Source of statistics on Filipino-American marriages?

[Christianfilipinacom]

I have seen statistics tossed around here and on other sites of a 20% divorce rate for a American married to a foreign woman. However I have not yet found any actual source of this. Anybody have a study or link to share? Thanks

[Winston]

Steve Neese cited some sources for that in his research report. See here:

http://www.happierabroad.com/Research.htm

[Christianfilipinacom]

Hi,
Thanks for pointing out the reference. It took me a while but I did find the original explanation in the document. It references an appendix by "Robert Scholes" who apparently wrote several articles on the "mail order bride industry" (his research being funded among other things by the U.S. INS). The 20% figure, it turns out, is "based largely on data provided by the agencies themselves" (meaning the "mail order bride agencies"). If you think about how likely/unlikely it is that they would have accurate data, it is a pity there isn't some better data available. BTW I also posted the Scholes article as https://christian-filipina.com/blog/SCH ... REPORT.PDF and although it is undated it seems like a mid-90s article.
So I am still looking for some more accurate data.

[Christianfilipinacom]

I blieve this is the document that originally used the previous "appendix" in its "appendix" http://www.aila.org/content/default.asp ... 19%7C13775
It also doesn't seem to be particularly helpful in any accurate analysis.

[steve55]

No, it's not just the agencies. The report also cites Filipino government statistics (filipino commission of over seas workers). But don't fully discredit the agencies because it's not like the agencies called each other and said "if anyone ever asks us, let's all agree to a 20% divorce rate". How likely is that? I think the fact that all the agencies are individually reporting the same stat as is the Filipino government is plenty of rock solid proof that the 20% figure is accurate.

[Christianfilipinacom]

Hi Steve, I"m not sure if we can trust you to trust someone else to trust someone else who cited someone else. We would need to see the data and the mechanism for data collection - especially in the case of this group of interested parties.

[pandabear]

How would the agencies know? Do they follow up on their matches?

[Halwick]

I wouldn't trust statistics on divorce rate from a mail order bride agency. That would be against their vested interest in promoting Filipino-American marriages, so naturally they would quote a low number.

Since "divorce" in the Philippines is non-existent, Anullment (equivalent to divorce elsewhere) is allowed. According to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), the annulment rate within the first five years of marriage is 35%; five years or more is 26% and 17% after ten years.

Whether you call it a "divorce" or "annulment", it's all the same thing....except in the Philippines.

[Taco]

This might help you.

Divorce Rates For American Men Who Marry Foreign Women
http://www.laborlawtalk.com/archive/ind ... -6159.html

[davewe]

I wouldn't trust statistics on divorce rate from a mail order bride agency. That would be against their vested interest in promoting Filipino-American marriages, so naturally they would quote a low number.

Since "divorce" in the Philippines is non-existent, Anullment (equivalent to divorce elsewhere) is allowed. According to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), the annulment rate within the first five years of marriage is 35%; five years or more is 26% and 17% after ten years.

Think you have your figures wrong. While the annulment rate is growing, the % of annulments is nowhere near what you quoted.

"There appears to be a 40% increase in the number of annulment cases filed between 2004-2010 from 4,520 to 8,282." In a country of almost 100,000,000 I don't think 8200 cases could in any way equal an annulment rate of 35%. Perhaps the 35% represents the increase in the rate.

Of course this doesn't really mean much since, since most Filipinos cannot afford annulments even if they wanted one.

[Halwick]

I wouldn't trust statistics on divorce rate from a mail order bride agency. That would be against their vested interest in promoting Filipino-American marriages, so naturally they would quote a low number.

Since "divorce" in the Philippines is non-existent, Anullment (equivalent to divorce elsewhere) is allowed. According to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), the annulment rate within the first five years of marriage is 35%; five years or more is 26% and 17% after ten years.

Think you have your figures wrong. While the annulment rate is growing, the % of annulments is nowhere near what you quoted.

"There appears to be a 40% increase in the number of annulment cases filed between 2004-2010 from 4,520 to 8,282." In a country of almost 100,000,000 I don't think 8200 cases could in any way equal an annulment rate of 35%. Perhaps the 35% represents the increase in the rate.

