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1 minute ago, JFH said:

If you have not returned to live in that country or have not been arrested there since you moved from that country then the police certificate never expires. I submitted a 13-year-old police certificate from a country I have not lived in for over 20 years. Not an issue. 

Many thanks. From what I read on here it difffers from one embassy to another. Although it states that 1yr validity is good, the US Embassy in Manila where I will be interviewed is apparently accepting 6month old certificates. Hence, I’m wondering if a foreign police clearance is one of them for the interview in Manila.

Hello,

I’m wondering how long is the validity of a foreign police clearance? Is it 6months or 12months? 
i lived in the UK for 3yrs, left in 2017 and haven’t been back since then. I ordered a UK police clearance in Feb of this year just before covid hits. I have been contemplating if I should get another  police clearance to present during interview in Manila or just present the one I acquired in Feb/Mar2020? My old passport has the stamp from when I exited the UK and entered Philippines, should I photocopy my old passport and attached it with this Feb/Mar2020 UK police clearance?

P.S.

I am getting new NBI and PSA certificates this month because from what I heard Manila only accepts 6months old certificates.

Just this foreign police certificate I am not sure of. Hope anyone can share their thoughts. Thank you lots!

Apologies if someone has asked this question already. USEM is still close at the moment and when you call you get the same answer as they  cannot book you an interview appt still but they do a few visa interviews according to the agent I spoke to on the phone last time I rang. I have read quite a lot of people requested to expedite and got interview appt in Manila. However, most of them if not all are applying for spousal visa. In fact, a friend of mine has been given an interview appt in mid Sept and she is now in the US.

I’m a K1 beneficiary with a US citizen child who is now turning 3 this year bless him. Partner has been deployed in 2018 so we applied mid 2019. Got my case ready in USEM March but due to the lockdown wasn’t able to get medical & interview appt.  
Can anyone please share their thoughts on what to prepare to do this request? My friend said email NVC but also read I can directly email embassy Manila. Any thoughts is greatly appreciated x

On 3/1/2020 at 10:13 AM, Hank_ said:

Don't worry about the I-129F, can't fix anything on that.  (serious relax)      IF .... only IF ....  the CO asks about anything regarding the I-129F during the interview do you give him the correct  info .. if he doesn't ask ... silence  ... only answer questions asked, don't get chatty.

 

Nothing to worry about.  You can enter the correct address or other issues in the DS-160 visa application.  << this is what is important now.

 

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

 

As for the validity of the petition, the embassy will extend the validity for up to one year.

Thank you @Hank_ I was wondering if the USEM MNL will automatically extend the date indicated on my NOA2 approval which is valid until May 14, 2020 or do I need to notify them for an extension?

I was going to book an interview for April then have the medical this month, but since the lockdown I am unable to fly to Manila and bcz of that I didn’t pay nor book a date for an interview. I’m not quite sure how to move forward from here in this time of uncertainty.

7 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

Don't worry about the I-129F, can't fix anything on that.  (serious relax)      IF .... only IF ....  the CO asks about anything regarding the I-129F during the interview do you give him the correct  info .. if he doesn't ask ... silence  ... only answer questions asked, don't get chatty.

 

Nothing to worry about.  You can enter the correct address or other issues in the DS-160 visa application.  << this is what is important now.

 

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

 

As for the validity of the petition, the embassy will extend the validity for up to one year.

I’m freaking out at the mo and I need to step back to breathe a little. 

Thank you so much @Hank_. I’ll do what u have advised.

I just rcvd the replica packet from the Petitioner and found out the typos on the form. We haven’t scheduled for the interview but let’s say we have not much time left at this point 2 1/2months base on the date given on my NOA2 approval. There are 3 errors: Spelling on my physical address, end date of my marriage and lastly my mother’s maiden name.

i read that we can possibly correct the address during or after the interview. I could be wrong on that.

As for my end date of marriage we sent a copy of my divorce along w/ the Form I-129F, but he input the wrong date on the form. As for my mother’s name, wrong spelling on her last name. How do we correct that? Birth Certificate of my myself or my mum?

Your opinions are highly appreciated. 

3 hours ago, Hank_ said:

 

Do keep us updated.  Thanks

 

 

Will do...

42 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

According to the embassy documents checklist the CEMAR (advisory of marriage) and copy of the divorce decree are all that listed as required.

 

There seems to be a CO at the embassy that believes the recognition of divorce is also required .. this is very hit and miss.

Thank you @Hank_. 

@Mkyl012104 sent me a pm. She said she had her interview last 2018 and the Consul then asked for an annotated CEMAR. She’s currently in Administrative Processing and was given a year to accomplish it. But most ppl know how slow it can be in the Phil they sometimes make it complicated. 

