Philippines Civil Documents · Updated August 2026
The Civil Documents You Need From the Philippines for a U.S. Marriage Green Card
If you are the Filipino spouse in a marriage green card case, nearly every civil document you need comes from one place, the PSA, plus an NBI police clearance, and USCIS wants the security-paper originals in English.
Quick answer
For a U.S. marriage green card, the Filipino spouse generally needs the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, and Marriage Certificate. An apostille is generally not required by USCIS for a filing inside the U.S. The documents are in English, so nothing needs translating.
- 3 core documents
- Birth Certificate
- Police Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- No apostille needed
For a filing inside the U.S., USCIS accepts a certified copy of the record as issued.
- Documents are in English
Philippines issues these records in English, so there is nothing to translate.
The documents you actually need
Start with these core records in order. Each one lists who issues it, what it costs, how long it takes, and exactly what USCIS wants.
Birth Certificate
What USCIS needs: USCIS wants the PSA copy printed on the official SECPA security paper, not a Local Civil Registrar photocopy. If your record is not available at PSA, you may need to have the Local Civil Registrar endorse it to PSA first, which adds time.
How to get it: Order online via the official PSA delivery service (PSASerbilis or PSAHelpline) for door-to-door delivery, or request in person at any PSA Serbilis or Civil Registry System outlet.
- Issued by
- Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); the underlying record originates from the Local Civil Registrar where the birth was recorded
- Cost
- Approx PHP 365 per copy including nationwide delivery (about USD 6 to 7)
- Timing
- Metro Manila typically a few business days; provincial delivery roughly 1 to 2 weeks. Same-day is not guaranteed.
Police Certificate
What USCIS needs: Required for anyone who lived in the Philippines after age 16. The clearance must list every name you have used, including maiden name and any aliases. NBI clearances are generally treated as valid for about 6 months, so time it near your filing or interview.
How to get it: Register and book at the official portal clearance.nbi.gov.ph, pay the fee online, then appear at an NBI branch for biometrics. Applicants abroad can request a mailed clearance through an NBI-authorized process.
- Issued by
- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
- Cost
- Approx PHP 155 for the base clearance and system fee; delivery options run higher, around PHP 355 (about USD 3 to 7)
- Timing
- Often issued same day at the branch if there is no name hit; a name match can add days to weeks for verification.
Marriage Certificate
What USCIS needs: USCIS wants the PSA security-paper copy of your marriage certificate. If you married in the Philippines but the record is not yet in the PSA database, have the Local Civil Registrar endorse it to PSA before ordering, or the PSA copy will come back with no record found.
How to get it: If already married in the Philippines, order the PSA Marriage Certificate online (PSASerbilis or PSAHelpline) or in person. If not yet married, order a CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage) the same way to prove single status.
- Issued by
- Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); the marriage is first recorded by the Local Civil Registrar where it took place
- Cost
- PSA Marriage Certificate approx PHP 365; CENOMAR approx PHP 345 to 465 per copy (about USD 6 to 8)
- Timing
- Similar to the birth certificate: a few business days in Metro Manila, roughly 1 to 2 weeks provincially.
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At a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Apostille status | The Philippines joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 14 May 2019, and the DFA issues apostilles for PSA and court documents. For a U.S. marriage green card, USCIS generally does NOT require an apostille on PSA civil documents; the PSA security-paper original in English is what matters. |
| How records are kept | The PSA is a centralized national civil register. Births, marriages, and deaths are first recorded by the Local Civil Registrar and transmitted to the PSA, which issues certified copies on official security paper and offers nationwide online ordering. |
| Typical time to gather | Most applicants assemble their PSA documents and NBI clearance within 1 to 3 weeks, longer if a record is missing from the PSA database and must be endorsed by the Local Civil Registrar first. |
| Translation | English is an official language of the Philippines and PSA and NBI documents are already issued in English, so no translation is usually needed. Where an older entry contains Spanish or local-dialect terms, USCIS accepts a competent bilingual translator's certification, which can be you or a friend. |
Source: U.S. State Dept Reciprocity Schedule: Philippines. Verified August 2026. Need to translate a document? See our certified translation guide.
What officers watch for
Full document reference
Every civil record from the Philippines that can come up in a marriage green card case, with the issuing authority, cost, and how to obtain it.
| Document | Issuing authority | Cost | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | PSA (from Local Civil Registrar) | Approx PHP 365 (USD 6 to 7) | Order online at PSASerbilis/PSAHelpline or in person; must be on SECPA security paper |
| Marriage Certificate | PSA (from Local Civil Registrar) | Approx PHP 365 (USD 6 to 7) | Order the PSA security-paper copy; if not yet in PSA, have the LCR endorse it first |
| Single Status (CENOMAR) | PSA | Approx PHP 345 to 465 (USD 6 to 8) | Order a Certificate of No Marriage to prove you are free to marry |
| Death Certificate | PSA (from Local Civil Registrar) | Approx PHP 365 (USD 6 to 7) | Order the PSA security-paper copy; needed to prove a prior spouse is deceased |
| Police Certificate | National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) | Approx PHP 155 to 355 (USD 3 to 7) | Register at clearance.nbi.gov.ph, pay online, appear for biometrics; list all aliases |
| Divorce | Not available | N/A | No general divorce; a prior marriage ends only by court annulment/nullity or a recognized foreign divorce |
Go deeper: detailed Philippines guides
Step-by-step guides for the specific documents and steps in a the Philippines marriage green card case.
- St. Luke's SLEC Medical ExamThe only USCIS-approved clinic for Philippine immigrant visa applicants. Covers current fees, how to book an appointment, what to bring, and what happens if SLEC identifies a health issue.