Of course this doesn't really mean much since, since most Filipinos cannot afford annulments even if they wanted one.

You may be right... But here's the source. See the last eight paragraphs.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerhe ... ays-report

So, which is more likely to be accurate, the GCO study "cited" or the mail order bride agency source of 20%?

Question: Since divorce is illegal and annulments are unaffordable, then that assumes that people in the Philippines simply walk away from the marriage and live apart, i.e, "Separated". Are there any stats on the percentage of couples who Separated, as I've just defined?

Here's another question: How do you know the "Single" Filipina is REALLY SINGLE, LEGALLY speaking? I wonder how many unsuspecting Kanos have married a Filipina, not knowing that her former marriage to the Pinoy husband was never annulled and in the eyes of the Philippine law, still married?

[Jester]

Here's another question: How do you know the "Single" Filipina is REALLY SINGLE, LEGALLY speaking? I wonder how many unsuspecting Kanos have married a Filipina, not knowing that her former marriage to the Pinoy husband was never annulled and in the eyes of the Philippine law, still married?

This is a damn good good question... 'specially if you're going to live in the 'Pines.

[davewe]

Here's another question: How do you know the "Single" Filipina is REALLY SINGLE, LEGALLY speaking? I wonder how many unsuspecting Kanos have married a Filipina, not knowing that her former marriage to the Pinoy husband was never annulled and in the eyes of the Philippine law, still married?

This is a damn good good question... 'specially if you're going to live in the 'Pines.

CENOMAR. It's a doc in PI and is pretty strictly adhered to. If you are in PI and have any doubts ask to girl to show you a copy of hers (assuming it isnt forged). If you are out of country and bringing the girl to live with and marry you, your immigration will require the CENOMAR to demonstrate she is legally available to marry. BTW, you also have to prove you are legally available to marry if you want to obtain a Fiancee Visa.

Been there done that!

[davewe]

I wouldn't trust statistics on divorce rate from a mail order bride agency. That would be against their vested interest in promoting Filipino-American marriages, so naturally they would quote a low number.

Since "divorce" in the Philippines is non-existent, Anullment (equivalent to divorce elsewhere) is allowed. According to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), the annulment rate within the first five years of marriage is 35%; five years or more is 26% and 17% after ten years.

Think you have your figures wrong. While the annulment rate is growing, the % of annulments is nowhere near what you quoted.

"There appears to be a 40% increase in the number of annulment cases filed between 2004-2010 from 4,520 to 8,282." In a country of almost 100,000,000 I don't think 8200 cases could in any way equal an annulment rate of 35%. Perhaps the 35% represents the increase in the rate.

Of course this doesn't really mean much since, since most Filipinos cannot afford annulments even if they wanted one.

You may be right... But here's the source. See the last eight paragraphs.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerhe ... ays-report

So, which is more likely to be accurate, the GCO study "cited" or the mail order bride agency source of 20%?

Question: Since divorce is illegal and annulments are unaffordable, then that assumes that people in the Philippines simply walk away from the marriage and live apart, i.e, "Separated". Are there any stats on the percentage of couples who Separated, as I've just defined?

Here's another question: How do you know the "Single" Filipina is REALLY SINGLE, LEGALLY speaking? I wonder how many unsuspecting Kanos have married a Filipina, not knowing that her former marriage to the Pinoy husband was never annulled and in the eyes of the Philippine law, still married?

The 20% figure came from immigration not a mail order bride company. Of course you can question immigration figures as well.

[davewe]

Here's another question: How do you know the "Single" Filipina is REALLY SINGLE, LEGALLY speaking? I wonder how many unsuspecting Kanos have married a Filipina, not knowing that her former marriage to the Pinoy husband was never annulled and in the eyes of the Philippine law, still married?

This is a damn good good question... 'specially if you're going to live in the 'Pines.

CENOMAR. It's a doc in PI and is pretty strictly adhered to. If you are in PI and have any doubts ask to girl to show you a copy of hers (assuming it isnt forged). If you are out of country and bringing the girl to live with and marry you, your immigration will require the CENOMAR to demonstrate she is legally available to marry. BTW, you also have to prove you are legally available to marry if you want to obtain a Fiancee Visa.

Been there done that!