Utah Online Marriage valid for the Philippines? [split thread]

[seekingthetruth 1,218]

@John & Rose @top_secret

 

Guys, I'm trying to give some Philippine expat guys on another forum, some valid information on the Utah Online marriage as it relates to the Philippines.

 

There are a couple of guys who insist the marriage will not be valid for the Philippines.  One called the SFO embassy and was given a speech about it not being valid.  Other said it is valid, including one who called the the Vancouver embassy.

 

What is the bottom line currently?  Is the Utah online marriage valid for some things but not others?  E.g. valid for getting ROM?  Valid for spouse to get 13a visa for PH?  Valid for U.S. Immigration?

 

Appreciate your time!

[Swafford25 16]

12 hours ago, seekingthetruth said:

@John & Rose @top_secret

 

Guys, I'm trying to give some Philippine expat guys on another forum, some valid information on the Utah Online marriage as it relates to the Philippines.

 

There are a couple of guys who insist the marriage will not be valid for the Philippines.  One called the SFO embassy and was given a speech about it not being valid.  Other said it is valid, including one who called the the Vancouver embassy.

 

What is the bottom line currently?  Is the Utah online marriage valid for some things but not others?  E.g. valid for getting ROM?  Valid for spouse to get 13a visa for PH?  Valid for U.S. Immigration?

 

Appreciate your time!

The Utah Online Marriage is valid for all those items you listed. My marriage with Filipino wife is Legal in Philippines and United States. Though getting the Report of Marriage completed is quite a journey on its own. I made a post about my process that you can utilize or share for others to utilize. I had no issues in the entire process, like everything in the Philippines don’t expect it to be done in a month.

 

hope this helps!

[top_secret 2,063]

On 9/24/2023 at 8:54 PM, seekingthetruth said:

Guys, I'm trying to give some Philippine expat guys on another forum, some valid information on the Utah Online marriage as it relates to the Philippines.

 

There are a couple of guys who insist the marriage will not be valid for the Philippines.  One called the SFO embassy and was given a speech about it not being valid.  Other said it is valid, including one who called the the Vancouver embassy.

 

What is the bottom line currently?  Is the Utah online marriage valid for some things but not others?  E.g. valid for getting ROM?  Valid for spouse to get 13a visa for PH?  Valid for U.S. Immigration?

 

Appreciate your time!

 

The entire controversy about the validity of Utah online marriages in the Philippines stems from a two or three month suspension of processing ROM's for them around last November, while PSA and DFA conducted a review of their validity.  The results of their review is that they ARE 100% completely valid under Philippine law.  As long as a ROM is filed they are acceptable for anything  and everything that any other Philippine marriage is.  So now that question has been formally put to rest by DFA and PSA.   The Philippine Consulate in San Francisco has resumed processing the ROM's normally and is doing so in droves.

 

On some FB groups there are also people giving their first hand accounts of Utah online marriages going through US Embassy Manila without the slightest question in large numbers, probably daily.  It seems clear that USEM is now very familiar with them.  With or without the ROM is fine for US Visa purposes.

[seekingthetruth 1,218]

On 9/27/2023 at 2:11 AM, top_secret said:

 

The entire controversy about the validity of Utah online marriages in the Philippines stems from a two or three month suspension of processing ROM's for them around last November, while PSA and DFA conducted a review of their validity.  The results of their review is that they ARE 100% completely valid under Philippine law.  As long as a ROM is filed they are acceptable for anything  and everything that any other Philippine marriage is.  So now that question has been formally put to rest by DFA and PSA.   The Philippine Consulate in San Francisco has resumed processing the ROM's normally and is doing so in droves.

 

On some FB groups there are also people giving their first hand accounts of Utah online marriages going through US Embassy Manila without the slightest question in large numbers, probably daily.  It seems clear that USEM is now very familiar with them.  With or without the ROM is fine for US Visa purposes.

 

Perfect!  With your permission, can I copy / paste?

[top_secret 2,063]

1 hour ago, seekingthetruth said:

Perfect!  With your permission, can I copy / paste?

 

Fine with me.  All is well with Utah online marriages in the Philippines.

