CFO... ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

[KC♥MP 0]

It is a requirement of the Philippine government to all Filipinos proceeding abroad as fiancé(e)s and spouses of foreign nationals. It is not a US government requirement so that must be reason why US Embassy doesn't include it in their instructions.I found this link about CFO and it is a requirement based on Republic Act 8239: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/counseling.htm

[STEPHnRIA 2]

Im sorry to hear that story but my CFO seminar was so smooth, I highly recommend St. Mary's in Quezon City. I got there at 8:00am, startedat 8:30 and was out by 11:30am. When I got home, my visa was already delivered. So I went back to St. Mary's that same day at 2:30pm and had the sticker in my passport by 3pm. Im lucky that my house is near St. Mary's. By the way, they didnt ask for pictures of me and my fiancee. I was so eager to tell our love story but the nice old lady didnt ask a lot of questions. Probably because I told her I lived in the US before.

[JM2008 0]

Can anyone here share how they came to learn that the CFO seminar was required? My fiance learned about it through word of mouth. I can't possibly imagine that the majority of K1 immigrants from the Philippines are learning about the CFO seminar requirement through word of mouth.

My fiance recently went to Manila for her visa interview and one week later received her visa shipped via Delbros. However, during her interview, no one with the embassy told her anything about the CFO seminar and in my correspondence with the embassy, they informed me that only the visa and valid passport was required to travel to the USA. Shipped with the visa was a form with some information about the CFO seminar at St. Mary's. But nowhere on the form does it state that the CFO is a requirement. The only thing my fiance heard about the CFO seminar prior to receiving her visa from the embassy was through word of mouth.

While we now can safely presume that it's required, how can we be certain that there isn't anything else that's required that either me or my fiance haven't been told about?

Yeah... it was word of mouth for Us too. I just read about all the procedures and requirements that past appilicants had experienced. I think you are right though, if the benificiary isn't being told about this requirement EXCEPT word of mouth, there should be something mentioned. Luckily, most have figured it out through word of mouth and haven't experienced delays or missed flights.

Thank you for your feedback. The fact that most appear to hear about it through word of mouth as opposed to being told by the embassy that it is a requirement is somewhat unnerving. Furthermore, the embassy specifically told me that once she gets the visa, she's ready to go. It leads me to wonder if there is anything else we're supposed to learn of through word of mouth? We don't want any surprises when my fiance gets to the airport.

[JM2008 0]

It is a requirement of the Philippine government to all Filipinos proceeding abroad as fiancé(e)s and spouses of foreign nationals. It is not a US government requirement so that must be reason why US Embassy doesn't include it in their instructions.I found this link about CFO and it is a requirement based on Republic Act 8239: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/counseling.htm

Thanks for the feedback. I've already been to the website. It says,

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.

This merely says it's a requirement to get a passport. Thus it raises the question, if one already has a passport, do they still need to attend a CFO seminar?

[Jose Rizal 1]

This merely says it's a requirement to get a passport. Thus it raises the question, if one already has a passport, do they still need to attend a CFO seminar?

If you have not attended the CFO seminar, your passport will not be stickered as having attended such therefore making you ineligible to travel outside the Philippines.

[lady23 0]

hmmm not sure, as my friend able to go to US without having cfo seminar, no sticker of her passport...

[Jose Rizal 1]

hmmm not sure, as my friend able to go to US without having cfo seminar, no sticker of her passport...

She must be lucky then. Normally, the ticket counter and immigration look for the sticker.

[lady23 0]

hmmm not sure, as my friend able to go to US without having cfo seminar, no sticker of her passport...

She must be lucky then. Normally, the ticket counter and immigration look for the sticker.

I agree, she is lucky... without no cfo, no sticker, no certificates too. Actually immigration asked to her about it. She said she dont have.. but then still she was allowed to go...

[JM2008 0]

At http://www.cfo.gov.ph/counseling.htm it says

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.

