philppines A Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage(Phillipines)

[Mccranny22 1]

I am a US citizen trying to get married to my Filipina gf so we can start the CR-1 Visa process. What are all the documents I need as a US citizen? Can the process of marriage be done in 1 visit if I stay 30 days?

The most confusing part if the certificate of legal capacity to marry, I know there is an embassy in Manila but on their site, it looks like they aren't notarizing them atm, is there any other way to get an appointment to fill out and process this document?

If there isn't would a K-1 fiance visa be better in this case?

Edited March 9, 2023 by Mccranny22

[powerpuff 6,697]

~~ Topic moved from CR1/IR1 spousal visa forum to Regional discussion: Philippines as the question is specific to the country ~~

[top_secret 2,414]

Now you can just get a certificate of legal capacity to marry notorized by any local notary in the Philippines.  No longer necessary to get it from the embassy.  Its simple and easy to get one.

 

If your goal is to get a CR-1 visa for her, a Utah online marriage will get you a valid marriage certificate a couple of months faster than a Philippines marriage so you could file for the visa sooner.  Much less paperwork and hoops to jump through too.

 

K1 is a worse option than CR1 by 'almost' all measures.

[top_secret 2,414]

8 hours ago, Mccranny22 said:

The most confusing part if the certificate of legal capacity to marry, I know there is an embassy in Manila but on their site, it looks like they aren't notarizing them atm, is there any other way to get an appointment to fill out and process this document?

The Philippines has their updated rules regarding certificate of legal capacity to marry, online at. https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/MC NO. 2022-12.pdf  (page 1-2 references Australians,  page 3-4 everyone else, page 5 is a template specifically for Americans which would just need filled and notarized by any notary)

[RO_AH 1,659]

10 hours ago, Mccranny22 said:

What are all the documents I need as a US citizen? Can the process of marriage be done in 1 visit if I stay 30 days?

As said above, the things have changed regarding the Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage. If you do plan to get married in the Philippines, here are the 2 most important things to do:

1. Have your fiance go to her LCR and ask what is required for her to marry a US citizen. Make sure that either they provide her all of the things in writing or that she writes them all down. Rule #1 nothing is consistent in PH different municipalities will have different requirements. Get your info from the source (LCR) not the internet.

2. While she is there asking, have her also ask if they have any process for expediting the PSA Marriage Certificate. Have her write that down also.

 

Also make sure that she gets all of the prices for the above questions too.

[Jason and May 79]

My wife and I got married in Manila last June. I needed my passport, birth certificate, copy of my divorce decree, and a letter of non-marriage from my state to prove I am not currently married and therefore free to marry (required for your proof of legal capacity to contract marriage). 

 

My wife went to the her local civil registrar (at city hall) and set up with the LCR a marriage package...basically. I paid in advance (with receipts...get receipts for everything) for a wedding date to be arranged based on my dates of travel. Pre-marriage counseling is no longer required. Also, if the LCR insists you go to the US embassy to get your proof of legal capacity to contract marriage apostilled, cite the Philippines Apostille Convention, of which the U.S. is a member.... apostillado is no longer required. A local public notary...available right there are city hall...is sufficient. 

 

There are three dates you need to be aware of: 

1) The date you go to the LCR to apply for your marriage certificate

2) The date of your marriage ceremony

3) The date of release of your PSA marriage certificate 

 

So, if you provide your dates of travel, the LCR can arrange a date 3 days after your arrival in the Philippines (I'm nearly certain it was 3 days) to apply for your marriage certificate. 

 

Then, at 10 days, you can have your marriage ceremony, if you want one. You have to be in the Philippines for a minimum of 10 days before you can contract marriage. Your passport entry stamp is proof of that entry date. 

 

Your marriage certificate will be released within 10 days or so after your ceremony. For us, it ended up being longer than 10 days, but she was able to receive the marriage contract without me present because we had already signed all the required documents, and we were waiting only for the PSA release. 

 

I think our marriage contract was released in late July, and she shipped it to me. It was $1,500 pesos to ship via DHL, and I got it in like 5 days. 

 

So, you being in the Philippines for 30 days is excellent. It will help relieve anxiety about dates and getting done all that needs to be done. I was cutting it a little close at 20 days. 

 

Good luck with your trip and congratulations on your pending marriage!

[RO_AH 1,659]

As I said before. Have her check HER LCR. Most of what @Jason and May said was very different from my experience. 1 constant which is law in Philippines is that it takes 10 working days to get your marriage certificate after you apply, which allows you to get married. So find out what is required and apply the day you get to her place. I was there for 3 weeks. We applied the day after I got to the Philippines (I landed in the evening). Applied for certificate. Scheduled courthouse wedding the firs available day when we applied for certificate. Got married and had a big party. Went home. My only regret was not requesting a expedite of the PSA certificate.