Arrive Immigration Services

10/09/2026

Supreme Court of the Philippines issues new rules making it easier for foreign divorces to be recognized in the Philippines: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EihP692Hd/

The 𝘌𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘤, during its session on October 7, 2026, approved amendments to the 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 (A.M. No. 25-03-14-SC) to make it easier for Filipino spouses to prove a foreign divorce when seeking its recognition in Philippine courts.

Under the amendments, which will take effect 15 days after they are posted on the Supreme Court Website, Filipino spouses seeking recognition of a foreign divorce under Article 26(2) of the 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘥𝘦 will no longer need to prove the applicable foreign law when filing their petition. They will only need to prove that the foreign divorce took place.

The amendments introduce Section 48-A of Rule 39, which presumes that a foreign divorce between a Filipino and a foreign spouse allows the foreign spouse to remarry under foreign law, unless the divorce decree itself states that it is only a limited divorce.

The party opposing the petition now bears the burden of proving that the divorce is not absolute.

The new rule also presumes that an English translation of a foreign divorce document is accurate if the translator certifies its accuracy under oath.

These presumptions are disputable; they may be challenged with contrary evidence, under Section 3 of Rule 131.

The amendments, however, leave the existing legal framework unchanged. A petition for judicial recognition of a foreign divorce is still required, and the substantive requirements of Article 26(2) of the 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘥𝘦 remain the same.

Recognition of a foreign divorce may still be opposed on grounds such as lack of jurisdiction, lack of notice, fraud, or a clear mistake of law or fact.

The amendments were approved upon the recommendation of Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, and in consultation with Associate Justices Amy C. Lazaro-Javier and Jhosep Y. Lopez, and the Sub-Technical Working Group on the Concerns of Overseas Working Filipinos Regarding the Recognition of Foreign Divorce Decrees/Reports (Sub-TWG).

During consultations with the Sub-TWG, the Department of Foreign Affairs identified several challenges. Foreign family laws are often spread across different jurisdictions, making them difficult to obtain. Some countries have no designated official who can certify these laws, while foreign ministries generally do not provide official English translations.

Through these amendments, the Supreme Court aims to remove unnecessary barriers and make it easier for Filipinos to exercise their rights under the law.

Read the full text of the Press Briefer at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=174621.

The full text of the Supreme Court 𝘌𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘤 Resolution A.M. No. 25-03-14-SC shall be uploaded to the Supreme Court Website once available.

08/04/2026

📖 Book a consultation with us at https://www.arriveimmigration.com/calendar

💬 Message us at m.me/arriveimmigration

06/29/2026

Citizenship is not just about the benefits. It also means giving back to the country that has welcomed us with freedom, open arms, and the promise that if you work hard, you will make it.

💬 Consult with us about citizenship at: m.me/arriveimmigration
📱 Book a Virtual Consultation at: https://www.arriveimmigration.com/calendar

06/23/2026

Kamusta po sa lahat ng ating mga kababayang Pilipino , saan man po sila sa Amerika at sa buong mundo 👋 We are happy to help you in your U.S. immigration concerns, for yourself or for your loved ones.

🧾Book a consultation with us at https://www.arriveimmigration.com/calendar
💬Message us at m.me/arriveimmigration

06/20/2026

Happening now! Arrive Immigration Services and Atty. Andrew Lena is at the "Fiesta ng Bayan 2026" at the Orland Hills Recreation Center in Orland Hills, IL 🎉

Come bring your friends, enjoy the weather, great company, and kicking Filipino food! See you all!

05/23/2026

On May 22, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an update to its Policy Manual. USCIS did not, and does not have the power, to prohibit foreigners present in the U.S. from applying for a "green card."

Rather, the update is an attempt to clarify which class of foreigners can apply for the green card, and which ones who do not.

💡IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS -

1️⃣ Adjustment of status is STILL ALIVE. The policy update DOES NOT REPEAL the laws providing for adjustment of status, which is found in U.S. Code Title 8, Section 1255.

2️⃣ If you already have submitted an Adjustment of Status application before the policy update came out, it is highly likely that USCIS will not apply the new, harsher standard to your application.

3️⃣ The policy update explicitly recognizes "dual-intent" visas, such as the H-1B, or L-1, that legally allows visa holders to maintain an immigrant intent, including applying for a green card as part of the promotion process.

