Legal Name change in Philippines

[hyommysone 16]

HI!

I would like to know to most FIlipinas that married a foreigner.

Which is the fastest way to have a legal name change and ID?

I know BIR, but if you are employed the HR of your employer can process it and you just have to give the copy of your marriage certificate. I just need a clarification, if my marriage certificate is submitted to BIR does it mean my surname will be changes to my husband's last name?

I know that a legal name change is one of the requirements of filing for CR-1. I have none yet since I just got married Aug 2014.

I would appreciate your help regarding this matter.

Thank you!

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Phillippines regional forum; topic is country specific.

[manilaraf 28]

Wife applied for a PHL Passport with our Marriage Certificate using her married name. Paid for expedited processing just to have a document under her new name. After that, we updated all her info (bank accounts, PRC registration, etc).

[net2684 5]

Same with us. Went for new passport and submitted marriage certificate. Good luck!!

[biaobiao 40]

Passport is easy to change. Postal id is easy to obtain. Nbi clearance too. Then change her govt id

[hyommysone 16]

Same with us. Went for new passport and submitted marriage certificate. Good luck!!

You don't need a CFO seminar certificate to have the passport renamed?

You only need the marriage certificate? I thought you need the CFO seminar certificate that's why i don't plan on changing my passport name yet.

[Hank_ 9,174]

You don't need a CFO seminar certificate to have the passport renamed?

You only need the marriage certificate? I thought you need the CFO seminar certificate that's why i don't plan on changing my passport name yet.

Yes the CFO certificate is required.

http://www.passport.com.ph/info/requirements/for/renewal

For spouse of foreign national who would like to use their married surname:

• Marriage Contract (MC) in Security Paper (SECPA) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or Certified True Copy (CTC) of MC issued by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) and duly authenticated by NSO. Transcribed Marriage Contract from the LCR is required when entries in NSO Marriage Contract are blurred or unreadable.
• Report of Marriage duly authenticated by NSO if married abroad
• Original and photocopy of Commission of Filipino Overseas (CFO) Guidance and Counseling Certificate of Attendance (required for first time applicants or renewal of passport to be used for the first time the surname of the husband)

Edited December 24, 2014 by Hank_

[hyommysone 16]

Yes the CFO certificate is required.

http://www.passport.com.ph/info/requirements/for/renewal

For spouse of foreign national who would like to use their married surname:

• Marriage Contract (MC) in Security Paper (SECPA) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or Certified True Copy (CTC) of MC issued by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) and duly authenticated by NSO. Transcribed Marriage Contract from the LCR is required when entries in NSO Marriage Contract are blurred or unreadable.
• Report of Marriage duly authenticated by NSO if married abroad
• Original and photocopy of Commission of Filipino Overseas (CFO) Guidance and Counseling Certificate of Attendance (required for first time applicants or renewal of passport to be used for the first time the surname of the husband)

I would like to ask how to get the CFO seminar certificate and what are the requirements needed? Also, is it fast to get it since I am planning to change my passport next year.

Thank you!

[Hank_ 9,174]

I would like to ask how to get the CFO seminar certificate and what are the requirements needed? Also, is it fast to get it since I am planning to change my passport next year.

Thank you!

There is info on CFO in my link below, follow the flashing arrow. (CFO is the same for K-1 and CR-1)

Once done keep the certificate in a safe place as you will need it later for getting the sticker in your (new) passport after you get your visa.

[net2684 5]

Sorry for not adding all the other info like Hank did. But yes we got our CFO done ahead of time, and now just need the visa packet showing we are approved, so it cuts down on sitting and waiting. Did plenty of that at St. Luke's... Would rather just get in and out and be happy to have completed all the tasks required!

[jhonster 23]

Yes the CFO certificate is required.

http://www.passport.com.ph/info/requirements/for/renewal

For spouse of foreign national who would like to use their married surname:

• Marriage Contract (MC) in Security Paper (SECPA) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or Certified True Copy (CTC) of MC issued by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) and duly authenticated by NSO. Transcribed Marriage Contract from the LCR is required when entries in NSO Marriage Contract are blurred or unreadable.
• Report of Marriage duly authenticated by NSO if married abroad
• Original and photocopy of Commission of Filipino Overseas (CFO) Guidance and Counseling Certificate of Attendance (required for first time applicants or renewal of passport to be used for the first time the surname of the husband)

Hey Hank. John here. Question? Re: legal name change for my wife and step daughter......

