Going around the system

[Bear]

I am curious about methods of bypassing the government procedures.  Just hypothetical now so don't start jumping on anyone.

Is it possible that a Filipina could get a visa to go to another country like Korea, Thailand, Mexico, etc, wherever and marry an American there.  If they did how would this effect the visa application procedures, if at all?  Would it cause any specific problems?  Would would be necessary to accomplish this if it was possible?

The Bear Family

[william3rd]

She could if she can meet the requirements for marrying in that other country.

Then, are you looking at an I130 processed through her own country or a K3. . . or has she established a residency in yet another country by virtue of work or


the consulates have no obligation to add to their workloads.

[Bear]

Not sure?  How about if they just went there to get married then returned to the R.P. to process the papers?  Would that cause any problems?

Hmmmm?  What requirements to marry would have to be processed in another country?

The Bear Family

[Ray]

What government system would you be "going around", that of the Philippine government? Doesn’t make sense.

Sure, you could marry anywhere IF, like William stated, you meet the requirements of that country. All countries have different marriage requirements.

You would still have to process the visa in the standard way, BUT a K-3 must be processed in the country where she was married! That leaves only the CR-1/SR-1 visa as an option for processing back home in the Phils. And don’t forget to get certified copies of the marriage certificate from the foreign country, with proper translations.

Bottom line: There is no advantage as far as visa processing goes.

Ray

[Bear]

Is there any benefit for speed of marriage?  I guess from the suggested scenario you'd be going around the Philippine's government.  The only requirement I remember was get my certified to marry; waiting 2 weeks and the health certificate (of course having all the required documents).  Hardly worth going around except the 2 week wainting period.
I guess you could just say it would be like going on a honeymoon and getting married where you pan to honeymoon?   Is there any problem that might develop from that?

The Bear Family

[william3rd]

yup- so unless you are going with a K3, you are back in Manila unless she had established a residency which would allow her to process the immigrant visa directly in another country. Example- housekeepers employed longterm in other countries. However, foreign countries are only obligated to interview in English and an official language of the host country. SOmetimes makes it hard for those with little english skills

[Ray]

Bear,

That 10-day waiting period in the Phils can be waived by a judge in court if you have a good reason.

Traveling to another country would not save you any more time and would definitely cost a lot more.

Ray

[Bear]

I'm sure a good reason would have to be pretty good because the two week waiting period was probably put there to prevent a lot of such marriages where someone came over for a few days and married.  Its hard to imagine a reason other than a bribe that would remove that requirement. I think the argument of "I can only get two weeks wouldn't carry much water?  So if they say went to a Caribbean Island or Australia to marry and Honeymoon then it would take harder to get a Visa when she returned to the R.P.?  I wonder if such a scenario would add a lot of costs of getting the visa?

I think I like getting married in the R.P. and Honeymooning there.  It was significantly cheaper and a lot to see.  But I did have 22 days.

The Bear Family

[Dave H]

Hey Bear,

It is more like going over the system rather than "around." It seems that it would create much more expense (travel, accommodations, visas for some countries, etc), complication, and added time to a process that is really not that complicated or time consuming. The only benefit I could see is possibly for someone who is living in the third country already, doesn't want to travel to or is banned from the Philippines.

The Philippine government is very "accommodating!" I have been to several weddings where the 10-day waiting period in the Philippines was waived by a judge. In one case, the judge performed a civil wedding. One was a protestant wedding performed by a minister and the other Catholic, with a priest.

Dave

[Ray]

I'm sure a good reason would have to be pretty good because the two week waiting period was probably put there to prevent a lot of such marriages where someone came over for a few days and married.  Its hard to imagine a reason other than a bribe that would remove that requirement. I think the argument of "I can only get two weeks wouldn't carry much water?

 

First, the reason for the 10-day waiting period is so that a public notice of the intent to marry can be posted in case anyone has a reason to object to the marriage. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that one party may be a visiting foreigner.

Being on a limited time schedule when one party is visiting from overseas is a valid reason to consider when petitioning the court to waive the 10-day waiting period. I looked into this before I went over to marry, and was quoted a court fee of I think P5,000. If a judge in court grants a waiver, he can legally marry you the same day in chambers. I didn’t need to apply for a waiver because I later changed my schedule to add more time up front in my visit.

