2 seminar's before you can leave the philppines?

[✿Ice Rain✿ 0]

I am the wife,

I have attended FIRST the (Guidance and Counseling Program)CFO SEMINAR (08-30-2007) , before i applied for a new passport in my husband's name. Prior to that, i have talked to the CFO office personnel that handles the seminars and they informed me that it's being needed when i apply for a passport ( because im married to a foreign national). And even you're just renewing a passport and you got married to a foreigner and you want to change your single name to your married name, you are still required to present a CFO certificate as "additional requirement" that DFA would ask you..

And for your question about the NVC, i have seen one thread where the wife used her single passport, and their paper was being hold until the wife finished attending the CFO and present them the CFO certificate..

It's up to you if you will take this advise from me , or not.

im just trying to help.. And , to clarify, visa is not a requirement to attend the Guidance and Counseling Program CFO seminar. I have no visa yet when i attended the CFO seminar.

[✿Ice Rain✿ 0]

Im sorry about my error, i meant it as USEM. not NVC. im sorry, i was reading about the NVC procedures right now, is why. Sorry for that..

And for your question about the NVC, i have seen one thread where the wife used her single passport, and their paper was being hold until the wife finished attending the CFO and present them the CFO certificate..

[mikeandlani 0]

For as long as the citizenship of the petitioning spouse is foreign, even if he or she is previously a Filipino citizen, the Filipino partner is required to undergo the CFO Guidance and Counseling Program.

I know this but David's wife just wanted to change the name on her passport. There's no CFO requirement for that.

There's only a CFO requirement when you're emigrating abroad. So.. when Davids's wife gets her visa, she'll need to go attend a CFO seminar. As a matter of fact, one of the rquirements for a CFO seminar is a visa.

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/emig_manila.htm

What if David's wife dont have a visa yet? My wife certainly dont have a visa yet and she should not be able to attend a CFO seminar. But knowing how things work in the Philippines, I have no doubt my wife can attend the CFO seminar even without a visa IF she wants to.

But the point is and original topic, to change your name to your new married on your passport, a CFO seminar is NOT required.

It IS. The requirement on the DFA website stating that all you need is personal appearance as well as MC on NSO SECPA is the general rule. An exception to that will be if you are married to a foreign national, then that's where the CFO certificate kicks in as additional documentation. Once you have taken the CFO seminar you no longer need to take it again for your visa application. You just go back there for stamping after you have your visa in hand.

Noel, if your surname is Filipino sounding, i can only guess that the DFA personnel failed to notice your citizenship in your MC which is why your wife wasn't required to present her CFO certificate. Prior to our visa application, i was contemplating on having my passport amended to reflect my married name, however, i was advised by my travel agent (she noticed my husband's citizenship, notwithstanding that its a common filipino surname) to go attend a CFO seminar as the DFA requires the certificate to process the amendment. Hence, i opted to retain my maiden name in my passport--will just renew the same using my married name in 2010. And yes, i did get to attend the CFO seminar prior to leaving Manila, as it is a philippine government pre-requisite prior to immigrating...it was waaay cheaper if i did it earlier for the passport amendment though...

Edited March 19, 2008 by mikeandlani

[✿Ice Rain✿ 0]

I agree with MikeandLani. I will highlight it..

It IS. The requirement on the DFA website stating that all you need is personal appearance as well as MC on NSO SECPA is the general rule. An exception to that will be if you are married to a foreign national, then that's where the CFO certificate kicks in as additional documentation. Once you have taken the CFO seminar you no longer need to take it again for your visa application. You just go back there for stamping after you have your visa in hand.

Noel, if your surname is Filipino sounding, i can only guess that the DFA personnel failed to notice your citizenship in your MC which is why your wife wasn't required to present her CFO certificate. Prior to our visa application, i was contemplating on having my passport amended to reflect my married name, however, i was advised by my travel agent (she noticed my husband's citizenship, notwithstanding that its a common filipino surname) to go attend a CFO seminar as the DFA requires the certificate to process the amendment. Hence, i opted to retain my maiden name in my passport--will just renew the same using my married name in 2010. And yes, i did get to attend the CFO seminar prior to leaving Manila, as it is a philippine government pre-requisite prior to immigrating...it was waaay cheaper if i did it earlier for the passport amendment though...

