Going to visit girlfriend in Philippines, what is next best step?

[rickz2vp]

Hello folks, I'm glad I found this site, as I've seen a wealth of information. I was having a look through and didn't see anything pertaining to something I'd like to ask and the search feature didn't bring me anything either, so I figured I would ask a fresh one.

My girlfriend and I have been talking for about a year now, and I'm about to go visit there at the end of this month (July). I see lots of horror stories and hear lots as well of people who have been separated from their loved ones for a long time waiting for red tape to clear. I suppose my biggest question is would I be better off to have her come to Canada, marry here, then apply for sponsorship while she's here, and have her wait here while it happens? That was advice I was given by some immigration consultant before, but not sure how legit that is. I'm basically wondering what the best way would be to facilitate the most rapid way of being together.

Forgive me if this has been asked before, but I couldn't find it.

 

[sthomas]

Hi,

Some people did that and there were no issues. You have the option to apply inland or outland for her after the marriage.
But coming from a non visa exempt country, there is no assurance yet that she will be given a tourist visa. But if she does, I do not see any problem as long as you can prove that your marriage is genuine.

My husband, my then fiancee, visits me here a couple of times before we got married. We were supposed to just try the tourist visa thing and got married there. In my case, there is a big chance that I will not be given a tourist visa. Because first, my fiancee is Canadian, second I have no job (just graduated) or business to prove that I am going back to the Philippines, and third I do not have assets. So we decided to have our wedding here. If your relationship is straightforward and genuine, no issues at all, then there is a big chance that visa will be given within 3 to 6 months. So the waiting is not that long even if the marriage takes place here.

 

[rickz2vp]

The relationship is very genuine She does work there, but doesn't own her own home. So, you're saying if we marry there, the wait wouldn't be too bad? We're not far apart in age either, so I'm thinking that should help. We already know we will marry just from us talking. I'm essentially going to meet her family and her of course and receive blessings from her family. I can't afford to make a bunch of visits, I'm an electrician and if I start missing too much work I don't think they'll let me stay there, and I like my company

Thanks for that information, like you said, a tourist visa might be hard to aquire, so perhaps I should start looking at being married there.

 

[sthomas]

So you are visiting end of July, so it means you have to decide ASAP. She could have tried tourist visa weeks before but then it is too late for that. I think it will take weeks before you will get a decision if she will have the tourist visa, you may inquire just to make sure.

If there are no issues, I have read from other Manila forumers, the wait will not be too bad. As long as all the requirements are complete. If you decide to marry, message me so that I can tell you how to obtain the Marriage certificate from the NSO within two weeks instead of the usual two months. Not all people knows that yet. Most got it for two months.

I still can not tell you how my case goes. We got married last February and passed our application ,Mid May and my husband got approved last June. So for now I am already waiting for passport request and hope that everything will run smoothly. Our age gap is not far apart either, he is just 6 years older than me. And he did frequent visits before we got married. BUT I know some in this forum who got married right away on their first visit and still got a visa after a few months. As long as you can prove your marriage is genuine,that is all that matters. Make sure you keep all your boarding passes, hotel receipts, photos with family and friends, photos with you and your fiancee, ticket stubs or even restaurant receipts, phone bills, chats and emails.....

If it is too late for her to get tourist visa before marriage, she may get it after marriage and visit you while waiting. She might be lucky, who knows.

Have your fiancee looked into the requirements for marriage license in their local civil registrar. Are you divorced? If so, you have to bring some divorce papers, I am not sure what exactly because my husband was never been married. And also plan a trip to the Canadian Embassy in Manila to obtain your legal capacity to marry, you need that before you can apply at the local registrar. Your papers have to be complete first and then after 12 days (i think), they will give you the marriage license and then you can already get married. Have your fiancee order CENOMAR too through e census and also birth certificates. It will take a few days to get to her, so might as well start doing all those things before you arrive.

How many days will be your vacation? Good luck and enjoy your trip. If you do not mind, from where is your fiancee?

 

[rickz2vp]

She is from Cagayan De Oro. From what I understand there is a Canadian consulate in Cebu, that you can also get marriage affidavit from, which is a bit closer than Manila. You sound like you have a wealth of information I would be interested to know about the 2 week timeframe vs the 2 month one. If you'd like to email, my email is rickz2vp@hotmail.com. Thanks again for the info!

 

[sthomas]

She is from Cagayan De Oro. From what I understand there is a Canadian consulate in Cebu, that you can also get marriage affidavit from, which is a bit closer than Manila. You sound like you have a wealth of information I would be interested to know about the 2 week timeframe vs the 2 month one. If you'd like to email, my email is rickz2vp @ hotmail.com. Thanks again for the info!

