CENOMAR questions (split threads)

[Mag-Asawa 1]

NO they can't get married in the Philippines with just a Court Decision. They need the Certificate of Finality/ Entry of Judgement with an Annotated Marriage Certificate and Cenomar/ cemar to get married here. So technically by Philippine law, she is not yet FREE to marry.

The other party can still appeal after a Court decision, that is why there is a standard waiting time before issuing the Certificate of Finality. Actually I was told by my lawyers it was 3 months.

In my case, I have my decision in February, Certificate of Finality and Entry of Judgement in June. Filed all the LCR/NSO/PSA process and had my Annotated MC by August.

I am sorry to say - you still have to wait for a few more months.

When we sent our I-129 F, I attached everything on my annulment document and annotated MC. I did not attached a Cenomar. I submitted the cenomar/cemar during the interview and she asked for my annulment papers but I did not submit my annotated MC.

Submitting a decision now with your I-129f is in violation of "Free to Marry" and all previous marriages has been legally terminated clause.

Christina - do you remember how long it took for you to get the CENOMAR/CEMAR from NSO? Just curious, because I recall being told by the attorney who handled my fiancée's annulment case that it would only take about 3 days or so after the documents are received at NSO/PSA. Have seen others here at VJ mention that they were able to get theirs in about 4 days. Please see my next post below, in case you have any input/advice...thx!

[Mag-Asawa 1]

Need some advice..my fiancée received her certificate of finality back in November. Her annulment was then registered at the local LCR (where the annulment was granted) and that process took about 2 weeks. Then my fiancée took the documents from the local LCR and travelled to the place she was married and registered it there. That only took one day, and her documents were sent by LBC to the NSO/PSA. That was in mid-December. Before my fiancée went to the province where she was married, an acquaintance/"friend" of hers with detailed knowledge of the annulment registration process at NSO had offered to help follow up on it once the documents were sent to NSO from the LCR where she was married originally. We gave the "friend" peso to pay for the copy of the CENOMAR from the NSO and for her travel expenses to Manila. I say "friend" because my fiancée trusts her, but I don't really know her and I don't entirely trust her based on some inconsistencies and outright untruths that she has told in the past.

Anyway, it took the "friend" about 1 1/2 months before we finally received a text message from her saying that she was at NSO, but only after I asked my fiancee to send her a text message insisting that she go there ASAP because she was now holding us up. On Feb 4 her text message to my fiancee said "mam and2 ako s NSO. tentative date po feb 22..kung walang problema s mga doc nating, makukuha ko sya on said date. Tnx po" But as I said, I don't entirely trust everything the "friend" says. She could have just as easily been texting my fiancée from her home, but telling my fiancée that she was at NSO. My gut tells me that the "friend" likely spent some of the peso on something else and is now scrambling to come up with the peso needed to fulfill her obligations.

Feb 22 is almost 2 months after NSO received the documentation from the LCR. Questions:

1. Does anyone know how long it normally takes to receive the CENOMAR after NSO/PSA receives the documentation from the LCR?

2. Does anyone know how much it costs to get the copy of the CENOMAR from the NSO once the annulment has been registered?

3. Any advice anyone? Based on how long it's taken so far, is this unusual? Should I send my fiancée down to Manila herself or wait until Feb 22nd?

I don't want to wait until Feb 22nd to find out that the "friend's" story is BS, or that she will come up with another reason/delay on Feb 22. Based on your experience, if the CENOMAR should be available at this point and I'm getting a "fish story" from her friend, then I will probably ask my fiancée to make a trip down there herself. On the other hand, if 2 months seems about right to get the CENOMAR from NSO after they've received all of the necessary documentation from the LCR, then I will probably decide to just wait it out another week or so. It's not about having patience...6 years waiting for the annulment to be finished has definitely taught me a lesson about patience. But the real issue here is that I already have plane tickets bought to go there 7-20 March to support my fiancée through the medical exam, CFO seminar and then the interview also (all of it in two weeks), based on the friend's story that my fiancée will have her CENOMAR on Feb 22. Bottom line is that I need to ensure that my fiancée has the CENOMAR, annotated marriage certificate, etc (whatever documents we need to produce at the interview from NSO related to her annulment and her "singleness" now) in her hand before I leave here on March 6.

