A question for all you online warriors lol. My girlfriend got married in Japan and divorced there, and she has the divorce paperwork. It's been over 20 years now. Since we're planning for the future, I asked her to get her CENOMAR (certificate of no marriage). It came back showing her marriage, so she went to her local office to find out what's needed to clear it. I'm not sure of the process myself, so for her peace of mind I'm wondering what it is.
Marriage is also on the table for later, most likely after I move there in a couple of years.
So for now I'm going to try to get her a B2 tourist visa so she can visit until I retire.
Any help is appreciated, no negativity please. 🙏
She needs to hire a lawyer to file a petition for Recognition of Foreign Divorce at her Regional Trial Court (RTC). As of today the Supreme Court has amended the law to make it easier to get the divorce recognized, since the petitioner no longer has to prove the relevant foreign law in court.
If the divorce in Japan is already settled, she can get a divorce certificate called 'Rikon shomeishou' at the city hall where the divorce papers were filed. Then she just needs to have it translated into English at a translation office, because it needs a dry seal from an accredited office. But since she's still Filipina, if she registered the marriage at the Philippine Embassy in Japan, she won't get a CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage), and there's no way you can marry her here in the Philippines. She needs to file for Recognition of Foreign Divorce in court, and she'll need a lawyer. It'll cost her or you $3,000-$8,000 and 1-3 years of waiting. I know because I'm (or was) in her situation.
The B2 isn't going to happen. And as long as she can show the divorce happened and get it apostilled, she should be fine. I know the Supreme Court just changed the rules on it
She was married to a foreigner and got a divorce decree. My advice: don't get married in the Philippines. Just get her a fiancée visa and get married in the States. That's what I did. I'm here in the USA with a 10-year green card and everything's fine now.
Costs at least 100k pesos and takes a long time
Moderator here. What are you asking? It's not clear.
Comments 0
Please log into write a comment.