ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
PhilippinesHow to report marriage in the Philippines
We just went through it in Washington DC. The documents(THREE COPIES OF EACH), you will need are listed on the Consulate of the Philippines Chicago website. Obviously you only need the documents that apply to you. The form you fill out is on the website. The documents are:

Marriage License.
( ) Marriage Cert./Contract; Cert. of Registration of Marriage
( ) Death Certificate of Previous Spouse.
( ) Photocopy of Passport or I.D. of both parties to prove citizenship
( ) Passport-size photos of both parties
( ) Divorce Decree if Divorced
( ) $25.00 FEE (NO PERSONAL CHECKS)

After they record the marriage, (they will give you a copy), you can apply for your passport in your married name at the same time.



Chicago Consulate of the Philippines
DaveEMalePhilippines2011-12-28 12:22:00
PhilippinesChanging name after marriage
Much of the name change stuff is state specific. Here in Georgia, when we got the marriage license, the clerk specifically asked my wife what she wanted her married name to be. She specified the filipino customary way.

After marriage, the clerk gave us several certified copies of the marriage license with the new name on it.

Then we went to Social Security and had the card issued in her married name.

Went on the base and got her military ID in her married name.

Filed for AOS in her married name. The NOA-1 and Biometrics letters were issued in her married name. Her interview appointment was sent in her married name.

During the interview, the interviewer changed it back to the US way without our knowing. Her GC was issued incorrectly.

We sent in for a corrected no fee green card, providing all the evidence that she had changed her name. USCIS agreed and corrected the green card free and sent her a new one.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-01-05 15:02:00
PhilippinesThis is the confusing part.. hope someone can enlighten me..

You can't get your Philippine Passport in your married name unless you report your marriage.

From VJer reports they don't seem to care too much if you report it late (beyond the 30 days) but you will need to include a letter stating the reason for late reporting. Just being busy with life & adjusting seems to be an acceptable reason for this.



Only one of the consulates seems to care about the 30 day thing. The Washington DC consulate does not care and does not mention it on their web site. Since you don't want to go to Washington, you can register your marriage by mail and they will return the the registration to you by mail. However, if you want the new e-passport, you have to do that in person as they take the picture and embed it electronically in the passport.


My wife just registered our marriage after 18 months and it wasn't even mentioned. She then applied for the new e-passport in her married name. The new passport arrived in the mail after about three weeks. We drove up to Washington over Thanksgiving and spent a couple days there, touring and sightseeing and visiting the consulate.


Here is a link to the Washington DC consulate with instructions.

Report of Marriage abroad
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-01-11 11:34:00
PhilippinesTravel to PH - prescription drugs
Six trips to the Philippines in the last few years. Always put my prescription drugs in my checked bag. No one has ever questioned anything. Heck, most of the stuff you need a prescription for in the states is over the counter in the PI.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-01-03 19:23:00
PhilippinesREPORT OF MARRIAGE
The same people who take care of the passport stuff and the report of marriage. We were going to Baltimore for Thanksgiving so we left two days early to tour Washington DC and take care of the Embassy paperwork.

We took care of the Report of Marriage first and when complete, the same folks let her apply for the e-passport in her married name. They gave us our "Report of Marriage" on the spot.
DaveEMalePhilippines2011-11-28 13:23:00
PhilippinesIs there some filipina living in hawkinsville, GA

Ok Thanks ..;)



My wife (Charlie Brown) left you a message on your face book.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-02-09 21:03:00
PhilippinesIs there some filipina living in hawkinsville, GA
Hawkinsville - wow. If you mean the Hawkinsville that is close to Robins AFB in Warner Robins, there are at least 50 filipina working on the base, and many working in the local hospital.

Local Sari Sari store, (Elsies), on Houston lake Road in Warner Robins, they will have all of your food necessities and ship your Balikbayan boxes for you.

Lots of filipina in the local Catholic Church also (Sacred Heart), in Warner Robins.

All of this should be within a 30 minute drive of Hawkinsville.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-02-09 13:50:00
PhilippinesNSO AUTHENTICATION OF MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
When we registered our marriage with the Consulate in Washington DC, they said it would be provided to NSO. They also said it could take up to one year for them to do it.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-02-14 09:19:00
PhilippinesGot married in the Philippines but on a K1 Visa application

One thing is getting away with it. Another is a-l-w-a-y-s having to dread USCIS finding out. If AOS is based on material misrepresentation, then there's no time limit to when the status may be revoked, whether it's being a greencard holder or becoming a citizen based on marriage. I'd advise against it no matter what.



