Do you need parental consent to marry if you are 20 years old? K1 visa

[Andy and Pui 16]

I have a friend who is doing a k1 visa and his fiance will have her interview next month in Manila. His fiance is 20 years old. Does she need any type of parental consent document be brought to the interview? There is not problem getting a document just want to make sure they have all their ducks in a row. Thanks.

[The Mean Lady 604]

no...

[julitathomas0810 30]

Marriage applicants who are age 18 to 21 must have parental consent in writing, those age 21 to 25 must have written parental advice . Is that true of the Philippines ? I noticed that the country was Thailand , but posted for a friend . And in the Philippines section of VJ . I do not know about he interview . but the CFO will most likely ask to see the consent .

[The Mean Lady 604]

You don't need parental consent to marry in the US at the age of 20.

So, unless this is a "cultural" thing they like to keep in tact, marrying in the US is of no concern to the parents once that person steps on US soil

[Artisan 138]

Unless the US Embassy is keen on breaking Filipino law there is a LEGAL requirement for Filipinos from age 18-21 to have signed parental permission to marry and must have signed parental advice if they wish to marry between 22 and 25. When you apply for a K-1 you will marry in the US, however the CFO will (and the US Embassy should) require you to present proof that your fiance is legally able to marry and that will include parental permission/advice and a CENOMAR.

[The Mean Lady 604]

Unless the US Embassy is keen on breaking Filipino law there is a LEGAL requirement for Filipinos from age 18-21 to have signed parental permission to marry and must have signed parental advice if they wish to marry between 22 and 25. When you apply for a K-1 you will marry in the US, however the CFO will (and the US Embassy should) require you to present proof that your fiance is legally able to marry and that will include parental permission/advice and a CENOMAR.

I clearly said 'unless it's a cultural thing they like to keep in tact'

Which it apparently is.

Edited June 15, 2013 by KDH

[Artisan 138]

I clearly said 'unless it's a cultural thing they like to keep in tact'

Which it apparently is.

I am not quite sure why you would consider the law a 'cultural thing'. It's no different than any age requirement here in the US (e.g. alcohol use or voting). Unlike US citizens, Filipinos cannot emigrate without getting permission from their government. As part of the documentation required by the CFO (Commission on Filipinos Overseas) an emigrant generally is requested to prove they are following local laws, especially as they regard marriage since a large part of the mandate given the CFO is to help reduce human trafficking.

[Hank_ 9,174]

I have a friend who is doing a k1 visa and his fiance will have her interview next month in Manila. His fiance is 20 years old. Does she need any type of parental consent document be brought to the interview? There is not problem getting a document just want to make sure they have all their ducks in a row. Thanks.

No the embassy does not require a consent letter and will not ask for one. BUT CFO will very likely ask for one.

** From the Family Code of the Philippines: it's 21-25 years old for advice and 18-21 years old for consent. (Some are posted on VJ that they were not asked for this, yet others have been asked, so be prepared)

[Hank_ 9,174]

Unless the US Embassy is keen on breaking Filipino law there is a LEGAL requirement for Filipinos from age 18-21 to have signed parental permission to marry and must have signed parental advice if they wish to marry between 22 and 25. When you apply for a K-1 you will marry in the US, however the CFO will (and the US Embassy should) require you to present proof that your fiance is legally able to marry and that will include parental permission/advice and a CENOMAR.

U.S. embassy isn't breaking any laws... jeez! All that matter is the state laws in the U.S. for getting married and in many states the age of consent is 18.

CFO is another story as its a branch of the Philippine government.

[Darnell 8,479]

ya, there's a huge CFO requirement based on the age of the beneficiary.

check into that, nowish.

[nj27 2]

Yes for CFO

[Cyclone 4]

Yes parental permission is required for CFO.. If you don't go to CFO, you cant board your plane.

[Artisan 138]

U.S. embassy isn't breaking any laws... jeez! All that matter is the state laws in the U.S. for getting married and in many states the age of consent is 18.

CFO is another story as its a branch of the Philippine government.

Removing a Filipino from the Philippines under the age of 25 for the purposes of marriage without parental consent or advice (based on their age) is considered by the CFO to be engaging in human trafficking under R.A. 9028. So yes, by facilitating the emigration of someone under the age of 25 for the purposes of marrying a foreigner without parental consent or advice, it would be a violation of the law. That is why I said the US Embassy SHOULD require the parental permission form, not that they DO require it. This is also why, as of late, the CFO has been even more strict about what documents they require from fiances and spouses of foreign citizens because the various foreign embassies are not doing a decent enough job at protecting emigrating Filipinos from exploitation and coercive marriages. It has been exceptionally bad in regards to Japan and South Korea but there are still numerous cases that require intervention in the US every year.

Edited June 16, 2013 by Artisan

[Andy and Pui 16]

Ok. Thanks for the replies everybody. I'll let my friend know they should have the consent form for the embassy if they ask for it and definitely have it for the CFO. They did not know about the CFO and I had to tell him that she will it need before they will let her leave the country.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Removing a Filipino from the Philippines under the age of 25 for the purposes of marriage without parental consent or advice (based on their age) is considered by the CFO to be engaging in human trafficking under R.A. 9028. So yes, by facilitating the emigration of someone under the age of 25 for the purposes of marrying a foreigner without parental consent or advice, it would be a violation of the law. That is why I said the US Embassy SHOULD require the parental permission form, not that they DO require it. This is also why, as of late, the CFO has been even more strict about what documents they require from fiances and spouses of foreign citizens because the various foreign embassies are not doing a decent enough job at protecting emigrating Filipinos from exploitation and coercive marriages. It has been exceptionally bad in regards to Japan and South Korea but there are still numerous cases that require intervention in the US every year.

I guess the Philippine government better call out the army and surround the embassy then.... Really? !! Your cheese is sliding off your cracker .. stating the U.S embassy is involved in trafficking.... get a reality check.

R.A. 9028 is a Philippine law, not a U.S. law... the embassy is U.S. soil and is not an entity of the Philippine government so its not going to enforce a foreign countries laws.

CFO is the place for the consent and/or advice letter, after all IT IS a Philippine government entity. So don't worry your head, CFO is handling it.

~