i am a us citizen (naturalized), im getting married to my filipina gf.
i am going to the phillipines to get married there on sept 23, i believed that we have to wait for 11 days before we can be married (civil wedding).
my problem is, i have to be back here in the states by oct 21 bcoz thats the only vacation time my employer gave me.
within this time frame ( 1 month) do you think i can finish up with all the necessary things that im supposed to have like (marriage contract, seminars etc etc etc.????) so that when i come back here in the states i can eventually start filing for my spouse visa petition?
guys i need help here , pls!
thanks.

Yes you will have time. I married my filipina wife on May 2, 2006. in Tacloban. The first thing you need to do when you get there is go the the US embassy in Manila and apply for a "Affidavit of Legal Capacity". You need proof that any former marriages were legally terminated.

Take these to the local city office where your finacee lives and immediately applyt for the marriage lic. then they will require you to go to a 1 hour marriage semminar, that is actuallyt quite good.

At the end of the 10 day waiting period you can either be married where you applied for the lic or by a judge at the courhouse.

Realize that it takes a couple days at the city office to actually apply for the lic, there are alot of steps you need. Ie, a Barangy clearance, original birth certificate, proof of the end of all past marriages for yourself, and your birth certificate and passport.

Have all the docs with you and visit the Embassy FIRST then you should not only have time to complete everything, but then also have about a week left over to go on a little honeymoon somewhere.

Take pictures , keep all your receipts, as proof of your trip, take back to the US her original birth ceritficate and original marriage lic so you can send them with the K-3 and I-130 petitions.

Hope that helps,

Rob and Melinda

Hi there,

First...calm down...take a deep breath...ok good.......now, its seems you will have plenty of time....i had only 13 days in the philippines when i got married in april and came home with everything i needed.

The waiting time is 10 days (not 11) from when you get the marraige licience. In order to get the licience you first need to go to the embassy in either manila or cebu and get "affidavit of legal capacity to marry"...bring with you a cert. copy of your BC, cert. copy of any divorce papers you may have, passport...your fiance will need to bring her bc, cert. copy of any annulment decision (if any), and id. Once you get the affidavit you can go get the marraige licience.

You wait ten days...then you can marry. After the wedding the civil registrar usually can have the marraige contract ready in about a week...you can always "pay" for faster service..(wink wink).....once you have the civil registry MC...and make sure you get plenty of certified copies...you have what you need to file the petitions as far as the marraige goes. Your wife can go to the nso with the mc to get the NSO MC which will take some time....but you don't need that for the petitions.

Hope this helps

Jazzy

My suggestions - go to US Embassy at Manila, get the affidavit of legal capacity to contract marriage, be there early at 8 am and be sure you go to the correct window and grab a number and wait, bring your passport, original certified birth certificate and certified copy of divorce decree if you are divorced (you'll get these returned to you), the fee is $30 US (they accept credit cards), is best if your fiance is with you because the consular office will ask questions, there is a information form that you will need to complete.

Next, get to the civil registrar office at the town/city/banaguay where you plan to marry and apply for the license, you will need parental consent signed if fiance is 21 or younger, you need passport, birth certificate again and also divorce decree (you won't get this back), there are some small fees to pay and you will be required to sign up for the family planning session, if you plan civil wedding is best to meet the local mayor because he will be the marrying official, he will also ask questions.

Then you'll be running all over creation shopping for her dress, rings, etc., and may be discussing the big event with a wedding planner. My outdoor evening wedding was catered for 200 and it was absolutely stunning!!!!

You will wait at least 10 days after applying for the license (even in very small community there was no bending the rules), after which you will go back to the LCRO and chase everything down again, pay more fees, have the documents signed and then be sure that your marriage date has been set. I had the family planning the same morning as my wedding (it was all of 10 minutes, and was scheduled just for us, with others invited to attend since it was NOT the normal scheduled day of the week).

Next, enjoy the visa journey for the next several months.

I arrived Manila Apr 9, received affidavit Apr 10, applied for license on Apr 12, was married Apr 24, and left for US on Apr 26. I just barely had time.

Good luck.

yes u can do it in that time frame.....these r the steps.....

FIRST.........as soon as u arrive there go 2 the us embassy where u must obtain a legal capacity to marry affidavit, u must have this form....

after that, go 2 the local civil registrar office and apply 4 ur marriage license, make sure u hav the legal capacity form with u. after that u wait 10 working days, during this time u can attend the required seminar....


get married.....then, if ur pressed for time, u can usually accompany whoever performed ur ceremony back to the registrar ofc and get ur stamped copy then. this copy is acceptable for filing the petition.



good luck!

