PhilippinesTopic Title: Married Filipina
Author Nancylongatan
Date Posted: 4/16/2010 11:12 PM
When you hire someone, you ask them to bring an "NBI Clearance". That's from the National Bureau of Investigation, analogous to the FBI in the US. As I understand it, it tells you they have no criminal record anywhere in the RP. You should look at it carefully to check for any obvious signs of forgery, but I don't know what else you can do. If you apply for a residence visa, you will have to go to the NBI and get one yourself at some stage in the process, so at least then you'll see a genuine one for comparison!
In my opinion, hiring household help is a good time to depend on your personal networks, contacts and friends. That way if you hire someone recommended by someone you know you have a built in mediator if something goes wrong later on. The downside is you can find yourself drawn into their personal support network when you would have preferred to keep it businesslike, but that's really the way Filipinos expect to do things - your employees become more like your dependents, especially as time passes. If you're planning to settle there you might as well make up your mind to adjust to the collectivist mindset!
Author expatriate1
Date Posted: 4/16/2010 1:19 PM
Any tips on resources for checking someones background? Criminal history? Etc...
Author bethechange
Date Posted: 3/30/2010 3:42 AM
Richard,
It is very popular for younger ladies to marry older expat men. It is shocking actually when you first see it. However it is not impossible to find a lady closer to your age if you wish. Dig up the good and bad in this area.
Cebu has a large expat community, so much so that they have their own Embassy ACS representative.
Make sure you check her background and spend a lot of time with her. Family & friends will give her good reviews so search further. Hopefully you have met a sincere lady.
Also there is no divorce in the Philippines so I beg to differ that it does not matter where you marry.
ps. lady from Philippines is Filipina
Author bethechange
Date Posted: 3/30/2010 3:42 AM
Richard,
It is very popular for younger ladies to marry older expat men. It is shocking actually when you first see it. However it is not impossible to find a lady closer to your age if you wish. Dig up the good and bad in this area.
Cebu has a large expat community, so much so that they have their own Embassy ACS representative.
Make sure you check her background and spend a lot of time with her. Family & friends will give her good reviews so search further. Hopefully you have met a sincere lady.
ps. lady from Philippines is Filipina
Author pinaymentor
Date Posted: 1/14/2010 9:46 PM
Please check my article that I am hoping will be posted here.
http://worldlinks4u.com/blog/2010/01/15/retiring-and-living-in-the-philippines-for-expats-non-expats-and-returning-filipinos-ii/
Author pinaymentor
Date Posted: 1/14/2010 9:38 PM
Hi Richard,
I have to say 24 yrs old, is really very young. I am 45 Filipina and married to a 44 American. I still look much younger than my husband though :) Anyway, Cebu is a fabulous place to go to. Cebuanos are one of the most beautiful women in the Philippines. I've lived there and we used to have a house as well. I suggest that you really need to be critical about this relationship. Spend time with her, find time about her family, and if they post my article here by tomorrow maybe, you can check on the article retiring and living in the Philippines for expats, non-expats and returning filipinos. It listed there the issues that you need to know about Filipinas and issues to discussed with your partner to help you make a wise decision.
We're from California too and we're moving back to the Philippines next month. Let me know when you plan to come and I will personally make sure that you get taken cared of from your flight here to the airport, etc.
If they didn't post my article, go to www.worldlinks4u.com and look into the link on retire in the Philippines. We are building retirement villages for Americans who has pension and can no longer afford to live here.
Looking forward in hearing from you :). If it turns out that she is too young for you, there are still a lot of adorable women that will you probably enjoy to be with!
Pinay mentor
Author rcampsr
Date Posted: 1/14/2010 6:40 PM
Hello Nancy,
Thank you for getting back to me with the information I asked for, I will check it out.
I am 62 years of age and am retired from civil service. I do not look my age and people think I am quite alot younger than I am. I have been corresponding with a Philippino lady of 24 years old who seems interested in a meaningful relationship with marriage, which I am open for since my family here is grown and moved away. The Philippines seems a nice place to retire and marry and possibly have another family, but I am skeptical about such a young woman wanting to marry me. She says she lives in Cebu City. She is a very attractive woman and the idea of marrying her is quite attractive. I am not certain if the area she lives is a good area to reside or not because of all the US advisories about the Philippines. Any advice on this area, since you know the culture much better than I do? I have been reading about the customs and culture and find it much more family orentated and also has a attractive cost of living, much better than my current location. I want to do my research before making a firm commitment to moving to the area. Regards, Richard
Author Nancylongatan
Date Posted: 1/14/2010 5:53 PM
Hi, Richard,
I'm a US citizen married to a Filipino, and have worked through the red tape on both sides. You will want to read the website of the US embassy in Manila, they have extensive information about marriages and the regulations. It doesn't matter if you actually marry in one country or the other, it's legal either way. Just realize that both countries have their processes that you will have to follow. It's not too hard if you just take it step by step. Good luck!
Nancy
Author rcampsr
Date Posted: 1/13/2010 3:30 PM
Hello Denny,
I have recently started corresponding with al philipino lady and am planning to visit country later this year. I am retired now and am looking for a new adventure. When I meet this lady and all goes well, and should I wish to marry her is it better to do so in the US or Philipines? I live in California now and the cost of living is killing my retirement benefits. I have done some reading on the country and its culture and feel I could be quite happy there retired. I do not feel I would relocate back to the US if i started a new family there. Any Advice? Thanks, Richard
Author Nancylongatan
Date Posted: 12/10/2009 2:15 PM
Welcome! It's a great place to live. At the risk of sounding cynical, I have to say that international moves are almost never "seamless" hope you are prepared for some bumps in the road! Still, the Philippines is relatively foreigner-friendly, if you are willing to take them on their own terms. I lived there 7 years and hope to go back some time in the not too distant future.
Just a "thing" of mine: that place is the "RP" not the "PI". It was referred to as the "Philippine Islands" by colonial governments before it was a country. Nowadays that usage is mostly limited to the US military, so be careful who you are aligning yourself with!
Author Denny
Date Posted: 12/8/2009 10:16 PM
Hi,
My Filipina wife and I just moved here from Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The only item we discovered we did not have at the last minute was a "Certificate of Marriage Contracted Abroad." Only took three weeks to get it by express mail back and forth to the Philippine embassy in D.C.
My wife's passport was still in her maiden name when we arrived. But I think it was on the computer when we arrived at the airport in Manila. The immigration officer gave me a one-year visa.
Hope this helps.
