Report of Marriage - what else is it needed for?

[-B&T- 1]

I would assume that you are the USC husband....

She could check married and put in the husband data.... the people at DFA could 1) look at it and ask for it, 2) erase it and 3) dont bother with it, since she is still using her single name. It would be a simple passport renewal for her.

Technically, she is still single in the Philippines since her marriage is not reported in the NSO.

Rhea, the OP is the wife (beneficiary) hehehe.

[rheanick 42]

Rhea, the OP is the wife (beneficiary) hehehe.

To I-10 west... this is the result of doing your work, listening to online training and answering VJ posts... LOL

[-B&T- 1]

From what I've read here, if a Filipino gets married abroad, she has to apply for a Report of Marriage (at the PH Consulate/Embassy that has jurisdiction over the place where the marriage took place) so she can apply for/renew a passport in her married name.

If the Filipina is renewing her passport in the Phils WITHOUT changing her surname but indicating (on the passport application form) that she is married to a US citizen, will the DFA still require the submission of an NSO-issued marriage certificate?

Other than for the purpose of changing her name on the passport, is there any other use of the Report of Marriage for the Filipina?

If you married outside the Philippines and will not file a Report of marriage to the Consulate then you don't have any record in Philippines indicating that you are already a married person. I would say that the "advantage" of not reporting the marriage is once the relationship won't work, the Pinay has no record in Philippines that she got married abroad and if she meets another Kano, she will have no problem of acquiring another Visa to re-enter the US and marry her new found love. It already happened to one of the members here, she entered US thru K1 Visa, got married but didn't report her marriage and then the marriage didn't worked, so she divorced her husband and went back to PI, met another kano and she never had any problem at the Embassy on acquiring another K1 Visa again because she was able to provide all the necessary documents and one is that she had no record of being married to her first husband. If she had her first marriage reported, she would have to file an annulment in Philippines. I would say that it's unfair for other people who were in similar situation but can't move on in their lives and have to spend money on annulment but heck, what you can do that is how the Embassy rolls, you provide the necessary documents and be honest with them then you will get the pink!

As for the passport, if you want to keep your maiden name when you apply for a new one that will be fine but better to contact DFA for more info. Good luck and TC.

[rheanick 42]

From what I've read here, if a Filipino gets married abroad, she has to apply for a Report of Marriage (at the PH Consulate/Embassy that has jurisdiction over the place where the marriage took place) so she can apply for/renew a passport in her married name.

If the Filipina is renewing her passport in the Phils WITHOUT changing her surname but indicating (on the passport application form) that she is married to a US citizen, will the DFA still require the submission of an NSO-issued marriage certificate?

Other than for the purpose of changing her name on the passport, is there any other use of the Report of Marriage for the Filipina?

I would be filing a report of marriage this month. One reason, I have some activities in the philippines that i want to use my married name.

One trivial reasoning... i want to consolidate my airline miles. I have been flying here in the US with my married name. I will be flying to asia soon. If i used my single name, the airline might not consider the miles from my asian flight since the names are different.

Also, i would be travelling to other countries that requires visa, i dont want to explain to them that my passport in my single name and my other documents in my maiden name are one and the same. I dont like to complicate my life.

Anyway, it depends on what you are going to do. If you think you dont need to report your marriage, its up to you.

[mshopeful 1]

If the Filipina is renewing her passport in the Phils WITHOUT changing her surname but indicating (on the passport application form) that she is married to a US citizen, will the DFA still require the submission of an NSO-issued marriage certificate?

Just to make sure, tell her to bring the marriage certificate and secure a certificate from NSO that there's no record on file. I was married in SF, when i secured a tourist a visa for Japan they still asked me to get a certificate from NSO certifying that there's no record on file.

[rheanick 42]

Just to make sure, tell her to bring the marriage certificate and secure a certificate from NSO that there's no record on file. I was married in SF, when i secured a tourist a visa for Japan they still asked me to get a certificate from NSO certifying that there's no record on file.

