Philippines 13a Marriage Visa – Chicago Experience

I love the Philippines and the country’s people. However, if you come from a country with a high standard of customer service, you’ll get a shock when dealing with this country.

I knew the customer service challenges when doing paperwork for the Philippines. I have prepared and submitted documents many times for a visa. Several Travel and Japan website pages are about the struggles I have had. 

I have gone to the Consulate General of the Philippines in Japan only to be turned away four of five times, but the Immigration workers would always help even though they didn’t supply all of the information at one time. I would visit the consulate, and they would tell me that one thing was incorrect or I was missing one item. Then when I returned with said item, I would be told something else was wrong.

So when I was going to make a visit that was hours away, I wanted all the paperwork checked to ensure it was only one visit. Little did I know what a nightmare I would have when trying to work with the Chicago Consulate General of the Philippines. 

It was a long, agonizing journey I don’t wish on anyone.  

Preparing Documents

I went to the website of the Chicago Consulate General of the Philippines and found a list of documents required for the 13a. I’m listing the requirements within this article in case adjustments are made.

Requirements and Procedure (Additional requirements may be requested):

1. Two (2) duly-accomplished VISA APPLICATION FORMS (FA Form No. 3) with the prescribed PHOTOGRAPH

2. Original and two (2) photocopies of PASSPORT

3. If a foreign spouse, original and photocopy of MARRIAGE CONTRACT / REPORT OF MARRIAGE issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)

4. If a foreign child (unmarried and under 21 years old), original and photocopy of BIRTH CERTIFICATE

5. Original and two (2) photocopies of PROOF OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP of the spouse or parent (Passport or Dual Citizenship Certificate)

6. Original and photocopy of notarized LETTER OF REQUEST for an Immigrant Visa signed by the Filipino spouse or parent

7. Original and photocopy of local POLICE CLEARANCE obtained within the last (6) months

8. Two (2) copies of PROOF of FINANCIAL CAPACITY (bank statement of the latest 6 months, employment certificate, property or income documents)

9. Two (2) MEDICAL CERTIFICATES (F.A. Form No. 11) accomplished by a local physician, with all supporting documents in duplicate (two copies): CD of chest X-ray plate and results of 1) stool (ova/parasite and occult blood); 2) urinalysis; and 3) complete blood test (blood serology and chemistry), and with the prescribed PHOTOGRAPH

10. PERSONAL APPEARANCE

For inquiries, email us at chicagopcg@att.net (Subject: “Visa”).

I could tell at once that an online translator program translated the requirement. A translator program makes sense because only one error appeared when I used Grammarly to check the English. When a person reads this whose first language is English, it makes some sense. However, in some areas, it makes no sense whatsoever.

I started preparing the necessary papers with my wife but needed help deciphering the list. The English needed to be clarified. I understand that not all countries use English similarly, but most English speakers can interpret the meaning. Some of the list I could not understand at all. 

I knew I was in trouble when my Filipina wife had as much trouble as I did understanding the list.

I prepared what I could understand and then contacted the Chicago Consulate General of the Philippines for help understanding the requirements. The nightmare began.

Email Question

Chicago is hours away, so I wanted to clarify some bad English so I would only visit the Chicago Consulate General of the Philippines once. I thought that made sense, but I received vague answers and a threat.

1. Two (2) duly-accomplished VISA APPLICATION FORMS (FA Form No. 3) with the prescribed PHOTOGRAPH

My first email asked where to locate form No. 3. They emailed the forms to me, which was nice.

Then I asked if I could email them all the paperwork when I have it together. Answer: I need to apply in person. That’s not what I asked, so I expanded my question. Can I email you all of my paperwork so you can review it before I come to Chicago? Their answer was vague. You can email to (visa@chicagopcg.com)

After that, I worked my way down the list. I sent another email about the following.  

