CFO Requirments for LPR visiting home

[William2011 1]

Good Afternoon, I was just wondering if anyone knew if my wife which is a LPR and holds a Philippine passport needs to redo her CFO in order to exit the country. She arrived in the states on a K1 Visa, and we have since gotten married, and she has a 2 year green card now. She has the old CFO documents in her passport, but she is going to renew her passport with her married name this week at the Philippine Embassy. Does she need to take out the CFO documents that is stapled in the passport for future use in the new passport.

I am sorry if all this might be a dumb question, but I just don't want any surprises later on and when we visit the Philippines next year. I am hoping that someone can explain if she has to be bothered with the CFO regulations at this point in time. Thanks in advance.

[Hank_ 9,174]

No she doesn't need to do cfo again, but I would suggest keeping the CFO document as when in the Phils she will may have to stop by CFO to get a replacement sticker... not sure of that but I have heard story of that happening.

[HunNee 15]

Good Afternoon, I was just wondering if anyone knew if my wife which is a LPR and holds a Philippine passport needs to redo her CFO in order to exit the country. She arrived in the states on a K1 Visa, and we have since gotten married, and she has a 2 year green card now. She has the old CFO documents in her passport, but she is going to renew her passport with her married name this week at the Philippine Embassy. Does she need to take out the CFO documents that is stapled in the passport for future use in the new passport.

I am sorry if all this might be a dumb question, but I just don't want any surprises later on and when we visit the Philippines next year. I am hoping that someone can explain if she has to be bothered with the CFO regulations at this point in time. Thanks in advance.

I don't think so, since she is a green card holder already.. I was once a green card holder when I first arrived in the USA.. I had my Philippine Passport renewed last 2009 in LA Philippine embassy and they took my old passport (including the one with the CFO sticker).. I visited the Philippines last 2010 and had no problems.. I just showed my Green Card at that time.. but no CFO sticker whatsoever..

If you are really concerned, you can make copies of that page where the sticker is and the bio page.. I don't think she can take it out coz she's gonna need to surrender the old one, right? so I guess they would need the complete pages of the passport..

hope that helps..

Edited June 11, 2013 by HunNee

[Tahoma 2,292]

She has a green card, so she doesn't have to worry about the CFO any more. She doesn't need to attend another CFO seminar and she doesn't need a CFO sticker in her new passport.

If she didn't have a green card (nor advanced parole), yet had a CFO sticker in her old passport, then renewed or amended her passport, she would have to get a replacement CFO sticker at the CFO office before she would be allowed to board a flight to the U.S.

[sugar07 0]

Good day to all! I have been a silent reader of Visa Journey and was following some of the threads regarding CFO requirements.

 

I have a conditional GC right now and still waiting for the decision on my I751 application. However, I am targeting on going home this January but I am scared of the stories about CFO sticker requirement. I tried calling the CFO office in Manila and they say that I need to have to apply for ROM in order to get the sticker in Manila. I also contacted SFO consulate and according to them, I can go home anytime and I just need my passport (still in my married name), GC and Marriage certificate. Is it really required for me to report the marriage (husband and I lack some requirements for this process) before I can visit to Manila? Thanks in advance for your help!

[payxibka 10,045]

Your green card is your document that exempts you from CFO 

Edited September 4, 2019 by payxibka

[sugar07 0]

3 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Your green card is your document that allows you to travel home and back without requiring CFO upon return 

Thank you for the reply! I was thinking the same thing. However, the response I got from CFO manila said that I need to attend the seminar still since I haven't attended it despite being married for more than 3 years. I have no issue with that except if they really will require the report of marriage as we cannot complete this process yet due to some of my documents are in Manila (also the reason why i wanted to visit). Additional note: my passport is in my maiden name, but my GC is in my married name. Legally, i am still using my maiden name everywhere as the GC has incorrect naming format that we are planning on changing after it gets approved.

