Marriage Green Card · Philippines

Philippines Marriage Green Card: Country-Specific Guides

Filipino nationals applying for a marriage green card go through Consular Processing at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. The process involves three separate appointments — SLEC medical exam, VAC biometrics, and the embassy interview — each with its own scheduling requirements and lead times.

Embassy

U.S. Embassy Manila, Roxas Blvd

Medical Exam

SLEC only — no alternatives

Biometrics

VAC, Paranaque (new as of Oct 2024)

Common Delay

SLEC scheduling backlog

What makes this pathway different

U.S. Embassy Manila

All Philippine immigrant visa interviews are held at the U.S. Embassy on Roxas Boulevard in Manila. Unlike some countries, there is no alternate post option — every applicant goes through Manila.

SLEC Is the Only Clinic

The U.S. Embassy designates a single medical clinic: St. Luke's Medical Center Extension Clinic (SLEC) in Ermita, Manila. No other physician or clinic is accepted. Scheduling SLEC early is essential — the clinic has limited appointment windows.

Three Separate Appointments

The Manila process requires three appointments in sequence: SLEC medical exam (at least two weeks before the embassy interview), VAC biometrics in Paranaque, and the embassy interview itself. Missing any one delays the others.

Guides for Philippines applicants

St. Luke's SLEC Medical Exam

The 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 Trip

Full logistics guide covering the SLEC exam, the VAC biometrics step in Paranaque, embassy interview preparation, document checklist, and where to stay near Roxas Boulevard.

Philippines Marriage Green Card Timeline

Stage-by-stage timeline for the Philippines marriage green card consular processing path. Covers I-130 filing through U.S. entry, including NVC processing, Manila Embassy scheduling, SLEC medical exam, VAC biometrics, CFO seminar, and CR-1 vs IR-1 differences.

PSA Birth Certificate for U.S. Immigration

How 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. Immigration

How 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. Immigration

How 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. Immigration

Complete 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 Documents

What 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 Documents

U.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 Manila

Most 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 Visa

Passport 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 Program

The 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.

Be a Genius

Start Free

Only pay when you file