Utah County Proxy (Zoom) wedding

[John & Rose 7,239]

4 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

Where the marriage takes place and where you file for the 9a visa have nothing to do with each other.  However being that he is in Sacramento I am sure it would be the same one.

It is ROM that matters. Most people do both at the same time so they get a PSA marriage certificate. I sidespoke myself!  

[John & Rose 7,239]

22 minutes ago, Jimmyzr1 said:

 

I think this one was a new video released a day or two ago, saying new requirements. Whether true or not, I don’t know.

What I quoted was taken from the consulate’s website just before I uploaded it. 

[RO_AH 1,659]

3 hours ago, Jimmyzr1 said:

Yes, I do know that. But I also have seen several people getting deleted because the consulate seems to want something additional after they’ve provided what the consulate had asked for. I’m going through the San Francisco one.

That seems odd. I did my 9a through Honolulu. We went back and forth with emails until we had everything the way they wanted it and then the visa was issued. Everything was originally sent via email until they were satisfied then I sent copies for everything that I had emailed along with the notarized original application.

[RO_AH 1,659]

3 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

It is ROM that matters. Most people do both at the same time so they get a PSA marriage certificate. I sidespoke myself!  

I was just making sure that everyone that does a Utah wedding doesn't think that it means you apply for the 9a visa in San Francisco also.🙂

[Jimmyzr1 36]

1 hour ago, John & Rose said:

It is ROM that matters. Most people do both at the same time so they get a PSA marriage certificate. I sidespoke myself!  

Now I’m hearing that there is a new 9a Visa requirement that as of December 20th or maybe it starts January 1st that all 9a visa applications are started online, then follow with mailing documents  and maybe delays the process 3-5 business days. I’m also seeing the application form on the Philippine website.

Edited December 30, 2021 by Jimmyzr1

[John & Rose 7,239]

12 minutes ago, Jimmyzr1 said:

Now I’m hearing that there is a new 9a Visa requirement that as of December 20th or maybe it starts January 1st that all 9a visa applications are started online, then follow with mailing documents  and maybe delays the process 3-5 business days. I’m also seeing the application form on the Philippine website.

Yes. Online only starts Jan 1, 2022. I assume there were so many complaints about different processes for each consulate that the government stepped in. Do not expect this to speed anything up. Last I heard there is no mailing. Everything is uploaded but we won’t know until it actually starts. 

[top_secret 2,424]

Just to add confusion to the mix, I know a guy from New York State who just got a 9A visa from San Francisco last month, by applying concurrently with a Utah ROM for his online bride.  He just traveled to the Philippines for the first time ever and met his wife for the first time ever just a couple of weeks ago.  Apparently everything is going great for them.  

[John & Rose 7,239]

1 hour ago, top_secret said:

Just to add confusion to the mix, I know a guy from New York State who just got a 9A visa from San Francisco last month, by applying concurrently with a Utah ROM for his online bride.  He just traveled to the Philippines for the first time ever and met his wife for the first time ever just a couple of weeks ago.  Apparently everything is going great for them.  

Isn’t this a weird time!  I know of another couple who did the same. They even got the 9a without filing ROM. He made it to the Philippines on just the online wedding certificate. 

[godspeed 41]

On 12/20/2021 at 9:15 AM, John & Rose said:

It doesn't matter what country the beneficiary is in.  You will have to physically meet after the wedding to legally file the spousal visa.  If you cannot meet, you can get married online and continue with the K-1.  Do not meet before the interview and you can complete the K-1 even after online marriage.  It is a little tricky but you are not "officially" married until you consummate the marriage in the eyes of immigration.  Once the K-1 is approved, the beneficiary can enter the US where your marriage will be officially recognized.  

are you sure about this?

 

I asked a US immigration attorney this question, and he said the if we get married online we can't file the k1 visa even if it hasn't been consummated yet

 

 

[godspeed 41]

On 12/29/2021 at 7:28 PM, John & Rose said:

Isn’t this a weird time!  I know of another couple who did the same. They even got the 9a without filing ROM. He made it to the Philippines on just the online wedding certificate. 

9a is only needed if you plan to stay longer than the temporary visa they give on arrival to US citizens, is that correct?

 

is there a reason to get a 9a if you only plan to go there for a couple weeks to consummate the marriage?

