This post originally took place on the 3rd of April 2016. I will post the following next time:
How to Get Married in the Philippines? (A Filipino and British Nationals)
FAQs: Approved Non-Quota Immigrant Visa by Marriage (Probationary)
FAQs: Annual Report
FAQs: Amendment to Permanent Resident Visa by Marriage (On-Going)
One of the requirements before a foreigner and Filipino Citizen can get married in the country is for the foreigner to produce an Affirmation of Marital Status. It is an equivalent to CENOMAR for us Filipinos. In this post I will try to be more specific as possible by answering some frequently asked questions.
1. My fiance and I planning to get an affirmation from the embassy, what is the best thing to do first?
Well, aside from the preparation of the required documents, you need to book an appointment first. Otherwise they will not accommodate you at the embassy and get the document. There are loads of options on which service you want to get from their website. We booked our appointment a month prior to our chosen date. I strongly advice that you need to book it weeks before your chosen date so you could prepare for the documents needed.
2. What are the requirements to get affirmation of marital status?
Download the template of the Affirmation of Marital Status first from their website. Template/s is/are available on a Word document. The official font size is 12, whilst the official font type is Times New Roman. However, you can adjust the font and the margin as needed. You have to fit all the necessary Fill out the form. Do not leave anything blank. Write N/A if the information isnt necessary for you. Do not sign the form not unless youre already in front of the consul.
Original British Passport
Proof of Address (i.e. Utility Bill, Bank Statement, Drivers Licence). It should be under the applicants name and the present address.
Payment. We paid ₱3,960.00. They only accept cash.
3. Did you bring any extra documents with you?
Yes. Just to be sure. Cus of course, even if the required documents are already posted from their website, they might ask for additional documents. We brought voluntarily his birth certificate, and attached was the Deed Poll document. A bank statement just in case they will not accept the internet bill that were about to present. The consul scanned everything we handed to her.
4. Bank Statement? Would it mean that they re going to look for my financial stability?
Bank Statement is one of the samples of the proof of address. Provided that it reflects the name of the applicant and the present address in the country. We just brought it as a back-up document, but we didnt show it to the consul. And financial stability is not an issue. Just provide all the necessary requirements and youll encounter no problem at all.
5. Can I apply all by myself or does my boyfriend/girlfriend need to accompany me?
Personally speaking, yes. Remember you are going to get an affirmation for marital status, and they need to know that your partner really exists.
6. I saw on their website that you can also get an affidavit for marital status, I am confused which of them should I get? Affidavit or Affirmation for Marital Status?
You do not need to do both. It depends upon on your beliefs and preferences. Both are legally binding. Affidavit for Marital Status involves religious beliefs. Taking an oath to a Bible or Koran. Whilst Affirmation for Marital Status has no religious element. In short, if you decide to go for a church wedding you should get the Affidavit for Marital Status, and if you decide to go for a civil wedding then get the Affirmation for Marital Status.
7. I already booked an appointment so what to do next?
Well, whilst waiting for your appointment, prepare the necessary requirements. Days before your actual appointment, you will receive an e-mail from the embassy reminding you regarding the appointment. Print it off so at least you really have a proof that you made an appointment with them and present it to the guards.
8. I live far away from the embassy, would it be okay if I turn up late?
Definitely NOT okay. They dont entertain late comers. You must be there on time. It is only a 15-minute appointment. Otherwise they will not administer your request. You have to re-schedule your appointment. Normally, their slots are always fully booked. So choose the date carefully.
9. I am done with the process, but I noticed that theres an error with the affirmation for marital status that I gave to them. What to do?
Before you and the consul sign the paper respectively, he/she will ask you if theres no mistake on the affirmation that you filled out, in case you noticed it after they administered it or lets just say you already left the embassy, sad to say you have to repeat all the process all over again. Yes including the payment.
10. What is the best way of going to the embassy?
I am actually bad at giving directions, but Ill see what I can o. I am from the South Town of Luzon. It is alot easier for us to get off at Guadalupe (although I think you can also get off at Ayala), ride on a jeepney with AFP Housing signboard and just tell the driver to drop off you off to the place where you can take a shuttle bus going to the embassy. If I am not mistaken, you will be dropped off near the American Cemetery. And from there take a shuttle bus, and their last stop is the British Embassy Manila. If youre going to take C5 Road, the British Embassy Manila is almost near to Korean Embassy.
11. How many days before you they finish administering it?
If you dont have a problem with your documents or they dont see any inconsistencies with them, then within 15 minutes, youre done.
12. What are the actual procedures in getting this?
It doesnt have an actual procedure. It is only a 15-minute process. All you have to do is submit all the necessary requirements. And if you have an additional documents with you that you think are useful too, submit them. The consul will scan them. There will be a brief interview. The consul will just ask you on how long youve been in the country, when and where are you going to get married, and if both of you are really single. You will recite an oath that can be read on the carton. Sign your filled out affirmation form, the consul will sign it too. Pay. And thats it.
13. Any tips you would like to give?
Come on time. It is really important. They are too particular with that. Otherwise you will not be entertained. Gather all the necessary requirements, and if its possible for you, you can add any documents that you might think that are useful. And make sure that all the information that you wrote are true and correct.