The local Mayor?....we had a judge perform our civil wedding which was arranged through the civil registry. We were not required to take any class or seminar. Also you should have got your divorce decree back...they don't keep it. Also the rules bend very easy in the Philippines if you know who to talk to...
Jazzy

Yep, the high mayor. Our wedding was quite a spectacle...a community wide event...first of it's kind in her small very rural village...and first held at a delightful 'native house" that had just been completed for use by tourists...very elegant affair, but mostly Western style...cost was...well...let's just say it was VERY reasonable...actually amazing. The entire experience was pure Heaven...

Hi,
Sounds wonderful!!!!...yes the cost is VERY reasonable in the Philippines....ours was spectacular as well. My wifes from Cebu, which province is your wife from?...
I only mentioned about the mayor because it can be a judge or any other official designated to preform the ceremony.

Jazzy

Hi there my husband and i married here in the philippines. he arrived here july 21, 2006 at 10:15 pm and the next morning very early since we stay at the bayview park hotel just across the US embassy we go right away to get the legal capacity. He never bring his bc though i was with him, he is the only one who go inside to get the legal capacity. i only sit and wait for him inside that room where we wait for his number to be called and when he was called i did not go with him anymore. he just go there inside by himself to get the legal capacity but when he go to pay for the $ 30 pesos i go with him already. He only show his passport and no bc but the legal capacity was given to him. We was married august 1, 2006. I suggest u stay at the bayview park hotel because its just across the US embassy. God bless and Good luck to ur journey!!!

Greetings!

pasted from US Embassy, Philippines:

Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage:

Any foreigner who wishes to marry in the Philippines is required by the Philippine Government to obtain from his/her Embassy a "Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage" before filing an application for a marriage license. This certification affirms that there are no legal impediments to the foreigner marrying a Filipino (i.e, that the foreigner is already married to someone else). Unlike the Philippines, the U.S. Government does not keep a central statistical registry for births, marriages and deaths and cannot verify this information. Instead, the Philippine Government accepts an "Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage." Americans may execute this affidavit at the American Embassy in Manila or the U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu. Personal appearances of the American citizen applicant cannot be waived, but the fiance(e) need not be present. Philippine authorities will not accept any substitute document initiated in the United States.

Applicants may apply for the "Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage" at the Embassy's American Citizen Services Branch everyday from Monday through Friday from 8:00 - 10:00 am.(except Philippine and American holidays). The American must present his/her U.S. passport. There is a fee of $30.00 or its peso equivalent for the affidavit, payable in cash only.

The Affidavit is notarized by a U.S. consular officer. The consular officer can refuse to perform this service if the document will be used for a purpose patently unlawful, improper, or inimical to the best interest of the United States. Entering into a marriage contract with an alien strictly for the purpose of enabling entry to the United States for that individual is considered an unlawful act. Section 4221 of Title 22 United States Code provides penalties for individuals who commit perjury in an affidavit taken by a consular officer.

The Marriage Application Process :

Once an American citizen has obtained from the Embassy an Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry, he/she can file an application for a marriage license at the office of the Philippine Civil Registrar in the town or city where one of the parties is a resident. The license is a requirement for either a civil or church wedding in the Philippines. The U.S. citizen applicant will need to present:


the affidavit in lieu of a certificate of legal capacity to marry;
divorce decree(s) or death certificate(s) required to verify civil status and capacity to marry;
U.S. passport;
documentation regarding paternal consent or advice, if applicable.

A judge, a minister or any other person authorized by the Government of the Philippines can perform the marriage. Marriage applicants aged 18 to 21 must have written parental consent. Applicants aged 22 to 24 must have received parental advice. Philippine law prohibits the marriage of individuals under the age of 18.

Philippine law prescribes a ten-day waiting period from the filing of the application to the issuance of the marriage license. The license is valid for 120 days and may be used anywhere in the Philippines.

Marriage to a U.S. citizen confers neither citizenship nor an automatic eligibility for entry to the United States. If the U.S. citizen does not reside in the Philippines, the Petition for Immigrant Visa (I-130) must be filed through the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services office in the United States or at DHS window 19 (8-11:00AM, 1-3:00PM) at the US Embassy .

