Online marriage for CR1/IR1 visa from the Philippines

[godspeed 41]

It looks like it’s possible to get an online marriage, for example “virtualmarriage.com”

 

and then register this marriage in the Philippines through the San Francisco consulate in the USA.

 

Stipulation - you must “consummate” the marriage by meeting in person after the marriage before it can be used for immigration purposes according to US law.

 

but how will the Philippine immigration at the airport as well as the CFO treat this approach?

 

for the US government - CR1/IR1 visa you don’t have to register the marriage in the Philippines 

 

but will the Philippines government require it to be registered with them?

 

 

[godspeed 41]

To do the online marriage the sponsor and spouse do not have to be physically in the USA apparently.

[Dashinka 24,480]

Not sure about need to register the marriage in the Philippines, but yes, for US immigration purposes, the couple has to physically meet after the ceremony before attempting a spousal visa. 
 

This thread may answer the specific regional questions.

 

 

[Crazy Cat 41,812]

***Moved to the Philippines regional forum*****

[SteveInBostonI130 3,432]

Why are you asking?

 

If it's to file for a spousal visa, then the only requirement is to meet during or after the online marriage.  It does not need to be registered in the Philippines.

 

If it's for you to get a residence visa to the Philippines to live there, then I believe it will need to be registered.  

[godspeed 41]

22 minutes ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

Why are you asking?

 

If it's to file for a spousal visa, then the only requirement is to meet during or after the online marriage.  It does not need to be registered in the Philippines.

 

If it's for you to get a residence visa to the Philippines to live there, then I believe it will need to be registered.  

That’s what I want to verify. I’ve already verified with a US immigration attorney that it doesn’t have to be registered in the Philippines - but..

 

who knows about the CFO and Immigration people in the Philippines - they may have their own requirements.

 

it’s not very difficult to register it in the Philippines at the SF consulate - but I prefer to avoid any entanglements with that country as much as possible - it has always been a nightmare to deal with in terms of laws and infrastructure…

[Chancy 6,241]

7 hours ago, godspeed said:

but how will the Philippine immigration at the airport as well as the CFO treat this approach?

 

I strongly recommend you go through Utah county directly if you want to do online wedding.  It's undoubtedly legit and you won't have to pay middle-men fees -- https://www.utahcounty.gov/dept/clerkaud/PassMarr/RemoteAppearanceFAQ.asp

 

US immigration will not require the marriage to be registered (via ROM) with the Philippine government, but it will be very difficult to get passed CFO without ROM.  I was able to get my CFO certificate without ROM, but I had a traditional face-to-face wedding in the US, not an online wedding.  I have not seen any reports yet of anyone who had an online wedding and successfully completed CFO without ROM.

 

[Crazy Cat 41,812]

8 hours ago, godspeed said:

To do the online marriage the sponsor and spouse do not have to be physically in the USA apparently.

That is correct. 

[RO_AH 1,659]

14 hours ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

If it's to file for a spousal visa, then the only requirement is to meet during or after the online marriage.  It does not need to be registered in the Philippines.

Spouse will need a CFO certificate/sticker to leave the Philippines. CFO requires a ROM. If coming to America you need to file ROM.

[RO_AH 1,659]

18 hours ago, godspeed said:

It looks like it’s possible to get an online marriage, for example “virtualmarriage.com”

Just do it straight through Utah. No need to pay an agency to do it. Search posts in this sub-forum, all info you need has been posted many times.

18 hours ago, godspeed said:

and then register this marriage in the Philippines through the San Francisco consulate in the USA.

Yes, you must file a ROM if she will come to USA. This is a Philippine requirement not a US requirement.

18 hours ago, godspeed said:

Stipulation - you must “consummate” the marriage by meeting in person after the marriage before it can be used for immigration purposes according to US law.

Correct. But you can also be together in the PH when you marry which kiils 2 birds with 1 stone. Nothing says you need to be in seperate places when doing online wedding.

18 hours ago, godspeed said:

but how will the Philippine immigration at the airport as well as the CFO treat this approach?

Immigration only cares that she has a CFO.

 

18 hours ago, godspeed said:

for the US government - CR1/IR1 visa you don’t have to register the marriage in the Philippines

but will the Philippines government require it to be registered with them?

US does not require it to be registered. CFO does. As said before, CFO is required for her to leave the country. US only requires her to have a valid visa to enter.

[godspeed 41]

5 hours ago, RO_AH said:

 

Correct. But you can also be together in the PH when you marry which kiils 2 birds with 1 stone. Nothing says you need to be in seperate places when doing online wedding.

Immigration only cares that she has a CFO.

——————-

I’m sorry I’m confused - which two birds?

 

are you saying it’s better to do the online marriage together while in the Philippines?

[RO_AH 1,659]

8 minutes ago, godspeed said:

I’m sorry I’m confused - which two birds?

 

are you saying it’s better to do the online marriage together while in the Philippines?

Yes, get married and meet the consummation requirement.

 

I don't know if that is better or not, that's a personal choice. But I would just think it is more special to be together when getting married.

 

Most people started doing the Utah wedding when PH locked down due to covid and you could not go there to see a fiance but you could go visit your wife. It takes about 3 weeks to go there and get married but if you do a Utah wedding you could do it in a few days. Hard for some people to get 3 weeks off of work.

[godspeed 41]

5 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

Yes, get married and meet the consummation requirement.

 

I don't know if that is better or not, that's a personal choice. But I would just think it is more special to be together when getting married.

 

Most people started doing the Utah wedding when PH locked down due to covid and you could not go there to see a fiance but you could go visit your wife. It takes about 3 weeks to go there and get married but if you do a Utah wedding you could do it in a few days. Hard for some people to get 3 weeks off of work.

Is it better to register it in the Philippines while there together?

 

if I’m not mistaken an online Utah marriage has to be registered at the SF consulate and the ROM can’t be filed in the PH. Is this true?

[RO_AH 1,659]

8 minutes ago, godspeed said:

Is it better to register it in the Philippines while there together?

Can't

8 minutes ago, godspeed said:

if I’m not mistaken an online Utah marriage has to be registered at the SF consulate and the ROM can’t be filed in the PH. Is this true?

Correct. If not married in the Philippines, you must file a ROM at the Philippine Consulate which has jurisdiction over the location where you were married. Utah falls under SF Consulate.

 

Get all of your paperwork in order so that you can file for the visa as soon as you return.

[godspeed 41]

9 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

Can't

Correct. If not married in the Philippines, you must file a ROM at the Philippine Consulate which has jurisdiction over the location where you were married. Utah falls under SF Consulate.

 

Get all of your paperwork in order so that you can file for the visa as soon as you return.

Should I wait to file the ROM in San Francisco until after consummation?

 
Also does it need to be filed before filing the CR1 petition?