- Manila Embassy Interview TripFull logistics guide covering the SLEC exam, the VAC biometrics step in Paranaque, embassy interview preparation, document checklist, and where to stay near Roxas Boulevard.
- PSA Birth Certificate for U.S. ImmigrationHow to order a PSA birth certificate for a U.S. marriage green card or immigrant visa at Embassy Manila. Covers PSA vs LCRO, CDLI endorsement, ordering from the U.S., late-registered certificates, and name discrepancy fixes.
- PSA Marriage Certificate for U.S. ImmigrationHow to order and use a PSA-authenticated marriage certificate for a U.S. marriage green card. Covers AOS and Manila consular processing requirements, the CENOMAR distinction, ordering via PSAHelpline, missing records, and name discrepancy problems.
- PSA CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage)Who needs a CENOMAR, who needs an Advisory on Marriages instead, how to order from within the Philippines or from the U.S., validity window, and what to do if PSA returns the wrong document.
- NBI Clearance for U.S. ImmigrationHow to get a Philippine NBI Clearance for a marriage green card immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy Manila. Covers the online application, mailed clearance from the U.S., what a HIT result means, alias requirements, and whether an apostille is needed.
- Annotated PSA Documents for U.S. ImmigrationComplete guide to Philippine PSA documents with annotations. Covers the five annotation types, the CDLI endorsement requirement, the three-part NVC submission bundle, and how to handle name discrepancies caused by legitimation or name corrections.
- Philippine Annulment and Prior Marriage DocumentsWhat U.S. immigration needs to prove a prior Philippine marriage ended: Declaration of Nullity, Annulment, Recognition of Foreign Divorce, or death of prior spouse. Covers the annotated PSA certificate requirement and the most common NVC document deficiency in Philippine cases.
- Church Records vs PSA DocumentsU.S. immigration requires PSA-authenticated civil documents, not church baptismal records. Learn what to do when PSA has no record, how late registration works, and what the CDLI endorsement means for your visa.
- Common 221(g) Refusals at U.S. Embassy ManilaMost 221(g) holds at Manila fall into three tracks: document deficiency (NBI, CENOMAR, PSA documents), administrative processing, or SLEC medical holds. Learn which track you are on and how to submit via the VAC or 2Go Express.
- Petitioner Visit Evidence for Philippines VisaPassport stamps, airline confirmations, hotel folios, and location-tagged photos are the primary evidence of petitioner visits to the Philippines. Learn how Manila consular officers evaluate visit evidence and how to organize it for your interview.
- CFO Guidance and Counseling ProgramThe Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Guidance and Counseling Program is a mandatory pre-departure step for all Filipinos emigrating on immigrant visas (IR-1, CR-1) and K-1 fiancé visas. Covers how to register online, in-person locations, documents to bring, and what happens if you skip it.
What applicants report
“Filipino applicants repeatedly stress two things: pull your PSA documents early because newly registered marriages can take weeks to show up in the PSA database, and when you order the NBI clearance, list every name and spelling you have ever used in the AKA field. A HIT on your name is common and usually just means it matched someone else, requiring one extra verification visit rather than a real problem.”
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See how it worksFrequently asked questions
Is there divorce in the Philippines, and what if I was married before?
The Philippines has no general divorce law for Filipino citizens. A prior Philippine marriage can only be ended by a court annulment or a declaration of nullity, or by a foreign divorce that a Philippine court has recognized. To prove you are free to marry, you provide the PSA marriage certificate annotated with the court's decision plus the court decree. If your prior spouse died, a PSA death certificate is used instead.
What is the difference between a PSA copy and a Local Civil Registrar copy?
Every birth, marriage, and death is first recorded by the Local Civil Registrar in the city or town where it happened, then transmitted to the national PSA. USCIS wants the PSA copy printed on official security paper (SECPA), not a Local Civil Registrar photocopy. If PSA says no record found, you usually need the Local Civil Registrar to endorse the record to PSA before the PSA copy can be issued.
How long is an NBI clearance valid for my green card case?
An NBI clearance is generally treated as valid for about six months. Because timing matters, order it so it is still current when you file or when you attend your interview, rather than years in advance. Anyone who lived in the Philippines after age 16 needs one.
Do I need to translate my PSA and NBI documents into English?
Usually no. English is an official language of the Philippines, and PSA and NBI documents are already issued in English. If an older or provincial entry contains Spanish or local-dialect wording, USCIS accepts a translation with a certification from a competent bilingual translator, which can be you or someone you know.
Do my Philippine documents need an apostille for USCIS?
For a U.S. marriage green card filed with USCIS, an apostille is generally not required. The PSA security-paper original in English is what USCIS relies on. The Philippines does issue apostilles through the DFA since 2019, but that is mainly for other legal uses.
I am not married yet. How do I prove I am single?
Order a CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage), also called an Advisory on Marriages, from the PSA. It confirms the PSA has no record of you being married and is the standard proof of single status for K-1 and consular cases.
Key takeaways
- ✓
The core documents most Filipino applicants need are the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, Marriage Certificate.
- ✓
Philippines is a Hague Apostille Convention member, but USCIS generally does not require an apostille for a marriage green card filed inside the U.S.
- ✓
Philippines documents are issued in English, so there is nothing to translate for USCIS.
- ✓
A home-country police certificate is generally needed only for consular processing abroad, not for adjustment of status inside the U.S.
- ✓
Order fresh certified copies directly from the official issuer and keep the originals; documents from Philippines draw closer scrutiny.
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