Affidavit in lieu of legal capacity to marry

[Mccranny22 1]

I am an American citizen getting married to my Filipino fiancé in May 2024. I am confused on alot of the requirements needed from me as U.S. citizen especially the affidavit in lieu of legal capacity to marry. I know as of a year ago you can get it notarized by any notary, but I am confused as to where to get the documentation for the affidavit in lieu of legal capacity to marry. Once I receive a template do I just go to a notary or lawyer who in America who can notarize and that will be the end of it? For reference my fiancé lives in Cebu so anyone who is familiar with Cebu's requirements or could provide a link to the requirements would be greatly appreciated.

[powerpuff 6,697]

~~ Topic moved to Regional discussion: Philippines as the question is specific to Philippines process ~~

[top_secret 2,414]

29 minutes ago, Mccranny22 said:

I am an American citizen getting married to my Filipino fiancé in May 2024. I am confused on alot of the requirements needed from me as U.S. citizen especially the affidavit in lieu of legal capacity to marry. I know as of a year ago you can get it notarized by any notary, but I am confused as to where to get the documentation for the affidavit in lieu of legal capacity to marry. Once I receive a template do I just go to a notary or lawyer who in America who can notarize and that will be the end of it? For reference my fiancé lives in Cebu so anyone who is familiar with Cebu's requirements or could provide a link to the requirements would be greatly appreciated.

 

US Embassy Manila posted a sample online.  https://uploads.mwp.mprod.getusinfo.com/uploads/sites/24/2022/04/Sample-Generic-Affidavit.pdf    Probably best to get it notarized there by a Filipino notary since diferent LCRO's could make up their own rules about what they would accept.

 

https://ph.usembassy.gov/marriage/

 

Depending on your timeframes, a Utah online marriage may be MUCH faster and less bureaucratic than a Philippine marriage and is 100% accepted by both the US and the Philippines.  Judging by ALLOT of recently approved visas it seems a huge percentage of them are now Utah online marriages.  US Embassy Manila is seeing multiple Utah online marriages daily and isn't questioning them even slightly. 

 

Edited July 29, 2023 by top_secret

[RO_AH 1,659]

You need to have your wife go to the local municipal building and LCR (Local Civil Registry) and ask what is EXACTLY required to marry a foreigner in her location. Make sure that she writes everything down so nothing is missed. Requirements vary all over the PH and may be wasting your time trying to get things that you don't need and missing things that you do. Please trust me on this. Next plan on a 3 week trip. It takes 10 working days (2 weeks) just to get your marriage license which allows you to get married. This is something that is consistent all across the PH. It will usually be a day or two to get everything together before you go to apply for the license and a day or 2 after to get married. 3 weeks is doable, less than that leaves no margin for error.

 

Last bit of advice. Have her ask the LCR if there is any way to expedite the PSA marriage certificate. That is very important because you will need that to get the CR-1. They usually have a way to do that and you will pay a fee. If you do not do that you can easily wait 6 months to a year for it.