But reading your question, I’m unclear on what you are asking. You are in the US now, correct? You want to amend your Philippine passport in what way? To change to your new married name? Or? Fill us in a little more, please.

I have a question. I married my 1st husband who is a dual citizen ( born in the united states but born of filipino parents). we got married in the philippines in 2002. he flew to the united states and never came back to me 8 mos later. he petitioned for a divorce and the divorce was granted 2008. i am now married to a u.s. citizen and am here in the u.s. as well. can i ammend my passport? will the divorce filed by dual citizen ex spouse be honored by philippine government? i hope you can help me with this concern.

Thanks for reading and for your comment. As always, these sorts of questions can get very interesting and “sticky” … but my guess, in your case is, you are good to go. (remember, I’m not a lawyer, my opinion only).

Here’s why I think you are alright. You initiated the divorce _after_ you were a US citizen … as part of the US citizenship process you renounced your Philippine citizenship … as legally required by both US and Philippine law.

The Philippine government recognizes US divorces as valid “dissolutions” of marriage. The US government certainly does too. So far as your record of your original marriage in the NSO’s files, I would assume that is now just historical.

Now one technicality you want to watch out for here is, you can’t marry in the Philippines and then bring your spouse to the US as a fiance(e). You can, however, petition for a K3 spousal visa and bring your new spouse to the US as soon as the visa is issued, or you can apply for a IR (Immediate Relative visa ounce the marriage is solemnized and your fiance becomes your spouse. Could there be some issues with getting married here in the Philippines with that first marriage still on record? That would certainly be a possibility.

An alternative, in my mind, is to actually bring your fiance to the US under a K1 … Fiance visa. You as the petitioner don’t ever deal with the US Embassy Manila. You affirm in the application that you are free to marry, under the laws of the US … which indeed you are for certain) and your fiance provides a CENOMAR from the NSO … which from what you have indicated, he will be able to do, diba?

The US citizen sponsor for a K1 does not have to furnish an Affidavit of Capacity or a CENOMAR … a US citizen planning to marry a Filipino in the Philippines _does_ have to produce evidence that s/he can legally marry in the Philippines.

For me, I’d look very strongly at the K1 rather than the K3 option, I think in your case it simplifies things … but again, only my guess. Godspeed.
Also, so far as I know, the US citizenetitons for a Finace visa (you, in this case), is never asked for anyhting except the Capacity to Marry affadacit from the

I have to admit I had to chuckle a bit regarding the ’cause and effect’ in your item one .. that appears to say the marriage was recorded simply because it took place here in the Philippines. In my (limited) experience having an unrecorded marriage in the Philippines is not an uncommon thing.

On the other points, sounds like it could all work out … but the main thing is, have the current marriage recoded while n the States, whatever it takes … because sooner or later, you’ll need that marriage certificate, especially if there’s a foreigner husband in the picture. Godspeed.

Luckily, the moving back to the Phil. thing is only a planning at this stage. Thanks for the reply Phil.

The fact that she later reacquired Philippine citizenship should not change anything.

The ‘sticky points’, that are only ‘guesses”.

1. Was the first marriage registered by the NSO?
2. What action was taken by the NSO about the divorce? Were they formally notified?
3. Is the current marriage NSO recorded?

It could wind up that the NSO records still just show the first marriage … they certainly don’t track losses of Philippine citizenship nor divorces in the USA. A lor of people get confused about the Philippine loss of citizenship issue. So far as my wife and I can tell (she’s a dual citizen who required .. nobody officially here in the Philippines ever knows that Filipino citizenship was lost … so if you want this 100% in ‘apple pie order’ there may be a lot of digging to do … if the current marriage is NSO registered .. a necessity to, example, sponsor a spouse for a 13-series visa, then whatever happened in the past doesn’t seem to matter much.

BYW, to anyone who married overseas and is planning to come back to live in the Philippines … make darn sure you record your overseas marriage with the NSO (You course it through the Phil embassy or consulate). A marriage certificate, from say the US is _NOT_ recognized in the Philippines, unless it is authenticated by the DFA/NSO … which can only be done overseas … you might find yourself legaly unmarried here when you meant to be married

What will the NSO send to the US Embassy? I have no idea … but I think you can guess as good as anyone.

Remember I am not a lawyer, but one piece of advice I can give you that any lawyer will agree on … don’t lie about this to the US Embassy. It’s a number one cause for Filipinos not only getting denied visas but even getting lifetime bans from US visas .. submitting false claims or documents.

Since you have already filed the K1 application, nothing much to do now but wait and see. Sorry I couldn’t be more optimistic. Godspeed.