Here are my issues:

• 1. Two (2) duly-accomplished VISA APPLICATION FORMS (FA Form No. 3) with the prescribed PHOTOGRAPH
• 2. Original and two (2) photocopies of PASSPORT
• 3. If a foreign spouse, original and photocopy of MARRIAGE CONTRACT / REPORT OF MARRIAGE issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
• 4. If a foreign child (unmarried and under 21 years old), original and photocopy of BIRTH CERTIFICATE
• 5. Original and two (2) photocopies of PROOF OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP of the spouse or parent (Passport or Dual Citizenship Certificate)
• 6. Original and photocopy of notarized LETTER OF REQUEST for an Immigrant Visa signed by the Filipino spouse or parent
• 7. Original and photocopy of local POLICE CLEARANCE obtained within the last (6) months
• 8. Two (2) copies of PROOF of FINANCIAL CAPACITY (bank statement of the latest 6 months, employment certificate, property or income documents)
• 9. Two (2) MEDICAL CERTIFICATES (F.A. Form No. 11) accomplished by a local physician, with all supporting documents in duplicate (two copies): CD of chest X-ray plate and results of 1) stool (ova/parasite and occult blood); 2) urinalysis; and 3) complete blood test (blood serology and chemistry), and with the prescribed PHOTOGRAPH
• 10. PERSONAL APPEARANCE

A police clearance would be something a police officer would need to get to work in a particular area of police work. I was puzzled until I thought this had to be a background check. I wrote an email asking what a police clearance was, and they said that if I didn’t know what it was, I shouldn’t go to the Philippines. I have never had such poor customer service. 

I wrote another email asking what type of proof was required to show proof of financial capacity. I also asked what was the Philippines’ understanding of the word capacity. I am still waiting for a reply.

So I took it upon myself to print two copies of one bank statement within the last six months. 

 

Threat

One of the strangest things was that I received a threat during an email conversation. They said they would inform the embassy in Manila to keep me from entering the Philippines. I wondered what I had said or did to warrant such a reaction. I answered myself with nothing. I only wanted to understand the requirements for the paperwork for when I arrived in Chicago.

I wondered if they wanted people to come and live in their country. I had my doubts.

Visit to Chicago

After I thought I had all the documents, I emailed them to the Consulate General of the Philippines in Chicago and expected a reply that all the papers were in order. Nope, they only sent me an appointment date.

So I put all the paperwork in a folder and headed to Chicago. 

After a few hours, I could see the skyline of the windy city. The Consulate is in the heart of Chicago, so I needed to stay alert to avoid missing any turnoffs. I found a parking area close to the site for $10 every 15 minutes. The total cost of parking was over $40.

I walked into the building and asked the guard where the Consulate General of the Philippines was, and the guard said nothing. I had to ask twice, and the guard acted like I was bothering them. This guard could have been a better start to a less-than-positive experience. I signed in and went to the elevator. 

I arrived at the correct floor and found no one there. I found the waiting room door locked. I thought, didn’t I have an appointment?  Thankfully someone came out to use the restroom and told me to wait by the door. After a few moments, someone unlocked the waiting room, and I entered.

A person came to the window who could barely speak English. They started going through my documents, which I had emailed them a few days earlier. 

When they came to the financial supporting documents, they asked if I thought I could live on what was in my account. I emailed them a few weeks ago about the needed papers and am still awaiting an answer. So I did my best with the only flawed information I had. 

The average income for a Filipino is around $300, so I should be good. They told me that was a lie. This interaction could be better customer service. I thought, I know I’m right because I looked it up a few weeks ago.

I said I didn’t understand the requirements because I couldn’t understand their English and received no help by emailing questions. The person started packing my paperwork, so I asked what they were doing. They said nothing, so I said perhaps it would be better if I waited until I returned to the Philippines before submitting the paperwork. 

I left in frustration.

Philippines Thoughts

Needless to say that I had such a horrible experience at the Consulate General of the Philippines in Chicago that I will wait until I return to the Philippines before submitting my 13a visa paperwork again.

I accomplished nothing except wasting time and money.

I am by no means a perfect user of English, but I am more than happy to explain anything I have written to someone who doesn’t understand. It’s called customer service.” customer service” seems foreign to many Filipinos. It’s a shame because I’ve found that they are extremely friendly and helpful outside of work. 

I hope I can get my 13a without incident in the Philippines, or I’ll need to retire in a different tropical paradise.

Read about: Facts about the Philippines – From Someone Who Lives Here