Marriage certificate in Philippines

[jandjin 19]

According to my research on google, and few people I know, it's taking few months to get the marriage certificate from NSO in the Philippines (in case if I married in cities other than Manila) for newly married couple. Is that true? If so do I have to wait for certificate to be available from NSO before I apply for spouse visa? or can I go ahead apply for visa while I wait for the certificate?

thanks in advance

[j&ana 363]

It does take a while for the nso to get the certificate process. You can ask the local civil regestar to expedite it to the nso. Before the Uscis was not asking for the nso copy only the nvc was requiring it. However that is not true now as me and several other members on here having gotten rfe from the uscis nebraska service center

If you had been married for a while you could go ahead and start the process. If you just gotten married recently you might wait a little bit. Most petitions for the philippines are approve rather fast now

Edited April 12, 2015 by j&ana

[jandjin 19]

It does take a while for the nso to get the certificate process. You can ask the local civil regestar to expedite it to the nso. Before the Uscis was not asking for the nso copy only the nvc was requiring it. However that is no true now as me and several other members on here having gotten rfe from the uscis nebraska service center

Ig you had been married for a while you could go ahead and start the process. If you just gotten married recently you might wait a little bit. Most petitions for the philippines are approve rather fast

Thank you for your reply. I truly appreciate it. Can I ask what RFE stands for? Looking at your timeline, it took 5 months to apply for your spouse visa after the wedding. Is that something I can expect as far as how long it takes to get the certificate?

[Dennis8 6]

Hi jandjin. I believe RFE stands for "request for evidence". Meaning they weren't satisfied with a particular document or evidence that was sent. Regarding the NSO copy, it took us around 1 month to request from the NSO after we got married. But we asked our local civil registrar to do an "electronic endorsement" (aka expedite the papers to NSO). I believe you have to pay a little extra for it.. Also i cannot vouch that it's only 1 month if you do this where you will get married, only at the local civil registrar where we were married (Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu). So best thing you can do is ask the local civil registrar where you plan to be wed what your options are. Goodluck!

[j&ana 363]

Rfe is request for evident. The uscis will send that if they need more evidence and they will send a letter stating what is needed

The reason i waited after i got married is i decided to move to another city and i had to get another job first. It had nothing to do with waiting on the nso copy of certificate. Of course the extra time i had to wait to file the petition help with the time for the nso to have copy of my marriage certificate

Edited April 12, 2015 by j&ana

[Isabela 20]

Thank you for your reply. I truly appreciate it. Can I ask what RFE stands for? Looking at your timeline, it took 5 months to apply for your spouse visa after the wedding. Is that something I can expect as far as how long it takes to get the certificate?

RFE is Request for Evidence

I got married in the Philippines on September 20, 2014. My package was received by USCIS on October 15, 2014. I sent the local certificate and like J&ANA I received a RFE. I had my wife request a expedite after I left, unfortunately they never sent the package.

When I received the RFE she was able to pick up the marriage certificate from her local register office including the letter of expedite and she sent it to her local NSO. About a week or so it was ready for pickup. I recommend you order multiple copies as they are cheap.

After I submitted the NSO copy with my NSO marriage certificate it was real fast to get approved. If I was you I would submit the package if you have recently been married like I was. If it's been awhile since you have been married then you can get a copy fast and then send the package.

[jandjin 19]

Thank you so much for your detail info and suggestion.

I think I'll go ahead and apply with the local certificate first just to save time. While the NSO gets their system updated, USCIS can process my application, then I will send the NSO certificate if/when USCIS requests for evidence. That'd save me at least few months than wait for NSO to have our marriage certificate ready.

RFE is Request for Evidence

I got married in the Philippines on September 20, 2014. My package was received by USCIS on October 15, 2014. I sent the local certificate and like J&ANA I received a RFE. I had my wife request a expedite after I left, unfortunately they never sent the package.

When I received the RFE she was able to pick up the marriage certificate from her local register office including the letter of expedite and she sent it to her local NSO. About a week or so it was ready for pickup. I recommend you order multiple copies as they are cheap.

After I submitted the NSO copy with my NSO marriage certificate it was real fast to get approved. If I was you I would submit the package if you have recently been married like I was. If it's been awhile since you have been married then you can get a copy fast and then send the package.

[jandjin 19]

According to the site I visited http://pinayvisa.com/getting-married-in-the-philippines.html Cebu office requires that I'm supposed to bring my fiancee to the US consulate, is this the case? Has anyone been to the Cebu office without your fiancee and applied for the affidavit? How long is the line in the morning around 8am? I'm planning to stay over night at the waterfront hotel so that I can save time on the road.

Thank you all.

[j&ana 363]

I do not know how it is done in Cebu. In Manila you do not , but of course my wife, (fiancé ) at the time went with me

Can your fiancé not go with you in Cebu? Is it possible to go to the embassy in Manila?

where are you planning to get married?

[jandjin 19]

I do not know how it is done in Cebu. In Manila you do not , but of course my wife, (fiancé ) at the time went with me

Can your fiancé not go with you in Cebu? Is it possible to go to the embassy in Manila?

where are you planning to get married?

I'm planning to get married in Butuan and she lives very far from the city. If possible I'd like to avoid Manila at all.

[j&ana 363]

oh ok here is the contact (If you do not have it yet) for the Cebu cosular you or your fiancé could try to call or e-mail them

(63 32) 231-1261. To send a fax, dial (63 32) 231-0174. Alternatively, you may contact the Agency by email at ACSInfoManila@state.gov.

[Dennis8 6]

According to the site I visited http://pinayvisa.com/getting-married-in-the-philippines.html Cebu office requires that I'm supposed to bring my fiancee to the US consulate, is this the case? Has anyone been to the Cebu office without your fiancee and applied for the affidavit? How long is the line in the morning around 8am? I'm planning to stay over night at the waterfront hotel so that I can save time on the road.

Thank you all.

For me I did not bring my fiance because the local civil registrar wasn't clear if I should bring her or not. I arrived there at exactly 9AM (consulate is open 9-11 AM) but they actually can start seating you inside with priority numbers around 8:30AM. There were 11 people ahead of me and I finished in around 2hrs and 30mins. I don't know If the consulate officer let is slide because I'm a Filipino (born in US which made me a USC) or if that is an outdated rule. All of the foreigners i saw there brought their fiances. To be safe I would bring my fiance.