This is so true. Here is a link to a Filipino doctor who had been in the states for 25 years, and was being deported because when he came here he said he was single and was really married.




http://www.indypress...riefs/briefs_1/
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-02-23 10:40:00
PhilippinesPayment for K2 through BPI
I had to pay also. Separate visa for the child even though she is accompanying the mom. K1 mom - K2 child.
DaveEMalePhilippines2011-02-17 08:02:00
PhilippinesOne Way Out via Delta
I bought my wife and step daughters tickets from Delta on-line. No one ever asked them so show any credit card or copy of credit card when they traveled. The only suprise they got was the fee (I think it was 1600PHP) for using a ticket purchased outside the Philippines.

Disclaimer: I fly Delta a lot and only use their Skymiles credit card to purchase tickets. If they have any questions, they call me. I think first time users or an unknown person purchasing a ticket might ring alarm bells and cause them to want to see a copy of the credit card.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-02-23 11:37:00
PhilippinesUpon getting the Visa approved, whats the quickest way of getting the vissa issued?
It will be issued the day after you leave, (ask me how i know). I have read about folks getting the actual visa in a few days, but it is not the norm. Ours took two weeks, (maybe a little longer). The Embassy does thousands of these visas every month; if they expedited one, everyone would want theirs expedited. Actually the lady at the consulate asked me if I had read the website notice about when you should make travel arrangements.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-03-12 12:40:00
Philippinesgetting married in the Philippines
According to reports their are some places in the Philippines that will not accept the document from the US Embassy, see the link. Legal Capacity to marry
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-03-20 07:41:00
PhilippinesFederal Marriage Requirements after POE
As has been stated, every state is a little different. Here in Georgia, we got married four days after she arrived. The requirement(s) were that she could prove her identity, (passport), and was here legally (visa).
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-03-23 08:35:00
PhilippinesCFO hiccup
You can get that document from the US Embassy Manila. First time I have heard of CFO asking for this type of document. Normally it is used for folks who want to marry in the Philippines. Basically it is you certifying that you are single and they notarize the document. CFO never asked my wife (fiancee at the time), for anything like that)

From the US Embassy Manila, website:

Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry

Any foreigner who wishes to marry in the Philippines is required by the Philippine Government to obtain from his/her Embassy a ?Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage? before filing an application for a marriage license. For information, please click here.

Edited by DaveE, 29 March 2012 - 12:49 PM.

DaveEMalePhilippines2012-03-29 12:48:00
PhilippinesSecond wedding in Phils
Whether you report it or not, the marriage in the US is valid and recognized by the Govt. of the Philippines. It has nothing to do with passports and dual citizenship. When you apply for the marriage license in the Philippines you will be lying on an official document, by verifying that you are single. It can come back to bite you in the butt later.

Addtionally, to obtain a marriage license in the Philippines you must apply US Embassy Manila for the Affidavit In Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry. You will have to certify to a consular official that you are single and able to marry. You will have lied to another government agency.

Philippine Law requires non-Filipino citizens to obtain a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry if they wish to marry in the Philippines. U.S. Consular Officers cannot make any official certification about the status or eligibility to marry of persons residing in the United States who propose to be married abroad, or about the laws of the United States or of any of the fifty States or Territories about eligibility for marriage or the solemnization of a marriage. Instead, the U.S. Embassy provides an Affidavit In Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry.


Overall, not a wise thing to do.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-04-10 22:24:00
Philippinesafter Medical in PH, is there another medical in US

You just have be be clear and firm. It is all how you communicate. Make sure they know that they are only filling out the immunization part and certifying that part. They will not fill out the rest for a medical exam as they do not need to do it since your Saint Luke medical exam is good for one year. Just check all of them in your state if you have to. I am lucky in Indianapolis as I have found several that will do it for the immunization part only and understand I am not asking for the medical exam. The one I found here recently is charging only $25.00. So I guess I am lucky. Good luck in finding one that will not extort you for an exam becasue they feel like they have the power and want to make money off of you when it isn't necessary. Shop around and compare rates, but be very clear in telling them what you want and need. You must make them understand that they are certifying the immunizations only and you are not asking to fill out information on the rest of the form for a medical exam. They should understand that if it is clearly communicated to avoid any confusion.



