rico is a U.S. Territory, and a U.S. Commonwealth. Therefore, #10 applies for the payment of the process, but also #11 applies "to cover cost of mailing", etc.

 

So, how do I comply with #11 if there is no U.S. National Bank in PR, nor any of our local banks are in the US mainland?

Edited April 26, 2017 by arielvelez

[Sagot 1,548]

7 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

 

Where are you doing the ROM at? Because the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC which you should be using says this:

 

1. Processing fee of $25.00 (non-refundable), payable in cash or money order made payable to "Embassy of the Philippines" (or "Philippine Consulate General", if application is made at one of the Philippine Consulates General in the U.S.). Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted.

So yes money orders are good to go and that's what I sent for my asawa's ROM. 

I agree.   

 

Even the embassy website shows Washington DC as the correct consulate.   After that complete the required forms, provide the requested documents, and a POSTAL MONEY ORDER.

 

Consular Jurisdiction: United States of America: Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia; Outside USA: Anguilla, Aruba, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean Islands (Bahamas, Bermuda, British West Indies, Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos), Commonwealth of Jamaica, Country of Curacao, Grenada, Guadaloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Republic of Haiti, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maartin, St. Martin, The Territorial Collectivity of St. Barthelemy, Trinidad and Tobago, and U.S. Virgin Islands

 

http://www.philippinesusa.org/philippines/consulate-finder-main/

[Sagot 1,548]

8 minutes ago, arielvelez said:

You are correct, sir. That is requirement #10. But if you read the next requirement, #11, this is what it says:

 

"For applicants residing in U.S. territories or other countries within the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy, applicants should enclose a treasurer’s, manager’s or certified check issued by a local bank that has a corresponding bank in the U.S. (the US National Bank Association is not a correspondent bank), payable to the courier of choice, in U.S. dollars, to cover cost of mailing, and a corresponding self-addressed courier’s address label. Personal checks are not accepted. For applicants who prefer to use Fedex, please make sure that the account number of the applicant/recipient is indicated in the airway bill as proof of payment."

 

Puerto Rico is a U.S. Territory, and a U.S. Commonwealth. Therefore, #10 applies for the payment of the process, but also #11 applies "to cover cost of mailing", etc.

 

So, how do I comply with #11 if there is no U.S. National Bank in PR, nor any of our local banks are in the US mainland?

That statement is in regards to SHIPPING, not processing fees.  Simple use FEDEX for that and include a prepaid envelope for returning documents.    TaaDaa!!      (Embassy's concern is foreign postage stamps.. as they won't be accepted for mailing FROM the USA)

 

If you have access to a U.S. Postal Money Order I don't see how you will have an issue.  As the funds are drawn from a U.S. bank ... and that is what the embassy is asking for.

 

 

Edited April 26, 2017 by Sagot

[arielvelez 0]

4 minutes ago, Sagot said:

That statement is in regards to SHIPPING, not processing fees.  Simple use FEDEX for that and include a prepaid envelope for returning documents.    TaaDaa!!      (Embassy's concern is foreign postage stamps.. as they won't be accepted for mailing FROM the USA)

 

If you have access to a U.S. Postal Money Order I don't see how you will have an issue.  As the funds are drawn from a U.S. bank ... and that is what the embassy is asking for.

 

 

Sir, you are also correct.

 

In Puerto Rico, we have US Postal Service, which is our "state" Postal Service (although we are not a state). We also use the same U.S. postage stamps as in U.S. Mainland.

 

If I would use FEDEX, that means I have to create an account with FEDEX (since I do not have one, and may not use it thereafter). If I do not use FEDEX, there is no other option, as they require "treasurer’s, manager’s or certified check issued by a local bank that has a corresponding bank in the U.S.", which we do not have here in PR.

 

I have contacted the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. concerning this same question, but there has not been a reply to this moment.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

12 minutes ago, arielvelez said:

Sir, you are also correct.

In Puerto Rico, we have US Postal Service, which is our "state" Postal Service (although we are not a state). We also use the same U.S. postage stamps as in U.S. Mainland.

If I would use FEDEX, that means I have to create an account with FEDEX (since I do not have one, and may not use it thereafter). If I do not use FEDEX, there is no other option, as they require "treasurer’s, manager’s or certified check issued by a local bank that has a corresponding bank in the U.S.", which we do not have here in PR.

I have contacted the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. concerning this same question, but there has not been a reply to this moment.

The US Postal Service or USPS is not a state or territory postal service but it is the one used in all of the USA including the territories. You do not have to create a account for Fedex at all to ship through them to Washington DC, in fact you can use the USPS for that as well.

 

A money order from the USPS will suffice for payment to the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC. You are confusing what is wrote there on the page and it is kinda confusing. But basically you can get a envelope from the USPS to send off the paperwork and the money order. You can then buy another envelope, address it to yourself and put it in the envelope that you send to the Philippine Embassy. This has been discussed before on this forum and I did this as well with my asawa. Once they are done with the ROM they will send it back to you using the envelope you self addressed to yourself. 

