hgl

3 hours ago, Hank_ said:

 

Here is CFO info, with commonly requested documents

 

https://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/cfo.html

 

3 hours ago, Hank_ said:

 

Here is CFO info, with commonly requested documents

 

https://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/cfo.html

 

From USC (copies of) - bio page of passport, birth certificate, divorce decree (if been married before) are the most common requests.  If you have never been married before be prepared to provide a copy of your ITR to prove your singleness... of course BLACKENING out the SSN for sure.--

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Very straightforward requirements. I was thinking the CFO is looking for USC (former Filipino married in the PH) Certificate of No marriage in the Philippines. But, none. Just the divorce decree.

Thanks!

4 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

Quote

Fiance is K-1 visa

Opps.

 

Quote

I have not heard of CFO asking for the CENOMAR from the petitioner, CFO will want a copy of your divorce decree.  The embassy for sure will request the CENOMAR, being "married in the Phils" in your case PSA would issue a CEMAR < which your divorce decree will handle, that you submitted to USCIS.

Ah! I thought this CFO -CENOMAR thing from a former Filipino is gonna stopped me out getting my fiancée from PH. Thanks!

On 2/4/2020 at 1:39 AM, Hank_ said:

USCIS requirements have nothing to do with the Dept. of State (embassies) requirements.

 

It appears that you are a former Filipino, a CENOMAR is then required.    Speak to all the USC you like and ask them about a CENOMAR, none of which has anything to do with you providing the requested documents per the embassy.     You want a visa ... you give the embassy what they asked for, it is that simple   (He who has the gold, makes the rules)

 

 

 CERTIFICATE OF NO MARRIAGE (if applicable). Applicants who are single and have never been married (18 years and older) are required to obtain a CENOMAR from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The request for a CENOMAR is a standard measure adopted in Manila to ensure that a visa applicant does not have any concealed, unterminated prior marriage to anyone, which would eliminate his / her claim to the single status of the visa category sought. To request a CENOMAR be directly submitted to the US Embassy (recommended), you may do so here: https://www.ecensus.com.ph/Secure/Terms.aspx

 

 A CENOMAR is also required for a petitioner who was born in the Philippines and lived in the country for at least one (1) year upon reaching the age of 18.

 

https://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/us-embassy-usem.html

Hank,

I am a USC, formerly a Filipino married in PH, got divorced in the US.

Would it be possible that if I petition a fiancée visa (F1), the CFO might require me (the petitioner) to provided a CENOMAR?

My fiancée is single, never married.

Thanks. 

On 2/29/2020 at 12:43 AM, nykolos said:

I guess my question is a legal one in regard to Philippine law,  I married in 1997 to my now Ex-Wife in the Philippines  we Divorced in 2016 here in the states, Since Divorce is NOT legal or allowed in the Philippines, only annulment is, (crazy law) am I still a married man in the eyes of the Philippine Government?  I am currently engaged to another Filipina and we plan to marry in the US after her K1 Visa is approved, Her desire is have another wedding in the Philippines, and I'm guessing the only way to do that since divorce is not allowed, is to have my first marriage annulled, which would take over a year, not to mention legal costs, and with no guarantee it would be granted.

 

Have you started F1 process? 

Is there an issue with Commission of Filipinos Overseas( CFO) asking if you are married before in PH even though you are now a USC?

On ‎2‎/‎2‎/‎2020 at 10:20 PM, JE57 said:

Congrats on the USC.  Glad you'll be able to move forward now but do remember that for K-1 there is a requirement that the two of you have met in person in the two years before you file the form so if it's been a long time since you saw each other face to face you should schedule a trip to the Philippines or even a 3rd Country to meet the requirement.

Thanks for your input.

I go home to PH and  meet my fiancée every year since 2014. Except last year, 2019, I did not because I was waiting for my naturalization interview and oath. 

I just got my US passport last December 2019. 

I think I read somewhere, if this would happen, would not apply to Fil-Am visiting the PH.

10 hours ago, Hank_ said:

Outstanding!   Congrats on your USC.

 

Here is a link for the I-129F petition process, it leans towards the Philippines with the info    

 

https://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/uscis-petition-process.html

 

Hope all move smoothly and quickly for you now.

Hey man,

thanks for still being around and helping after all these years.

I think when I made this thread back in 2014 I was still waiting for my green card. But in the same year, the GC arrived and was able to meet my GF.

We have been keeping receipts of packages sent from US, flowers deliveries, photos, mails, etc. in the past 5 years for K1.

All the best to you in the new year! 

Nothing to worry about. It wont happen.

Its been 5 long years since I started this post in 2014. 

It took a awhile to find this buried through the years.

I become a US citizen last 11/21/19 and got my US passport last 12/16/19.

My next step is the K1 visa.

My fiancee is from Ibajay, Aklan. I'm from Trussville, Alabama.

Huh! we speak the same dialect.--Illonggo

Big part of CFO is presentation, your fiancee presents herself with confidence, be self-assured and looks them in the eyes when speaking goes a long ways there.

This is the key here!

I wouldn't say the interview is necessarily short. My fiancée was grilled for a long time before they finally approved her there at CFO. They were so strict she was afraid she wouldn't pass. I also know another couple where they had to go back several times because CFO wasn't satisfied. So its not true that they won't have time to do the verifications with NSO...if they want to do them, they will do them.

Cebu CFO is probably more lenient than Manila and my province is much closer in that city.

To answer your question no they didn't ask me CENOMAR of my husband. only the divorce decree from the US. My husband's exwife is already a US citizen now too. And had petitioned her second husband from the Phils too before me.

So, both your husband and his ex wife married in the philippines years ago got their fiancees after their citizenship.

thanks!

I'm from Bacolod City.

