Cenomar or Cenmar???

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

@Chancy @Adventine

 

Directly to the Philippine experts!

 

Chancy, I just read your embassy review. Thanks for that!  It is the only recent IR1/CR1 review with detail.  We will do the same some day.

 

You mentioned:

 

 I presented a CENOMAR, instead of a CEMAR (Advisory on Marriage). The consulate staff were also fine with it.

 

What will my wife (IR1) need and where do we get it?  Soon to be 19 year old never married step daughter (IR2)?  I don't see any requirements in the NVC civil docs.

 

My wife and I have been married almost 8 years.  She was previously married, with annulment.  We have all the paperwork.

 

Thanks so much for saving me time!

[Adventine 3,196]

Go to this site, order online for your wife and stepdaughter, have it delivered to your house

 

https://www.psaserbilis.com.ph/

 

I think the CEMAR record will show all your wife's registered marriages and the annulment in a single document. 

 

If your stepdaughter has never been married, the CENOMAR will be a single page with a few lines saying they have no record of a marriage for this person.

 

I'm on mobile right now so can't look up where exactly in the process you need the CEMAR/CENOMAR, but you will definitely need it for both of them.

 

 

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

36 minutes ago, Adventine said:

Go to this site, order online for your wife and stepdaughter, have it delivered to your house

 

https://www.psaserbilis.com.ph/

 

I think the CEMAR record will show all your wife's registered marriages and the annulment in a single document. 

 

If your stepdaughter has never been married, the CENOMAR will be a single page with a few lines saying they have no record of a marriage for this person.

 

I'm on mobile right now so can't look up where exactly in the process you need the CEMAR/CENOMAR, but you will definitely need it for both of them.

 

 

Thanks so much!

 

I am in the CENOMAR application area.  I don't see the CEMAR area, so I guess it will produce the correct version based on your entries?

[Adventine 3,196]

You know, looking at the PSA website options, I don't know if you should choose the CENOMAR or Marriage Certificate option for your wife. Someone should be by to confirm soon (maybe @Chancy ? )

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

32 minutes ago, Adventine said:

You know, looking at the PSA website options, I don't know if you should choose the CENOMAR or Marriage Certificate option for your wife. Someone should be by to confirm soon (maybe @Chancy ? )

We already have marriage certificates.  I'm going to order a bunch of marriage and birth certificates for the whole family before we leave for the U.S., so I will have a stockpile.

[Chancy 6,241]

25 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

We already have marriage certificates.

 

If you mean marriage certificates on PSA paper, then you're good to go with that requirement.  But if the MC you have now has the NSO (not PSA) logo, you should order new ones for upload to NVC.

 

As for CENOMAR/CEMAR, you don't get to choose which, actually.  As you've seen, there is only the CENOMAR option on the psaserbilis website.  The type of document that will be delivered will depend on whether PSA has any record of the person's marriage(s).  So your wife will get a CEMAR (Advisory on Marriage), and your stepdaughter will get a CENOMAR.  I got a CENOMAR because we didn't do ROM, so PSA has no record of my US marriage.

 

CENOMAR/CEMAR is not required at NVC stage.  I didn't upload mine prior to DQ.  But it is definitely required for the interview.  So make sure to upload a scan of your wife's and your stepdaughter's CENOMAR/CEMAR to CEAC prior to their interview.  Up to you if you want to upload them before or after DQ.  It won't harm their cases either way.  Note also that CENOMAR/CEMAR is only valid for 1 year from issue date.  I've also seen VJ reports where the interviewing officer wanted one that was issued within 6 months, so best not to request CENOMAR/CEMAR too early.

 

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

39 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

If you mean marriage certificates on PSA paper, then you're good to go with that requirement.  But if the MC you have now has the NSO (not PSA) logo, you should order new ones for upload to NVC.

 

As for CENOMAR/CEMAR, you don't get to choose which, actually.  As you've seen, there is only the CENOMAR option on the psaserbilis website.  The type of document that will be delivered will depend on whether PSA has any record of the person's marriage(s).  So your wife will get a CEMAR (Advisory on Marriage), and your stepdaughter will get a CENOMAR.  I got a CENOMAR because we didn't do ROM, so PSA has no record of my US marriage.

 

CENOMAR/CEMAR is not required at NVC stage.  I didn't upload mine prior to DQ.  But it is definitely required for the interview.  So make sure to upload a scan of your wife's and your stepdaughter's CENOMAR/CEMAR to CEAC prior to their interview.  Up to you if you want to upload them before or after DQ.  It won't harm their cases either way.  Note also that CENOMAR/CEMAR is only valid for 1 year from issue date.  I've also seen VJ reports where the interviewing officer wanted one that was issued within 6 months, so best not to request CENOMAR/CEMAR too early.

 

Thanks for your confirmations and advice!  I think all of our Philippines documents are PSA, but I will double check.  I can't remember when NSO switched to PSA but I think all of ours were after the switch.

[Jimmyzr1 36]

8 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

If you mean marriage certificates on PSA paper, then you're good to go with that requirement.  But if the MC you have now has the NSO (not PSA) logo, you should order new ones for upload to NVC.