Any questions about filing an immigrant visa petition to bring the spouse to the United States should be directed to the nearest office of Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, the State Department's Visa Office (202) 663-1225 or, while in the Philippines, to the American Embassy in Manila.





Church Wedding Requirements :

Note: A Catholic religious ceremony may be performed even without a civil ceremony and the marriage will still be considered legal in the Philippines. Other non-Catholic churches may require documents and/or seminars not specified below. To be sure, inquire with the church in which you plan to be married. The process below describes the general procedures for arranging a Catholic wedding in the Philippines. However, the policies and procedures of individual churches may vary.

1. Baptismal and Confirmation Certificates - required for both the bride and the groom. These documents must be new, be annotated: "FOR MARRIAGE PURPOSES ONLY", and have been obtained not more than three (3) months before the date of marriage;


For mixed marriage (different religions) -- a dispensation must be secured from the Parish Office which will be released after the canonical interview with the parish priest or his assistant. These have to be presented one week before the wedding.
2. Marriage License
For those who are first married in a civil ceremony, a certified true photocopy of the Marriage Contract with the registry number of the city or town where the marriage was performed must be submitted one week before the wedding date. How to obtain a civil marriage license. See also Obtaining Philippine Documents

3. Canonical Interview - The parish priest or his assistant will conduct an interview with the bride and the groom one month before the wedding date. The interview will be scheduled upon the signing of the application form.

4. Pre-Marriage Seminar - The seminar will be scheduled during the canonical interview or you may inquire at the parish office. Some churches will allow you to attend other pre-wedding seminars such as the Discovery Weekend or Catholic Engaged Encounter.

5. Permission - The bride must receive permission to marry from her parish, if the venue is in another parish.

6. Wedding Banns - The couple must post the schedule of their wedding in their respective parishes. These will be provided during the canonical interview and have to be immediately brought to the respective parishes of the bride and the groom for posting. These have to be returned to the office after three Sundays. (The respective parishes may ask some requirements for the posting of the banns i.e. a picture each from the bride and the couple.)

7. List of names and addresses of principal sponsors (Ninongs and Ninangs) - The list has to be submitted to the parish office one week before the wedding date. Church policy requires at least a pair of sponsors and, ideally, a maximum of six sponsors.

8. For widow or widower - A copy of the death certificate of the former spouse must be presented to the parish office.

9. For renewal of vows - remember to bring a copy of the Catholic Marriage Contract.


Civil Wedding :

A couple who chooses to be married in a civil ceremony will need to apply for a marriage license. Once the license is obtained, they need to go to a judge or a mayor to administer the solemnization of the marriage. There is a ten-day waiting period from the date of the civil wedding before the issuance of the marriage contract.

tips:
Before you go back to the States it will be very helpful if you and your spouse could prepare the ff:
1. birth certificate printed on NSO security paper, request atleast 3 copies.
2. marriage certificate printed on NSO securit paper, request fro extra copies.
3. While you are in US Embassy you can go ahead and ask the forms necessary for immigration purposes or you can bring from the states, that way both are present during asnwering and signing of documents.
4. ask a photo ahead of her for immigration purposes.
5. make copies of pictures of you together ( one for you to keep and one for her to keep and for her interview purposes.
The reason of why i asked you to secure documents like birth certificate and marriage certificate is that these are necessary for future applications from SS number, drivers licence application, EAD, AOS and as well as citizenship etc.

If you still have more time you can go with her and attend way in advanc the CFO seminar and will get her CFO certificate and can get her passport under her new family name. She will just have to go back once her visa is approved for it to be registered.

Also, make sur to have coies of any documents you may have.

Goodluck,
Griffin

btw, when u arrive at the embassy, u will see signs directing you to the American Citizen Services Branch, when u get in that room u will c windows and numbers on the wall, but to the right u will c a hallway going further back, go down this hallway, then the numbers for the ppl there 4 legal capacity document r on that wall, i think they are red if i remember correctly. don't get number for those windows up front or ul wait in that line for nothing.

Hello epoy2,

Best wishes for the two of you!!! So glad that you have decided to get married here in the Philippines.