Sorry for the long post, but wanted to make sure I explained the full story in order to get the best advice based on my situation...thanks!

[Pitaya 2,576]

~two thread hijack thread attempts (member-reported) moved to own posting~

~rather than confuse an ongoing thread, start a new post with your new inquiry~

Pitaya

VJ Moderation

Edited February 14, 2016 by Pitaya

[Greenbaum 12,258]

These are the steps that we completed. Where it states "divorce" replace with "annulment" as it's the same process for either.

Here is how it works: (You might have done some of the steps that's ok... just walk through each step to completion)

1. Once you attain the divorce you will need the decision of the divorce (works also for an annulment), entry of judgment, then the decree of divorce (annulment).
2. Then you’ll need to secure copy of the marriage contract with the divorce (annulment) annotated on it. A total of four documents.
3. You’ll need to wait 20 days from receipt of the Solicitor General of copy of the decision before you can secure the Entry of Judgment.
4. After securing the Entry of Judgment, you will have to register the same to the Local Civil Registrar where the marriage took place or Filipino’s hometown. The said office will transmit the same to the NSO.
You will show the Court what date the LCR transmitted the documents to the NSO. With the proof of receipt of the NSO, the Court will then issue the Decree of Divorce (Annulment). After 15 days from receipt of the NSO of your documents, you can now request a copy of the marriage contract with the annotated divorce (annulment) proceedings. You need to request at least 4 certified copies for future use.

This is our timeline and it's pretty much the same for anyone processing a divorce/annulment.

[cristina16 81]

Need some advice..my fiancée received her certificate of finality back in November. Her annulment was then registered at the local LCR (where the annulment was granted) and that process took about 2 weeks. Then my fiancée took the documents from the local LCR and travelled to the place she was married and registered it there. That only took one day, and her documents were sent by LBC to the NSO/PSA. That was in mid-December. Before my fiancée went to the province where she was married, an acquaintance/"friend" of hers with detailed knowledge of the annulment registration process at NSO had offered to help follow up on it once the documents were sent to NSO from the LCR where she was married originally. We gave the "friend" peso to pay for the copy of the CENOMAR from the NSO and for her travel expenses to Manila. I say "friend" because my fiancée trusts her, but I don't really know her and I don't entirely trust her based on some inconsistencies and outright untruths that she has told in the past.

Anyway, it took the "friend" about 1 1/2 months before we finally received a text message from her saying that she was at NSO, but only after I asked my fiancee to send her a text message insisting that she go there ASAP because she was now holding us up. On Feb 4 her text message to my fiancee said "mam and2 ako s NSO. tentative date po feb 22..kung walang problema s mga doc nating, makukuha ko sya on said date. Tnx po" But as I said, I don't entirely trust everything the "friend" says. She could have just as easily been texting my fiancée from her home, but telling my fiancée that she was at NSO. My gut tells me that the "friend" likely spent some of the peso on something else and is now scrambling to come up with the peso needed to fulfill her obligations.

Feb 22 is almost 2 months after NSO received the documentation from the LCR. Questions:

1. Does anyone know how long it normally takes to receive the CENOMAR after NSO/PSA receives the documentation from the LCR?

2. Does anyone know how much it costs to get the copy of the CENOMAR from the NSO once the annulment has been registered?

3. Any advice anyone? Based on how long it's taken so far, is this unusual? Should I send my fiancée down to Manila herself or wait until Feb 22nd?

I don't want to wait until Feb 22nd to find out that the "friend's" story is BS, or that she will come up with another reason/delay on Feb 22. Based on your experience, if the CENOMAR should be available at this point and I'm getting a "fish story" from her friend, then I will probably ask my fiancée to make a trip down there herself. On the other hand, if 2 months seems about right to get the CENOMAR from NSO after they've received all of the necessary documentation from the LCR, then I will probably decide to just wait it out another week or so. It's not about having patience...6 years waiting for the annulment to be finished has definitely taught me a lesson about patience. But the real issue here is that I already have plane tickets bought to go there 7-20 March to support my fiancée through the medical exam, CFO seminar and then the interview also (all of it in two weeks), based on the friend's story that my fiancée will have her CENOMAR on Feb 22. Bottom line is that I need to ensure that my fiancée has the CENOMAR, annotated marriage certificate, etc (whatever documents we need to produce at the interview from NSO related to her annulment and her "singleness" now) in her hand before I leave here on March 6.

