Posted this in another thread the other day, but I guess I should make a new post as more will see. I signed up here a while ago but haven't really posted, just read. I am getting married next summer and we are marrying in Philippines.... So just looking for a step by step guide on what I need to do here before I leave... and then what I need to do there once I arrive..... Also what my lovely fiance needs to do her end before I arrive so it all runs smoothly on my 6 week stay... I know it is highly unlikely she will be returning to the UK with me after my 6 weeks are up due to time to process the visas etc... She does want to come live with me in the UK, so hoping it all runs smoothly. So please can anyone give me step by step instructions as I have read bits and pieces but not sure what order to do things... last thing I want to do is get there and realise I didnt do something in the UK before I left and we cant get married, as it will be at least a year before I can save up to go again..... Also current costs involved if anyone has done it recently and can help. Thanks in advance Carf
Well, the process has changed a little bit since I married. But there is still a lot of common ground. 1] You need to apply for a Certificate of No Impediment here in the UK for yourself, from your local registrar. For that you will need to present your divorce papers if any. 2] You will need to visit the UK Embassy in Manila and exchange it for what is called a local Certificate of No Impediment (CNI). This now requires a arranging a prior appointment, which wasn't the case 2 years ago. 3] You or probably your fiance will need to arrange for the wedding in the Philippines. This is the weak area for me as we used an agent to make things easier for us. 4] With your CNI in your mit you will need to visit the UK embassy in the Philippines before your marriage. You may well need to attend marriage councilling with your fiance in the Philippines. 5] And you will need to apply for a CENOMAR which is the Philippine version of the CNI. So will your wife, I believe. (Certificate of No Marriage). 6] You will need to have taken your divorce papers with you, if any. 7] While in the Philippines collect evidence such as photos, receipts, airline ticket stubbs to prove your relationship etc etc which you will later need for your wifes visa application. How long are you intending to allow for your time in the Philippines when you get married?
This was written by a member of this forum members about a year ago. It seems to hold still: "This is not a complete guide, but it should help answer the primary questions for anyone considering the process of getting married in the Philippines. Essentially if you intend to get married in the Philippines you need to start the process at least a month before you travel, and need to plan for around 2 or 3 weeks in the country to give you time to complete the formalities and the marriage. In addition your fiancé needs to go to the local city hall and obtain the information on local requirements for marrying, and if possible scan and e-mail you a copy of the documents stating this so you can both review it ensure you cover all the requirements. Also ensure that you have a copy of your fiancés passport or official ID and address before you start the process so that you don’t make any clerical mistakes which could cause mayhem and ruin your wedding. CNI Prior to marrying in the Philippines you need to obtain various documents, the first of these is your CNI. A Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) is a certificate which confirms there are no objections to your proposed marriage. This certificate is valid for 3 months, and is a little complicated to obtain, so you must start planning your wedding as early possible. If you start the process in the UK, you will need to have spent at least 21 days in the town in which you submit the application before you actually apply. Then the process takes around 22 days in the UK and a further 10 days in the Philippines to complete. You’ll need to apply for an appointment at your Registry Office, and sometimes you need to book as far as 2 or 3 months ahead. Once you have the CNI, you should plan at least two weeks in the Philippines to complete the process, and book ahead an appointment with the British Embassy or Honorary Consul to exchange your CNI for a ‘Consular CNI’. You can also completely the whole process in the Philippines, however you’d need to spend at least 54 days in the Philippines before you could actually get married to complete the entire process. Option A Obtain CNI in the UK, and convert in Philippines 1) Visit your local registrar, request a CNI 2) WAIT 21 DAYS 3) Visit the British Embassy in Manila or Honorary Consul in Cebu to exchange CNI for a Consular CNI. 4) Marriage License Request at City Hall 5) WAIT 10 DAYS 6) Receive Marriage License Minimum of 32 days, with at least 10 days in the Philippines Option B Obtain CNI in the Philippines 1) LIVE IN PHILIPPINES FOR 21 DAYS 2) Visit British Embassy in Manila or Honorary Consul in Cebu to obtain CNI 3) WAIT 21 DAYS 4) Visit British Embassy or Honorary Consul to collect CNI 5) Marriage License Request at City Hall 6) WAIT 10 DAYS 7) Receive Marriage License Minimum of 54 days, with at least 54 days in the Philippines CENOMAR The next document you both need, for yourself and your spouse, is the CENOMAR. A Certificate of No Marriage Record (CENOMAR) from the National Statistics Office (NSO) is simply what its name implies. It is a certification issued by the NSO stating that a person has not contracted any marriage. Both you and your fiance will need this, and it is a local equivalent of the CNI to say that you haven’t been married in the Philippines before. The great thing is that this can be obtained online at https://www.ecensus.com.ph . You can either pay by credit card and have it delivered to your address in the UK, or you can make the order online and give your fiancé the reference number, she then makes the payment locally at a bank and has the documents delivered to her house. If you deliver to the UK it can take up to 2 months, however if you deliver in the Philippines, it’s sent by courier and will arrive with your fiancé in a matter of days. Marriage Once you have the CNI and CENOMAR, you are almost there. There are some final hurdles though, you may need to attend a seminar or interview in your local area to discuss your marriage. These vary from town to town, so you need to ask your fiancé to visit the local city hall/municipal office and discuss the requirements in detail for obtaining the Marriage License. Marriage in the Catholic Church If you intend to get married in the Catholic Church, there are yet more hurdles. I married in a Catholic church and the process took several months. We had to attend interviews at the local church and the chancery, in addition to providing all the evidence of our baptismal and confirmation certificates. In addition we needed to attend a seminar, and in addition was required to sign a document stating that all of our children would be brought up in the Catholic Church. If your fiancé has been ‘annulled’ she can marry in the church, however if you have been previously married, it is highly unlikely that the church will allow you to marry there."