[arielvelez 0]

3 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

The US Postal Service or USPS is not a state or territory postal service but it is the one used in all of the USA including the territories. You do not have to create a account for Fedex at all to ship through them to Washington DC, in fact you can use the USPS for that as well.

 

A money order from the USPS will suffice for payment to the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC. You are confusing what is wrote there on the page and it is kinda confusing. But basically you can get a envelope from the USPS to send off the paperwork and the money order. You can then buy another envelope, address it to yourself and put it in the envelope that you send to the Philippine Embassy. This has been discussed before on this forum and I did this as well with my asawa. Once they are done with the ROM they will send it back to you using the envelope you self addressed to yourself. 

Ok... Good. Although it continues to be confusing. And I believe you did go through this process, except I do not know if at the moment you did the ROM, you were in a U.S. Territory (requirement #11 is only for U.S. Territory).

 

If that is the case, then what about the requirement #9?, which states:

"Self-addressed return envelope, with appropriate stamps for express or priority mail with tracking numbers via US Postal Service, if Report of Marriage is to be mailed back. For applicants from the Caribbean Islands, pre-paid mailing envelope from DHL."

 

This process, requirements #9 and #11, they can be confusing to interpret when considering both together, especially for U.S. Territories. Puerto Rico is a Caribbean Island.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

3 minutes ago, arielvelez said:

Ok... Good. Although it continues to be confusing. And I believe you did go through this process, except I do not know if at the moment you did the ROM, you were in a U.S. Territory (requirement #11 is only for U.S. Territory).

 

If that is the case, then what about the requirement #9?, which states:

"Self-addressed return envelope, with appropriate stamps for express or priority mail with tracking numbers via US Postal Service, if Report of Marriage is to be mailed back. For applicants from the Caribbean Islands, pre-paid mailing envelope from DHL."

 

This process, requirements #9 and #11, they can be confusing to interpret when considering both together, especially for U.S. Territories. Puerto Rico is a Caribbean Island.

No, I did not do ROM from a US Territory but from Los Angeles. My asawa and I got married in NC and then moved out west. So we had to mail everything to Washington DC. 

 

The #9 requirement is I believe for the Caribbean islands such as Haiti, Dominican Republic, one of the countries like that not the USA territory. 

 

The self addressed envelope is rather pretty simple, you can get a hard USPS Priority envelope to send the documents, and then use one of the smaller or flexible USPS Priority to send it back. The postage has to be paid for both envelopes BEFORE you send it off. 

[arielvelez 0]

2 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

No, I did not do ROM from a US Territory but from Los Angeles. My asawa and I got married in NC and then moved out west. So we had to mail everything to Washington DC. 

 

The #9 requirement is I believe for the Caribbean islands such as Haiti, Dominican Republic, one of the countries like that not the USA territory. 

 

The self addressed envelope is rather pretty simple, you can get a hard USPS Priority envelope to send the documents, and then use one of the smaller or flexible USPS Priority to send it back. The postage has to be paid for both envelopes BEFORE you send it off. 

Hmm...

 

If all can be done using USPS (money order - I am sure of that one, mail to the Embassy, pre-paid return mail to PR), that will be absolutely great!

[arielvelez 0]

These conversations have been very good for me. I am still expecting a reply from Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. concerning this process, but I have benefit of the discussion we have had here, which I greatly appreciate.

 

If all can be done using USPS (money order, mail to the Embassy, pre-paid return mail to PR), that will be absolutely great!

 

And although the writers have not been residents in U.S. Territories, I do value very much their comments.

 

Further comment will be equally appreciated.

[Sagot 1,548]

1 hour ago, arielvelez said:

Sir, you are also correct.

 

In Puerto Rico, we have US Postal Service, which is our "state" Postal Service (although we are not a state). We also use the same U.S. postage stamps as in U.S. Mainland.

 

If I would use FEDEX, that means I have to create an account with FEDEX (since I do not have one, and may not use it thereafter). If I do not use FEDEX, there is no other option, as they require "treasurer’s, manager’s or certified check issued by a local bank that has a corresponding bank in the U.S.", which we do not have here in PR.

 

I have contacted the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. concerning this same question, but there has not been a reply to this moment.

You have U.S. postage, then I don't see an issue with doing a couple Priority Mail envelopes one to the embassy, one prepaid back to you... done.     I have done this with the Philippine embassy.. 

[Greenbaum 12,260]

This is a KISS moment. Keep it simple. You're complicating a simple process. Go to the post office and do everything there that Cyberfox shared. Put your postal money order, your paperwork and create a self addressed envolpe prepaid for the Embassy to return your ROM and send it off. Done. Simple.