[✿Ice Rain✿ 0]

1. Yes, there is additional requirement for those who are married to a foreign national or fiancee of a foreign national to attached a copy of CFO CERTIFICATE in applying for a new passport/ or renewing passport.

2. I , myself dont have a visa yet and i have undergone the CFO seminar, you can confirm this and call the CFO hotline and there, they will tell you to bring nbi, nso birth certificate, nso marriage certificate,(if married already).

However, it is ok also if you have your visa already once you attend the CFO seminar(not a big deal to them)

3. Look, i am the wife here (filipino). I have no visa either. Visa is not a requirement to attend the guidance and counseling for CFO Seminar.

4. That's a big NO. Because, DFA requires CFO certificate for people married to foreign national, in changing their names into their married name..

(My sister attended the seminar before she renewed her passport)

After my sister got her visa, her passport was stamped proof of attending CFO.

1.I know this but David's wife just wanted to change the name on her passport. There's no CFO requirement for that.

2.There's only a CFO requirement when you're emigrating abroad. So.. when Davids's wife gets her visa, she'll need to go attend a CFO seminar. As a matter of fact, one of the rquirements for a CFO seminar is a visa.

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/emig_manila.htm

3.What if David's wife dont have a visa yet? My wife certainly dont have a visa yet and she should not be able to attend a CFO seminar. But knowing how things work in the Philippines, I have no doubt my wife can attend the CFO seminar even without a visa IF she wants to.

4.But the point is and original topic, to change your name to your new married on your passport, a CFO seminar is NOT required.

Edited March 19, 2008 by SHAPE OF MY HEART

[✿Ice Rain✿ 0]

to answer you, No , it's not 2 , its only 1 seminar and that is CFO.

Once you attended the CFO seminar, the validity of it is a LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP.

[N360 0]

Noel, if your surname is Filipino sounding, i can only guess that the DFA personnel failed to notice your citizenship in your MC which is why your wife wasn't required to present her CFO certificate. Prior to our visa application, i was contemplating on having my passport amended to reflect my married name, however, i was advised by my travel agent (she noticed my husband's citizenship, notwithstanding that its a common filipino surname) to go attend a CFO seminar as the DFA requires the certificate to process the amendment. Hence, i opted to retain my maiden name in my passport--will just renew the same using my married name in 2010. And yes, i did get to attend the CFO seminar prior to leaving Manila, as it is a philippine government pre-requisite prior to immigrating...it was waaay cheaper if i did it earlier for the passport amendment though...

Maybe my wife got away with it, maybe my wife didnt. And I'm not trying to argue. All I'm saying is that when my wife wanted her name changed, all she was asked for was the old passport and our marriage certificate. A marriage certificate that has my name which is not filipino sounding, my mom's name, my dad's name and all our US citizenship info. My parents are also US citizens. Not including four ninangs, whose names are also on the certificate, that are all US citizens with English sounding last name like Hunter and Ward.

I also cannot find any info on the DFA website stating waht you guys are saying.

Again, and please dont get me wrong, I'm not saying you both are wrong and Im correct. All Im saying is.. This is not what happened to my wife and I cant find any info about what you're both saying on the official DFA website.

[✿Ice Rain✿ 0]

Yes it's true in the DFA official website what we are saying is not stated there,but in the DFA site instruction, they stated this, what we are saying falls under this,:

Additional supporting documents may be required when necessary.

Even if you're wife already renewed her passport and have changed it into her new name without showing the CFO certificate she attended (i have no idea how that happened, maybe she knew someone from inside the DFA )

Even she get her passport changed into her new name without showing CFO certificate, she will still need to attend the CFO seminar before leaving the country (Phils)

CFO (for married and fiancee) issue two papers, the first one is after seminar , (CFO certificate of attendance, a thick yellow colored paper) and the second one is the (CFO Guidance and Counseling Certificate, a thin pale green colored paper), the latter is required to present to the POE upon arrival.

