Marital Status question

[merdok 0]

I would like to ask what to write in my marital status (visa application form) if my previous marriage is already legally annulled? Single(never married)? divorced? separated?

[TracyTN 237]

You've answered your own question. Annulled. Obviously that is the only option that is valid in your situation, right?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

I bought a red leather jacket. My daughter asked me what color it is: green, blue, white, black, or red. What do you think I should tell her?

[Bobby+Umit 161]

I would like to ask what to write in my marital status (visa application form) if my previous marriage is already legally annulled? Single(never married)? divorced? separated?

In the eyes of the law, an "annulment" means the marriage never happened - so I would put "single", since it didn't happen.

However, you would need to prove the annulement (certificate or something stating that).

[merdok 0]

I bought a red leather jacket. My daughter asked me what color it is: green, blue, white, black, or red. What do you think I should tell her?

I am very sorry, I made a mistake. The options in the form are 1.single (never married),2. divorced, 3. separated

[TracyTN 237]

We don't have the forms in front of us (nor do you even tell us which exact one you're referring to).

If there's not an 'annulled' option, is there an 'other' option where you can write annulled? If not, I would select 'divorced' and write out 'annulled' above it/beside it to eliminate confusion.

But obviously, single (never married) or separated do not apply.

[Minya's wife 24]

I am very sorry, I made a mistake. The options in the form are 1.single (never married),2. divorced, 3. separated

Annulment is when a marriage is declared null and void, as if it never existed in the first place. So given the three choices you have, I would go with 1. Single (never married)....

[Bernie C 24]

You'd best seek the advice from other PI filers. You'll likely get some debate from others.

My first marriage was annuled after we were divorced. Technically an annulment is retroactive so in the "Church State" you may be considered single - never married, however in the "legal state" I always discclose it as being divorced as I do not believe that the US government considers annulment when relevant to legal proceedings.

I say this based on past personal experience and not on factual law.

The PI pooks at things differently so I'd take the advice of others who have gone through the Manilla consulate to see how they answered the question.

[TracyTN 237]

You'd best seek the advice from other PI filers. You'll likely get some debate from others.

My first marriage was annuled after we were divorced. Technically an annulment is retroactive so in the "Church State" you may be considered single - never married, however in the "legal state" I always discclose it as being divorced as I do not believe that the US government considers annulment when relevant to legal proceedings.

I say this based on past personal experience and not on factual law.

The PI pooks at things differently so I'd take the advice of others who have gone through the Manilla consulate to see how they answered the question.

Good point. The experiences I had heard lead me to my answer above, but London is London and Manila is Manila.

Moving thread from K1 process forum to consular forum to hopefully get more specific answers.

Edited March 30, 2010 by TracyTN

[merdok 0]

Good point. The experiences I had heard lead me to my answer above, but London is London and Manila is Manila.

Moving thread from K1 process forum to consular forum to hopefully get more specific answers.

Thank you everyone...I hope someone in the PI can answer my question.

[merdok 0]

In the eyes of the law, an "annulment" means the marriage never happened - so I would put "single", since it didn't happen.

However, you would need to prove the annulement (certificate or something stating that).

Thank You Bobby!

[Bernie C 24]

Good point. The experiences I had heard lead me to my answer above, but London is London and Manila is Manila.

Moving thread from K1 process forum to consular forum to hopefully get more specific answers.

Yeah, I get really confused when this topic comes up for PI filiers. I have read that they do not recognize divorce in the PI, so if there is no divorce decree then how do they address it on US documents. Still an area I need to learn more about if I'm ever to be of much use on this topic!

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

As I understand it, the Philippines are in a very small group of countries that go against the stream. In most countries of the world, it's extremely difficult to get an annulment once the marriage has been consumed. Heck, the Prince of Wales and Diana tried it and even they couldn't pull that off. In the PI, it's difficult to get divorced, so annulment is the common practice to undo a marriage. That's difficult to get into a Westener's head, so by common sense an annulled marriage has never been taken place, but by PI standards is a divorce. Just crazy . . .

[johnnybgood265 3]

hello

you will answer that SEPARATED that what i did too when i fill-up my papers when i was in the phils. im annuled too. if you have any other question dont hesitate to ask im willing to help..

god bless

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

In the PI, it's difficult to get divorced, so annulment is the common practice to undo a marriage. That's difficult to get into a Westener's head, so by common sense an annulled marriage has never been taken place, but by PI standards is a divorce. Just crazy . . .

Not difficult, it's impossible to get divorced in the Philippines so annulment is the ONLY option and it can take years!

But wait, there's more...

If a Filipino is married to a foreigner and gets legally divorced in the foreign country the Philippine Gov't will only recognize the divorce if it was filed by the foreign spouse not the Filipino! Then even that recognition requires legal filing which can take a considerable amount of time.

There have been cases where a K-1 Visa was issued to a Filipino who had initiated (and completed) divorce against their foreign spouse but they still couldn't leave the country because the Philippines requires a "CFO" (Commission on Filipinos Overseas) endorsement in their Visa to leave the country but they won't issue said endorsement to a fiancé/fiancée Visa holder who is still legally married in the Philippines...