Judicial Recognition Of Foreign Divorce In The Philippines

[Jon and Krissy 452]

Hi folks,

 

I know this is an older thread, but I am in the same situation. I'm an American who was married to a Filipina in the Philippines. 16 years and two lovely children later, we divorced in the U.S. She is a dual citizen.

 

I would like to marry my girlfriend via Utah online marriage while I am visiting her in the coming weeks. I researched a lot months back before I found this thread a few minutes ago. My question is the same: will she get the CFO sticker, since we won't be able to register the Utah marriage in the Philippines? Any input would be greatly appreciated. I love this lady and don't want to mess anything up. Thank you kindly.

[top_secret 2,417]

11 hours ago, rhein said:

I would like to marry my girlfriend via Utah online marriage while I am visiting her in the coming weeks. I researched a lot months back before I found this thread a few minutes ago. My question is the same: will she get the CFO sticker, since we won't be able to register the Utah marriage in the Philippines? Any input would be greatly appreciated. I love this lady and don't want to mess anything up. Thank you kindly.

 

 

CFO seems to have settled down considerably since their little meltdown last summer.  Recently people seem to be getting through their process pretty easily and there have not been as many complaints as there were previously. CFO may ask for a copy of your divorce decree and apostilled Utah marriage certificate but cases similar to yours or even more complicated cases where it was the Filipino spouse who had the unrecognized foreign divorce still seem to be getting through CFO with no huge hurtles.  US Embassy Manila seems well acclimated to Utah online marriages too and you should not need to expect any concerns there.  Your planning seems sound.

 

Though not strictly necessary, assuming your new Filipina fiancée has never been married before, you could probably even still register the new Utah marriage with the San Francisco consulate and have all of her paperwork in order with PSA and legalized in the Philippines.

[Jon and Krissy 452]

25 minutes ago, top_secret said:

 

 

CFO seems to have settled down considerably since their little meltdown last summer.  Recently people seem to be getting through their process pretty easily and there have not been as many complaints as there were previously. CFO may ask for a copy of your divorce decree and apostilled Utah marriage certificate but cases similar to yours or even more complicated cases where it was the Filipino spouse who had the unrecognized foreign divorce still seem to be getting through CFO with no huge hurtles.  US Embassy Manila seems well acclimated to Utah online marriages too and you should not need to expect any concerns there.  Your planning seems sound.

 

Though not strictly necessary, assuming your new Filipina fiancée has never been married before, you could probably even still register the new Utah marriage with the San Francisco consulate and have all of her paperwork in order with PSA and legalized in the Philippines.

 

This is very encouraging.

 

Another individual told me that she had contacted the SF Consulate and had been told the same thing you just told me; however, when I called the SF Consulate, they said the marriage could not be registered with the PSA because I already have a marriage registered in the Philippines (to my ex-wife). So I'm not sure which is actually the case. But it sounds like from what you're saying, even if that won't work, she can still get through CFO?

[top_secret 2,417]

13 minutes ago, rhein said:

Another individual told me that she had contacted the SF Consulate and had been told the same thing you just told me; however, when I called the SF Consulate, they said the marriage could not be registered with the PSA because I already have a marriage registered in the Philippines (to my ex-wife). So I'm not sure which is actually the case. But it sounds like from what you're saying, even if that won't work, she can still get through CFO?

 

I have no firsthand experience but my line of thinking on the topic is that the SF Consulate would accept and process the Report of Marriage without any questions as long as it is submitted with complete requirements. They would then forward it to PSA.  To my knowledge PSA are simply the national record keepers.  They record what is sent to them by LCRO’s, DFA, consulates etc. They are not involved in making legal determinations of whether a Utah marriage of a foreigner is legal or not.  That was decided by the consulate when they processed the ROM.

 

The ROM would be correctly completed showing your civil status as divorced.  The consulate does not ask for further documentation or explanation of your divorce.  Your new wife’s PSA Advisory on Marriages would be normal, the PSA ROM would serve all purposes a Philippine Marriage Certificate would.  Your PSA Advisory on Marriages would look awkward if there was ever any reason you needed it.  (can't think of any right off) 

[powerpuff 6,697]

Zombie thread closed. In the future, please don’t bump old threads and instead start a thread of your own.