It is easy if you are only visiting one country. But if you are jumping from one country to another... that is a lot of paper works and explanation.

[Pinay Wife 47]

We all know that our U.S marriages are legal, however, should you find the need to present a "marriage contract" in the Philippines, presenting the U.S issued MC will be insufficient w/o the Report of Marriage. Strictly speaking, the government does not recognize the U.S issued marriage contract w/o the Report of Marriage. In theory, your wife is still considered single in the Philippines because her marriage is not registered in the National Statistics Office. Having that report of marriage includes your offshore marriage in the civil registry books of the Philippines.

Not true. This has been explained time and time again. Art. 26 of the Family Code recognizes ALL MARRIAGES outside the Philippines. Not reporting your marriage to the Philippine Embassy does not make one single in the Philippines.

http://www.chanrobles.com/executiveorderno209.htm

“Art. 26. All marriages solemnized outside the Philippines, in accordance with the laws in force in the country where they were solemnized, and valid there as such, shall also be valid in this country, except those prohibited under Articles 35 (1), (4), (5) and (6), 3637 and 38. (17a)

If you married outside the Philippines and will not file a Report of marriage to the Consulate then you don't have any record in Philippines indicating that you are already a married person. I would say that the "advantage" of not reporting the marriage is once the relationship won't work, the Pinay has no record in Philippines that she got married abroad and if she meets another Kano, she will have no problem of acquiring another Visa to re-enter the US and marry her new found love. It already happened to one of the members here, she entered US thru K1 Visa, got married but didn't report her marriage and then the marriage didn't worked, so she divorced her husband and went back to PI, met another kano and she never had any problem at the Embassy on acquiring another K1 Visa again because she was able to provide all the necessary documents and one is that she had no record of being married to her first husband. If she had her first marriage reported, she would have to file an annulment in Philippines. I would say that it's unfair for other people who were in similar situation but can't move on in their lives and have to spend money on annulment but heck, what you can do that is how the Embassy rolls, you provide the necessary documents and be honest with them then you will get the pink!

Again not true. A CENOMAR only certifies that no marriage was solemnized in the Philippines but that does not mean that the Philippines does not recognize a marriage that was solemnized abroad if one does exist. Art. 26 of the Family Code is clear as quoted above that marriages solemnized abroad are also valid in the Philippines.

The Pinay whose divorce was recognized by the US Embassy even if she was the one who initiated it was granted a visa because she married in the US under US laws where divorce is recognized. Assuming for the sake of argument that the Pinay's US marriage was reported to the Philippine Embassy, she cannot petition a Philippine court to declare a US marriage null and void because the Philippines has no jurisdiction over a US marriage. Had she married in the Philippines, under Philippine laws, the divorce would not be recognized in the Philippines hence she would have needed to file an annulment.

Edited February 12, 2010 by Pinay Wife

[-B&T- 1]

Not true. This has been explained time and time again. Art. 26 of the Family Code recognizes ALL MARRIAGES outside the Philippines. Not reporting your marriage to the Philippine Embassy does not make one single in the Philippines.

http://www.chanrobles.com/executiveorderno209.htm

"Art. 26. All marriages solemnized outside the Philippines, in accordance with the laws in force in the country where they were solemnized, and valid there as such, shall also be valid in this country, except those prohibited under Articles 35 (1), (4), (5) and (6), 3637 and 38. (17a)

Again not true. A CENOMAR only certifies that no marriage was conducted in the Philippines but that does not mean that the Philippines does not recognize a marriage that was solemnized abroad if one does exist. Art. 26 of the Family Code is clear as quoted above that marriages solemnized abroad are also valid in the Philippines.

The Pinay whose divorce was recognized by the US Embassy even if she was the one who initiated it was granted a visa because she married in the US under US laws where divorce is recognized. Assuming for the sake of argument that the Pinay's US marriage was reported with the Philippine Embassy, she cannot petition a Philippine court to declare a US marriage null and void because the Philippines has no jurisdiction over a US marriage. Had she married in the Philippines, under Philippine laws, the divorce would not be recognized in the Philippines hence she would have needed to file an annulment.

