MARRAGE IN THE PHILS - IS WHICH VISA?

[JAMES]

Which visa do I need to reasearch if me and my love will be married in the Phillipines? which K-number is it? What traps do I need to avoid as far as things that can prevent our marriage. Do I really need a "Proof of singleness?", Pictures, ETC.. Where do I find this information? Do I need to take all our corresondence letters/pictures to the Phills with me? Who can I bribe $$$ to make all the problems go away ? :-)

Thanks in advance,
JAMES

[Ray]

... in response to MARRAGE IN THE PHILS - IS  WHICH VISA?, posted by JAMES on Feb 28, 2002

James,

After you marry in the Philippines, you will need to file an I-130 petition with the INS. If you are a U.S. citizen, you can then file a petition for a K-3 visa for you wife (optional), which will allow her to come here while the INS is processing the I-130. Go to the INS Web site and read about the procedures. Download the I-130, I-129F, and G-325A forms with instructions and study them to see what documents you will need. There is a lot of info on the INS site and also on the U.S. Embassy Manila home page.

http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/index.htm

http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/services/residency/family.htm

As far as the “proof of singleness”, I already answered that last week. Follow the instructions for obtaining the ‘Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage’ at the U.S. Embassy links I gave you. You do NOT need any other proof that you are single except the divorce decree/death cert if you were previously married.

You won’t need any letters or personal photos yet. You can bring evidence of a valid relationship with you so she will have it when she submits her paperwork to the embassy (much later).

First step: start ordering CERTIFIED copies of all your documents (Birth certificate, divorce decrees, etc.). Have her do the same with the papers she will need for the marriage license. If you don’t have a passport yet, get it now. If you want to be married in the church, further documents and procedures will apply.

You should plan on arriving in the Phils AT LEAST 2 weeks prior to the wedding date, preferably 3 weeks, so you will have time to get all the paperwork done.

As for bribes, Howard is correct. Send all bribes directly to him and he will give the rest of us our cut :-)

Ray

[Howard]

... in response to MARRAGE IN THE PHILS - IS  WHICH VISA?, posted by JAMES on Feb 28, 2002

Hey James,

Congratulations!  I'll be happy to give you what inromation I have, but I think Ray is the unofficial expert here :c)

The Visa you need to research, if you plan to marry in the Philippines, is a K-3.  When I submitted my K-1, I took, COPIES of everything I had as far as proof of correspondence and just wrote a note to go with them that they are in fact copies of the originals, which I had in my possession.  Don't ever let go of anything, unless it's specificly stated in INS instructions, that you cannot replace.  If you think the American goverment agencies are incompetent, wait until you deal with the Filipino branch!  LOL

Proof of Singleness?  I have no idea, sorry.

Bribes?  Sure, you can send your bribes directly to me :c)  It'll probably do as much good ;c)  LOL

Good Luck and Godspeed :c)

Keep the Faith!

H