I wish that were true. We have one Civil Surgeon within 150 miles. He told us that he had one fee for Immigration work whether it was just a transcript or the entire physical. His receptionist also told us we were more than welcome to take a hike if we didn't like it, and gave us the name and number for the one 150 miles away, (with a smile). Bottom line is that a 300 mile round trip and a day off work would have cost more than the $200 he wanted for the transcript. Actually it was $400 for a K1&K2.

The nurse did the paperwork and the Dr just came in and signed it. When I complained to USCIS, in writing and during the interview, they basically told me to shut up and color. They have zero control over what a civil surgeon charges.

PS - neither wife nor step daughter needed additional immunizations.

Edited by DaveE, 25 April 2012 - 09:48 AM.

DaveEMalePhilippines2012-04-25 09:47:00
PhilippinesDon't mess with this filipino woman
Filipino lady defends herself

This lady works her butt off and now owns 13 convenience stores in the local area. Don't try to take her stuff or you will regret it.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-04-27 07:31:00
PhilippinesJust got married - name change confusion though!

yes you are correct, I should not have said have to go back, we just choose to go back to have it removed to remove confusion from employers that may read more into that phrase than they should. Since you were married before did the SS office let you change the middle name at that time? Iask because we want to do it also and i am confused by what they said versus what Dave said, his timeline is not filled in so i am not sure if he is in the AOS process since it says K1 visa on his profile, i guess we will check it out more when we go back...



My wife arrived on July 26, 2010. We were married on July 30, 2010. In two or three days our marriage certificate arrived in the mail. Immediately we went to the local SS office and applied for the SS card in her filipino style married name. It was issued as such.

Now AOS was a different animal. My wife had her military dependant ID card in her married name, her SS card in her married name, her healthcare documents in her married name, her biometrics in her married name.

When we went for the interview, the interviewer (without our knowing it), changed the green card back to her original middle name. When it arrived like that we immediately sent it back with all our supporting documents. USCIS issued a free new green card with the correct name. We start ROC in September.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-04-27 08:00:00
PhilippinesJust got married - name change confusion though!

you will have to go back to the SS office either way because your card will have the valid for work only with DHS authorization on it if you got it before your green card, also we were told at SS office they dont recognize the Filipino way of changing the middle name after marriage, only the last name, for AOS use the name on your paper work that you want to be put on your green card.



Every state is different on how they handle the name change issue. In Georgia, the desired married name is specified on the "marriage license". The actual "marriage certificate" is issued in your single name after you are married.

Our Social Security office looked at the "marriage license", and issued her card in the name she wanted (filipino style). First name - old last name - new last name.

Even though it says DHS work authorization required, it is not necessary to change it. When you apply for work, your green card or EAD is your work authorization.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-04-26 11:58:00
PhilippinesFed Ex to the Philippines
Never ever had an issue with FedEx. Used them many times sending document to the Philippines.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-05-08 11:54:00
PhilippinesDoes your wife know how to swim?
My wife and step daughter can't swim, and we have a pool. The really don't seem to be interested in learning, and just splash around the shallow end. They look at the diving board as if it is the enemy.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-04-07 05:41:00
PhilippinesHelping her to adjust to life here
Keep her busy and entertained. Don't let her get bored. She WILL get homesick and it will be tough. My wife has been here since July 2010 and the bouts of homesickeness are getting fewer and fewer as she adjusts. Let her know you are always there for her, and try to understand if she gets sad. We decided my wife would not work outside the home, as we have three daughters, and being a mom is a full time job. I left five magic jacks in the Philippines so she can talk to her family whenever she wants, and that helps a lot.
I really think what bothers my wife is the fact that her 15 year old daughter (K2), has never been homesick once and tells mom she doesn't want to go back to the Philippines. Of course my step daughters life here is so much different. Driving, I-phone, Beta Club, Future Business leaders of America, Reel club, Honor Society etc. She is so busy she doesn't have time to be homesick. When mom is homesick and says wow don't you miss X food or Y store, our daughter looks at her and says "no". Sometimes creates a bit of tension.

PS - no matter how much you clean your house, it will not be clean enough. Since I was a single dad and work lots of hours, I had a maid. First thing my fiancee (now wife), did is fire her.

Edited by DaveE, 04 October 2011 - 07:29 AM.