Maybe Philippine Government should do something on this. I would call it cheating when somebody goes to the NSO and request for CENOMAR when in fact the person was married overseas but neglected to file a report of marriage while abroad.NSO should not grant any request right away and make a little investigation if the person is really single or not.

[Armenia 18]

Thanks everyone. Your input have been very informative/educational.

On my first question (Is the marriage certificate required for passport renewal of Filipina who will not use husband's name)

- I'll just literally go with what's on the DFA's application form. See post #14. I have no time to renew it here in Canada. If Manila will not renew it, then I'll just renew it when I get to the US (and the ROM has already been recorded by the NSO). My passport is good until 2012 anyway but I do want to get the new passport (MRP or ePassport) which is why I'm "atat na atat" to renew it in Manila.

On my second question (Other purposes/uses of the ROM)

- Thanks for sharing your own reasons/experiences. I know I will need/use it + a dual citizenship (in the future) when taking care of our (FYI, my husband is also Pinoy) properties and legal matters in PH.

On the ensuing discussion about Art. 26.

- Interesting comments from others. It actually deserves its own thread.

[Pinay Wife 47]

Maybe Philippine Government should do something on this. I would call it cheating when somebody goes to the NSO and request for CENOMAR when in fact the person was married overseas but neglected to file a report of marriage while abroad.NSO should not grant any request right away and make a little investigation if the person is really single or not.

If someone knowingly hides/denies the fact that he/she is married, then that's cheating.

In the case of the Pinay who married in the US then initiated divorce but was not able to report the marriage to the Philippine Embassy, she did not cheat because she was unceremoniously sent home by the abusive husband. It was through no fault of hers that the marriage went unreported. There was no way for her to report her US marriage to Philippine authorities when she arrived in the Philippines because the MC needed to go through the consular process (via the Philippine Embassy) since it was a certificate issued by a foreign government.

Also, she declared her previous marriage in the petition and her US visa application. She did not hide her marriage.

[skidivawannabe 2]

Maybe Philippine Government should do something on this. I would call it cheating when somebody goes to the NSO and request for CENOMAR when in fact the person was married overseas but neglected to file a report of marriage while abroad.NSO should not grant any request right away and make a little investigation if the person is really single or not.

I hate to get showbiz, but I think this is the crack Ruffa Guttierez's case went thru. She married a USC years before her marriage to Yilmaz Bektas. It was only years later that her US marriage was revealed

Thanks for correcting me with art 26 - -legally, I stand corrected. However, I will have to emphasize, the foreign marriage contract per se (not the marriage) is NOT accepted as proof of your new legal civil status w/o the proper report of marriage. So if you plan to change your Social Security records, Phil Health records, etc...You will need it. Like I said, unless you have intentions of "keeping your life" in the Philippines, the report of marriage is somewhat useless.

I reported our marriage because I'm open to relocating back to the Philippines if things don't get any better here LOL. Plus, I want an official record in NSO just because. Also, I thought it would be a good document to include as proof of bonafide marriage

As for my name, I had wanted to keep my surname, but was advised by the lawyer to just use my husband's surname to avoid complications and questions. Okay fine. I'll revert back to my maiden name (or at least a hyphenated version of it) on my business cards, etc.

[-B&T- 1]

Not true. This has been explained time and time again. Art. 26 of the Family Code recognizes ALL MARRIAGES outside the Philippines. Not reporting your marriage to the Philippine Embassy does not make one single in the Philippines.

If this is really true then NSO should not released Certificate of No Marriage to the person who was married outside Philippines. Philippine authorities should investigate and require the applicant who have gone abroad to submit some type of document indicating he/she didn't get married and therefore, entitled to get his/her CENOMAR. It should not be like "Don't ask, don't tell" policy there in NSO were you just pay the fees and your request is granted. It is also unfair for other Pinays that reported their marriage at the Consulate then the marriage turned sour, got divorced and now stuck with the annulment process which is very costly. I will be happy if there's divorce in PI that will make things easy but it may never happen.