I’m yet to ask if he/she was a Filipino Consul or what not.

In my case seems like a pot luck now if I get a CO who will accept my divorce decree + CEMAR (not annotated)during the interview. I’m left w/ no choice but to turn up with whatever docs I have on hand and hope for the best.

I’m praying that things will go well. 

20 hours ago, Hank_ said:

COM = CEMAR   (not CENOMAR)

 

COM (used by PSA) & CEMAR (used by us here on VJ)  is the Advisory of Marriage form 5.

 

You ask for a COM at PSA they will know exactly what you are asking for, no deer in the headlights .... 

I just rcvd my PSA Advisory of Marriage Form No.5. Been told that this is all I need along w/ my Foreign Divorce Decree. Sorry for the trouble I’m just really anxious about this interview coming up. Any chance of anybody who can enlighten me to verify if USEM Manila is still accepting this or they’re likely to ask for an annotated CEMAR/COM? 

On 1/28/2020 at 8:07 AM, Mkyl012104 said:

 

the process of getting an annotated certificate of no marriage is to Submited the required documents such us finality, certificate and certified documents... to PSA manila.

my concern is... is it possible for me to bring all required documents in PSA manila to speed up the annotation of my marrige certificte.. than mailing if from my local civil registry.

 thank u

@Mkyl012104 did the CO asked for Cert of Marriage or they want it to be annotated? The PSA do not annotate a marriage by simply bringing a Foreign Divorce Decree to their MNL office. The PSA would want finality and order from the Phil Judge which would mean u will have to file for a Recognition of Foreign Divorce to ur Regional Trial Court first through a lawyer,  spend a fortune and wait a long time before u can have that COM annotated 😞

1 minute ago, Greenbaum said:

No need to apologize. I had a private conversation with @Hank_ he agreed that COM is switched at times with CENOMAR. Most of us know it as a CENOMAR not COM. When she used that terminology it through me off. If you go to PSA and ask for a COM, you just might see a deer in your headlights. Anyways, thanks. 

Thank u. It sounds a bit funny though the COM thing. I hope she will come on here and share her interview experience to enlighten me about this COM thing. 

My case is still on going, finally done w/ the court hearing. But I haven’t had the Judge’s decision yet. Worse comes to worse I’m bringing just the COM (not annotated) during the interview. 😞

8 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

Thanks for the education. I have been around these parts for a long time and I knew the meaning of most of the abbreviations but never heard COM. But thanks for chiming in and setting me straight.

Apologies for butting in. I know u have been on here a long time and truly am grateful for all ur input in helping people like myself as we go through this process. 

I am confused w/ the COM CEMAR thing myself until I had to get these certificates😅. Would be nice to share for others to know esp the Phil filers.

4 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

 I agree with you. Having a copy of the 221(g) will tell us everything. I never heard it called a COM but either a CENMAR OR CEMAR.

A CENOMAR is what we refer here as Certificate of No Marriage. A CEMAR is Certificate of Marriage (COM) similar to Advisory of Marriage Form No.5 which states all marriages a Filipino citizen had in the past or any existing marriage.

12 hours ago, Hank_ said:

This is a new issue from the embassy, not sure if it is now policy, as the embassy checklist only states they want to a copy of the divorce decree, or if there is a new, overly zealous CO that is over-thinking things.   

 

The recognition of divorce is only necessary IF marrying in the Philippines, to marry anywhere else on the planet only the divorce decree would be needed.

 

I wish there was a way of addressing this with the embassy because no where in the embassy checklist does it list this "new requirement".

 

Very frustrating to say the least

Thank you @Greenbaum@Hank_

 It is very frustrating indeed. I hope someone on VJ who’s had similar situation would share their journey for the K1 Fiance visa process. I’m now awaiting for my case# from NVC so I can book my medical& interview. 

The USEM MNL checklist looks the same, it says Foreign Divorce Decree is fine. With that in mind Decree and COM(Advisory on Marriage) should satisfy the CO. I dnt see the point having it Recognized and COM Annotated if the intention is to marry in the US not in the Philippines.

i hope @Mkyl012104 would tell us if that CO asked for an annotated COM during her interview or she was simply asked to bring a COM as she hasn’t brought one upon interview. I’m a bit confused. 

8 hours ago, Mkyl012104 said:

i already have all the documents from my local civil registry... what im trying to ask if it it possible if i personal submit my required documents directly to PSA...  for annotation..

 thank u

Hi. Have u filed for a Recognition of Foreign Divorce to the court? How did it go? The law now requires us to get the final decision from the judge take it to Civil Registrar General as they now take note of all Foreign Divorce Recognized, from there u then take it to ur Local Civil Registrar before they give u a COM that says Divorced. As far as I know this is going to take sometime as mine is taking over 2yrs not to mention u have to attend 2-3 court hearings that r likely scheduled months apart. Hence, the process is lengthy just like annulment.