CENOMAR is an abbreviated form of 'Cerificate of No Marriage Record" and is generally NOT required by foreigners marrying in the Philippines who are in possession of a Consular CNI. However Registrars in small provincial towns may still require the production of CENOMARs by both parties - simply because the CNI does not say "CENOMAR". Arranging a marriage in the Philippines is a very time-consuming exercise and it can be both frustrating and expensive. And at the end of the day, you may not even be legally married - as those who were 'married' by certain Judges in Mandaue City, Cebu, are finding out to their cost. Those Judges have recently been suspended because of irregularities. If you take my advice, you will get married in Hong Kong and then return to the Philippines for your reception. If you're planning on applying for a British settlement visa for your new wife, then you are advised to register the marriage with the British Embassy in Hong Kong as well as the Philippine Embassy there - so you will need three 'original' copies of your marriage certificate. The British Embassy will issue a Consular Marriage Record Certificate and the Philippine Embassy will process the paperwork so that your wife can obtain a NSO Marriage Certificate. Allow 2 - 4 working days for both. You will be eligible for a "Balikbayan Privilege" (visa-free stay for up to 1 year) upon your return to the Philippines.
With the exception of the UK end if you look under my threads for feb/april 2011 you will find my experience in Cebu
Thank you everyone for the help and advice so far... However I dont think I will be taking your advice Markham.... But thanks anyway.
Just to say that I WILL be taking Markham's advice, for the following reasons: 1. Practicality. Much less paperwork. 2. My ex-wife and I tried to marry in the Philippines and gave up in despair... we married in Hong Kong.Quick, simple, efficient! When, fourteen years afterwards, she found another fellow, we could get divorced in the UK with no difficulty. 3. My fiancee's parents can come to Hong Kong and her father can give her away - something that would be difficult if we married in England. 4. The sprog can go to Disneyland...
How very sensible! You'll need to check but iirc relatives can not be witnesses so you may need to include a couple of other people in the 'wedding party' - something that shouldn't pose you a problem, given your background! Very true. Do buy the day passes in the city (or online) rather than at Disneyland, they should be a bit cheaper. But DON'T buy a package that includes the bus transfers because [a] the bus takes around one hour from Central (the tube takes around 20-25 minutes) and the bus parks miles from the main gate (the tube station is much, much closer). There will often be bus loads of Chinese workers on a factory day trip and each group will be accompanied by a flag bearing Disney employee who sees to it that their party gets shunted to the front of the queue for (almost) all the rides. That can mean quite lengthy waits unfortunately.
! Good point! I think I still know enough people in Hong Kong to manage a wedding party! Indeed, we may have the opposite problem - too many! Thank you for that excellent advice! Sprog, when asked by the DFA official who was handling his passport application, what he wanted his passport for, replied "To go to Hong Kong to see Mickey Mouse and Snow White!"
I rather assumed your address book would be rather full - although I rather think Chris Patten has moved and may no longer be in the Governor's Mansion! Unless you're planning a major ticketed event with a procession of limos and massed bands, the Marriage Halls at Central can accommodate 20-30 people. I seem to recall that all the photo sessions were held in Main Street and whilst you wait, there are many, many retail opportunities there for you to peruse or enjoy(?) burgers at about three times the price of a Jolibee.
"Been there, done that thing, got the Decree Absolute" - which is why I am also pursuing the option of the chapel at the Mariners' Club! I think the schoolyard cred of a photo with D. Duck, M. Mouse or (ideally) Ms S White will be absolutely overwhelming!
