Cebu Consulate and Marriage certificate

[j&ana 363]

I forgot the joint sponsor income needs to be from USA

[coa24 69]

What kind of visa would you use then? Would you do the initial tourist/business visa and then later see if you can switch it? Or keep the tourist/business visa and exit and enter the country every 59 days, or a completely different kind of visa? I already have a willing joint sponsor that will be from USA, so that would not be a problem and saving money wouldn't be a major issue either.

Edited November 11, 2014 by coa24

[coa24 69]

Also what are the chances of being approved for DCF if you did establish permanent residence in the Philippines for 6 months? We are still leaning toward the Fiance Visa. Certainly it isn't a guarantee that you will be approved for DCF after 6 months living there.

[j&ana 363]

you have some option which way you decide is up to you. Me and my wife decided to get marry in the Philippines and do the CR/IR-1 visa. This visa process might take longer then the other 2 way you could apply, but me and my wife felt it was more important for her family to be able to attend our wedding then her being in the USA faster.

the second option you have is to do the k-1 (fiancé) visa the wait time for fiancée to be in the usa is shorter, but after arriving in USA you will need to get marry within 90 days and also there are other fees you will have to pay later . you will also have to do adjustment of status after you are married so it is actually more costly then the CR/IR-1 spousal visa.

third option you could go to the Philippines live there for a while I think you have to be there 6 month establish residence get married there and apply for spousal visa thru DCF (direct consular filing) it is probably the fastest in approval time and you will be with your fiancée while you are waiting however you will have to prove income from the USA,.IF you have joint sponsor that should not be a problem however the person income must be enough for him/her and their dependents + you and your wife so for example if a person has a wife and a kid then that person will have to show that he makes enough for 5 people

it is possible to get married here and do AOS but I will not recommend that way if immigration thinks you came on another type of visa to get married that is fraud and the penalties are harsh

these are your options

good luck on which way you decide

[coa24 69]

Sorry to ask so many questions, but truly interested in learning more. Was trying to look through the Philippines embassy website and wondering about becoming a permanent resident if we decide the dcf route. I assume she will have to apply for me correct to become a permanent resident and that she will also have to apply for the appropriate visa for me as well, correct?

[j&ana 363]

Doing the DCF option is very good for couples that are able to do that. Me and my wife thought about doing that option but decided not to .I did do some research on it but I can not remember everything I just know it did not seem like it would be that hard to become a residence there, especially if you are married to a Filipina. I just google how a us citizen can become residence in the Philippines. you also might try posting some questions in the dcf forum of this website. I am sure that the couples that are actually doing the Dcf could help you more. Also you could look up Philippines expact websites and ask Americans that are living there now.

may I ask have you been to the Philippines? if not you should go their first to visit, then you and you fiancé could decide together what will be best

[coa24 69]

It sounds like from research that if you are married to a Filipina, that getting a permanent residence would be quite easy and not hard to do. I think she is still leaning more toward the Fiance visa (to be honest though, I would love for her to have her wedding she always wanted with family and friends), but DCF is right there. Basically we would already have a place to stay, a joint sponsor, and so on. We should have a decision by November 22. Just a lot of prayer and seeking counsel.

Edited November 12, 2014 by coa24

[j&ana 363]

If you did the k1-fiance visa, she could come here, you could have a small legal civil wedding (unless it is important for you to have church wedding here) then you could go there later and maybe do renew of vows in the church for her family.

She is probably catholic most Filipinos are. Are you catholic? The catholic church has its own requirements for marriage .I am not catholic so me and my wife had a simple civil wedding at her parents house. I did not have enough time to meet the requirement of the catholic church and my wife parents did not want her to get married in another church other then a catholic church.

IF you did the DCF there and plan on having a church wedding and you are not catholic you will probably want to research that too, or you could just have a simple wedding there like me and my wife did

[coa24 69]

We are not Catholic, but are Christian. We talked about doing an engagement party if we did the k-1 visa and after the engagement party come to the states to be married. I think she likes that idea as it will not separate us after marriage. It's a big decision, because the k-1 will keep her from having her wedding with friends and family. The other puts us together quicker. We would be married at a church if done in Philippines though. Thanks for your continued help .

[coa24 69]

An update: After much discussion and counsel seeking, it sounds like we will go for the fiance visa. Though I am sad that she will not have her wedding with family in friends. We will thought make every effort to broadcast our wedding online for them to see though. Now it is working on convincing the parents to assure them it is what we want and that it is best.

[coa24 69]

Really do not want to start a new thread. On Form G-325a what is the proper way to fill out the address for Philippines?

Street address, sub division

City, Province, postal code, country?

I ask because I want to make sure we are filling it out correctly when we put the address on the 129f and 325a.

Also, is it just me or am I the only that cannot add a coma between say the street address and the subdivision on these forms?

Edited November 15, 2014 by coa24

[Greenbaum 12,258]

coa24, on 13 Nov 2014 - 11:40 AM, said:

An update: After much discussion and counsel seeking, it sounds like we will go for the fiance visa. Though I am sad that she will not have her wedding with family in friends. We will thought make every effort to broadcast our wedding online for them to see though. Now it is working on convincing the parents to assure them it is what we want and that it is best.

There are many who have gone down this same path that you are and with heavy hearts. There is one other item you may want to consider and that is to do a "second" wedding (not a legal wedding as you have already performed one in the USA) in the Philippines. You can repeat your vows in front of her parents and relatives and special guests. Invite all the guests you want and have a great day celebrating your good luck. Her parents will appreciate it and the guests will enjoy themselves (because a Kano is throwing a party lol).