What exactly did the CO asked u during ur interview? They dnt accept Foreign Decree unless recognized by Phil Law? Sorry for asking too many questions. 

18 hours ago, Mkyl012104 said:

hello everone..Im from Mindanao,.. and in administrative process in K1 VISA was married b4. during my interview Embassy required me to submit my COM but i need to recognize it here in the philippines.. fotmrtunately 

 can anyone know if It is posible for me to bring all required documents in PSA MANILA my COM annotation of recognation of foreign divorce..?

Hiya! Apologies for jumping on here but I’m now feeling anxious just by reading the thread. 

I’m also divorced. I have my Foreign Divorce Decree on hand and we decided to push through with filing for a K1 visa thinking USEM Manila will accept it just fine along with a COM that doesn’t say annotated. 

Just a brief info about my situation. I came back to the Phil in 2017 to have my foreign divorce recognized. With that in mind I wasn’t expecting the process to be extremely lengthy considering it isn’t annulment but a Recognition of Foreign Divorce. Here we are, 2020 and it isn’t finished yet. I am waiting to hear from the Judge for the finality & documents to bring it to Civil Registrar General then to my Local Civil Registrar.

As for my K1 visa we r now waiting for our Case# from NVC to book for medical & interview. 

Extremely worried now that they will ask me to go back and wait for this to be annotated before granting me a visa? @Hank_ @GreenbaumUr thoughts are highly appreciated 😞

3 hours ago, Merbibbyxox said:

I have a feeling my RFE is for passport photos also. I did the New Zealand format for the date stupidly and I noticed mine is slightly larger than my fiancé’s. Easy fix tho  

In that case it’s an easy fix. I rmmbr worrying what our RFE was.

I was expecting even longer approval but thank God we finally got it.

25 minutes ago, Allalex said:

Do you mind to share what was your RFE for?

Sure! It’s the passport photos. Maybe the first ones sent didn’t meet the size req or smthn. 

Just now, Allalex said:

Lucky you!! Congratulations!!

Thank you. Not an easy ride but got there in the end. Hang in there! U guys r next!!!

Just now, Allalex said:

Today is still Jan 16th

Apologies. Basing it on the Phil time.

We just got approved!

We’ve been notified via text and the case tracker updated status.

NOA1 - Sept11

RFE - Dec24

RFE Response rcvd - Jan7

NOA2 - Jan17

I’m very pleased😊 

Now I can start gathering all other docs like UK police clearance, Phil NBI clearance, crtfc8s, etc. 

On 12/24/2019 at 9:21 PM, Greenbaum said:

It's always something simple. It's either a check box that was missed or additional evidence all of which you are capable of submitting. 99% of the case that reach the RFE stage are almost approved with the exception of the answer to the RFE. Answer that properly and your approval is on it's way. Your over thinking this process. Relax and take a deep breath. Trust the process.

Thank you @Greenbaum Ur right I am over thinking the process. It has been a long wait. If I hadn’t known that USEM Manila would accept Foreign Divorce Decree (Beneficiary) we wouldn’t have applied. Truly grateful to u guys and VisaJourney!

Just an update - RFE is passport photos, dnt quite know if they lost it or he sent wrong ones that dnt fit the req. He has sent them by NY so hopefully we’ll hear from USCIS soon. Have no idea as to how long but I’ll keep an eye out.

@Sarge2155 thank you. Hope u had a lovely time during the holidays..

6 hours ago, Sarge2155 said:

It usually is something very simple.  Just try to relax you'll get through this!

Thank you @Sarge2155. I’m trying to get it off my head for the time being and enjoy the holidays. 

NOA1 9/11

RFE 12/24

Sigh. I hope it is just something simple. 😭

On 11/23/2019 at 1:01 AM, Hank_ said:

I would .

 

There have been two or three that came through here this year, I should have bookmarked the topics as the solution that one found was not a full blown Recognition of Divorce through the RTC ..    

 

Still it would be nice if those at the embassy would review these new COs to make sure they are "being stupid" like that one.

 

 

Hi,

 I am in the same boat. I have been married in the Philippines and got divorced in the UK. I am now in the Phil and have applied for K1 just recently. It took quite a while bcz I thought USEM would require my foreign divorce to be recognized in the Phil before I am free to remarry  again. Thank you to VisaJourney, had I not read the posts on here we would not have the courage to apply for a K1 visa.

But after reading about this new CO, I am now worried as my Cenomar would definitely say I am still married. My case for Foreign Divorce Recognition is still on going, it is costly and lengthy.