VERY IMPORTANT: You, as an American citizen, will not be granted your Legal Capacity to marry, if your fianc ·Pae does not have her NSO authenticated birth certificate (as well as ones for any children she may have), at the time of your interview Consular Officer.

If you are coming to Cebu (or elsewhere in the Philippines) to marry your fianc ·Pae, she should have three (3) authenticated copies of her birth certificate, which she has previously acquired from the Philippines NSO (National Statistics Office).

She can go to the local office in Cebu City, or she can go to the closest NSO to her, in order to apply to get the necessary copies. (Alternate ways to acquire her authenticated copies are listed below.) She should go there at least three weeks to one month prior to your arrival, and purchase three (3) authenticated copies of her birth certificate. This way, she will have the necessary copy prior to your arriving (for you to get your Legal Capacity from the American Consular Agency) as well as another one for future needs, especially if she is going to the states. If she has children, she must acquire copies for each of them, as well.

** Your fianc ·Pae is only required to have one copy of her NSO authenticated birth certificate in order to marry. However, it will be in your (and her) best interest to get at least two of these copies while she is applying. She will need these later for paperwork concerning her passport, immigrating to the states, etc. Also, two copies are advised for each child she has, if any. **

Note: An NSO authenticated birth certificate is not the same document as the birth certificate from the local registrar's office, where your fianc ·Pae was born. These are not the same documents, so please do not confuse them. The birth certificate issued by the local registrar's office will not be acceptable by the American Consular Agency, in order for you to be issued your Legal Capacity to marry. She has to give the American Consular officer an original NSO authenticated copy of her birth certificate, along with the other requirements, which are listed on the requirements page. The NSO copy of her birth certificate will be returned to her after the interview.

Once again, if your fianc ·Pae has had any children previously, it is imperative that their birth certificates are authenticated by the NSO as well, and taken to the interview. If she has children and does not show the NSO authenticated birth certificates for them, along with hers, you will not be issued your Legal Capacity.

To see an image of an NSO authenticated birth certificate, along with more information, please click on the following link: NSO Birth Certificate

You can order NSO authenticated birth certificates through CebuTours.com. Here is how:

1. Pay $35.00 USD for each order you require. Each order will include three (3) authenticated copies of her NSO authenticated birth certificate. This allows one copy for you to take to the US, one copy for her to keep, and one copy for her to submit for her Philippines passport.

2. Download the file (birth certificate form) fill it out with the pertinent information, then e-mail the new file back to CebuTours.com, or have your fianc ·Pa/fianc ·Pae contact us locally, in order for us to secure these documents for you.

3. CebuTours.com will acquire the authenticated documents and then make arrangements to meet your fianc ·Pae, to turn the documents over to her. Often, our clients ask us to order these documents to make sure everything is in order and to assist their fianc ·Pae as needed. If you order this service through CebuTours.com, it is guaranteed by CebuTours.com.

Click on the button below for payment, and CebuTours.com will order three (3) copies for you: