Utah Online Marriage and ROM [merged threads]

[Mccranny22 1]

Can anyone who knows or has been through the process of an online Utah marriage recently give me a breakdown specifically for the ROM requirements or how to make sure it goes smoothly. My biggest concern is the notarized affidavit the consulate wants. How would get my wife to sign it or get it notarized if I can't see her until May? Any suggestions would be helpful.

[Crazy Cat 41,919]

@John & Rose might be able to provide some good info.

[top_secret 2,424]

 

4 hours ago, Mccranny22 said:

My biggest concern is the notarized affidavit the consulate wants. How would get my wife to sign it or get it notarized if I can't see her until May? Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

All Utah online marriages must be registered through the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco.  Their instructions and requirements are here.   https://pcgsanfrancisco.org/civil-registry/  (select the "REPORT OF MARRIAGE" drop down)

 

Previously they were requiring an affidavit explaining that it was a virtual ceremony since obviously the Filipino spouse doesn't have a copy of their US visa.  However, currently they seem to have completely dropped that requirement.  There is also an affidavit of delayed registration mentioned if the marriage was not reported within a year.  That does not seem to apply here either, so most likely no affidavits are required.

 

The best way to handle getting the forms notarized is to fill out the pdf ROM form, save it and e-mail it to the Filipino spouse.   Then the Filipino spouse can print copies of it and take it to a Philippine notary where they can sign and have the copies notarized.  (FOUR original wet signed and notarized copies).  Make sure the Filipino spouse notifies the Philippine notary to reserve half the space in the notary box for a second notarization or else the Philippine notary will take up the whole page.   Then have the Philippine spouse mail you the original forms and you take them to a US notary where you can sign and have the copies notarized.

 

[Steve & Erma 36]

Make sure you send them the Apostilled version of your marriage certificate. It doesn't really say that on the website but to get all the information they are asking for you need it. You can get that from Utah on their website. Had a friend not send that and he ended up having to send it twice.

 

@top_secret hit all the rest pretty well. Good luck.

[John & Rose 7,239]

On 7/29/2023 at 7:29 AM, Crazy Cat said:

@John & Rose might be able to provide some good info.

I’m back!   ROC was finally approved!

I will answer here. 

[John & Rose 7,239]

On 7/29/2023 at 5:23 AM, Mccranny22 said:

Can anyone who knows or has been through the process of an online Utah marriage recently give me a breakdown specifically for the ROM requirements or how to make sure it goes smoothly. My biggest concern is the notarized affidavit the consulate wants. How would get my wife to sign it or get it notarized if I can't see her until May? Any suggestions would be helpful.

You will need 5 original copies with notary stamps. You also need to meet again after the marriage to file the spousal visa. Plan ahead. Since you cannot file the I-130 before you meet again, bring the ROM forms with you and get it all notarized there. Remember they require 5 original wet signature copies of the form. 

[Mccranny22 1]

When it comes to the report of marriage forms that I send to the Philippines consulate, should the ROM forms be notarized by a notary in my wife's country and by one in my country, so essentially to different notaries or just one is good enough?

[hunny&me 274]

3 minutes ago, Mccranny22 said:

When it comes to the report of marriage forms that I send to the Philippines consulate, should the ROM forms be notarized by a notary in my wife's country and by one in my country, so essentially to different notaries or just one is good enough?

Where ever your location is/are. If wife is in Philippines, she goes to Notary there to sign the ROM. While you, if here in US, visits notary.  If you are both here, you can use 1 notary.  Essentially, notary is to certify that document was signed in person by the person.

[Mccranny22 1]

So essentially wherever we are located and if its 2 different places we need 2 different notaries, so in that case if I bring the ROM forms to the Philippines when I visit her, and we both go the notary in the Philippines we would only need that 1 notary.

[top_secret 2,424]

3 hours ago, Mccranny22 said:

So essentially wherever we are located and if its 2 different places we need 2 different notaries, so in that case if I bring the ROM forms to the Philippines when I visit her, and we both go the notary in the Philippines we would only need that 1 notary.

 

That would be ideal.  Anywhere that you are both together at the same time is easiest. We got our ROM notarized in by a "notaria" in Cusco Peru because that's where we were at the time.  Make sure you do 5 separately wet signed and notarized original copies.

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Merged related threads.  Please post your questions/updates related to this topic in this thread to keep the discussion in one place. ***

 

*** Off-topic post & replies split off to a separate thread ***

[Mccranny22 1]

@top_secret kind of a random question ,but it says on the ROM firm that it must be printed/typewritten, I am assuming this means just boxes 1-19 as the 20 is the signtaure box for me and my wife's signature and the notary and 21-22 is for official use, I have attached the ROM for easier access.

ROM.pdf

[top_secret 2,424]

9 hours ago, Mccranny22 said:

@top_secret kind of a random question ,but it says on the ROM firm that it must be printed/typewritten, I am assuming this means just boxes 1-19 as the 20 is the signtaure box for me and my wife's signature and the notary and 21-22 is for official use, I have attached the ROM for easier access.

ROM.pdf 2.03 MB · 1 download

 

Yea.  It's a fillable PDF and you want it to be neat because the actual form you submit becomes the permanent record in PSA once it's processed by the consulate.  You sign box 20 on all five copies in the presence of the notary so they can witness it and 22 absolutely must be empty because that is where the Consulate stamps and certifies them before it goes to PSA.

[Theersink 20]

I know this thread is a bit old but I wanted to post some updated information. I sent a message on their website contact form asking for clarification on IF both parties (husband and wife) need a notarized signature if we live in separate countries (me USA, her Philippines). This is the email response I received:

 

So for couples that marry and are currently living in separate countries only 1 notarized signatory is required. Hopefully this will save others a bit of time.

Edited March 7 by Theersink

[Theersink 20]

San Francisco Consulate (I would imagine this is all of them since it looks to be an official process) is now asking for a notarized Affidavit of Explanation stating that the marriage was held online and the Filipino spouse was not in the US at time of marriage. This was not listed on their website list of requirements. I received a call from them asking to send this additional statement. They emailed me a current checklist for ROMs which I am sharing here. 

ROM check list.pdf