CENOMAR for British fiance?

[Leen]

Hello everyone 2 weeks to go b4 me and my fiance will go to Manila to apply for a local CNI unfortunately when i check the requirements again he needs CENOMAR from NSO is this right?we are going dizzy with this and bit worried help is greatly appreciated

[ConfusedMe]

Hi Leen... What I did with my application is I provided my CENOMAR, while my guy presented his birth certificate. Still struggling to catch up with the constant changes in the requirements

As what I understood, CNI is like the British version for CENOMAR...

[laurel]

Hi ,
as far as I remember.................i got my CNI here in the UK, went to British Embassy in Manila, this then qualifies you for the Phils version (which you need)...........you cannot get married without the Phils version..........if you have been married before and are divorced ( a Philippine citizen), you will have to produce the CENOMAR, which shows that you are NOT married at this present time to a third party.

Hope this is of some help......good luck

[lastlid]

Unless the rules have changed then your man will need a CNI from the UK, if he is not living in Philippines, then he will have to exchange it for a local CNI at the UK Embassy in Manila. I believe it can be done from the Philippines but takes time....

I got my CNI in Britain and then took it to Manila (UK Embassy) in exchange for a local CNI.

[Steve.r]

Yes, as above. He needs his CNI from the UK, which takes 21 days from the day it is processed and posted in your local council offices (in the UK) Then he goes to the British Embassy in Manila for the local CNI which takes another day to process. If he hasn't already got it, you will not be getting married

[lastlid]

Where is your fiancee just now? UK or Philippines?

[Sim11UK]

Well from what I've read on here lately, I believe the man also needs a CENOMAR as well?
Sorry haven't got time to look at the moment.

[Sim11UK]

Here you are...read the 2nd post down, from RickyR

http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....enomar+for+men

[lastlid]

Well from what I've read on here lately, I believe the man also needs a CENOMAR as well?

I didn't but I have seen some postings recently that have suggested that. Maybe the regulations have changed or it depends on the area. But back in June 2011 in Paranaquay City, I didnt need a CENOMAR, just my CNI form the UKBA.

Actually I did initially obtain a CENOMAR but found out later that they didnt require it. So it was never used. Only my wifes CENOMAR was used.

[Sim11UK]

I didn't but I have seen some postings recently that have suggested that. Maybe the regulations have changed or it depends on the area. But back in June 2011 in Paranaquay City, I didnt need a CENOMAR, just my CNI form the UKBA.

Actually I did initially obtain a CENOMAR but found out later that they didnt require it. So it was never used. Only my wifes CENOMAR was used.

Who knows the real reason? from what I've read on here before, it could well be area dependent?
Leen the original OP, from her research has found it is a requirement.
If I was her, I'd spend a day at the local NSO, sorting one out.

[lastlid]

Who knows the real reason? from what I've read on here before, it could well be area dependent?
Leen the original OP, from her research has found it is a requirement.
If I was her, I'd spend a day at the local NSO, sorting one out.

Fair point.

Leen, if your fiancee also needs a CENOMAR as well as a CNI, we found obtaining a CENOMAR for me, remarkably easy. I ordered it through the NSO website, from the UK and had it delivered to my wife's (gf as she was then) address. She paid for it at her local bank and received the CENOMAR in a matter of just a few days.

Looking back, my CNI and the exchange of it at the UKBA embassy, was a much more testing approach to my eligibility to marry or otherwise, compared to the CENOMAR, as I didnt have to present my divorce papers to the NSO to obtain my CENOMAR. They just took my word for it that I was divorced.

[Arthur Little]

Hello everyone 2 weeks to go b4 me and my fiance will go to Manila to apply for a local CNI unfortunately when i check the requirements again he needs CENOMAR from NSO is this right?we are going dizzy with this and bit worried help is greatly appreciated

Hello, Leen ... to the filipino/uk forum.

