I'm looking into the visa requirements for the Philippines and am a little confused on the process compared to the UK. I know these questions have probably been asked before but a lot of the info here is decades old so it's probably useful to everyone if we get updated info/links. According to this link: https://www.respicio.ph/features/fianc-visa-in-the-philippines the 13a visa also covers fiance status providing you intend to marry your partner within 90 days and once married you update the status from fiance to spousal. However everything else I seem to find implies you can only be in the Philippines for 60 days (30 days visa free before needing extensions) and the 13a visa is described as the permanent residency for someone already married to a Filipino citizen; anyone know which of these is correct? Also the requirements talk about needing medical clearance and police certificates. I've found the details on Police Certificates here: https://www.acro.police.uk/s/ For the medical is this just a case of making a doctors appointment and advising them I need a chest xray, bloods, stool and urine samples done for this visa, again the link above states "Medical examination certificate issued by a designated Philippine embassy/consulate-accredited physician" For the rest of the requirements, am I able to file do all of this within the UK or do I need to meet with them upon arrival? (I imagine a trip to London embassy is needed) Really I guess what I'm asking is someone that has done this recently, what did you need to bring as proof/evidence in order to get married in the Philippines? And how long did it actually take for the marriage license to be issued?
I'm not sure sure about the marriage rules, but anyone can extend their visa regularly, it's 59 days with an earlier extension and you can then extend again at a BI Office (Bureau of Immigration Office) but that longer extension requires you to get an ACR i-Card (Alien Certificate of Registration) however that card gets you the right to a bank account and other in country services. I'm looking at the SRRV retirement visa not the 13A and a lot of the requirements you are speaking about would apply to me as well. We are in the same boat mate! Different detail but basically the same issue.
The 13a is for moving permemantly to the Philippines. To get married in philippines just need to turn up with normal entry visa which gets you 30 days. If staying longer than 30 days go to bureau of immigration and get 30 day extension every 30 days. Not like uk where need marriage visit visa (valid for 6 months) to get married here and leave afterwards or fiance visa to get married and then apply for permission to stay.
Just to warn you: Normal practice here, for Lawyers, is to make everything sound so complicated that you believe you cannot do anything without them holding your hand. IMHO, unless you have no other choice stay well away from them - and their websites. There's nothing particularly complicated about applying for a 13a visa.
You are correct, to get married in the Philippines just arrive and get 30 day visa, when that runs out go to your local BI and get an extension, as for marrying in Phills your local Municipal Hall (Town Hall) will tell you and your fiancee what documents you will need for a registry office (Municipal Hall) wedding in our case, they can vary slightly due to local traditions, in our case they included a Tree planting ceremony.
Before that runs out, that's very important don't wait till day 30 to get the extension you can extend at the airport on arrival in some cases although I'm not sure how to do that at NAIA Terminal 3 just now, I know how to do it at NAIA terminal 1 as I've done it before. Other airports around the country have a BI Office on site as well.
I got married in the Philippines last Feb. Firstly, no visa required, I was there for the 30 days. Prior my wife had to get CENOMAR for both of us. I had to provide a singleness Certificate (notorised locally when I got there) Obviously take your original and a couple of copies of birth certificate, passport. Any official divorce papers. A couple of passport photos. when you get there you both need to register locally and then wait 10 days for the marriage licence to be issued. The Filipino needs to get local Barangay clearance. Each Barangay (District) has slightly different rules, some want a CEDULA (tax certificate) from the Filipino as well.
Yeah but that one is groundside isn't it? The BI office in NAIA Terminal 1 was before the immigration desks and you went to that office to do the extension before you got your entry stamp. When all the flights got cancelled on Jan 1st 2023 because someone had blown up the power supply to Air Traffic Control, I managed to find that BI office in Terminal 3 as the delay in my flight was going to make me an involuntary overstay.
Yes it is but it didn't make any difference to me as I was connecting to a domestic to TAC. So I just popped down to the BI 24/7 after came in from Saigon, got my extension, caught the flight back to Leyte. Yes old one at T1 was before you went through immigration... perhaps the Chinese asked them to move it
I had to go to embassy in manila for proof of divorce then do the course before getting marriage licence, the course was a right laugh , am old lady telling the girls how to treat their husband and family etc, sex and lots of stuff , then gave out condoms at the end, i think you have to do this course, you can't send in a ringer you have to go I was told.
That sounds like the CFO, but I don't think it would have been at the embassy,whoops no my wife has just said i am wrong.
Def went to British embassy manila to get the paperwork proving I was divorced. that was 6 years ago things might have changed
no your right, your wife is wrong I’m afraid.the CFO one day lecture is held at their own offices in Manila or Cebu and NOT at the Embassy
The one day lecture was done at civic offices Angeles city, the proof of divorce was done at embassy Manila.
Lots of information in this link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/notarial-and-documentary-services-guide-for-the-philippines However it is dated late 2022 I think during covid it was advised you could obtain also at the local office to you Will find the link and post it @Christopher Thorne are you in UK or the Philippines?
