dnavinnie

We had the registrar expedite the PSA certificate and we had it in one month. Once we had that in hand we filed the CR-1. 
 
I was was lucky to have a friend there who was visiting his fiancée so he brought the certificates back with him. 

We got married last June in Manila.  The Embassy doesn't issue the Certificate.  Instead they issue the "Affidavit in Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage".  Make sure they accept the affidavit.  Some local registrars don't.  You can get a CENOMAR in place of the CNI.  That is what we did.  You need your divorce papers and a CENOMAR to show that you aren't married to another Filipina.  
 
The 10 day period cannot be sped up.  That is the time they need to make sure the announcement is in the paper long enough for people to see who may want to protest the marriage.  That is part of the law and can't be worked around.  It is 10 working days too.  Weekends don't count.  When you apply for the license they will tell you when it becomes active.
 
You will also need a Family Planning Seminar.  It is a 6 hour class.  That you CAN get out of.  We still paid the fee but they just gave us the certificate.  We are older and both have adult children.

I just got back from a visit with my fiance in Cebu. I flew Cathay Pacific thru Hong Kong. Nice airport and they speak English so no worries.

A marriage between two muslims.this is one of the criteria for a divorce in the Philippines. 

Thank you @Hank. We are going to look for an attorney familiar with Shaira law. 

I copied this from the NVC forum. An update regarding the government shutdown.
 
The US Govt is shutdown due to disagreements in the budget.
How long will it be? unknown, my opinion is less than 1 week
How will it effect Visa applications? it won't
USCIS and the US embassy visa's are funded by the fees that we pay so they stay open. 
very very little effect at all maybe some phone operators are off but we won't know that until Monday.
DON"T WORRY ABOUT IT!!! I was here in the last shutdown and pretty much nothing happened,
How the Federal Government Shutdown Affects U.S. Immigration Services.
The last time it happened there was very very little effect on the family visa process (K1 included) USCIS and embassies continued to work like normal.
The Department of State (DOS):
Since DOS offices are usually funded for a two-year period, DOS will continue to process such applications as long as sufficient funds are available to execute consular services. Nevertheless, past experiences with similar shutdowns suggest that any applications filed during this period will experience significant delays in processing. If the shutdown becomes protracted, it is possible that DOS will suspend all services other than emergency support for U.S. citizens abroad. We, therefore recommend that applicants plan their travel accordingly and if they must apply for visas during the government shut-down, that they attempt to schedule the earliest appointment possible.
NVC is part of DOS, and is funded by the fees they collect they are open but maybe the phone operators maybe off, the other workers continue to work and process applications.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
they continue to process I-129f and I-130's. But background checks with the FBI could be delayed. 
Key USCIS systems will be suspended or limited. The USCIS Electronic Immigration System (USCIS ELIS), which includes E-Verify, will not be operational. While E-Verify is non-operational, companies will not be able to verify new employee eligibility or enroll them into the system.
Why would the gov't shutdown? (no politcs) 
basically out gov't can not agree on a budget and the funding (money) stops.
How long will the shutdown be? we don't even know if it will happen today or not, I say it would only last a few days at most.
STATE DEPARTMENT
Many State Department operations will continue in a shutdown. Passport and visa processing, which are largely self-funded by consumer fees, will not shut down. The agency's main headquarters in Washington, in consultation with the nearly 300 embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions around the world, will draw up lists of nonessential employees who will be furloughed.
HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT (includes USCIS )
A department spokesman said nearly 90 percent of Homeland Security employees are considered essential and will continue to perform their duties during a government shutdown.
That means most Customs and Border Protection and Transportation Security Administration workers will stay on the job, according to the department's shutdown plan, dated Friday.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be staffed at about 78 percent, meaning more than 15,000 of the agency's employees will keep working. The Secret Service, also part of Homeland Security, will retain more than 5,700 employees during the shutdown.
Adjudications at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency at the US Department of Homeland Security that reviews nonimmigrant and immigrant petitions and applications for immigration benefits, is fee-funded, and should continue on a normal schedule. Visa processing at US Department of State consular posts would likely not be affected for the same reason, at least initially, though an extended shutdown could lead to a suspension of services other than emergency support for US citizens. If posts are forced to scale back, past experience suggests that visa applications may be affected first. During the 1995 and 1996 shutdowns, which together lasted 27 days, an estimated 20,000–30,000 visa applications went unprocessed every day. Officers with US Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement are “essential” personnel, which means these agencies should also operate on a normal schedule.