They've been here in Los Angeles since Dec 6th, 2014. We were married March 2013 in the Philippines. They've both got their Visa's, Green Cards, Social Security cards and California DMV ID's in their maiden names. My step daughters last name is from her biological father. My wife's last name is from her family (no previous marriage). What's the easiest way to change their names so they can both take my last name?

And by the way.....THANK YOU for all your guidance with the whole process. You sir are a scholar and a gentleman =))

Almost forgot.....do I need to file to adjust their status's now since our marriage was in March of 2013? Is that the i485 form?

[apple21 953]

Hey Hank. John here. Question? Re: legal name change for my wife and step daughter......

They've been here in Los Angeles since Dec 6th, 2014. We were married March 2013 in the Philippines. They've both got their Visa's, Green Cards, Social Security cards and California DMV ID's in their maiden names. My step daughters last name is from her biological father. My wife's last name is from her family (no previous marriage). What's the easiest way to change their names so they can both take my last name?

And by the way.....THANK YOU for all your guidance with the whole process. You sir are a scholar and a gentleman =))

Almost forgot.....do I need to file to adjust their status's now since our marriage was in March of 2013? Is that the i485 form?

Your wife can take on your last name but your stepdaughter can't unless you legally adopt her.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hey Hank. John here. Question? Re: legal name change for my wife and step daughter......

They've been here in Los Angeles since Dec 6th, 2014. We were married March 2013 in the Philippines. They've both got their Visa's, Green Cards, Social Security cards and California DMV ID's in their maiden names. My step daughters last name is from her biological father. My wife's last name is from her family (no previous marriage). What's the easiest way to change their names so they can both take my last name?

And by the way.....THANK YOU for all your guidance with the whole process. You sir are a scholar and a gentleman =))

Almost forgot.....do I need to file to adjust their status's now since our marriage was in March of 2013? Is that the i485 form?

Hey John, how you two doing? Great I hope.

Immediately after marriage you wife should have started using her married name on all documents (First Name, Middle Name - Maiden Last Name, Your Surname as Last Name. You may have to contact USCIS about the name issue with your wife, for your step-daughter you would have to complete a formal adoption to change her name to your last name.

IR/CR-1 does not complete Adjustment of Status (that is K-1), what your wife (and step-daughter) will need to file, 90 days before expiration of the conditional green card, is Removal of Conditions I-751.

[jhonster 23]

Hey John, how you two doing? Great I hope.

Immediately after marriage you wife should have started using her married name on all documents (First Name, Middle Name - Maiden Last Name, Your Surname as Last Name. You may have to contact USCIS about the name issue with your wife, for your step-daughter you would have to complete a formal adoption to change her name to your last name.

IR/CR-1 does not complete Adjustment of Status (that is K-1), what your wife (and step-daughter) will need to file, 90 days before expiration of the conditional green card, is Removal of Conditions I-751.

So far so good Hank. Thanks for asking =))

I purposely didn't want to deal with name changes with all the hassles we had in doing her i130, so I told her we would just do a legal name change when she got here in the U.S.

I always thought the clock started ticking from the date of marriage in regards to the removal of conditions. My wife and her daughters green cards show an expiration date of 12/5/2016. So I guess we just need to file the I-751 within 90 days of the expiration of her green card then.

I had read somewhere that all I would need to do is change her Passport name using our marriage certificate, then change her California ID, and then go to USCIS? Does that sound right? Or should I just called USCIS?

Thanks again for all your help Hank =))

[jhonster 23]

Your wife can take on your last name but your stepdaughter can't unless you legally adopt her.

Considering my wife has custody of her daughter, and in the Philippines, the Mother has all the rights regarding the child in the Philippines...do we still need to go through the formal process of me adopting my step daughter?

And since we're here now....will we have to get the permission of the father to do this? He's completely out of the picture and will be difficult to find.