CFO for fiancee in Manila, Philippines

[sunandmoon 450]

All the information needed for the Fiance CFO Seminar is located on this page at the CFO's websitehttp://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1348:fiancee-spouses-and-other-partners-of-foreign-nationals&catid=140

hope that helps everyone.

-Chris

not completely...

Requirements for Attendance to Guidance and Counseling Program

1.Two (2) valid identification cards (IDs) with photograph;

2.Duly completed guidance and counseling form;

3.If married, certified true copy and photocopy of marriage contract on security paper from the National Statistics Office, or Local Civil Registry Offices; or original and photocopy of marriage contract duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/ Consulate (if married abroad)

4.Other documents as may be required by the counselors; and

5.Payment of P250.00 counseling fee.

this part is pretty vague. it doesn't say proof of petitioner's singleness, knowing maiden name of petitioner's mother, etc...

maybe this thread was better off left in the back pages of the forum. one post contains incorrect information which could cause confusion.

[Tahoma 2,292]

4.Other documents as may be required by the counselors

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[Tahoma 2,292]

I have been studying and researching this. There are some gotchas not listed on the CFO site.

1) if your filing a k-1/k2 visa, the fiance must take the guidance and counseling seminar. this can be taken at the time of travel to manila for the medical and/or interview at the embassy. The cost is 250php. during the medical, you will have a couple of days to wait to finish the medical anyway. Might as well put it to good use.

The CFO seminar/CFO sticker can be completed at any time before boarding the plane for the U.S. CR-1/IR-1 must also complete the CFO seminar and have the sticker in their passport before they are allowed to fly to the U.S.

For those who were married in the Philippines and want to amend their passport to their married name, they are required to complete the CFO seminar before the DFA releases their new passport.

2) if the fiance is under 23, the parents (or one parent) must attend with the fiance. this is due ot the consent law of parents must give consent to those under 21, and counseling to those under 24. PLease make sure to know this is also in effect for CFO.

There is no requirement for parents to attend the CFO seminar. However, the CFO can require those who are 21-24 to submit a parental letter of advice. For those who are 18-20, the CFO can require them to submit a parental letter of consent to marry.

3) also if you fiance is under 21, the parents must be present for medical AND embassy interview.

The parents of K-1ers who are under 21 do not have to be present at the medical nor at the Embassy interview.

Plesae note these requirements do not apply to k3 visas for parents to be in attendance. However, the guidance counseling session is still required. Please make sure to attend the proper one for your country.

4) you still have to pay the 400php for the CFO stamp, but you do not have to attend the other CFO required lecture since you attended the fiance/spousal guidance session. However, you should be prepared to attend if they so desire you to.

What "other required lecture" are you referring to? I've never heard of it. Link please.

5) please note you cannot pay for #4 until AFTER having your visa in hand. However, you CAN attend the guidance and counseling session BEFORE you have your visa. They actually prefer you attend the guidance counseling session BEFORE your embassy interview.

It's perfectly fine to attend the CFO seminar after the Embassy interview.

6) you cannot leave the country until you have the CFO stamp on your passport. At the customs area to leave, you will be turned back if the CFO stamp is not present. Please also note the filipino(a), and the person traveling with them can be detained and or arrested since leaving the Philippines without a CFO stamp is illegal.

The CFO puts a sticker in the passport. They do not stamp the passport.

A Filipino can leave the country without having a CFO sticker. For example, they can go to Hong Kong if they want to. However, they can't go to the U.S. without the sticker.

7) do not try to bypass the CFO step. It is for the Philippine Government to track their people. It is also to warn Filipino(a) of the differences in culture they will encounter. there are many, many differences once you get to know the culture. it is up to you to delve into their culture. They will not invite you in. the more you work on it, the deeper you will get. Until they eat pig knuckles in front of you, you are not a full member of the clan. (No matter how much you think they like you.)

just some points to note. The embassy should make you aware of this requirement.

The Embassy won't tell you about the CFO requirement. It's a Filipino government requirement.

Fixxored <-------

[sunandmoon 450]

Fixxored <-------

now, when this thread becomes buried in the back pages of the forum. it can rest in peace...

[Tahoma 2,292]

Roy...All that misinformation was bothering me too...now this thread can R.I.P....