OP, Be careful about canceling your interview. You only get two cancels and then you will have to pay your interview fees again after waiting the 90 day penalty period. Just saying.

I copy this from a group on facebook.
 
The US Govt is shutdown due to disagreements in the budget.
How long will it be? unknown, my opinion is less than 1 week
How will it effect Visa applications? it won't
USCIS and the US embassy visa's are funded by the fees that we pay so they stay open. 
very very little effect at all maybe some phone operators are off but we won't know that until Monday.
DON"T WORRY ABOUT IT!!! I was here in the last shutdown and pretty much nothing happened,
How the Federal Government Shutdown Affects U.S. Immigration Services.
The last time it happened there was very very little effect on the family visa process (K1 included) USCIS and embassies continued to work like normal.
The Department of State (DOS):
Since DOS offices are usually funded for a two-year period, DOS will continue to process such applications as long as sufficient funds are available to execute consular services. Nevertheless, past experiences with similar shutdowns suggest that any applications filed during this period will experience significant delays in processing. If the shutdown becomes protracted, it is possible that DOS will suspend all services other than emergency support for U.S. citizens abroad. We, therefore recommend that applicants plan their travel accordingly and if they must apply for visas during the government shut-down, that they attempt to schedule the earliest appointment possible.
NVC is part of DOS, and is funded by the fees they collect they are open but maybe the phone operators maybe off, the other workers continue to work and process applications.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
they continue to process I-129f and I-130's. But background checks with the FBI could be delayed. 
Key USCIS systems will be suspended or limited. The USCIS Electronic Immigration System (USCIS ELIS), which includes E-Verify, will not be operational. While E-Verify is non-operational, companies will not be able to verify new employee eligibility or enroll them into the system.
Why would the gov't shutdown? (no politcs) 
basically out gov't can not agree on a budget and the funding (money) stops.
How long will the shutdown be? we don't even know if it will happen today or not, I say it would only last a few days at most.
STATE DEPARTMENT
Many State Department operations will continue in a shutdown. Passport and visa processing, which are largely self-funded by consumer fees, will not shut down. The agency's main headquarters in Washington, in consultation with the nearly 300 embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions around the world, will draw up lists of nonessential employees who will be furloughed.
HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT (includes USCIS )
A department spokesman said nearly 90 percent of Homeland Security employees are considered essential and will continue to perform their duties during a government shutdown.
That means most Customs and Border Protection and Transportation Security Administration workers will stay on the job, according to the department's shutdown plan, dated Friday.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be staffed at about 78 percent, meaning more than 15,000 of the agency's employees will keep working. The Secret Service, also part of Homeland Security, will retain more than 5,700 employees during the shutdown.
Adjudications at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency at the US Department of Homeland Security that reviews nonimmigrant and immigrant petitions and applications for immigration benefits, is fee-funded, and should continue on a normal schedule. Visa processing at US Department of State consular posts would likely not be affected for the same reason, at least initially, though an extended shutdown could lead to a suspension of services other than emergency support for US citizens. If posts are forced to scale back, past experience suggests that visa applications may be affected first. During the 1995 and 1996 shutdowns, which together lasted 27 days, an estimated 20,000–30,000 visa applications went unprocessed every day. Officers with US Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement are “essential” personnel, which means these agencies should also operate on a normal schedule.
 
 

I looked over your history of post and you are helping many while trying to swim upstream with your visa journey. Would like to invite you over to the sub forum for the Philippines where there are many who can help you. It's better than a lawyer in two ways. 1. It's FREE advice from their personal experience. 2. Your journey will go much smoother because we can let you know the "land minds" so you can avoid them. So hop on over and say Hey.
 
I'm going to give you a very valuable website to visit that will take you step by step with all the information you will need to pass and receive your visa without all the headaches and gotchas.  Your probably in this area of your jounery: http://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/k-1-visa-application.html
 
That's Hanks website and he is a very talented individual when it comes to visa processing in the Philippines.

Port of Entry. The POE relates to where you will first set foot on American soil and transition through immigration is your POE. 