Firstly, we're assuming your husband~to~be is British ... in which case he needs to visit his local Registrar's Office to obtain what's called a 'Certificate of No Impediment' [*CNI ].

Secondly, unless - as Lastlid already says - Philippines' Regulations have recently changed, he will then require to exchange it for the **RP equivalent at the British Embassy in Manila. ** This will serve as his CENOMAR - without the necessity for him to present any other.

Meanwhile, you should make arrangements to acquire your CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage) from your nearest NSO branch.

[Arthur Little]

See above ...

he needs CENOMAR from NSO is this right?

... NO!

[lastlid]

Correct me if I am wrong, but surely the whole point of the requirement for the CNI exchange at the UKBA is that it is a more robust way of ensuring eligibilty for marriage than a CENOMAR, for us Brits?

[lastlid]

http://ukinthephilippines.fco.gov.uk...ply-for-a-cni/

This document suggests a CENOMAR is also required...CNI requirements January 2012

last updated: January 2012

MARRIAGE IN THE PHILIPPINES
Explanatory Notice to British Citizens Contemplating Marriage in the Philippines

If you are a British Citizen and wish to marry in the Philippines, the Philippine authorities require that you present a local Certificate of No Impediment (CNI), also known as legal capacity to marry, stating that you are indeed free to marry. This can only be obtained from the British Embassy in Manila or from the British Honorary Consulate in Cebu.

The CNI is an indispensable requirement of Philippine law and in March 1993, the Civil Registrar General ruled that any marriage which takes place without such a Certificate having been issued will be null and void. However, a CNI does not confirm that a particular marriage is recognized under UK law, nor does it give confirmation that no impediment actually exists. There is no central register of marriages in the UK, nor is there any facility for overseas marriages to be registered in the UK.


HOW TO APPLY FOR A CERTIFICATE OF NO IMPEDIMENT (CNI)

1. How to proceed if you already have a CNI issued by a Registrar of Marriages in the United Kingdom, or a British Embassy/Consulate Overseas

The Registrar in the UK, or the Consular Official at the British Embassy/Consulate overseas, will require you to appear personally before him. Your Notice of Marriage will have to be posted on his notice board for 21 days before he can issue your CNI. When the procedure is completed, the Registrar in the UK will give you a CNI, which you must present to the British Embassy Manila or to the British Honorary Consul in Cebu.

The local CNI will be available after your appointment if all the documents are in order and there will be no requirement for you to re-visit the Embassy.

If you have applied at another Embassy/Consulate overseas, the Embassy/Consulate will forward a copy of the Notice of Marriage (NOM), properly endorsed, to the British Embassy in Manila or Honorary Consulate in Cebu. Once this is received, a local CNI can be issued. You will need to make an appointment to collect the local CNI and will need to produce other documents.

See ANNEXES A and either C or D for requirements.

2. How to proceed if you have not obtained a CNI issued by a Registrar of Marriages in the United Kingdom, or a British Embassy/Consulate Overseas

If you do not already have a CNI issued from a UK registrar, you will have to comply with the Marriage with Foreigners Act 1906. This requires that you reside in the Philippines for twenty-one (21) clear days before giving notice of your intended marriage and this period of residence must be immediately prior to acceptance of the Notice. Twenty-one (21) clear days means that the latest (arrival date) stamped in your passport and the day you submit your Notice of Intention to Marry will not be counted. Once we have received the notice, you no longer have to remain in the Philippines.

If you are resident in the Philippines, the requirement for 21-day period residency is waived. You will need to present evidence of permanent residency (a valid ACR-I card).

When you give notice of your intended marriage:
- you will be required to swear an Affidavit before a Consular Officer/Honorary Consul to the effect that you are not aware of any impediment to the marriage (including previous marriages)
- your Notice of Marriage will then be displayed in a public place in the Embassy/Consulate for a further twenty-one (21) clear days (excluding the day you swear the Affidavit).

