Questions about wedding in Philippines and CR-1 after

[jg121783 3,917]

I returned home from the Philippines a few weeks ago and me and my fiance have now set a wedding date after I negotiated some time off at work. We will be getting married February 8th. We are just now planning all the details for our wedding and I was wondering if those of you who have had a wedding in the Philippines could give me any advice. We will be having a civil wedding (will probably hire a judge) and my fiance is expecting about 100 people. We already have a location picked and booked (a local pool that we rented for the day last time I was there for a reasonable price). Advice on buying food, suit rentals ect. would be appreciated. We estimate everything will be about $1500 when all is said and done but I am sure that number will go higher.

As far as the CR-1 visa goes we would like to be ready to file the I-130 package as soon as possible after we are married. I am going through the checklist on ths website right now to make sure I have everything together. I guess my first question is about my fiance's 8 year old son. I am assuming I have to file a seperate application for him correct? Can someone tell me where I can find information specific to that? Do I just file a seperate I-130 package for him or is there something different I have to do? My next questions relate to the I-130 checklist for my fiance. I will post the item on the list and the question I have about it.

2. Cover Letter. Should include a description of what your are petitioning for (I-130), a table of contents (list everything in the packet). If you need additional room to explain your case, attach a separate sheet (list the attachment on the cover sheet). Make sure to sign and date the cover sheet.

So this is basically just a page I type up saying I am applying for a CR-1 visa and list a table of contents after then sign and date? Is there more to this?

8. A copy of your marriage certificate (If not inEnglish then again get a translation)

This is the big one I have questions about. I am pretty sure the NSO copy is required correct? How long does it take to obtain the marriage certificate (I am guessing this would be the biggest hold up on filing the I-130 package)? Is it provided in English or Tagalog and would then need a translation?

15. Evidence of a bonafide marriage (see note below for what to include)

Would this be pictures together and skype logs and things of that nature? Should I provide reciepts showing when I sent her money? Should we get a joint bank account after we get married? Can someone explain this one to me better?

I have some more questions but I will leave it at that for now. Any advice would be appreciated.

[sbdeleon22 1]

Marriage Certificate:

We got ours, 1 month after it was register to the local civil registry (city hall). I live in Manila and we got married in Manila.

Evidence of a bonafide marriage:

I have an existing bank account and just included the husband to my account (you have to both be present at the bank when doing this). Got a certificate from the bank stating that we have a joint account.

We also submitted affidavits from my relatives and his.

[ralphdarwin 14]

Cover letter is just a cover sheet stating who ur filing for, what type of visa and table of contents of all the papers that u r sending them and don't forget to sign it.. For the uscis stage nso copy of marriage cert is not required at least based on our experience, we only used the copy that came from the local civil registry which we got about two weeks after the wedding. U dont need any translation as it comes with both English and tagalog form. And for the evidences put as much as u have, wedding pics, convo shots, tickets, phone calls etc. goodluck!

[AmainElvin 1]

Evidences that we included in our I-130 package are:

*Pictures together

*Facebook chat and call logs

*Screenshots of Facebook wall posts

*Love story

*Money transfer receipts

NSO Marriage Certificate- We got ours 2 months after our wedding. Send an NSO copy just to be sure you won't get an RFE. I heard that Nebraska service center requires a Marriage Certificate from NSO.

[Thozelle 16]

Good luck on your journey. The one common evidence seems to be wedding fotos. We included those along with fotos of the formal and informal wedding receptions. Copy of wedding invitation. Bank POD and vehicle TOD to her. Health and dental insurance for her on my policy. We also included the CFO certificate (required for her to get passport in her married name). So all the forms were submitted in her married name. She thought surviving the inquisition (CFO interview) alone should have been enough proof of a bonafide marriage.

We chose not to include chat/fone records. Also did not include travel records or any affidavits.

[Brassballs 47]

I returned home from the Philippines a few weeks ago and me and my fiance have now set a wedding date after I negotiated some time off at work. We will be getting married February 8th. We are just now planning all the details for our wedding and I was wondering if those of you who have had a wedding in the Philippines could give me any advice. We will be having a civil wedding (will probably hire a judge) and my fiance is expecting about 100 people. We already have a location picked and booked (a local pool that we rented for the day last time I was there for a reasonable price). Advice on buying food, suit rentals ect. would be appreciated. We estimate everything will be about $1500 when all is said and done but I am sure that number will go higher.

As far as the CR-1 visa goes we would like to be ready to file the I-130 package as soon as possible after we are married. I am going through the checklist on ths website right now to make sure I have everything together. I guess my first question is about my fiance's 8 year old son. I am assuming I have to file a seperate application for him correct? Can someone tell me where I can find information specific to that? Do I just file a seperate I-130 package for him or is there something different I have to do? My next questions relate to the I-130 checklist for my fiance. I will post the item on the list and the question I have about it.

So this is basically just a page I type up saying I am applying for a CR-1 visa and list a table of contents after then sign and date? Is there more to this?

This is the big one I have questions about. I am pretty sure the NSO copy is required correct? How long does it take to obtain the marriage certificate (I am guessing this would be the biggest hold up on filing the I-130 package)? Is it provided in English or Tagalog and would then need a translation?

Would this be pictures together and skype logs and things of that nature? Should I provide reciepts showing when I sent her money? Should we get a joint bank account after we get married? Can someone explain this one to me better?

I have some more questions but I will leave it at that for now. Any advice would be appreciated.

Hey Jason, what's up??

Here's my advice...

Forego the suit and get a really nice barong. www.mybarong.com or wait until you go back. Don't forget the cord, veil, and perras. Get a recommended photographer and videographer if you can swing it. Madilyn recommended at least 2 lechon and a BUNCH more fish, manok, etc, etc. for a 100 invited guests and everyone else that will just show up. More likely than not Lisa's extended family will want to assist in the food prep.

2 I-130's are required. On page 2 #17 only list you and son on Lisa's and blank on your son's. Part D #1 enter Lisa or your son as applicable. Prepare a total package for each submission even though they will be similar. When sending the photo evidence, slant one towards Lisa the other towards your son. Staple the fee check to the cover letter and in the remarks indicate the beneficiary.

Cover page is just as you indicated. I can send you the template that I used or there are many to be seen on the net. Make sure you use the correct terminology in each package, CR1 or CR2.

NSO marriage cert is not required when dealing with USCIS but it was when dealing with NVC until fall of 2014. They now will accept the LCR version, but Lisa will need the NSO copy at her interview.

You would think that wedding pictures would suffice and they may. I front loaded my app with 2 months transcription of Skype chats (overkill) and a couple dozen 8x10 prints of photos taken in different venues (overkill). Send several days of Skype dialog over several months, copy of both plane tickets, couple of pics from recent trip and wedding trip showing you, Lisa, son, extended family. That will be enough. No need for joint bank accounts or WU receipts.

No translations needed for any documents.

Make sure you bring back 3 or more signed G325 for Lisa and your son. Leave extras undated for future submissions.

Suggestion: Stay off the Emperador when filling out the forms haha!

TTYL