Congrats. Safe travels and all the best. Be sure to have a rice cooker and rice ready when she arrives. 

I am with you on that my friend. I always have better luck and less wait in the evening hours

you can do your DS-160 now or even 30 days ago if you haven't already. No need for MNL (NVC) they don't ask for it on DS-160
 
Steven

I agree! Shoey helped us thru some hard times waiting. The May filers deserve a big after party for what we have been thru!

USCIS might be catching up on their backlog. I just called NVC and found out they received my case on January 15th. My NOA2 approval date was December 8th. So it took 38 days. Now it's time to call every night after 8PM (usually when you call after 8 there is no waiting) to get my number.

USCIS might be catching up on their backlog. I just called NVC and found out they received my case on January 15th. My NOA2 approval date was December 8th. So it took 38 days. Now it's time to call every night after 8PM (usually when you call after 8 there is no waiting) to get my number.

I agree! Shoey helped us thru some hard times waiting. The May filers deserve a big after party for what we have been thru!

Just called NVC they received our case however still being entered into the system. NOA2 Dec 11th.

Well finally an update here.
We were EARLY May filers.
It took a good 6 months for NOA 1
NVC number took all of 8 days back then
After that came her interview.
Due to my prior past petitions it was held up at the Embassy in Manila.
Well 2.5 months after interview here visa went from , READY, Application Received , Admin Processing and the day after AP it went to ISSUED.
Still can't believe it 8.5 months.
 
Thanks to all here for your support.
Too many to list them all but @mcs , @Keith & Monica, @geowrian, @Trinab80 (welcome back hope your battery is recharged) @vml @Greenbaum @John & Rose (your NOA 2 has got to be soon) and of course @Shoegum
 
She will be here before Valentine's day.
Try www.cheapOair.com  I thought that web site was a joke at first but it's the real deal
 
Good luck to you all.
 
Steven.

Ours was received by NVC and given case number on one day and within 10 days our case was at the manila embassy received and ready for appointment making...good news to you if you dont already know....they have ALOT of appointments available  for interview...still available in January... i just booked mine today and they still have jan 22 and later....i saw more than 40 still available on that day alone. so get ready...no apointment necessary for medical...just register online...then show up in que bright and early before sun up. I noticed they are sugesting you make your medical exam 2 weeks before your interview.....so  pay your visa fee at BPI bank asap so you can schedule the interview..youll need the interview conformation letter to give a copy at the med exam....the med exam fee is paid directly to St lukes hospital  IN CASH ONLY on the day of the exam.... 

It does make sense. However, I will put my two cents in, on totally different note. I believe this comes from the top, very top with the orange hair. Order was "slow it down", or the order was a good old "audit". They all had to stop what they were doing, and for a month go through millions of papers and such, just to show they are doing what they are doing. After it was done, it was "ok, carry on". And it will happen again. Very well it could be a point where they wanted to stop 2000 - 5000 people from coming in to US in this calendar year, so they can show their voting base "look what we did this year, we cut it down so much, like we promised in the campaign", and then they all celebrate like they did something.
 
For all US citizens here, there is one vote you take, and be very wise about it. If you live to age of 80, you will have about 15 opportunities to vote (depends when you turn 18 to be able to vote). I am apolitical, do not belong to any Party, nor I ever will, but I do vote for the most qualified person at the time. Please, use your 15 votes wisely. There are levels of Government, so you can show how displeased you are on lower levels too. Do your job, do your civic duty, help this great country stay just that - great.    

FINALLY!!! NOA2 approval! Day 224. What a rough road! It took 25 days for the adjudicator to respond from the RFE received date in case anyone is interested.
My fiancé wanted to get married first but I said the K1 process would be so much faster...boy was I wrong!
 

Me too. My RFE was regarding the IMBRA waiver which they approved so if anyone has made mistakes in the past and finally found the love of their life...don't give up!!!

I wish you a speedy approval. I'm a firm believer that most of the people are trying their best to help us and if we show them our appreciation it sure won't hurt.

FINALLY!!! NOA2 approval! Day 224. What a rough road! It took 25 days for the adjudicator to respond from the RFE received date in case anyone is interested.
My fiancé wanted to get married first but I said the K1 process would be so much faster...boy was I wrong!