The local CNI will be issued the day after the twenty-one (21) clear day period has elapsed. This whole process takes 42 days.

If you are resident in another foreign country (not Commonwealth country), please contact the local British Embassy/Consulate for details of how to give notice of your marriage in the Philippines.

See ANNEXES B and either C or D for requirements.

3. How to proceed if you are a resident of a Commonwealth country

Separate procedures apply if you are resident in a Commonwealth country. You should seek advice from your nearest British High Commission, who should then contact the British Embassy Manila for guidance.

We would suggest that you advertise your notice of marriage in a leading English newspaper. Notify the British High Commission, who in turn will notify the British Embassy Manila. We will then be in a position to issue a local CNI. You must make an appointment by sending an e-mail to Manila.ConsAppointment@fco.gov.uk

Below is a sample of a newspaper advertisement:

I, (FULL NAME), British Citizen currently residing at (FULL ADDRESS), hereby give notice of my intention to marry (FULL NAME OF FIANCEE/FIANCE), a (CITIZENSHIP OF FIANCEE) in (PROPOSED PLACE OF MARRIAGE) on (PROPOSED DATE OF MARRIAGE). I hereby give notice that if anyone raises legal objection to the proposed marriage on the grounds of incapacity of either party of other lawful impediment, then such objection must be communicated with the British High Commission in (COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY), or the British Embassy, Manila (Tel No: 00632.858.2200), within 21 days from the date of this publication.

Note: Please include the address and the telephone number of the British High Commission.

See ANNEXES A and either C or D for requirements.


IMPORTANT

➢ We are unable to issue a CNI if you have been married, whether in the Philippines or another country.

➢ If a wedding ceremony has already taken place in the Philippines, and you did not obtain a local CNI from either the Embassy or Cebu Consulate we may, in some circumstances, be able to issue you a CNI, but only three (3) months after the ceremony date, and certificates of no marriage (CENOMARs) must be produced for both parties.

➢ Once the local CNI has been issued by the Embassy/Consulate, you should apply for a marriage licence from the Philippine local civil registrar who will then post the notice of application for a period of 10 days, after which the marriage may take place. Should a marriage licence be issued without compliance with the 10-day publication rule, the local Registrar will be held liable – civilly, criminally and administratively.

➢ The Philippine authorities will only consider a Philippine marriage dissolved if it was the foreigner spouse who filed the divorce petition. In this case, the Filipino must, first of all, have the divorce certificate which was handed down by a foreign court, accepted by a court in the Philippines and would need to file a special proceeding for the recognition of a foreign court granted divorce before a regional trial court in the Philippines, BEFORE he/she can remarry in the Philippines. We will need to see evidence of this.


What can hold up the issue of a local certificate of no impediment (CNI)?

 If either the British applicant or the fiancée/fiancé has been married before, and fails to declare this to the Embassy
 Submission of fake/forged documents - this may also lead to your arrest
 Submission of copies rather than original documents
 The non-filing of a special proceeding for the recognition of a foreign court granted Divorce, before a regional trial court in the Philippines, by the Filipino partner holding a foreign divorce certificate
 Submission of Philippine birth and death certificates issued by a local registrar

NOTE: British immigration law requires a person seeking entry to the United Kingdom for settlement as the spouse of a British subject to hold a current entry clearance (visa) granted for that purpose. The wife of a British citizen does not automatically acquire British citizenship on marriage, nor does she have the automatic right to settle in the United Kingdom. The Consular Section of the British Embassy and the Honorary Consulate in Cebu are both unable to answer any questions relating to the issue of visas. Please contact info.ukph@vfshelpline.com for visa-related queries.

 CNI fee (£ 65 for the issue of the CNI) payable only in Philippine pesos, in cash, calculated at the current Consular rate of exchange.