Timeline:

08-15-05 - First met in person (Davao City)
08-21-05 - Got engaged
11-03-05 - Second visit waiting for our wedding
11-10-05 - Church Wedding Day
11-11-05 - Honeymoon (Pearl Farm Resort 2 nights)
12-08-05 - CFO Seminar (Got Certificate)
01-26-06 - NOA1 Sent
02-02-06 - NOA2 Received
03-12-06 - Third visit of my hubby
04-11-06 - NOA2 Received
04-25-06 - Consulate Received
05-23-06 - Packet 4 Sent
06-16-06 - Packet Received delivered at home by DELBROS
06-20-06 - Fourth visit of my hubby and I've done my med. exam. too (PASSED)
08-24-06 - INTERVIEW

Sweety_33

Civil Wedding :

A couple who chooses to be married in a civil ceremony will need to apply for a marriage license. Once the license is obtained, they need to go to a judge or a mayor to administer the solemnization of the marriage. There is a ten-day waiting period from the date of the civil wedding before the issuance of the marriage contract.

tips:
Before you go back to the States it will be very helpful if you and your spouse could prepare the ff:
1. birth certificate printed on NSO security paper, request atleast 3 copies.
2. marriage certificate printed on NSO securit paper, request fro extra copies.
3. While you are in US Embassy you can go ahead and ask the forms necessary for immigration purposes or you can bring from the states, that way both are present during asnwering and signing of documents.
4. ask a photo ahead of her for immigration purposes.
5. make copies of pictures of you together ( one for you to keep and one for her to keep and for her interview purposes.
The reason of why i asked you to secure documents like birth certificate and marriage certificate is that these are necessary for future applications from SS number, drivers licence application, EAD, AOS and as well as citizenship etc.

If you still have more time you can go with her and attend way in advanc the CFO seminar and will get her CFO certificate and can get her passport under her new family name. She will just have to go back once her visa is approved for it to be registered.

Also, make sur to have coies of any documents you may have.

Goodluck,
Griffin
[/quote]




i'm sorry..im new to this. what's the "CFO seminar"?

Things to consider.....

Different parts of phillipines have different rules even though the philippine law for marriage is written in black and white.

For example....
In Cebu my wife was 23. She still had to get consent even though the law says 18-21 must have consent.... 21-25 must have advice.

Well My wife had to have moms consent even though she was 23 and luckily I called the city hall and asked questions cuz they asked what about her dad? I said well he is dead. They said well then you must get a death certificate for the dad then she won't need dads consent.

Also for my afidavit in liew of capacity to marry cert. I decided to stop in manila and get it there instead of Cebu because in manila the fiancee is not required and the process is simple and takes about 10 minutes.

In cebu you must bring your fiancee and it is much longer process and sometimes they won't issue the cert. right away.
.

Also she will need a capicity to marry cert. you can order this online along with her birth certificate copy at:
http://www.eCensus.com.ph

Here you can pay online with credit card(expensive) or have your lady go into a bank with the email receipt and pay.

Also when you go to the "ALL DAY seminar" while you are waiting the 10 days (this is cosecutive days not biz days) In cebu, Make sure you are wearing long pants and shoes... not shorts and/or sandals, or they will make you go home and change!

We got married simply and quickly in my hotel room by a pastor. Just had to sign a note stating we requested to be married in my room.

Also my sweety never had a birth certificate. She was born on a small island in her moms house and they never registered her. That was a pain to get done. She had to go home to her island and stay there almost 2 months running around getting paper work, witnesses etc.

So what I'm saying is while eveyone has great intentions to help you out here..... Do your research and call the embassy or the city hall in her city and find out the requirements.

Good luck and know that the PI loves certificates and lots of paperwork!! :-)

Hello,

Can I ask you a few questions?

1. You don't have marriage certificate?
2. Your wife had no birth certificate?

Marriage Certificate and Birth Certificate are very important. Your wife should be getting this papers ahead of time. You will need these papers for her interview. Hope I could help you.

Timeline:

08-15-05 - First met in person (Davao City)
08-21-05 - Got engaged
11-03-05 - Second visit waiting for our wedding
11-10-05 - Wedding Day
11-11-05 - Honeymoon (Pearl Farm Resort 2 nights)
12-08-05 - CFO Seminar (Got Certificate)
01-26-06 - NOA1 Sent
02-02-06 - NOA1 Received
03-12-06 - Third visit of my hubby
04-11-06 - NOA2 Received
04-25-06 - Consulate Received
05-23-06 - Packet 4 Sent
06-16-06 - Packet Received delivered at home by DELBROS
06-20-06 - Fourth visit of my hubby and I've done my med. exam. too (PASSED)
08-24-06 - INTERVIEW

Sweety_33