How to Get Married in the Philippines? (A Filipino and British Nationals)
FAQs: Approved Non-Quota Immigrant Visa by Marriage (Probationary)
FAQs: Annual Report
FAQs: Amendment to Permanent Resident Visa by Marriage (On-Going)
One of the requirements before a foreigner and Filipino Citizen can get married in the country is for the foreigner to produce an Affirmation of Marital Status. It is an equivalent to CENOMAR for us Filipinos. In this post I will try to be more specific as possible by answering some frequently asked questions.
1. My fiance and I planning to get an affirmation from the embassy, what is the best thing to do first?
Well, aside from the preparation of the required documents, you need to book an appointment first. Otherwise they will not accommodate you at the embassy and get the document. There are loads of options on which service you want to get from their website. We booked our appointment a month prior to our chosen date. I strongly advice that you need to book it weeks before your chosen date so you could prepare for the documents needed.
2. What are the requirements to get affirmation of marital status?
Download the template of the Affirmation of Marital Status first from their website. Template/s is/are available on a Word document. The official font size is 12, whilst the official font type is Times New Roman. However, you can adjust the font and the margin as needed. You have to fit all the necessary Fill out the form. Do not leave anything blank. Write N/A if the information isnt necessary for you. Do not sign the form not unless youre already in front of the consul.
Original British Passport
Proof of Address (i.e. Utility Bill, Bank Statement, Drivers Licence). It should be under the applicants name and the present address.
Payment. We paid ₱3,960.00. They only accept cash.
3. Did you bring any extra documents with you?
Yes. Just to be sure. Cus of course, even if the required documents are already posted from their website, they might ask for additional documents. We brought voluntarily his birth certificate, and attached was the Deed Poll document. A bank statement just in case they will not accept the internet bill that were about to present. The consul scanned everything we handed to her.
4. Bank Statement? Would it mean that they re going to look for my financial stability?
Bank Statement is one of the samples of the proof of address. Provided that it reflects the name of the applicant and the present address in the country. We just brought it as a back-up document, but we didnt show it to the consul. And financial stability is not an issue. Just provide all the necessary requirements and youll encounter no problem at all.
5. Can I apply all by myself or does my boyfriend/girlfriend need to accompany me?
Personally speaking, yes. Remember you are going to get an affirmation for marital status, and they need to know that your partner really exists.
6. I saw on their website that you can also get an affidavit for marital status, I am confused which of them should I get? Affidavit or Affirmation for Marital Status?
You do not need to do both. It depends upon on your beliefs and preferences. Both are legally binding. Affidavit for Marital Status involves religious beliefs. Taking an oath to a Bible or Koran. Whilst Affirmation for Marital Status has no religious element. In short, if you decide to go for a church wedding you should get the Affidavit for Marital Status, and if you decide to go for a civil wedding then get the Affirmation for Marital Status.
7. I already booked an appointment so what to do next?
Well, whilst waiting for your appointment, prepare the necessary requirements. Days before your actual appointment, you will receive an e-mail from the embassy reminding you regarding the appointment. Print it off so at least you really have a proof that you made an appointment with them and present it to the guards.
8. I live far away from the embassy, would it be okay if I turn up late?
Definitely NOT okay. They dont entertain late comers. You must be there on time. It is only a 15-minute appointment. Otherwise they will not administer your request. You have to re-schedule your appointment. Normally, their slots are always fully booked. So choose the date carefully.
9. I am done with the process, but I noticed that theres an error with the affirmation for marital status that I gave to them. What to do?
Before you and the consul sign the paper respectively, he/she will ask you if theres no mistake on the affirmation that you filled out, in case you noticed it after they administered it or lets just say you already left the embassy, sad to say you have to repeat all the process all over again. Yes including the payment.
10. What is the best way of going to the embassy?
I am actually bad at giving directions, but Ill see what I can o. I am from the South Town of Luzon. It is alot easier for us to get off at Guadalupe (although I think you can also get off at Ayala), ride on a jeepney with AFP Housing signboard and just tell the driver to drop off you off to the place where you can take a shuttle bus going to the embassy. If I am not mistaken, you will be dropped off near the American Cemetery. And from there take a shuttle bus, and their last stop is the British Embassy Manila. If youre going to take C5 Road, the British Embassy Manila is almost near to Korean Embassy.
11. How many days before you they finish administering it?
If you dont have a problem with your documents or they dont see any inconsistencies with them, then within 15 minutes, youre done.
12. What are the actual procedures in getting this?
It doesnt have an actual procedure. It is only a 15-minute process. All you have to do is submit all the necessary requirements. And if you have an additional documents with you that you think are useful too, submit them. The consul will scan them. There will be a brief interview. The consul will just ask you on how long youve been in the country, when and where are you going to get married, and if both of you are really single. You will recite an oath that can be read on the carton. Sign your filled out affirmation form, the consul will sign it too. Pay. And thats it.
13. Any tips you would like to give?
Come on time. It is really important. They are too particular with that. Otherwise you will not be entertained. Gather all the necessary requirements, and if its possible for you, you can add any documents that you might think that are useful. And make sure that all the information that you wrote are true and correct.