1. For British Citizen applicant born in the UK:

 Original UK passport. If applicant is overseas, a certified copy of the data page; a photostatic or electronic copy of the certified page is not acceptable.
 Original UK-issued CNI, or original Notice of Marriage, issued by the British Embassy abroad. Please note that a CNI issued in Scotland should be presented to the British Embassy Manila within 3 months of it being issued.
 CENOMAR with details matching those on birth certificate and, if detail/s on birth certificate differ/s from those on the passport, another CENOMAR matching the details on the passport.
 If widow/widower, present original death certificate of deceased spouse, or a certified copy. If spouse died in the Philippines, present
O death certificate of deceased spouse
O Advisory on Marriage (CRS Form 5) in lieu of a CENOMAR
O Marriage certificate with proper annotation declaring, if applicable, the presumptive death of spouse
 If divorced/annulled, present original divorce decree absolute/annulment papers, or a certified copy. If annulled in the Philippines, please present the following documents:
O Advisory of Marriage Record (CRS Form 5) in lieu of a CENOMAR
O Certificate of Finality and full court documents, including decision
O Marriage certificate, with proper annotation declaring the marriage null and void
 If you have previously obtained a local CNI from the British Embassy Manila or Honorary Consulate Cebu, you must then obtain an Advisory of Marriage (CRS Form 5) from the NSO in lieu of a CENOMAR.


2. For British applicant who is naturalized and was born in the Philippines:

 All of the above plus:
 birth certificate
 CNI fees (£65 for the posting of notice, and £65 for the issue of the CNI) payable only in Philippine pesos, in cash, calculated at the current Consular rate of exchange.

1. For British Citizen applicant born in the UK:

 Original UK passport: The passport MUST show that you have been in the Philippines for 21 days, since your last arrival. You can submit your application on the 22nd day of your stay.
 CENOMAR with details matching those on birth certificate and, if detail/s on birth certificate differ/s from those on the passport, another CENOMAR matching the details on the passport.
 If widow/widower, present original death certificate of deceased spouse, or a certified copy. If spouse died in the Philippines, present
O death certificate of deceased spouse
O Advisory on Marriage (CRS Form 5) in lieu of a CENOMAR
O Marriage certificate with proper annotation declaring, if applicable, the presumptive death of spouse
 If divorced/annulled, present original divorce decree absolute/annulment papers, or a certified copy. If annulled in the Philippines, please present the following documents:
O Advisory of Marriage Record (CRS Form 5) in lieu of a CENOMAR
O Certificate of Finality and full court documents, including decision
O Marriage certificate, with proper annotation declaring the marriage null and void
 If you have previously obtained a local CNI from the British Embassy Manila or Honorary Consulate Cebu, you must then obtain an Advisory of Marriage (CRS Form 5) in lieu of a CENOMAR.

2. For British applicant who is naturalized and was born in the Philippines:

 All of the above plus:
 birth certificate
 birth certificate
 CENOMAR with details matching those on birth certificate and, if name/etc on birth certificate differs from passport, another CENOMAR matching the details on the passport. This will not be required for widowed/annulled applicant
 If applicable, original passport
 If divorced, present the original divorce decree absolute
 If annulled, please present the following documents:
O Advisory of Marriage Record (CRS Form 5) in lieu of a CENOMAR
O Certificate of Finality and full court documents, including decision
O Marriage certificate, with proper annotation declaring the marriage null and void
 If widow/widower, present death certificate of deceased spouse, and include the following documents:
O Advisory of Marriage Record (CRS Form 5) in lieu of a CENOMAR
O Marriage certificate with proper annotation declaring, if applicable, the presumptive death of spouse

 Valid original passport

[Arthur Little]

If I was her, I'd spend a day at the local NSO, sorting one out.

Or ... ... simply confirming - with them - that what I've said is correct.

[Steve.r]

Quite simply:

You need a UK CNI issued from your local registry office in the UK, which is exchanged in the British Embassy (Manila) for a local Philippine version. thats it!!!