4️⃣ The law recognizes certain classes of foreigners under Sections 1255(c), (d), (g), and (i) - Immediate Relatives of U.S. citizens, Fiancee visa holders marrying their petitioners within 90 days of arrival, Special Immigrant Juveniles, etc., that the law allows Adjustment of Status despite visa overstays, CONTRARY to what the policy update provides. With regard to these classes of foreigners, further clarification from USCIS or the courts is needed.

5️⃣ If you do not belong to the certain classes of foreigners stated in 4️⃣, and if you are thinking about applying for Adjustment of Status, it is now more important than ever to consult with a licensed attorney before submitting an application. The new policy now requires you to demonstrate why Adjustment of Status is merited in your INDIVIDUALIZED situation, and why going back home to apply for the immigrant visa at your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate is not practicable.

05/01/2026

YES, DUAL CITIZENSHIP IS STILL ALLOWED IN THE U.S. 🇵🇭 🇺🇸

Dual citizenship is a legal right allowed under U.S. and Philippine laws.

This month, we warmly welcomed 145 new dual citizens at our consular outreach mission in Tampa.

They lost their Philippine citizenship after naturalization as U.S. citizens. Through Philippine Republic Act No. 9225, they were able to reacquire their Philippine citizenship and officially become dual citizens.

In just one day, they:
• Reacquired their philippine citizenship;
• Applied for a Philippine passport;
• Registered as overseas voters; and
• Reported their marriage/child’s birth

The United States continues to allow dual citizenship, and there have been no changes to this policy.

Don’t let misinformation stop you from becoming a dual citizen. Apply at the Philippine Embassy or Consulates in the United States: https://philippineembassy-dc.org/dual-citizenship-application/

04/04/2026

Do you need help with getting a visa for your spouse? Schedule a consultation with us: https://www.arriveimmigration.com/calendar

🪪 The "F2A visa" is for spouses of green card holders. The spouse may be petitioned either while living in their home country, or while visiting the U.S.

💡 Did you know? 💡

1️⃣ When a green card holder petitioner becomes a U.S. citizen through naturalization, their existing petition for their spouse keeps its "priority date." What's more, the petition becomes UPGRADED to an "IR" or "Immediate Relative" visa petition, which is faster and is no longer subject to Visa Bulletin limits.

2️⃣ When a green card holder's spouse visits the U.S., they are, in certain circumstances, also able to apply for a green card at the same time.

3️⃣ When a green card holder files a petition for a spouse, that spouse's children below 21 are also automatically eligible for a visa without needing to file a separate petition for the children.

To learn more about the F2A visa and whether this is the right solution for your family, consult with our Attorney, Andrew Lena one-on-one and confidentially via our online platforms.

Schedule via this link: https://www.arriveimmigration.com/calendar, or send us a message in the buttons below.

10/20/2025

Please do not make legal decisions, such as renouncing your Philippine citizenship, based on social media content. Renunciation of Philippine citizenship is a serious, irreversible legal action.

For questions, please contact the Philippine Embassy or your nearest Philippine consulate ** or seek a professional opinion from a trusted lawyer.

This post or comment is for informational purposes only ☝️💡 For legal advice please send us a PM at m.me/arriveimmigration 😊

[ADVISORY] FALSE INFORMATION ON DUAL CITIZENSHIP CIRCULATING AGAIN

The Philippine Embassy in Washington DC is aware of another viral video falsely claiming that the U.S. government has announced a crackdown on dual citizens starting October 2025. This is not true.

As stated in our previous advisory (https://tinyurl.com/424r5svx), the U.S. government has not implemented any policy changes regarding dual citizenship. The United States continues to recognize that individuals may hold citizenship in more than one country. There is no new policy requiring dual citizens to renounce another nationality, nor is there a “crackdown” underway.

We urge the Filipino community to verify information through official government sources, avoid sharing unverified content, and report false information to the platform where it is published.

Please do not make legal decisions, such as renouncing your Philippine citizenship, based on social media content. Renunciation of Philippine citizenship is a serious, irreversible legal action.

For questions, please contact the Philippine Embassy or your nearest Philippine consulate.

08/30/2025

Consult with us! 🤔📞 312-857-9850 💻 https://www.arriveimmigration.com/calendar