Removed-02242014

Those immigration overhaul laws will not be making it's way through congress soon. This administration is battling too many other 'important' demons. Too bad too because the GWB administration started putting things in motion and it was tabled by the incoming congress.

Wanna Facebook about social issues and the things Fil-Am couples talk about other than the Visa Process ??

Come Join us:

Fil-Am Discussions

https://www.facebook.com/groups/528453763868962/

It's my understanding that you can legally satisfy the ten-day waiting period without having to be present in the Philippines. Basically, the process involves having your fiancé(e) send you the marriage application while you are still in the U.S. I believe you need to have your signature on the application notarized and then you have the application authenticated by the Philippines Consulate which has jurisdiction over the place where you live. Then, send the authenticated application back to your fiancé(e). Check with your Philippines Consulate for details.

When you arrive in the Philippines, you can get an Affidavit in Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry from the U.S. Embassy in less than a day. Make an appointment to do this. Check out the Embassy's website for details.

You may or may not be required to take a marriage seminar. In any case, you can complete a civil marriage just a few days after you arrive in the Philippines.

I'll be damned! -- you were right. She went to city hall in her province and I just left the Philippine Consulate office here in L.A., signed, sealed now time to deliver.

The strictness of the policy of getting married in the Philippines is a big myth, you have people on the internet telling people they must do it this way, or you will break the law....the law and the process of getting a marriage license in the PI is whatever the local civil registrar says it is.

This is what I am finding out ... and from VJ ... that lots of information you read here must not be taken so seriously or by the letter.

This is sort of confusing as the OP had their K-1 visa approved last year, so not sure who the wedding is for. If they are only doing a "second marriage" -renewal of vows- in the Phils they don't need a marriage license for that as they are already married.

I am just trying to get the question answered - No need for my details off the timeline.

It is true. Philippine law states marriage licenses are to be issued after 10 calendar days from the time of application. There are no exceptions to that law. There are no rush services and I am quite sure, there is irregularity in the issuance of a rush marriage license. Suffice it to say also that marriages (civil or church) celebrated without marriage licenses are void, except in cases where the couple have executed a joint affidavit of cohabitation (for a period of at least five years).

I must correct you because I have American friends that live there and they have seen it done depending on the province. I just wanted to know where -- In the Pampanga region there have been 3 day issuance. You might be reading from a Philippine law manuscript but anything happens there with a little $$

The best POE ever is Honolulu Hawaii ... get your flight there. It's small lines and fewer questions and then she becomes an continental flight and not international ... so you get to help her with her baggage pick-up. !!

i hope they will give me the same consideration with yours. I will continue to pray for a miracle because i cant afford to do another sputum test and sputum culture since my medical is valid for 3 months only.

The medical is a perfectly good reason - we were even over the visa expiration date and they still allowed us.

Just a question for those of you that have done so - After you get your Legal Capacity to Marry Certificate from the U.S. Embassy I have been told several things. I know that Philippine law states 10 days for the approval but I was wondering if you have gotten your marriage license sooner? I have been told that 2000 pesos and you get it on rush service. Anyone with experience of this in Cavite province? We have to fly out exactly 10 days after to another island for the wedding and I am concerned of the time constraint. Note: Civil wedding only - Not church.

LBC is the only way to go if you have the option. No issues here with opened or damaged boxes.

Bob

Bob ... I actually like UMAC .. they bind it and my normal time is 4 weeks out of Los Angeles. LBC is not that reliable --

We cancelled three times but two of them were for St. Lukes problems so they allowed me the 4th schedule. You just need a really good reason.

Thanks!

You can do either, but if you want to live together in the States, the more important question is whether you can get over whatever the cultural differences were? Else why would the same not happen again?

I agree with you ... It was a MY FAMILY problem that I was able to overcome.

This is a simple situation but I need some guidance --

My Fiancée arrived here in October last year and we didn't end up marrying because we had some cultural issues we couldn't get past. At the end of the 90 days she returned home and now we want to make our love a permanent bond of marriage. Is it better for me to re-file K-1 or go to her country, marry and file I-130?

DON'T DO IT !!