Interesting how people all over Philippines would meet here and help one another.

Ya I think messy is a good word.

I think one the reason she kept my family name because of too many things to get involved when she decided to change under the new spouse surname. Not to mention the bank account, DMV, green card and lots of others.

What they normally ask for at CFO from the USC is listed in my link. I have seen other Fil/Am come through and they were not asked to produce a CENOMAR... but with CFO that means nothing.

You have your divorce decree so I wouldn't stress on it too much.

Big part of CFO is presentation, your fiancee presents herself with confidence, be self-assured and looks them in the eyes when speaking goes a long ways there.

Thanks, Hank.

I also think, and even if so they would ask or raised flag if I was married in Phil. before, the interview is short that they would have no time to verify this with the NSO, with thousands of documents coming in and out everyday.

Also, the petitioner is a already out of Philippines responsibility being a USC.

If the divorce was never recognized in the Philippines I would say yes (the USC needs to have petitioned the divorce for it to be accepted in the Phils). In a case like that I may not bother with ROM, but that will cause issues down the road for the Filipina; if she wants to use her married name on her passport.

That's what happened to my Ex wife. She still have my family name that I can presume her second married was not registered in the embassy.

If she does decide for ROM in the Phill consulate later on and get NSO involved, it could get messy if I petition my fiancée under K-1?

With CFO one never knows what is on their minds. Did CFO ask for a CENOMAR for your Fiance?

No. If they do, my fiancée is single, never married.

My only concerned is, if they asked for my birth certificates, education, mothers maiden name, etc, then they would absolutely think I am a Filipino before I got my USC and that would raise question if I am legally married in Philippines before the divorce decree in the US.

LA consulate only ask for copies of passport or .., nothing about certified. Consulate for your area stipulates certified?

Report of Marriage between Filipinos or a Filipino and a Foreign National

The marriage of a Filipino should be reported to and registered with the Philippine National Statistics Office through the Embassy/Consulate General having jurisdiction over the locality where the event took place. Please check the Consulate Finder or the Consulates Link for the states covered by the Embassy/Consulates General in the U.S.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

1. Four (4) original duly-accomplished Report of Marriage Contracted Abroad form, typed or printed legibly in black or blue ink, signed by both husband and wife. If submitting by mail, the completed forms must be notarized.
2. One (1) original or certified true copy and four (4) photocopies of the Marriage Certificate or Contract (original will be returned)
3. Four (4) photocopies of a government-issued identification card or passport of both husband and wife
4. Four (4) photocopies of Philippine birth certificate of Filipino spouse
5. Self-addressed return envelope, with appropriate stamps for express or priority mail with tracking numbers via US Postal Service, or with pre-paid mailing envelope from private courier of choice, if Report of Marriage is to be mailed back.
6. Processing fee of $25.00 (non-refundable), payable in cash, or money order, bank draft, certified check or cashier’s check, made payable to "Embassy of the Philippines" (or "Philippine Consulate General", if application is made at one of the Philippine Consulates General in the U.S.). Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted.
7. For applicants residing in U.S. territories or other countries within the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy, applicants should enclose a treasurer’s, manager’s or certified check issued by a local bank that has a corresponding bank in the U.S., payable to the courier of choice, in U.S. dollars, to cover cost of mailing, and a corresponding self-addressed courier’s address label. Personal checks are not accepted.

"Report of Marriage between Filipinos or a Filipino and a Foreign National

The marriage of a Filipino should be reported to and registered with the Philippine National Statistics Office through the Embassy/Consulate General having jurisdiction over the locality where the event took place."

NSO is involved here. so, what would happen if a couple is married and in the philippines, got divorced in the US and the spouse married a USC? The marriage is then reported to and registered with the Phil NSO? Would that create a problem later on?

This info is in my guide under the CFO tab

Hank,

from CFO tab:

"From USC (copies of) - bio page of passport, birth certificate, divorce decree (if been married before) are the most common requests. " -- Would this create a red flag if they know the USC was born in Philippines and could have been previously married in Philippines and got divorced in the US?

"Use to be they would only ask for a copy of a divorcee decree or death certificate, then one day they got a wild hair... and started asking for a copy of a tax return showing they filed SINGLE."-- -->>>f these are the only document they are looking for then, there no problem since US divorce decree from court does not show the nationality of both spouses. I was just thinking if CFO would scrutinized married status of the USC in the Philippines since the birth certificate was required.

yes, get the US citizenship and apply for k1 visa after meeting your fiancee of course. my husband had same case as you do. married as LPR with his ex. petitioned them (with children) and then got divorced. became US citizen, petitioned me as K1. got approved. Good luck.

THis is very close to my question. Im just curios how did you make it with CFO? Did they asked for you husband CENOMAR since he was a married in the Philippines before went to US as green card holder?

Use to be they would only ask for a copy of a divorcee decree or death certificate, then one day they got a wild hair... and started asking for a copy of a tax return showing they filed SINGLE. Some they ask this from, some they don't, it isn't in their list of required documents, they use the "other documents" to cover everything and anything that the wild hair tickles. Way too much leeway given to this folks at CFO.

These are the things that love to hear from you. Thanks again, Hank.

just curious if CFO ask or requires in some way a document on a fiancee, holder of a K-1 visa, to verify if a USC is single?

they would usually ask your intention to visit US and how long your stay. where you present work and salary. these are among the basic questions.

Just a personal observation about US...

I find that many freshly arrived foreigners have much much more harder working attitude than those

that have lived here a long time.

This is truly a country with many opportunities if you are motivated hard worker.

There are so many employment and business opportunities here.

I agree with this.

I have been working overseas for more than a decade before I came to US. I would say, work here is easy compared to my previous employment in middle east and asians country.