Sorry for the long post, but wanted to make sure I explained the full story in order to get the best advice based on my situation...thanks!

Hi! only one way to find out. Where is your fiancee from? Go to the local NSO in her province and apply for a copy of MC. MC first before Cenomar/ Cemar to be sure. The MC will have an annotation of the annulment. Then apply for a cenomar, if she go to the local NSO, this will only take a day max of waiting or minimum few hours. NSO/PSA has an online sytem, they can print MC. Cenomar/ Cemar anywhere.

She can also apply in any SM Mall branches, go to the business center in SM and ask, waiting time is one week if applied through SM.

When the Docs were sent from LCR to NSO/ PSA normally that will take only 7 working days. But the thing is LCR are not sending it right away; they collate then send them.

When I applied for my MC after annulment, I went to NSO main (because I am from Metro Manila so it was easy for me to go) after 5 days from filing at LCR. I applied for my annotated MC; of course they don't have it yet on file since LCR don't send docs right away. I submitted copies of my annulment docs and came back after 1 week to claim my annotated MC.

Considering that you did all the filing in mid December - your docs should be in NSO system by now. For LCR to NSO until they actually encode it in the system should take a month or so depending on NSO load.

By the way, if the "friend" is not from LCR she cannot process and claim your PSA / NSO papers, did your fiancee gave her an authorization letter? Even my daughter was not allowed to claim my MC and Cenomar / Cemar. Of course I gave the lady H____ on the phone. I asked if I need to send an authorization for my daughter when I filed for the docs and the one lady said no; then the other lady asked for it when my aighter was claiming the docs. They cannot be inconsistent on that considering my daughter's middle name is my maiden name- duh! obvious relationship.

You can actually order NSo docs on-line. I am not sure if you can do it in the US and have it delivered to your fiancee's address in PH. They are using a reliable courier service comparable to fedex. You fiancee can also order it online of course.

here's the website: https://www.ecensus.com.ph/Default.aspx

[Kay&Tony 3]

Hello!

I sent the necessary documents (Finality, etc..endorsement letter frmo LCR) to NSO via LBC October 11, 2015 and when I ordered my CENOMAR/CEMAR with the Declaration of Nullity remarks about two weeks ago, it shows that it was enrolled in their database on December 31, 2015. I was also told by my lawyer beforehand that it will take around 2 months for NSO to update their records.

Has the Local Registry Office where the marriage was recorded given her the NSO annotated Marriage Certificate?

[Mag-Asawa 1]

These are the steps that we completed. Where it states "divorce" replace with "annulment" as it's the same process for either.

Here is how it works: (You might have done some of the steps that's ok... just walk through each step to completion)

1. Once you attain the divorce you will need the decision of the divorce (works also for an annulment), entry of judgment, then the decree of divorce (annulment).

2. Then you’ll need to secure copy of the marriage contract with the divorce (annulment) annotated on it. A total of four documents.

3. You’ll need to wait 20 days from receipt of the Solicitor General of copy of the decision before you can secure the Entry of Judgment.

4. After securing the Entry of Judgment, you will have to register the same to the Local Civil Registrar where the marriage took place or Filipino’s hometown. The said office will transmit the same to the NSO.

You will show the Court what date the LCR transmitted the documents to the NSO. With the proof of receipt of the NSO, the Court will then issue the Decree of Divorce (Annulment). After 15 days from receipt of the NSO of your documents, you can now request a copy of the marriage contract with the annotated divorce (annulment) proceedings. You need to request at least 4 certified copies for future use.

This is our timeline and it's pretty much the same for anyone processing a divorce/annulment.

OK..thanks!

[Mag-Asawa 1]

Hi! only one way to find out. Where is your fiancee from? Go to the local NSO in her province and apply for a copy of MC. MC first before Cenomar/ Cemar to be sure. The MC will have an annotation of the annulment. Then apply for a cenomar, if she go to the local NSO, this will only take a day max of waiting or minimum few hours. NSO/PSA has an online sytem, they can print MC. Cenomar/ Cemar anywhere.