 

As for CENOMAR/CEMAR, you don't get to choose which, actually.  As you've seen, there is only the CENOMAR option on the psaserbilis website.  The type of document that will be delivered will depend on whether PSA has any record of the person's marriage(s).  So your wife will get a CEMAR (Advisory on Marriage), and your stepdaughter will get a CENOMAR.  I got a CENOMAR because we didn't do ROM, so PSA has no record of my US marriage.

 

CENOMAR/CEMAR is not required at NVC stage.  I didn't upload mine prior to DQ.  But it is definitely required for the interview.  So make sure to upload a scan of your wife's and your stepdaughter's CENOMAR/CEMAR to CEAC prior to their interview.  Up to you if you want to upload them before or after DQ.  It won't harm their cases either way.  Note also that CENOMAR/CEMAR is only valid for 1 year from issue date.  I've also seen VJ reports where the interviewing officer wanted one that was issued within 6 months, so best not to request CENOMAR/CEMAR too early.

 

Is Cemar only needed for spouse at interview, not US Citizen? No cenomar for 14yo child required? 

[top_secret 2,387]

1 hour ago, Jimmyzr1 said:

Is Cemar only needed for spouse at interview, not US Citizen? No cenomar for 14yo child required?

CENOMAR/CEMAR is required for pretty much any beneficiary 18 or older if marital status has anything at all to do with their visa category.  Under 18 doesn't need one.  US Citizen petitioners that are a duel or former Filipino citizens need one if they lived in the Philippines more than a year as an adult.  It is very uncommon but their have been a rare handful of cases where a consul asked a foreign petitioner for one usually pertaining to some previous relationship history in the Philippines.

Edited May 9, 2023 by top_secret

[Jimmyzr1 36]

4 minutes ago, top_secret said:

CENOMAR/CEMAR is required for pretty much any beneficiary 18 or older if marital status has anything at all to do with their visa category.  Under 18 doesn't need one.  US Citizen petitioners that are a duel or former Filipino citizens need one if they lived in the Philippines more than a year as an adult.  It is very uncommon but their have been a rare handful of cases where a consul asked a foreign petitioner for one usually pertaining to some previous relationship history in the Philippines.

Ok, thanks. I'm a non-filipino US Citizen, but lived in the Philippines for almost 2 1/2 years, two years ago, so I guess I don't need one. We got married though online, went through Philippine embassy SF to get my Visa, then PSA marriage recognized in the Philippines, she got her passport changed to my last name. Does she still need Cemar? Thanks

[top_secret 2,387]

8 minutes ago, Jimmyzr1 said:

Ok, thanks. I'm a non-filipino US Citizen, but lived in the Philippines for almost 2 1/2 years, two years ago, so I guess I don't need one. We got married though online, went through Philippine embassy SF to get my Visa, then PSA marriage recognized in the Philippines, she got her passport changed to my last name. Does she still need Cemar? Thanks

Yea.  She still needs one for the the Embassy.  The Embassy wants to see it because it shows no marriages other than what you already told the embassy about.  You should be fine though.

Edited May 9, 2023 by top_secret

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

https://www.psaserbilis.com.ph/Census/Index#!

 

Anybody have any idea how long it takes to get this online, from the link above, and mailed to a Philippine address?

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

5 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

https://www.psaserbilis.com.ph/Census/Index#!

 

Anybody have any idea how long it takes to get this online, from the link above, and mailed to a Philippine address?

Never mind, here is the official statement.

 

https://www.psaserbilis.com.ph/Census/Delivery#!

 

DELIVERY ADDRESS	WHEN WILL I RECEIVE THE DOCUMENT?
Metro Manila	Birth/marriage/death certificates: 4-6 working days after payment CENOMAR: 4-6 working days after payment *Additional 5 to 7 days for areas that are outside of courier's standard serviceable areas
Other Provinces	Birth/marriage/death certificates: 6-8 working days after payment CENOMAR: 6-8 working days after payment *Additional 5 to 7 days for areas that are outside of courier's standard serviceable areas
Other Countries	The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has resumed accepting international mails to selected countries only. As an option, you can avail of special courier services through DHL Express for delivery addresses outside the Philippines: PSA Serbilis Special Courier Service.pdf For special courier services through DHL Express, delivery charges shall be to the requester’s/document owner’s account and shall be billed separately and directly by DHL Express.

Note:  Above schedule is subject to change due to unavailability and/or cancellation of flights of airlines.

Add 10-15 working days in case your request will require manual search and retrieval from the PSA microfilm and paper archives (you will be informed through email if such is the case).

[Jimmyzr1 36]

Is PSA Cemar ok for Ex-husband, who wife has death certificate for ok? I used it for a Visa for the Philippine embassy to go to the Philippines during covid in 2022 to consummate marriage. It is dated 12/23/2021 from PSA. We got married online 12/16/2021.

[top_secret 2,387]

1 hour ago, Jimmyzr1 said:

It is dated 12/23/2021

 I'd get a new one to be safe.  They are considered expired after a year.  It's cheap and easy to order online.