[payxibka 10,045]

25 minutes ago, sugar07 said:

Thank you for the reply! I was thinking the same thing. However, the response I got from CFO manila said that I need to attend the seminar still since I haven't attended it despite being married for more than 3 years. I have no issue with that except if they really will require the report of marriage as we cannot complete this process yet due to some of my documents are in Manila (also the reason why i wanted to visit). Additional note: my passport is in my maiden name, but my GC is in my married name. Legally, i am still using my maiden name everywhere as the GC has incorrect naming format that we are planning on changing after it gets approved.

What documents are you missing?  The only originals you need are the marriage certificate and affidavit of delayed registration 

[sugar07 0]

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

What documents are you missing?  The only originals you need are the marriage certificate and affidavit of delayed registration 

My birth certificate, it is not yet in the new PSA certified format. Also, my husband does not have a passport (he is a USC).

[payxibka 10,045]

2 minutes ago, sugar07 said:

My birth certificate, it is not yet in the new PSA certified format. Also, my husband does not have a passport (he is a USC).

PSA documents can be ordered online.   Your USC spouse should simply get his passport 

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 hour ago, sugar07 said:

Good day to all! I have been a silent reader of Visa Journey and was following some of the threads regarding CFO requirements.

 

I have a conditional GC right now and still waiting for the decision on my I751 application. However, I am targeting on going home this January but I am scared of the stories about CFO sticker requirement. I tried calling the CFO office in Manila and they say that I need to have to apply for ROM in order to get the sticker in Manila. I also contacted SFO consulate and according to them, I can go home anytime and I just need my passport (still in my married name), GC and Marriage certificate. Is it really required for me to report the marriage (husband and I lack some requirements for this process) before I can visit to Manila? Thanks in advance for your help!

You do NOT need the CFO sticker.    CFO is for exiting emigrates only.    You are not an exiting emigrate, you are a Legal Permanent Resident of the United States.

 

All you need to do is present your green card when exiting the Philippines.     At NAIA this is done during check-in with the airlines.

 

Relax, have a good time.    

 

 

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 hour ago, sugar07 said:

Thank you for the reply! I was thinking the same thing. However, the response I got from CFO manila said that I need to attend the seminar still since I haven't attended it despite being married for more than 3 years. I have no issue with that except if they really will require the report of marriage as we cannot complete this process yet due to some of my documents are in Manila (also the reason why i wanted to visit). Additional note: my passport is in my maiden name, but my GC is in my married name. Legally, i am still using my maiden name everywhere as the GC has incorrect naming format that we are planning on changing after it gets approved.

 

Carry a COPY of your marriage certificate,  this will clarify things if questioned about the name difference.   < Many others do this without issue.

[sugar07 0]

33 minutes ago, payxibka said:

PSA documents can be ordered online.   Your USC spouse should simply get his passport 

Thanks for this! I am already looking at psaserbilis website. I'm just not sure if the timeline will make it to my planned trip. But I will still apply for this to have a copy of my document here.

[sugar07 0]

6 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

You do NOT need the CFO sticker.    CFO is for exiting emigrates only.    You are not an exiting emigrate, you are a Legal Permanent Resident of the United States.

 

All you need to do is present your green card when exiting the Philippines.     At NAIA this is done during check-in with the airlines.

 

Relax, have a good time.    

 

 

Than you, Hank_ ! I am really getting scared due to the things i read online and given the response of CFO office to my email. I just wanted to see my family so i'm doing a quick visit. 

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 minute ago, sugar07 said:

Than you, Hank_ ! I am really getting scared due to the things i read online and given the response of CFO office to my email. I just wanted to see my family so i'm doing a quick visit. 

 

Nothing to be scared about.  Your question is somewhat common, mostly from people that renewed their passport so they don't have the CFO sticker anymore.   I am gathering you received your visa while in a country outside of the Philippines, being you don't have the sticker.   Nevertheless it is a non-issue as you have a green card

 

It always amazes me the number of "officials" within the Philippines that don't have a clue and decide their personal opinion "works"        

 

My wife and I traveled to the Philippines when she still was an LPR (green card), she had renewed her passport in her married name so there was no CFO sticker anymore ... all that was needed was her green card.

 

Thousands upon thousands of Filipinos (LPR)  travel back and forth between the U.S.A. and the Philippines ... all they need is their green card.