[Chancy 6,233]

*** Post & replies split off from another member's thread ***

[AlaMike 217]

Are "ALL" Utah Zoom weddings registered thru the San Francisco Embassy? Alabama shows ROM reported to the Embassy in Washingtons DC .

[IWander 581]

1 hour ago, AlaMike said:

Are "ALL" Utah Zoom weddings registered thru the San Francisco Embassy? Alabama shows ROM reported to the Embassy in Washingtons DC .

It is based on where the marriage took place versus your domicile 

[RO_AH 1,615]

On 10/31/2023 at 9:01 AM, AlaMike said:

Are "ALL" Utah Zoom weddings registered thru the San Francisco Embassy? Alabama shows ROM reported to the Embassy in Washingtons DC .

Yes

[Sol Phillips 0]

On 9/25/2023 at 11:58 PM, Swafford25 said:

The Utah Online Marriage is valid for all those items you listed. My marriage with Filipino wife is Legal in Philippines and United States. Though getting the Report of Marriage completed is quite a journey on its own. I made a post about my process that you can utilize or share for others to utilize. I had no issues in the entire process, like everything in the Philippines don’t expect it to be done in a month.

 

hope this helps!

I wanted to ask about the report of marriage.my husband and I got married online.utah.that was Feb 26 2022.we didn't report the marriage Bec we didn't know that we had to do that.we got married again in my country Philippines Feb 2023.and it was registered here.im on my nvc stage now and am just waiting for my interview in manila..ir1 category.my husband used the first marriage for filing the i130..will it affect my visa processing..I'm so confused..TIA..pls enlighten me

 

[jandk 6]

On 9/25/2023 at 8:58 AM, Swafford25 said:

The Utah Online Marriage is valid for all those items you listed. My marriage with Filipino wife is Legal in Philippines and United States. Though getting the Report of Marriage completed is quite a journey on its own. I made a post about my process that you can utilize or share for others to utilize. I had no issues in the entire process, like everything in the Philippines don’t expect it to be done in a month.

 

hope this helps!

Hey there- do you have a link to the post you made regarding your experience with the process for the rom?

 

Thanks

 

Cheers

[BadAmmoWitch 208]

Can I ask a quick question here? What purpose does the ROM serve? Are there any benefits? 

[top_secret 2,063]

3 hours ago, BadAmmoWitch said:

Can I ask a quick question here? What purpose does the ROM serve? Are there any benefits? 

 

The ROM is required by the Philippine Government and it legalizes an overseas marriage under Philippine Law.  It is unimportant to the US Government or for US immigration purposes, other than it would be necessary if your wife wanted to change to your name prior to her visa, green card and social security card all being issued in her maiden name.  If you plan on having little or no real interactions within the Philippines in the future, it is probably of little value and doesn't really matter.  If the Philippines may play a more significant role in your future, such as if you want to retire there, own family property there, etc ect, it would be more important because it could affect your rights as a spouse of a Filipino citizen in the Philippines and might often come up in any kind of dealings with the Philippine Government.

 

Edit to add.  The name changing aspect applies to CR1/IR1 cases.  K1 applicants could just change their name during adjustment of status with a US Marriage Certificate so less important in K1 cases.

Edited April 15 by top_secret

[BadAmmoWitch 208]

4 hours ago, top_secret said:

 

The ROM is required by the Philippine Government and it legalizes an overseas marriage under Philippine Law.  It is unimportant to the US Government or for US immigration purposes, other than it would be necessary if your wife wanted to change to your name prior to her visa, green card and social security card all being issued in her maiden name.  If you plan on having little or no real interactions within the Philippines in the future, it is probably of little value and doesn't really matter.  If the Philippines may play a more significant role in your future, such as if you want to retire there, own family property there, etc ect, it would be more important because it could affect your rights as a spouse of a Filipino citizen in the Philippines and might often come up in any kind of dealings with the Philippine Government.

 

Edit to add.  The name changing aspect applies to CR1/IR1 cases.  K1 applicants could just change their name during adjustment of status with a US Marriage Certificate so less important in K1 cases.

You're awesome, thank you very much.