[godspeed 41]

On 8/4/2021 at 2:02 PM, John & Rose said:

My wife had it easy when she did it during our K-1.  My step kids did it with their CR-2s and it was awful.  They learned things like Americans only bathe once a week and since their step father was old they would get social security money.  Oh, and I only petitioned my wife so someone would take care of me.  Luckily they already knew me well but other kids in the peer counseling were crying at the end and were afraid to leave the Philippines.

 

CFO is a nightmare these days, one lady in my fiance's class had a PSA certificate of marriage but they wouldn't accept it as evidence unless she brought the receipt she got when she paid for it...

 

where is that requirement posted for all to see?

 

 

[John & Rose 7,239]

2 hours ago, godspeed said:

are you sure about this?

 

I asked a US immigration attorney this question, and he said the if we get married online we can't file the k1 visa even if it hasn't been consummated yet

 

 

No surprise there. That was the common thinking here too. We were all watching this one. Obviously they had a great lawyer. It made it past getting the visa but we always thought AOS would be the challenge. Last I heard they received their combo cards. I will have to go back and see if the green card worked out. They definitely got their K-1 approved with the  unconsummated marriage. 

[John & Rose 7,239]

2 hours ago, godspeed said:

9a is only needed if you plan to stay longer than the temporary visa they give on arrival to US citizens, is that correct?

 

is there a reason to get a 9a if you only plan to go there for a couple weeks to consummate the marriage?

There was a point in time that the Philippines required a visa for Americans during the pandemic. That is when they got it and it was only available for spouses and expat Filipinos. That is all back to normal now. 

[John & Rose 7,239]

2 hours ago, godspeed said:

 

CFO is a nightmare these days, one lady in my fiance's class had a PSA certificate of marriage but they wouldn't accept it as evidence unless she brought the receipt she got when she paid for it...

 

where is that requirement posted for all to see?

 

 

PSA has all kinds of unwritten “rules”. They have way too much authority. They also told my step kids that Americans only bathe once a week and that I was going to abuse my teenage step daughter because all Americans abuse their daughters. Oh, and my kids would get a lot of social security money because I am old and disabled because all American men who want a Filipino wife are old and disabled. These statements were made to the group in their in person class. Luckily they knew me enough not to believe any of it. 

[W199 335]

4 hours ago, godspeed said:

 

CFO is a nightmare these days, one lady in my fiance's class had a PSA certificate of marriage but they wouldn't accept it as evidence unless she brought the receipt she got when she paid for it...

 

where is that requirement posted for all to see?

 

 

Usually, but admittedly not always, there is more to the story than this. 

 

My fiancée just did the online CFO. It was excellent, and very easy. They didn't need any paperwork except the scanned visa and the passports

  - She signed up for the online class in the morning. 

   - They sent her a bunch of questions to answer such as my details, when  we met, where/when have we ever traveled together before, etc. She just replied to them on WhatsApp to them. 

  - The next day she had the online video class and the phone interview

   - Then  the same day received the digital CFO certificate.

 

She said the seminar was very eye opening due to all the domestic abuse that so many end up having. They want them to be safe and know the laws and emergency contacts.   In fact, during the online video seminar, the CFO got a message from a Filipino who said she wanted to come back due to the abuse from her husband, which included abuse in public.

 

Her phone interview with the CFO was about 30 seconds to just confirm her details, and said the paperwork is all in order. They said if they suspect anything then the call will be as long as it takes. 

 

The ONLY paper work they needed was a scanned copy of her passport, my passport, and her visa. But to be on the safe side, we also sent our relationship photos.

 

They did NOT even ask for her cenomar, my divorce certificate, etc..  She said there is no need for other paperwork because they know we are doing the K-1 process and the embassy is already very thorough with all the K-1 paperwork. They only need to ask for things like the cenomar, criminal record, etc during special cases such as when they have never even met before (there was one or two in my fiancee's class that were going to meet their fiance for the very first time, I think on a tourist visa) or  when they report some kinds of abuse, or so many other unique circumstances.

 

There really are so many cases of domestic abuse and human trafficing, fake paperwork, etc.. that they are on the lookout. There were even cases where their agent did the CFO and interview for them. So now they need to show their passport or do something to prove its really them in the seminar. Many of the Filipinos are just not wise enough to prevent being tricked or just so desperate enough they will do anything to help their families.   So I can't really blame the CFO for sometimes going crazy with paperwork and other checking when they see a risk of this happening.