Sorry, maybe the word cheating is a bit harsh I will just call it "unfair" lol . I am happy for our fellow VJer. She had gone through a lot and deserves a second chance.

[Pinay Wife 47]

I hate to get showbiz, but I think this is the crack Ruffa Guttierez's case went thru. She married a USC years before her marriage to Yilmaz Bektas. It was only years later that her US marriage was revealed

Napag-uusapan na rin lang ang showbiz hehe : Gabby Concepcion same case din. Bigamous ang marriage kay Sharon because he was also married in the US to someone else. Pero walang sikretong di nabubunyag and eventually it messed up their lives. Dagdag chismis. Kaya pala inampon ni Kiko Pangilinan si KC para hindi maging illegitimate yung bata (ay dalaga na pala!). According to Philippine laws, children born out of a bigamous relationship are considered illegitimate (ang lupit!).

Ang hirap maging babae, papalit-palit ng apelyido haaaayyyy. I have yet to report my marriage to the Philippine Embassy and it's been almost 3 years since I married here. Wala pang time to fly to San Francisco or Los Angeles. Magastos masyado mag-report ng marriage at magpalit ng passport haaaayyyy....

[skidivawannabe 2]

Napag-uusapan na rin lang ang showbiz hehe : Gabby Concepcion same case din. Bigamous ang marriage kay Sharon because he was also married in the US to someone else. Pero walang sikretong di nabubunyag and eventually it messed up their lives. Dagdag chismis. Kaya pala inampon ni Kiko Pangilinan si KC para hindi maging illegitimate yung bata (ay dalaga na pala!). According to Philippine laws, children born out of a bigamous relationship are considered illegitimate (ang lupit!).

Ang hirap maging babae, papalit-palit ng apelyido haaaayyyy. I have yet to report my marriage to the Philippine Embassy and it's been almost 3 years since I married here. Wala pang time to fly to San Francisco or Los Angeles. Magastos masyado mag-report ng marriage at magpalit ng passport haaaayyyy....

I think you can do it online check the website of sf consulate.

[Armenia 18]

Napag-uusapan na rin lang ang showbiz hehe : Gabby Concepcion same case din. Bigamous ang marriage kay Sharon because he was also married in the US to someone else. Pero walang sikretong di nabubunyag and eventually it messed up their lives. Dagdag chismis. Kaya pala inampon ni Kiko Pangilinan si KC para hindi maging illegitimate yung bata (ay dalaga na pala!). According to Philippine laws, children born out of a bigamous relationship are considered illegitimate (ang lupit!).

Ang hirap maging babae, papalit-palit ng apelyido haaaayyyy. I have yet to report my marriage to the Philippine Embassy and it's been almost 3 years since I married here. Wala pang time to fly to San Francisco or Los Angeles. Magastos masyado mag-report ng marriage at magpalit ng passport haaaayyyy....

Most Consular Services can be done by mail. That's what I do here (in Canada). Their forms will say if something needs to be notarized and/or authenticated before mailing to them. Cheaper nga dyan sa US. When I had my marriage registration authenticated by the Phil Consulate by mail, I had to have it notarized muna then I had to have the notary public's signature authenticated by the Society of Notaries Public of the province. Notarization was $24, authentication was $45. That doesn't include all the mailing fees with tracking. Sa US, notarization can cost as low as $2 per document, authentication of the notary public's signature also cost just $2.

But even with all those expenses, I still opted for mailing in. It was still cheaper than a plane ticket and hotel expenses.

Hay naku, I could have filed an ROM when I had my marriage registration authenticated by mail. Kaso, I only learned of the ROM this week while reading this board. Huli na. The authenticated marriage reg is already on the way back to me and I can't send it back to "re-use" it for the ROM application because I have to mail it to the Phils ASAP.

Anyway, try mailing in the ROM application. It takes longer but it's cheaper than going there yourself.