Ray

[Dave H]

was quoted a court fee of I think P5,000.

Ray

Hey Ray,

Not bad!

Special fees in the Philippines don't usually break the bank, are quite reasonable, and are often well worth the added cost, when needed. I have found the Philippine government and it's employees that we have dealt with to be much more professional, courteous, understanding, and friendly than in most US government offices.

Dave

[Ray]

I have found the Philippine government and it's employees that we have dealt with to be much more professional, courteous, understanding, and friendly than in most US government offices.

I agree!

That's because they don't have affirmative action in government hiring over there, just good old nepotism... 

[Bob_S]

It doesn't get around the U.S. system, but it can get around the R.P. system.  For example, here you go!  Quick and easy marriages in the Caribbean and Mexico.

[william3rd]

It doesn't get around the U.S. system, but it can get around the R.P. system.  For example, here you go!  Quick and easy marriages in the Caribbean and Mexico.

Which means that all your little Filipina has to do is get a transit visa to get to her wedding in the Caribbean. She can forget about the US.

[Cbear]

Which means that all your little Filipina has to do is get a transit visa to get to her wedding in the Caribbean. She can forget about the US.

I don't quite understand what you are saying, do you mean the transit visa would be denied or that if she got a transit visa that she would never get a CR1 approved???

Filipinos need a tourist visa to travel to Mexico also. I don't know about all the Caribbean countries but I know going to Mexico would be hard.

I talked to filipina girl once who had been to Brazil on vacation and she said she didn't need a visa to go there. I also chatted with a girl who had been to China as a tourist.

[william3rd]

according to travelocity, all the cheap flights go via USA. Even the ones to Mexico City.

The expensive ones go via Frankfurt, London, Madrid.

USA requires transit visas to pass through. . .  most Filipinas will not qualify for a transit visa since they dont qualify for a tourist visa.

What an adventure for your bride, Antilles via Frankfurt and Jo'burg!!!!!!

[Dave H]

Maybe a Catholic wedding in Tehran. Perhaps the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would like to be Ninongs (Godfathers). 

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_passport#Visa-free_travel the following countries allow Visa-free travel on a Philippine passport:

Visa-free travel
It is estimated that 62 countries and territories granted visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Philippine passport holders, while 41 countries and territories are visa free accessible (visa on arrival for free counted). Visa issued prior to arrival or pre-arrangement required for countries or territories not mentioned below.

Africa

Countries and Territories Conditions of access

Burundi visa issued upon arrival  
Cape Verde visa issued upon arrival
Comoros A free 24 h transit visa issued upon arrival at the airport. Within 24 hours this must be converted into a full visa at the immigration office in Moroni (fee payable)
Djibouti 10-day visa issued upon arrival for DJF3,000; 1-month visa issued upon arrival for DJF5,000
Egypt (South Sinai only) 14-day visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)
Gambia At port of entry passport 24-72 h transit pass is issued. This must be converted into a full visa valid up to 1 month at the immigration department in Banjul (fee payable)
Kenya 3-month visa issued upon arrival for US$50  
Madagascar 90-day visa issued upon arrival for MGA140,000
Morocco 3 months  
Mozambique 30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$25
Saint Helena visa issued upon arrival
Seychelles 1 month
Tanzania visa issued upon arrival for US$50
Togo 7-day visa issued upon arrival
Uganda 6-month visa issued upon arrival for US$50
Zambia 3 month visa issued upon arrival for US$50  

Asia

Countries and Territories Conditions of access

ASEAN  
Brunei Darussalam 14 days  
Cambodia 21 days  
Indonesia 30 days  Laos 30 days  
Malaysia 1 month  
Singapore 30 days  
Thailand 30 days
Vietnam 21 days

Non-ASEAN
Armenia 120-day visa issued upon arrival for AMD 15,000  
Azerbaijan 30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$100
Bangladesh 90-day visa issued upon arrival for US$50  
Georgia 3 month visa issued on arrival for US$10 ~ US$200  
Hong Kong 14 days
Iran 15-day visa issued upon arrival for US$50  
Israel 3 months  
South Korea (Jeju Island only) 30 days  
Macau 30 days
Maldives 30-day visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)
Mongolia 21 days
Nepal 15/30/90 day visa issued upon arrival for US$25/40/100
Sri Lanka 30 days
Timor-Leste 30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$30