Yes, you can actually get it in Cebu. Our place is only 2 hours boat ride to Cebu but we opt for Manila. You know why? Because, Manila is WALK-IN. In Cebu, you have to set a schedule and even with that schedule, consul may be or may not be around at that time. There is only one Consul in Cebu. And we have to make sure we will get it on that day ( the moment he arrives) because we still have to apply for marriage license and our wedding date was 18 days after he arrived (reception, flowers, food, invitations and etc) . There is no fast track on when you will get the marriage license, its around 12 days (notice to the public thingy). But if you are not in a hurry, like if you will be here for a few months or so (husband is just one month here), so no need for you to be in a hurry and yes you can just get it in Cebu

I was born in CDO bytheway, small world

 

[sthomas]

Marriage Certificate

https://www.ecensus.com.ph/Secure/frmFAQs.asp#DocRels13

Refer number 14

Five days after marriage, ask for for advance endorsement from your local civil registrar to be sent to NSO Manila
DO NOT send them postal money (as this will delay the process), but instead order the marriage certificate through e census, right after the advance endorsement is sent.
Email e census with regards to your advance endorsement information --- please refer to the site
You may also call them to make sure, they are very accommodating.

You will get the NSO marriage certificate after two weeks

 

[rickz2vp]

That's fantastic! Thanks for all the news. So when I go to get married, I should plan on at least a month? That's quite a while heh, a bit of work to miss.

So, that's the fast way to get certificate and get the sponsorship paperwork going as fast as possible?

I'm going to take the family to the big zipline thing about 45 mins out of CDO, hope we all have fun

 

[May Ann]

That's fantastic! Thanks for all the news. So when I go to get married, I should plan on at least a month? That's quite a while heh, a bit of work to miss.

So, that's the fast way to get certificate and get the sponsorship paperwork going as fast as possible?

I'm going to take the family to the big zipline thing about 45 mins out of CDO, hope we all have fun

it's better to apply outland for it will take shorter time than applying inland. plus there's no assurance that she will get a tourist visa. i had the same case with my husband. we were planning to have me apply for a tourist visa but later opted for a civil union here.

getting a marriage certificate from NSO and all that aren't as easy as that. it took us 6 months to complete all our requirements. we got married in december 2010 and i was only able to send my documents to him yesterday. well, that's in my case.

 

[sthomas]

That's fantastic! Thanks for all the news. So when I go to get married, I should plan on at least a month? That's quite a while heh, a bit of work to miss.

So, that's the fast way to get certificate and get the sponsorship paperwork going as fast as possible?

I'm going to take the family to the big zipline thing about 45 mins out of CDO, hope we all have fun

Ahh , you meant Dahilayan!!!! Have fun, been there last year. It was an awesome experience.

Yeap, NSO marriage cert takes two weeks if you follow that. Passport change of status will take for awhile though. It will wake 2 to 3 months instead of the normal ten working days, it has been like that for the past few months. That is why we just passed our papers last May (we got married last Feb). But your fiancee may or may not change her last name as long as all her documents are consistent with her passport name. Some people did not change their status in the passport. So it is up to you.

 

[sthomas]

it's better to apply outland for it will take shorter time than applying inland. plus there's no assurance that she will get a tourist visa. i had the same case with my husband. we were planning to have me apply for a tourist visa but later opted for a civil union here.

getting a marriage certificate from NSO and all that aren't as easy as that. it took us 6 months to complete all our requirements. we got married in december 2010 and i was only able to send my documents to him yesterday. well, that's in my case.

Wow, how come it took you 6 months? Good luck with the application though

 

[sthomas]

@rick

And oh one more thing, yeap, one month or some people do it in three weeks hahahaha, i do not know how they did that Have your fiancee worked on it. Maybe she knows some judge and all so that everything will just run smoothly after you get your marriage license.

Congratulations!!!!!

 

[rickz2vp]

So, if I get her to keep her name for now, then change it later, that might be faster? She does want my surname, she likes it hehe, but if keeping hers will facilitate us being together a bit sooner, then I'm all for it.

I did 10 years as a soldier in Canada and 3 tours overseas, and saved a few important folks in Ottawa, I'm thinking someone should pay back the soldier who sacrificed a lot for them, sadly, governments never think that way, they only think of what they can get from us.

 

[sthomas]

So, if I get her to keep her name for now, then change it later, that might be faster? She does want my surname, she likes it hehe, but if keeping hers will facilitate us being together a bit sooner, then I'm all for it.

I did 10 years as a soldier in Canada and 3 tours overseas, and saved a few important folks in Ottawa, I'm thinking someone should pay back the soldier who sacrificed a lot for them, sadly, governments never think that way, they only think of what they can get from us.

Faster in a sense that she does not have to wait for two months to change her passport. It used to be only ten working days, but starting last March, it became two months. Faster if we are only talking about completing requirements.

Actually, it will only take one month to approve you as a sponsor, if there are no issues or etc. The long wait is from our office.

 

[affable_87]

hey Mr. Rick gudluck and enjoy!!!

I cant help to remember wen my hubby came here...in PI..we just married here in Manila and after 1 month after we got our Marriage license from NSO!! I did lots of papers work...before and after married....


wish u all best and to ur fiancee