Edited March 20, 2008 by SHAPE OF MY HEART

[hunnyko 0]

Thank you very much, yes it helps, got more help then I acpected:-)

Hi hope I ask this question in which it is not confusing. My wife left to cagayan de oro city from Butuan today to change her passport to her married name assuming she needed to do that before her medical and visa interview. Well they told her she needed to go to the guidence and counseling seminar first to get her passport change all the way in manila or Cebu.

Back to your original posts David. :-) It sounds like that office where your wife went to get her name changed on her passport is confused. No CFO seminar is required for a simple name change. As a matter of fact, just tell your wife to go to a travel agency and let them do it. It's faster, and worth it, that way since these travel agencies usually knows people on the inside.

Will she need to change her passport to her married name before the medical and visa interview?

This all depends on the I-130 application you filed. Did you file under her new married name? If so, and to avoid possible complications, I would highly recommend she change her name on the passport before all of that. As far as requirement, I'm not sure if it is required.

Also will the NVC accept a photo copy of her single name passport on the DS-230 form?

I am not sure. NVC are known to be picky. Like I said, If I were you, I'd just change her name. This is one of those possible complications I talked about.

Does she have to go to this seminar and the seminar after the visa interview called the pre- departure seminar? Thanks again for any help

Yes, she would have to go to a seminar after she gets her visa. The US embassy will stamp her visa to her passport. She will then need her passport with a visa to attend a CFO seminar. She would need to attend the seminar prior to her departure date. The CFO website has more details on that.

Hope that helps.

Thanks very much for all your time and help we appreciate it very much :-)

Im sorry about my error, i meant it as USEM. not NVC. im sorry, i was reading about the NVC procedures right now, is why. Sorry for that..

And for your question about the NVC, i have seen one thread where the wife used her single passport, and their paper was being hold until the wife finished attending the CFO and present them the CFO certificate..

[✿Ice Rain✿ 0]

YW. this thread would help also:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=116966

[TinTin and Samby 11]

Hi DavidnMay,

Here's my personal experience with the requirements, process and maybe most importantly, the mentality of "process" (or lack thereof) of the folks running the gov't and quasi gov't offices in the PH. I thought I would share as it may shine some light and highlight the choices you have:

The CFO provides many different programs and services for Filipinos. The one of interest for immigration is called the GUIDENCE & COUNCILING SERVICES (seminar) FOR EMMIGREES". Reference below to "CFO" mean this specific program.

Getting a PH passport renewed (either due to name change or due to loss/expiration) does NOT, in and of itself, trigger the CFO requirements.

An immigrant visa from another country does NOT have to be issued to go to the CFO counciling seminar. The Visa DOES have to be issued and affixed to the philiipino's passport in order to have the CFO Emmigrant Registration STICKER affixed to the filipino'a passport. THIS STICKER IS the ACTUAL REQUIREMENT THAT PH IMMIGRATION WILL CHECK BEFORE ALLOWING A FILIPINO TO DEPART THE PHILIPPINES WITH AN IMMIGRANT VISA IN THEIR PH PASSPORT FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY (ie USA), How do these folks at the airport know to "require" the CFO Sticker?? Easy. If a filipino is leaving the country, and their passport does not have a immigrant visa affixed, then no CFO Sticker required - free to depart the PH. If their passport DOES have a immigrant visa affixed, then they will look for the CFO Sticker. No Sticker - no Leaving the PH.

My experience with the Flipinos working in these kinds of "beaurocratic" offices is that they can not sperate the specific task that they are responsible for from the "End State" or "Final Conclusion" that may or may not be the intention of the customer, even if they have no expertise nor authority nor responsibility for those other subsequent steps in the process. For this reason, I alwys recommend NOT sharing the Big Picture with the person from whom you are asking perform a specific task. This, I beleive, is the reason for the beginning of the misinformation and frustration you received during your first visit to renew your passport. You stated in your Original Post that you explained you wanted to update the passport to the married name in preparation for your emmigration to the USA. The worker heard immigration and immediately decided it was their personal job to ensure that you did not emmigate from the Philippines without the CFO Emmigrant Registration Sticker. This of course is nonsense, but it is an everyday reality here in PH. If you would show up at DFA (even better, use the online process - yes, which still requires an in person appearance, but an appointment time is managed by the online service proovider and you will not have to wait in line with the masses at DFA) making a request to update your passport with your married name. PERIOD. Don't say anything else. Don't offer any info about emmigration, no small talk about medical and embassy interviews. Nothing about how the finance is American, nothing. You will have no trouble getting the updated passport.