[Arthur Little]

Correct me if I am wrong, but surely the whole point of the requirement for the CNI exchange at the UKBA is that it is a more robust way of ensuring eligibilty for marriage than a CENOMAR, for us Brits?

That's the rational view, you would've thought! But logic seems to "disappear out the window" where certain aspects of marriage - and more particulary *divorce (*which isn't legally recognised in the Phils) legislation - over there, are concerned.

For instance ... I've never understood WHY it should be deemed necessary to exchange a British CNI for a Phils version - as (to MY mind, at least) the former is a much more authentic~looking document than the latter if we're talking in terms of "keeping things right" with the Philippines' authorities. Indeed, since the British Embassy is charged with the responsiblity for implementing the transfer - and collecting the extortionate additional fee - there's no financial incentive to be had by the Pinas Government ... so what the hell's it all for?

[Arthur Little]

Quite simply:

You need a UK CNI issued from your local registry office in the UK, which is exchanged in the British Embassy (Manila) for a local Philippine version. thats it!!!

... that's it as far as a British fiance is concerned! End of story.

[Sim11UK]

Arthur and Steve, sorry! but you may? be giving Leen misleading information.

In my post #8 with the link, if you go on to read it, RickyR states that he was required to have a CENOMAR posts #2 & #5.

I also know KeithAngel had to have one.

On this thread. http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....in+philippines

Read Terpe's post #16 halfway down.

If Leen read it was a requirement, then some more research needs to be done, but better to be safe than sorry.

[lastlid]

Arthur and Steve, sorry! but you may? be giving Leen misleading information.

In my post #8 with the link, if you go on to read it, RickyR states that he was required to have a CENOMAR posts #2 & #5.

I also know KeithAngel had to have one.

On this thread. http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....in+philippines

Read Terpe's post #16 halfway down.

If Leen read it was a requirement, then some more research needs to be done, but better to be safe than sorry.

As you can see, I have posted the current requirement of the UKBA and the link to it. It specifies a CENOMAR for the British husband. Post 15
This looks like a change to the requirements.

[stevie c]

I got married in Tarlac in sept 2010 & i wasnt ask to show a cenomar only my cni which i aqquired from the uk

[Sim11UK]

As you can see, I have posted the current requirement of the UKBA and the link to it. It specifies a CENOMAR for the British husband. Post 15

Yes sorry! to you as well Lastlid, just not had much time to look.

[Arthur Little]

CNI ... CENOMAR ... ... same thing - once exchanged at the British Embassy - surely.

Aaargh! ... SOOO many conflicting opinions!!! I'm basing MY "argument" on personal experience.

[stevie c]

yes Arthur agreed it is the same thing

[Arthur Little]

I'm basing MY "argument" on personal experience.

But, of course, I ain't an expert ... I'm simply stating what the procedure most definitely WAS back in November 2008 when it affected Myrna & I !

Admittedly, there MAY have been more recent *updates (which I prefer to call *them rather than upgrades ... because, God knows, there always appears to be plenty of those - change for the sake of change - and seldom for the better!) as was pointed out earlier.

[Arthur Little]

Arthur and Steve, sorry! but you may? be giving Lean misleading information.

I certainly HOPE NOT ... the last thing ANY OF US would dream of doing, is "misleading" either Leen or ANYONE else seeking vital information. I'm sure you're bound to be aware of this!

[Arthur Little]

yes Arthur agreed it is the same thing

for your backup, Stevie ... it's much appreciated!

[Arthur Little]

Tbh ... I'm feeling a wee bit embarrassed - not to mention d~off - at having to justify myself in giving out what I still BELIEVE was the correct information. I came on this forenoon to extend my customary greeting to new members, and - as is my wont - tried to help out to the best of my knowledge ... otherwise, I would've "done the sensible thing" and moved on to where I felt I might be of more use.

[stevie c]

for your backup, Stevie ... it's much appreciated!

My pleasure Arthur