I had to reschedule with Travelocity and it cost me $78 per ticket.

Now if you could forecast the correct jetting for the carbs on my bike!

You have a bike with carbs ... why didn't you tell me BEFORE the interview ??

How 70's ... I am leaving you for good

The next guy will at least have a fuel injection moto!!

Mark-n-Luz, thank you so much for this post. I was already quite aware of some things that needed disclosure concerning my history, and I am more open and honest with my fiancee than I am with anyone! However, your post prompted me to check something I hadn't even thought about. That is if I owed any taxes. I was late paying my state taxes one year. I thought I had payed the balance due. However, state revenue services don't seem to work as fast as IRS in delivering delinquent information. After reading your post, I created an online tax payer account and discovered that I still owed the state! I immediately sent in a request for payment and printed the records. Thanks a bunch for making me think of something I thought I had already covered!

How Ironic -- I did the same thing for Luzi because I had not filed 2011 (the paperwork says your LAST tax return filed) Seems I was wrong and the Pinay scores one big one. They specifically asked for 2011 tax returns because I own my own business and could not give her a W2... Good job!

I thought you couldn't do a visa with a criminal record... You can't possibly tell your fiance everything, I think it's better to just have them prepared so if they hear something they don't over react... then you're covered! I don't think my fiance knows what I do really, it's not important and she will never understand it just like any other girl I've dated. I think the correct response if someone says did you know your fiance.... is to say no we didn't talk about that but I'm sure he or she will bring it up when it makes sense. You should trust the other person, not telling someone something is not lying. It's a good prep for interview this post, who knows what the heck they could have in government files or what they feel is note worthy.

I completely disagree with you ... what if the shoe was on the other foot? I think you would demand the same from HER.

It's a lot more grave than getting through an interview. It is the cruelty of pretending to be someone you are not and forcing them to deal with discovering they are married to a con-man.

SO SO SO SO right you are !!

Business as usual according to their website.

Good luck to your upcoming interview!!

Luzi got her Visa already but we are waiting for her daughters -- what a crazy operation! That Go2 site is pretty useless I understand.

In as much as I feel for your situation Gerlie -- this is why it is called and engagement. One sentence stuck out in your paragraph and that you were arguing for a year and a half. Marriage does not solve problems, in fact it just makes things more difficult.

I once witnessed a groom cancel a wedding at the alter with 3/4 of the ceremony completed. The officiating pastor reminded us that while it was a tragedy, the couple were lucky that they didn't marry and have children. This marriage would have been doomed from the start. Whenever a door is closed another one opens. Maybe not right now -- but soon.

Remember that unlike traditional relationships all of us here get to spend little time actually with our fiancee - making relationships go the distance. Some people here have one visit to their fiancee's country. How many of you would marry traditionally with only a week or two of actual time together. You are lucky (it doesn't feel like it right now) to have these events happen while still in your home country.

Welcome to the U.S. !!!

I hope you brought your long johns with you...

Long Johns ... that's funny. I forgot that word until now. That's what my grandpa used to call them.

If any of you guys have some skeletons in the closet I suggest you clear them before your fiancée gets to the U.S. Embassy interview. My fiancée said there was a Pinay there who just found out from the consulate that her man had a criminal record and prison time. My fiancée' said she broke down in complete tears and shame. You need to understand that a criminal record in the Philippines is a much more shameful event than most other countries.

The Embassy immediately put her case on review based on her reaction to the events they shared with her. That automatically adds another 60 days to your wait time.

Another girl had found out that her fiancée was owing the federal government more than $45 in back taxes and she was having withdraw discussions with other Filipinas in the Embassy too.

Therefore --- if you love this woman, you better let her know everything about yourself before she finds out from your background checks. ALSO - Make sure she has every single bit of paperwork she needs because there were several 221G cases documented for lack of evidence.

Tintin and Mike:

I'm cheering for you! :dance:

Tintin and Mike --- Luzi interview was the day after yours APPROVED! - Thank you for telling us about your visa. We called and it has been printed. Looks like our POE will be October 31 in Los Angeles. It was fun following your progress along the same lines as ours.