You are definately wise to get the passport updated to maiden name while still in the Philippines. If you decide to do this before the US Visa is issued, then you must do it in time to have it back in your hand BEFORE the SELC Medical Exam. The reason is that SLEC collects the passport during the Medical Exam and forwards it directly to the US Embassy. The next time you see the passport, it will already have the USA Immigrant Visa affixed.

If you want to split the CFO work into 2 pieces, you can take the first piece (the counciling session) at anytime, but you will not be able to complete the second piece until you have the passport containing the USA Immigrant Visa back in your hand (which wont happen until after the US Embassy interview).

Good luck to you!

Warm Regards,

Samby

[boyceedith 0]

yes noel was right ! i just renewed my passport and changed my name into married name last week all they asked from me was just my old passportport, 2x2 passport picture then marriaged contract original from nso thats it!!!! they never required me any of seminars stuff just to get new passport.

[N360 0]

Hi DavidnMay,

Here's my personal experience with the requirements, process and maybe most importantly, the mentality of "process" (or lack thereof) of the folks running the gov't and quasi gov't offices in the PH. I thought I would share as it may shine some light and highlight the choices you have:

The CFO provides many different programs and services for Filipinos. The one of interest for immigration is called the GUIDENCE & COUNCILING SERVICES (seminar) FOR EMMIGREES". Reference below to "CFO" mean this specific program.

Getting a PH passport renewed (either due to name change or due to loss/expiration) does NOT, in and of itself, trigger the CFO requirements.

An immigrant visa from another country does NOT have to be issued to go to the CFO counciling seminar. The Visa DOES have to be issued and affixed to the philiipino's passport in order to have the CFO Emmigrant Registration STICKER affixed to the filipino'a passport. THIS STICKER IS the ACTUAL REQUIREMENT THAT PH IMMIGRATION WILL CHECK BEFORE ALLOWING A FILIPINO TO DEPART THE PHILIPPINES WITH AN IMMIGRANT VISA IN THEIR PH PASSPORT FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY (ie USA), How do these folks at the airport know to "require" the CFO Sticker?? Easy. If a filipino is leaving the country, and their passport does not have a immigrant visa affixed, then no CFO Sticker required - free to depart the PH. If their passport DOES have a immigrant visa affixed, then they will look for the CFO Sticker. No Sticker - no Leaving the PH.

My experience with the Flipinos working in these kinds of "beaurocratic" offices is that they can not sperate the specific task that they are responsible for from the "End State" or "Final Conclusion" that may or may not be the intention of the customer, even if they have no expertise nor authority nor responsibility for those other subsequent steps in the process. For this reason, I alwys recommend NOT sharing the Big Picture with the person from whom you are asking perform a specific task. This, I beleive, is the reason for the beginning of the misinformation and frustration you received during your first visit to renew your passport. You stated in your Original Post that you explained you wanted to update the passport to the married name in preparation for your emmigration to the USA. The worker heard immigration and immediately decided it was their personal job to ensure that you did not emmigate from the Philippines without the CFO Emmigrant Registration Sticker. This of course is nonsense, but it is an everyday reality here in PH. If you would show up at DFA (even better, use the online process - yes, which still requires an in person appearance, but an appointment time is managed by the online service proovider and you will not have to wait in line with the masses at DFA) making a request to update your passport with your married name. PERIOD. Don't say anything else. Don't offer any info about emmigration, no small talk about medical and embassy interviews. Nothing about how the finance is American, nothing. You will have no trouble getting the updated passport.