Europe

Countries and Territories Conditions of access

Kosovo 90 days

Oceania

Countries and Territories Conditions of access

Cook Islands 31 days  
Fiji 4-month Visitor's Permit issued upon arrival (free of charge)
Marshall Islands 30-day visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)
Federated States of Micronesia 30 days
Niue 30 days
Palau 30-day visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)  
Samoa 60-day Visitor's Permit issued upon arrival (free of charge)  
Tuvalu 1-month visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)  
Vanuatu 30 days  

North America

Countries and Territories Conditions of access

Bermuda 6 months
Costa Rica 30 days
Dominica 21 days
Haiti 3 months
Nicaragua 90 days
Saint Kitts and Nevis 14 days
Saint Lucia 6-week visa issued upon arrival for US$50
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1 month
Turks and Caicos Islands 30 days

South America

Countries and Territories Conditions of access

Bolivia 59 days
Brazil 90 days  
Colombia 90 days
Ecuador 90 days
Peru 90 days
Suriname

[Dave H]

That's because they don't have affirmative action in government hiring over there, just good old nepotism...  

Hey Ray,

I think you nailed it! From my perspective, "good old nepotism" seems to be a much better system! 

Dave

[piglett]

well if your going to go around the systen why not get her a travel visa for Mexico & then the 2 of you can just walk accost the reo-grand , it's only knee deep in places & not very wide.
If it's good enough for 20 million Mexicans it should be good enough for your girl too rite??

[Cbear]

That is why we need the fence. Too many illegals as it is.

Build it NOW.

Sorry for hijacking the thread, but we really do need that border fence cause I am sick of all the illegals around here who are working while American citizens are on unemployment.

[piglett]

I am sick of all the illegals around here who are working while American citizens are on unemployment.

I think your rite, if all of the illegals were out of here wages would be higher & jobs wouldn't be a problem for any of us.

[Dave H]

That is why we need the fence. Too many illegals as it is.

Hey Cbear,

I guess they would have to build a tall seawall around Florida. 

I am sick of all the illegals around here who are working while American citizens are on unemployment.

That is one of the reasons why I left South Florida! "Illegal, non-English speakers, and criminals preferred." No work for gringos...even if you can speak Spanish or Haitian! They actually did me a huge favor! I didn't have to think twice about getting the HELL out and moving to the Philippines!

Dave

[piglett]

Hey Cbear,

I guess they would have to build a tall seawall around Florida. 


That is one of the reasons why I left South Florida! "Illegal, non-English speakers, and criminals preferred." No work for gringos...even if you can speak Spanish or Haitian! They actually did me a huge favor! I didn't have to think twice about getting the HELL out and moving to the Philippines!

Dave

come on Dave you don't like being treated like a 2nd class citizen in your own country??

the libs would probably call you a bigget & say that you need to be more understanding

[Howard]

Hey Bear,

I have a friend who was determined to marry a Filipina without ever going to the Philippines.  I told him it would be very difficult and to shut up and get on a plane!

WELL... he had the last laugh on me.  I guess he met a girl working as a maid in Vancouver.  I'm not sure if they married there or not, but I know they are married, she is here in Michigan - a short time later nonetheless - and he never went to the Philippines.  When we were talking he said that their visa would be processed by the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver.  I just don't remember whether it was K-1 or K-3.

If you guys are REALLY interested, I'll see if I can get in touch with him and find out

Keep the Faith

H

[Ray]

Hey Bear,

I have a friend who was determined to marry a Filipina without ever going to the Philippines.  I told him it would be very difficult and to shut up and get on a plane!

WELL... he had the last laugh on me.  I guess he met a girl working as a maid in Vancouver.  I'm not sure if they married there or not, but I know they are married, she is here in Michigan - a short time later nonetheless - and he never went to the Philippines.  When we were talking he said that their visa would be processed by the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver.  I just don't remember whether it was K-1 or K-3.

If you guys are REALLY interested, I'll see if I can get in touch with him and find out

Keep the Faith

H

Hi Howard,

The only visas the Philippine consulate processes are visas to the Philippines. I think your friend is full of shyt and I'll bet she is TNT. (Tawa Ng Tawa). Ask to see her visa...

Hey, how is that little Howard doing? We miss you guys here!

Ray