DaveEMalePhilippines2011-10-04 07:27:00
PhilippinesTourist Visas for wedding...
It is a ####### shoot, especially for a marriage age single woman. My step daughter has been refused three times now. The first time was to be the maid of honor at her moms wedding. The CO told her the last time not to bother applying again, as long as her mom and sister are living in the states. Doesn't matter she has a full time call center job, goes to college in the day time, and owns her own condo. Additionally she has visited Hong Kong, and Singapore without issues.

Every year, I ask her to try again in the hopes that she one day will be approved. She has never lied, or done the borrow money thing. Last time as a long shot I had a letter of recommendation from my one of my Senators (knowing that it probably wouldn't help). They sent him a nice email back saying she would be given every consideration, but when my step daughter showed the CO a copy he had never seen it and didn't care anyway.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-06-22 12:28:00
PhilippinesFinally coming to the USA

Thanks guys for the advice! Yes, she got the CFO sticker 3 weeks ago. Yes, she mentioned about the exit fee of 1600 and terminal fee of 550. I will make sure she has enough money to get through it all. I found out that once she board the flight in Manila, she will not have to leave the plane again until she arrives in Detroit. I sent her sent cellphone that she can use globally and call me. Now, I just have to get her packed properly to pass through security. Her english is not that strong, so I am hope during the next coming days and on the flight over she will have a nice chat with some passengers to help her guide her way through the flight to me!




It has been about a year since I flew that flight. We had to deplane in Nagoya; go through Japanese security, and then replane (same aircraft). Tell her not to get nervous if they ask her to deplane in Japan, (unless they have changed things).
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-06-22 13:17:00
PhilippinesOn the 26th of July she has been here two years

That is great. :)



Oh no.. as much as possible i want him to keep speaking tagalog and English. HIs granpa and granma will be so sad if he fails to speak Tagalog at some pt :)




Almost guaranteed that will be an issue. My wife only speaks in Tagalog to Des. However everything else in her life is English. All of her school day, conversation with friends, night out at the movie, books etc. My wife says that Des's Tagalog is not as good as it was. I asked Des what language she "thought" in, and she told me "English". In fact when we talk to our other daughter in the Philippines, Des always speaks English, and makes her sisters ears bleed. (lol).
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-07-17 06:55:00
PhilippinesOn the 26th of July she has been here two years

How old is your stepdaughter? My hubby is filing for me and my son. I hope my 3 yo son will get used to AMERICA :)



My stepdaughter was 16 years old on July 6th. She was advanced one year in high school and will graduate at 16. She is 100% adjusted.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-07-16 20:15:00
PhilippinesOn the 26th of July she has been here two years
I am so blessed to have found this woman. The absolute best two years of my life. Every day is an adventure and joy to spend with your best friend and wife. This year will be Removal of Conditions, complete adoption of step daughter, and plan trip to the Philippines next year.

Lol - step daughter is getting too Americanized. When we talk to friends in the Philippines, they say she has an American accent.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-07-16 13:37:00
PhilippinesMy Wife Wants to Join the Military
Actually I was just joking and being a little facetious. The military was the best thing that happened to me. Out of thirty years active duty I spent 17 overseas, something I never would have done without the military.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-06-19 19:36:00
PhilippinesMy Wife Wants to Join the Military
Gee I only spent 30 years in the Air Force. I saw lots of people wash out, most were later accepted by the Army or Marines.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-06-19 18:00:00
Philippineshospital and advanced terms

I have never heard of the wife walking behind the husband as normal.. even in the provinces. The Philippines is actually a very matriarchal society. (Except apparently where your wife is from) Othee than that, glad your ordeal is over and your wife and baby are safe and healthy. :)




My wife would slap me on the back of my head if I walked in front of her, and she is from Negros Occidental.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-07-09 06:43:00
Philippinesmilitary spouse..

When I got my wife enrolled in DEERS, they scanned the NSO copy of the marriage certificate, scanned her passport with visa in it, and needed her SSN. If you don't have a SSN, you need an ITIN to keep you enrolled into DEERS (the DEERS office will tell you that you need a SSN though). If not, you will drop back out of the system after a few months. Granted all our steps were done in the US, but that is what it took for my wife to get enrolled into DEERS and get an ID card.



