HappyDiane

There is no divorce process in Philippines. The only way to terminate a marriage in Philippines is to file for an annulment.  This can take years or less depending if theres no contention from either parties. If the ex-spouse can no longer be contacted annullment can proceed on the basis of years of abandonment.

US consulate in Manila requires fiance or spousal visa application for  original copy of Certificate of No Marriage from  Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) and this can only be issued by PSA if such is the current legal status of the beneficiary. 

Reposting. I originally posted in K1 forum. Just saw this now.

Let me share mine, including the traveling part.  I have acquired my B1/B2 visa long before i went into immigrant processing. So my experience will just enlighten those who already got the tourist visa already.

 

2010  -  Applied for student visa for a 2 year college course. Got accepted to a state college in California since i can't afford university tuition for international student.  But unfortunately, got denied by a friendly young consul who more like chatted with me in that faithful visa interview in the Philippine embassy and yet gifted me with a blue paper after. 

2015 - Fast forward after 5 years. Applied for B2 and probably got approved through my work  being my ties here. I don't have property in my name, nor a family (husband or any kids) nor have big funds in my bank account. Just a few Asian stamps on my passport to show them that I will be just like in any other countries I've been. A tourist wanting to see how Christmas was like there. The consul actually discouraged me and said Christmas there was not as fun as  the Philippines.  But  I went there anyway to Chicago. Finding out he's right. And winter can be as enjoyable as watching the snowflakes for a while and ending up just getting glued to Netflix. Not being able to get out as I am not used to driving icy roads. My friends were of course working and wont be able to drive me around on weekdays.  But well I did have fun on weekends  with them. And on Christmas and New Year. Nothing beats Filipino style of celebration wherever we are. Family and friends get together are always great fun. Even i don't know much anybody there. 

Anyways, going back at the port of entry,  being my first time there, I'm also nervous as the officer asked me three things. Whats the purpose of my visit, who am I going to visit and when will I go home. I answered, I am going to see my friends and relatives, spend holiday with them and be back by January. He's didn't ask a lot but did asked me to show him my return ticket. He then just said enjoy my trip.

- 2016  I met my special someone through my friend's matchmaking. A relationship blossomed from being friends to a nice relationship. And he visit me in Nov but not till 2017 we made it official. We got engaged.

- 2017 He went back to visit me here and we decided that I'll come with him back to his home.

We use different airlines cause we bought my tickets in such short notice and no available ones already in same day schedule.  So we planned to meet in LAX and from there fly to his Nebraska home,  he's ahead on me by two hours. At POE, I sure got bombarded with questions. When the IO asked me the purpose of visit.  I answered truthfully that I am going to meet my fiance. He then asked me where he is. I said he's waiting outside arriving from Manila himself. He  asked if hes citizen or green card holder. I said he is American. He then asked, where i met him. How long are we in a relationship, am I intending to marry him there.  Am i planning to adjust status. Where is he working. What is his job. What's my job? Where's my family? Do I have family in US? The IO took his time in between asking me a lot of questions in a little louder than normal voice to me that i can notice the people in queues were getting interested  to listen on and i am already having horror scene in my mind that I am going to get deported. When he asked me how long will I stay here. I said, I only got 2 weeks vacation leave from my work and i have to go back after new year.  Then I gave him my return ticket. After seeing that he finally let me go.  But my ordeal didn't stop there.  When i went to get my luggage. It wasn't there anymore. So I asked around where can i get to PAL office thinking they might kept it. PAL is in the departure area where bags are checked-in. So  when I proceed to the exit the immigration. An officer asked me where's my luggage. I said i lost it and going to the airline booth to check it out. She then led me to another aisle and have me queue again to another window booth. This one seems to have few people in line where luggage are being open and check. I don't understand why she brought me there when i dont have one to be checked but just carrying my laptop and a shoulder bag. Then again i was questioned almost the same things the first IO did plus about my lost luggage. So when I finally got out, I'm close to tears already worrying if i can still find my bags and my fiance. And i don't know anyone in LA at all. My relatives and friends are actually in Bay area.  In the end i got my bag, friendly and helpful PAL staff were  actually waiting for me to get it. Then I finally reunited with my worried sick fiance. He made the rest of the trip special.  So thinking back, all that trouble probably stemmed up from the moment i blurted out i have my fiance waiting.

2018 - I went back again to visit my fiance. At SFO POE, I learned my lesson and told them i am just visiting my friends. I didn't even mention relatives.  I said i am taking advantage of Philippines long holy week vacation. Nothing more was asked, it was a smooth sailing. 

Then my fiance ask me again to marry him. And I thought he was just making this trip romantic by proposing again. But he meant  really marry him like elope to Las Vegas and get married. I was a bit shocked but what the heck i agreed. But told him I'll still need to go back home. So we did have a nice ceremony and no. Elvis didn't preside it. It was just a simple one.  I went back to Philippines and resume my daily life. My husband filed the petition for me a month after.

- Last November I visit my husband again with the I-30 on its 6 months. At port of entry in SFO, I am a bit worried they'll see my petition in their system and deport me. But then I believe i never once violated any immigration law now have any intention to do so. So I shouldn't be worried. My B2 visa is still very much in effect. So when asked again about the nature of my visit. I said the same thing again. I am going to visit my friends and relatives. I didn't mention my husband though. But I'm prepared to do so if they asked me who are these relatives I'm visiting. But if they didn't, not going to.  And the officer did not, at all, except how long am I staying. And I said just  2 weeks.  He stamped my passport and said,  "Well I'll give you 6 months in case you change your mind. Enjoy your vacation." No hint at all if he ever saw my petition.  I did changed my mind and extend my two weeks to a month.  And when i got back here in the Philippines,  just this

January, we received  the NOA2.  Some of you will probably ask if we received the NOA2 while I was in US, will we go for adjustment of status instead of consular processing. We might be tempted. Its a case to case basis. I still need to make arrangements here in Philippines and leave everything in good order.

So in the nut shell, you can visit using your B1/B2 visa with pending I-30. So long you will not over-stay your I-94 stamp.  But dont go back and forth  to US or  stay to your maximum limit too like more than 2 months or worse 6 months.  If you have this pattern in your non-immigrant visa  record it will be likely construed that you have no ties in your home country at all that  you can leave for that much time. Well just common sense. No company or business if that is your ties is going to allow you to be away from work for more than a month. And remote jobs is not consider as ties at all.