Yet at http://www.cfo.gov.ph/emig_manila.htm it says

Requirements for Registration

Original valid passport;

Original and photocopy of visa;

One (1) 2x2 or passport-size photograph;

One (1) valid identification card with photograph;

Original and photocopy of Confirmation of Permanent Residence (for Canada-bound emigrant);

Original and photocopy of Immigrant Data Summary (for USA bound emigrant);

Photocopy of Certificate of Eligibility (for Japan bound emigrant);

Original and photocopy of letter of approval for Work to Residence visa (for New Zealand bound emigrants);

Photocopy of employment contract (for immigrant workers);

Duly completed registration form (downloadable at www.cfo.gov.ph);

Payment of P400.00 registration fee; and

Attendance in the PDOS or peer counseling session;

The first site says the seminar must be attended before a passport can be issued. The second site says one must bring a valid passport to the CFO seminar. How is one supposed to bring their passport to the CFO seminar if they have to attend the CFO seminar to be issued a passport?

Perhaps I overlooked something, but something doesn't seem right.

[Gumbolette 58]

When I had my CFO counselling, they never asked for pictures of us, probably because my husband was with me that time.

[rheanick 42]

I just attended my CFO seminar this morning (dec 15, 2008 St Mary's Katipunan). One of the attendees was scheduled to leave yesterday for las vegas. She was sharing to us that she was not able to leave the country coz she did not have the CFO sticker. She tried to ask if she could leave even without the CFO sticker, well.. the mere fact that i met her during the CFO training, her request was not granted.

It is a requirement of the Philippine government to all Filipinos proceeding abroad as fiancé(e)s and spouses of foreign nationals. It is not a US government requirement so that must be reason why US Embassy doesn't include it in their instructions.I found this link about CFO and it is a requirement based on Republic Act 8239: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/counseling.htm

Thanks for the feedback. I've already been to the website. It says,

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.

This merely says it's a requirement to get a passport. Thus it raises the question, if one already has a passport, do they still need to attend a CFO seminar?

[KC♥MP 0]

At http://www.cfo.gov.ph/counseling.htm it says

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.

Yet at http://www.cfo.gov.ph/emig_manila.htm it says

Requirements for Registration

Original valid passport;

Original and photocopy of visa;

One (1) 2x2 or passport-size photograph;

One (1) valid identification card with photograph;

Original and photocopy of Confirmation of Permanent Residence (for Canada-bound emigrant);

Original and photocopy of Immigrant Data Summary (for USA bound emigrant);

Photocopy of Certificate of Eligibility (for Japan bound emigrant);

Original and photocopy of letter of approval for Work to Residence visa (for New Zealand bound emigrants);

Photocopy of employment contract (for immigrant workers);

Duly completed registration form (downloadable at www.cfo.gov.ph);

Payment of P400.00 registration fee; and

Attendance in the PDOS or peer counseling session;

The first site says the seminar must be attended before a passport can be issued. The second site says one must bring a valid passport to the CFO seminar. How is one supposed to bring their passport to the CFO seminar if they have to attend the CFO seminar to be issued a passport?

Perhaps I overlooked something, but something doesn't seem right.

I think they need to make corrections on the information given on their websites to avoid confusion.The second website seems to be accurate because CFO seminar is not applicable to all Filipinos who are applying for passport since not all of them are going overseas as fiance/e or spouse of foreign nationals.Besides, CFO seminar sticker/certificate is not among DFA requirements when applying for passport.

[Noh81 0]

I just attended my CFO seminar this morning (dec 15, 2008 St Mary's Katipunan). One of the attendees was scheduled to leave yesterday for las vegas. She was sharing to us that she was not able to leave the country coz she did not have the CFO sticker. She tried to ask if she could leave even without the CFO sticker, well.. the mere fact that i met her during the CFO training, her request was not granted.

I got my plane ticket, had my visa and no more days left to get done with the CFO, does it mean the immigration bureau held me from leaving the country coz I do not have those CFO stickers and counselling certificates?...

[STEPHnRIA 2]

I hope you will tell us if you were able to get out of Philippines without the CFO sticker.

[Jose Rizal 1]

I hope you will tell us if you were able to get out of Philippines without the CFO sticker.

they can do the srickering in the airport but you must be able to show your certificate of attendance.