Passport / RoM / CFO Sanity Check

[bigpot38 0]

My Filipino wife and I got married online through Utah zoom marriage. She is still in the Philippines while I am still in the USA. We've consummated it already. Here's where I'm really confused. 

 

We've submitted the I-130 under her married name and the Report of Marriage to the San Francisco Philippines Consulate simultaneously. Since she has no passport yet, we're thinking it might be better for her to go get it in her maiden name now, just in case there isn't enough time somehow to get the passport updated to the married name. 

 

1. Once the petition reaches the NVC stage, we need to upload her passport, right? So if at that point, the only passport she has is in her maiden name, is that okay? 

2. Once the Report of Marriage is completed and there is a PSA Report of Marriage available, she can immediately get that and go update her passport to her married name, correct? 

3. Eventually, at the visa interview, will she need to have a married name passport, given that the I-130 was submitted with her married name (with her her maiden name being listed as another name she's used)?

 

We're kind of stressing out about the requirements in the Philippines and with this entire process...especially at the very end, after getting the visa: 

 

4. She has to attend CFO before leaving...what will the requirements be for that? Will she need a passport in her married name at the time of CFO? Will she need the PSA Report of Marriage for that as well? Does she need any time of other PSA certificates like CEMAR? 

 

Thank you for any guidance and direction.

Edited April 14, 2022 by bigpot38

[Adventine 3,196]

There's no way to amend an existing PH passport in the maiden name to "update" it to a married name. Those will be two separate passport applications with separate appointments and fees. So it's a waste of time and resources to apply for the passport in the maiden name now, and then to get another one in the married name a few months later.

 

Just be patient and wait for the ROM so that she can apply for a passport just once, in her married name.

 

 

[Hank_ 9,174]

Gotta agree ^^^

 

As for CFO they are still doing the online thing because of the beer virus BS, can't complete it until visa is in hand.

[Chancy 6,241]

14 hours ago, bigpot38 said:

Will she need a passport in her married name at the time of CFO? Will she need the PSA Report of Marriage for that as well?

 

For CFO, PSA ROM is required.  Married name in passport, not required.

 

[bigpot38 0]

Okay, so is this the correct order of events? Am I missing anything? 

 

Wait for PSA RoM to be completed

Obtain PSA RoM

Get Postal ID (only form of ID she has) in married name

Get passport in married name

Get NBI clearance in both married and maiden names

Get visa eventually

Complete CFO after getting visa

[Chancy 6,241]

27 minutes ago, bigpot38 said:

Get Postal ID (only form of ID she has) in married name

 

Just to be clear -- postal ID is not required for the visa process.  Your wife may apply for one anytime.  Last time I checked, application is walk-in only, no appointment.  The requirements list for postal ID does not mention PSA ROM, only marriage certificate.  Maybe your US marriage certificate will be accepted.

 

Also, note that NBI clearance application/renewal does not require presenting an ID with married name.  Just list all other names used in the AKA section when registering, and request the staff not to erase the maiden or married name if it is listed under AKA.

 

Edited April 14, 2022 by Chancy
clarification

[bigpot38 0]

8 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Just to be clear -- postal ID is not required for the visa process.  Your wife may apply for one anytime.  Last time I checked, application is walk-in only, no appointment.  The requirements list for postal ID does not mention PSA ROM, only marriage certificate.  Maybe your US marriage certificate will be accepted.

 

Also, note that NBI clearance application/renewal does not require presenting an ID with married name.  Just list all other names used in the AKA section when registering, and request the staff not to erase the maiden or married name if it is listed under AKA.

 

She's got postal id with maiden name, but to update it she needs psa rom i thought...if us marriage certificate is accepted, that would be helpful. actually, the us marriage certificate is one of my concerns. the visa interview checklist on the manila embassy website says if married, to bring original marriage certificate. that's with me in here in the USA. i'm wondering if I actually have to somehow get her this original certificate, or if a photocopy will work for the visa interview...or if the psa rom will work instead of the original. 

 

thanks for the info by the way. really appreciated.

 

 

[Chancy 6,241]

9 minutes ago, bigpot38 said:

i'm wondering if I actually have to somehow get her this original certificate, or if a photocopy will work for the visa interview...or if the psa rom will work instead of the original.

 

Certified copy of the US marriage certificate is required for the visa interview.  Make sure your wife has the actual certified copy in time for the interview.  Photocopy will not be accepted.  PSA ROM is not enough in lieu of the US certified copy.

 

[bigpot38 0]

1 minute ago, Chancy said:

 

Certified copy of the US marriage certificate is required for the visa interview.  Make sure your wife has the actual certified copy in time for the interview.  Photocopy will not be accepted.  PSA ROM is not enough in lieu of the US certified copy.

 

Certified copy? Okay, that's better. I can order a certified copy from Utah County where the marriage was and have it delivered directly to her in the Philippines from them. That will save me some hassle for sure as opposed to me sending her the original myself. Thank you. 

[Talako 781]

3 hours ago, bigpot38 said:

Certified copy? Okay, that's better. I can order a certified copy from Utah County where the marriage was and have it delivered directly to her in the Philippines from them. That will save me some hassle for sure as opposed to me sending her the original myself. Thank you. 

If you are relying on the comedic duo of USPS/PhilPost, then good luck.

[bigpot38 0]

13 minutes ago, Talako said:

If you are relying on the comedic duo of USPS/PhilPost, then good luck.

I've sent things to her before via USPS that never arrived - I will never make that mistake again. I figured FedEx would be fine this time, unless someone tells me otherwise...

[Talako 781]

50 minutes ago, bigpot38 said:

I've sent things to her before via USPS that never arrived - I will never make that mistake again. I figured FedEx would be fine this time, unless someone tells me otherwise...

I've used FedEx before with no problems.  It's expensive though.

[top_secret 2,417]

I agree it's best to wait for the ROM from PSA, then work on getting a new passport with married name.  

 

Regarding the timeframe of the ROM being available from PSA. They routinely give a time frame of "6 months" but it doesn't really take that long. The Philippine Consulate in San Francisco HAS been experiencing significant delays processing ROM's lately, but since you say you already have your stamped ROM back from the Consulate already, you made it past that delay.  You could somewhat reasonably be able to expect it it be available from PSA within two months after receiving it back from the Consulate.

 

You can check the progress towards being sent to PSA by e-mailing oca.crd-us@dfa.gov.ph .  In the e-mail, ask if the "Transmittal Details" for you ROM are available yet and attach a PDF scan of the stamped ROM you received back from the consulate.  The people at oca.crd-us@dfa.gov.ph seem quite competent and helpful.

 

If they reply with the "Transmittal Details",

 

(1) REFERENCE NUMBER
(2) DISPATCH NUMBER
(3) DISPATCH DATE
(4) TRANSMITTAL DATE

 

You can attempt to order a PSA version of the ROM from https://www.psaserbilis.com.ph/

Just order a "Marriage Certificate".  They have a procedure for recently registered ROM's where you are supposed to first order the ROM and then e-mail the "Transmittal Details" to info@psaserbilis.com.ph .

[Adventine 3,196]

3 hours ago, Talako said:

I've used FedEx before with no problems.  It's expensive though.

 

I've used both FedEx and DHL. They're reliable for sending documents US-PH and PH-US. You're right that it's on the expensive side. 

[An D 27]

39 minutes ago, top_secret said:

 

 

Edited April 15, 2022 by An D