You are definately wise to get the passport updated to maiden name while still in the Philippines. If you decide to do this before the US Visa is issued, then you must do it in time to have it back in your hand BEFORE the SELC Medical Exam. The reason is that SLEC collects the passport during the Medical Exam and forwards it directly to the US Embassy. The next time you see the passport, it will already have the USA Immigrant Visa affixed.

If you want to split the CFO work into 2 pieces, you can take the first piece (the counciling session) at anytime, but you will not be able to complete the second piece until you have the passport containing the USA Immigrant Visa back in your hand (which wont happen until after the US Embassy interview).

Good luck to you!

Warm Regards,

Samby

Well said Tintin and Samby.

This is what I wanted to say to the OP. I "think" his wife and most people that were required to take CFO, went to whatever office to have their name changed on their passports for the purpose of immigration.

If one would just go to a DFA office for a name change, without telling them anything about emigrating anywhere, theres a good chance a name change will happen without a fuss.

The point I was making earlier is... just because you're married to a foreign national, it doesnt mean you're automatically emigrating. I think this is what those people in those quasi offices are not realizing.

[N360 0]

yes noel was right ! i just renewed my passport and changed my name into married name last week all they asked from me was just my old passportport, 2x2 passport picture then marriaged contract original from nso thats it!!!! they never required me any of seminars stuff just to get new passport.

Hi Edith! How are eyou? Maybe people should have their name changed in Mindanao?

Tintin is in Maitum btw... She'll be back to Gensan after the holy week. Maybe you guys should hang out again. She's getting more and more agitated now that our process is almost in the end. LOL.

[N360 0]

Yes it's true in the DFA official website what we are saying is not stated there,but in the DFA site instruction, they stated this, what we are saying falls under this,:

Additional supporting documents may be required when necessary.

Even if you're wife already renewed her passport and have changed it into her new name without showing the CFO certificate she attended (i have no idea how that happened, maybe she knew someone from inside the DFA )

Even she get her passport changed into her new name without showing CFO certificate, she will still need to attend the CFO seminar before leaving the country (Phils)

CFO (for married and fiancee) issue two papers, the first one is after seminar , (CFO certificate of attendance, a thick yellow colored paper) and the second one is the (CFO Guidance and Counseling Certificate, a thin pale green colored paper), the latter is required to present to the POE upon arrival.

OK. So IO went to CFO's website to get to the bottom of this all. LOL And here's what I got out of it...

So there's two seminars...

1. Guidance and Counseling Requirements and Schedules for Filipino Spouses and Other Partners of Foreign Nationals
2. Pre-Departure Registration and Orientation Seminar

Both seminars you can only take in Manila or Cebu.

The Guidance and Counceling requirements are being offered/required to spouses of foreign national.

Per Republic Act 8239 and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Order 28-94, Filipinos proceeding abroad as fiancé(e)s and spouses of foreign nationals are required to attend the CFO's guidance and counseling programs as a pre-requisite to the issuance of passports.

The objective of this program is to help Filipino fiancé(e)s and spouses of foreign nationals make informed decisions regarding their marriage to foreign nationals and to prepare them for their adjustments in cross-cultural marriages

The Pre-departure registration are for people leaving the country to settle abroad. And here's what they have to say about it.

Filipino emigrants or those leaving the country to settle permanently abroad are required to register with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). Part of its registration requirements is attendance in the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) to prepare them for settlement overseas.

To be honest, they both sound like exactly the same thing. And... growing up in the PI, this sounds like a money-making scheme of the Phil govt.

How do they enforce the 1st seminar? by requiring it when you get a passport. I'm assuming this includes renewal and name changes. Here's the catch. This is only required for people procedding abroad. and theres no way they could tell this.

Now, the second seminar, Pre-departure registration is actually a must. You will need to have a sticker that they'll stamp on your passport and they'll actually check this on departure.

To summarize, if you dont mind going to Manila or Cebu to attend a seminar for a simple name change, then by all means go for it. This is not hard to do for people living in say... the national capital region. But if you're like my wife, who lives in a remote area, and attending this useless seminar is such a big hassle, I'd say just go to a local travel agency, give them your passport and marriage certificate and be done with it. It is not required and if they say it is, tell them your not emigrating anywhere.