She can also apply in any SM Mall branches, go to the business center in SM and ask, waiting time is one week if applied through SM.

When the Docs were sent from LCR to NSO/ PSA normally that will take only 7 working days. But the thing is LCR are not sending it right away; they collate then send them.

When I applied for my MC after annulment, I went to NSO main (because I am from Metro Manila so it was easy for me to go) after 5 days from filing at LCR. I applied for my annotated MC; of course they don't have it yet on file since LCR don't send docs right away. I submitted copies of my annulment docs and came back after 1 week to claim my annotated MC.

Considering that you did all the filing in mid December - your docs should be in NSO system by now. For LCR to NSO until they actually encode it in the system should take a month or so depending on NSO load.

By the way, if the "friend" is not from LCR she cannot process and claim your PSA / NSO papers, did your fiancee gave her an authorization letter? Even my daughter was not allowed to claim my MC and Cenomar / Cemar. Of course I gave the lady H____ on the phone. I asked if I need to send an authorization for my daughter when I filed for the docs and the one lady said no; then the other lady asked for it when my aighter was claiming the docs. They cannot be inconsistent on that considering my daughter's middle name is my maiden name- duh! obvious relationship.

You can actually order NSo docs on-line. I am not sure if you can do it in the US and have it delivered to your fiancee's address in PH. They are using a reliable courier service comparable to fedex. You fiancee can also order it online of course.

here's the website: https://www.ecensus.com.ph/Default.aspx

Thanks for the advice! Yes..she gave her friend an authorization letter back in January, so we don't expect to have any issues related to that. After chatting with my fiancée this past weekend, we've decided to give it a few more days and see what happens on the 22nd. As far as I know, on that day my fiancée is supposed to receive from her friend the rest of the documents that she needs to be prepared for her interview at the embassy. However, if we get another excuse, etc. from the friend, then my fiancée is planning to make a trip to NSO herself. She's in Pampanga..the closest NSO office to her is in San Fernando..much easier for her than traveling to NSO main in Manila. I checked out the NSO online option you suggested, and it's not possible to order it from the US and have it delivered to her in PH. If I order it from here, it has to be delivered to a US address. Yes, she can certainly order it online...but she would still need to go to BDO in person to pay the fees, because she doesn't have a BDO or Metrobank account. Thank you for all of the information you provided..it was very helpful!

[Mag-Asawa 1]

Hello!

I sent the necessary documents (Finality, etc..endorsement letter frmo LCR) to NSO via LBC October 11, 2015 and when I ordered my CENOMAR/CEMAR with the Declaration of Nullity remarks about two weeks ago, it shows that it was enrolled in their database on December 31, 2015. I was also told by my lawyer beforehand that it will take around 2 months for NSO to update their records.

Has the Local Registry Office where the marriage was recorded given her the NSO annotated Marriage Certificate?

Hi,

I'm confused..the NSO annotated marriage certificate would come from the NSO, not the Local Civil Registry Office, correct? She doesn't have that yet, that is what she is expecting to receive next Monday Feb 22, as far as I know. She was given certified copies of some document by the LCRO where she was originally married, after she registered the annulment there..but I'm not sure what document she was given. It was probably the endorsement letter you mentioned. I was chatting with my fiancée tonight, and she received a text message from her friend that she will receive the NSO MC next Monday Feb 22, and the CENOMAR one day later. So it appears that everything will be done soon, and I guess we will see what happens next week. Thanks so much for your reply, and the info you provided..it was very helpful!

[Hank_ 9,172]

Hi,

I'm confused..the NSO annotated marriage certificate would come from the NSO, not the Local Civil Registry Office, correct? She doesn't have that yet, that is what she is expecting to receive next Monday Feb 22, as far as I know. She was given certified copies of some document by the LCRO where she was originally married, after she registered the annulment there..but I'm not sure what document she was given. It was probably the endorsement letter you mentioned. I was chatting with my fiancée tonight, and she received a text message from her friend that she will receive the NSO MC next Monday Feb 22, and the CENOMAR one day later. So it appears that everything will be done soon, and I guess we will see what happens next week. Thanks so much for your reply, and the info you provided..it was very helpful!

Yes from PSA (use to be NSO). The annotated PSA CENOMAR/CEMAR is what you need also.