how many trips to Manila

[o0pink0o 3]

Ate Toni, I just wanna ask if you ever did change your maiden name into married name in your passport? Because I know someone who arrived here on CR1 who didn't changed her surname in her passport but she amended her passport though.

I believe that if you WANT to renew your passport then you really HAVE to attend the seminar but anyhow, whether you will renew your passport or not, whether we like it or not, we don't have any choice but to attend that seminar if we want to be with our SO.

Yep Diane,i changed my name into married name...

in your passport? I am sorry for being "makulit" i just want to clear things because how come they required me to attend the seminar first before renewing my passport hehe

I am sleepy now so I guess I'll read your reply tom. have a nice day te toni

Yes dear:) so i am officially using my husband's name..or surname:P

Wow ate! you are lucky then . This is the first time I heard of a Pinay that wasn't asked for CFO seminar cert. in renewing her passport.

[o0pink0o 3]

You're exactly right Pink! Shortly after my wedding, I was so excited to change my passport from my maiden name to married name so I went to DFA and brought my old one and other docs that I thought is required. I got there so early only to find out that I have to attend CFO first for me to obtain a new one. I felt frustrated that time not bcoz I need to attend the seminar but bcoz of its location. I was told I can do it either in Cebu or in Manila, my choice. Jeez, I have to fly over only for this? Hehe..Good thing my husband was coming home then so I chose the last one and had the seminar while hubby was on the plane.

I wasn't asked for the CFO certificate...here are the requirements....http://dfa.gov.ph/?page_id=64

Ate Toni, I just wanna ask if you ever did change your maiden name into married name in your passport? Because I know someone who arrived here on CR1 who didn't changed her surname in her passport but she amended her passport though.

I believe that if you WANT to renew your passport then you really HAVE to attend the seminar but anyhow, whether you will renew your passport or not, whether we like it or not, we don't have any choice but to attend that seminar if we want to be with our SO.

* Does anyone know if the Consulate Officer will allow you to pick up Visa at Embassy or do they not like you to ask them for that?

I think asking them will make no any harm. This link might help you. Good Luck!

[maritoni 3]

Wow ate! you are lucky then . This is the first time I heard of a Pinay that wasn't asked for CFO seminar cert. in renewing her passport.

In fact a lot of pinays Pink,but they all applied at DFA manila..yay,sana lang nga tulot tuloy na ang swerte ko:P

[maritoni 3]

Not necessary. Many pinays stay in manila for a week: They do their medical, go to first cfo meeting (scared straight, hehe), then go to usem interview. Oh, and sight see and spend more of kanoz money on clothes and shoes, hehe.

so mavbe 10 days in manila to do medical/cfo/interview. Then fly back home (cheap, maybe $35USD) and wait for visa to be delivered by AIR21, then pack up bags, and back to manila, get cfo stamp, then catch flight to LA. Simple really if you plan ahead, gud luck

And how is that possible ?

[bislig2alabama 1]

mabuhay

My wife is from Bislig, Tabon and she made two trips to take care of the items named. Of course a family member. sister, traveled with her.

That was in 2004! She is now in Alabama and has just applied for naturalization.

Good luck and may God protect

[sweetgurl 0]

hello im from bislig too..it must be 2 trips..

[Rocky_nBullwinkle 6]

I am not exactly sure where Bislig is ... but I think you can narrow it down to at least 2 trips .... or even a 1 week long trip

First trip for a 1 week or so trip would include ... Medical exam on Monday, Tuesday ... cfo wed, thurs or fri ... have interview set up for the following Monday or Tuesday ...

Can either wait for visa in Manila ( Ask them if she can pick it up at the embassy at the interview ) or return home and wait for it via Air21

Bislig City look it up here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bislig_City

[forestrose 0]

Ate Toni, I just wanna ask if you ever did change your maiden name into married name in your passport? Because I know someone who arrived here on CR1 who didn't changed her surname in her passport but she amended her passport though.

I believe that if you WANT to renew your passport then you really HAVE to attend the seminar but anyhow, whether you will renew your passport or not, whether we like it or not, we don't have any choice but to attend that seminar if we want to be with our SO.

Yep Diane,i changed my name into married name...

in your passport? I am sorry for being "makulit" i just want to clear things because how come they required me to attend the seminar first before renewing my passport hehe

I am sleepy now so I guess I'll read your reply tom. have a nice day te toni

Yes dear:) so i am officially using my husband's name..or surname:P

Wow ate! you are lucky then . This is the first time I heard of a Pinay that wasn't asked for CFO seminar cert. in renewing her passport.

hey guys, DFA didnt require me to attend CFO seminar before I renewed my passport from my maiden name to married name , and to think I have just been issued Jan08 then changed it to my married name in Nov same year.

[Loolie 56]

Hi all,

How many trips will my wife have to make from Bislig to Manila, for the visa process? I am estimating 4 trips there: 1 trip there for CFO seminar, 1 trip there for medical exam, 1 trip there for interview, and the final trip there to cfo to register and get sticker, then she can get on the plane.

I am correct 4 trips? they make it so difficult, and expensive for everyone, it could be so much easy if organized properly.

Is ther anyway to combine the activities to reduce the number of trips?

Thanks much

Steve

in my case i did three trips...first trip to manila for medical then second trip again for interview...coz i did my medical one month before my interview...then third trip to cebu for cfo seminar...thats when i got my visa already so you get the seminar and the sticker at the same time.

my hubby wanted to make sure that il have my sticker first before buying plane ticket for usa...thats why i had three trips.

[loveaboo 0]

I just want to ask if it's ok to do the CFO seminar and get the sticker 1st then do the medical on the same trip and go back to manila for the interview? That way it will only be 2 trips...Anyone who have done it? Or the visa MUST really come 1st before the CFO sticker?

Thanks!

[Loolie 56]

I just want to ask if it's ok to do the CFO seminar and get the sticker 1st then do the medical on the same trip and go back to manila for the interview? That way it will only be 2 trips...Anyone who have done it? Or the visa MUST really come 1st before the CFO sticker?

Thanks!

without visa=no sticker...with or without visa=can have seminar.

[loveaboo 0]

I just want to ask if it's ok to do the CFO seminar and get the sticker 1st then do the medical on the same trip and go back to manila for the interview? That way it will only be 2 trips...Anyone who have done it? Or the visa MUST really come 1st before the CFO sticker?

Thanks!

without visa=no sticker...with or without visa=can have seminar.

Ah ok...Thanks for the immediate reply. So it must really be 3 trips to Manila then.

Edited August 11, 2009 by loveaboo