It seems like every local military installation has their own rules. My wife and step daughter were enrolled in DEERS three days after we got married, (7 days after they arrrived). They used the A-number in lieu of a social security number and told us to just come back and get new ID cards after they got social security numbers.

If you think about it, the social security number requirement must be bogus. Although the K1 recepient can apply for a social security number as soon as you are married, the K2 is not eligible until they have a EAD or green card. My daughter had already had several doctors visits and eye surgery (paid for by TRICARE), before she had a social security number.

Edited by DaveE, 27 July 2012 - 08:36 AM.

DaveEMalePhilippines2012-07-27 08:26:00
PhilippinesDelta airlines?
I always fly Delta flight 295 nonstop from Atlanta to Narita. 1 hour 40 minute stop at Narita, and then flight 173 to Manila. Total travel time is like 19 hours. I have not found anything faster.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-08-01 13:01:00
Philippinesreport of marriage and passport renew

No it doesn't have to go back to the PI to be official. That is why they have you make four copies when you submit it. They put the official seal of the Embassy on the document, and the signature of the consul general. They also annotate the log book number it is entered in. They give you one copy for your records and the keep the rest. After that they will process the passport in the new married name. You will never get anything back from the Philippines. Bottom line is that the consulates act as an agent of NSO.

The ladies in the Embassy said it can take upwards of a year before they even bother sending it to the Philippines, as they send them in batches. She also said it was valid and official when the Embassy issued it.

That was as of last Thanksgiving when my wife and I went to Washington to get it done.



I reread what I posted and it sounded a bit snippish so I will try to be more concise.

The lady at the embassy said that our copy certified by the embassy was our "Report of Marriage"
She also said if we wanted the NSO stuff to wait about a year, but that just meant it had been put into their data base.
As it was official they could accept the new passport application in my wife's married name immediately.

The new passport arrived in about two to three weeks.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-07-29 06:58:00
Philippinesreport of marriage and passport renew
No it doesn't have to go back to the PI to be official. That is why they have you make four copies when you submit it. They put the official seal of the Embassy on the document, and the signature of the consul general. They also annotate the log book number it is entered in. They give you one copy for your records and the keep the rest. After that they will process the passport in the new married name. You will never get anything back from the Philippines. Bottom line is that the consulates act as an agent of NSO.

The ladies in the Embassy said it can take upwards of a year before they even bother sending it to the Philippines, as they send them in batches. She also said it was valid and official when the Embassy issued it.

That was as of last Thanksgiving when my wife and I went to Washington to get it done.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-07-29 06:09:00
Philippinesreport of marriage and passport renew

Hi to all, We are planning to do my report of marriage and renew my passport at the same time in Washington DC. but I just wonder if anyone have idea of how long does it takes for me to receive it after the processing..



We went in person to Washington. You get the report of marriage immediately, and my wifes passport (in married name) took about three weeks.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-07-28 05:45:00
Philippinesdod id

anyone tried getting DOD IDs for military spouse here? can you tell how is the process? i want to hear some experiences. thank you. :)



It seems like every personnel office/CaC administrator has their own ideas of what the rules are. Here, my wife and step daughter were issued CaC cards three days after we were married, well before they had social security numbers. The issuing office used their A number in lieu of social security number, and told them to come back when they got their social security number put the number in DEERS.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-08-28 07:51:00
PhilippinesSuccessful POE

She alreafy said it was cold here and it was 74 today, damm she is in trouble. Luckily, my 2 boys and parents gave her gifts of warm clothes. And we also found out she does not like fresh milk. She liked that its very clean here in the U.S..



You know, we had the same issue. All my trips to the Philippines and I never realized that you don't see a lot of fresh milk. My wife buys powdered milk at WalMart, and I won't touch it.

My step daughter is a different story. She adapted to fresh milk in a heartbeat, and now scowls at powdered milk.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-09-14 08:01:00
PhilippinesI am a US citizen who wants to marry abroad
This is from the US Embassy in Manila web site, about the Legal Capacity to marry Certificate.


"Instead, the U.S. Embassy provides an Affidavit In Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry. In late 2011, the U.S. Embassy learned that the following local registrars had refused to accept the Affidavit In Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry as a viable alternative to the Philippine document: Makati City, Quezon City, Davao City."
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-09-18 12:10:00
Philippineswebsites to purchase and deliver items in Philippines
I used to use myregalo.com. Never had a problem but they seemed a little expensive.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-10-15 12:27:00