CFO Questions

[Conan 0]

Been searching for a lot of info on CFO. Haven't found clear answers to these questions:

When is the earliest CFO can be attended? After NOA2? before? What is recommended?

Should she wait until after receiving her Visa or before. Is there an advantage to doing it early?

Do they give you your Visas back right away or do they mail them?

What kind of info does fiance have to know about me? I read mother's maiden name, mother's phone number, anything tricky.

My fiance has never talked to my mom on the phone yet. Is this bad?

Any thing else I should know?

Thank you

Edited January 16, 2009 by Conan

[DEDixon 39]

CFO is easy. My fiance went about 15 days after her approved USEM interview and on the same day she left the RP for America. St. Mary's conducts CFO counseling. It is best to go to St. Mary's, because it is a lot less crowded so way more comfortable. They hold several seminars a day and seminars for those leaving for the US are held everyday at both St. Mary's and CFO. If your finacee starts early in the morning at St. Mary's, she'll get it done. Total time is less than 4 hours - I think there is 2 parts to the counseling which can always be done on the same day. I'm not sure which documents she needs to bring. Some of the documents they say they want aren't available if your fiancee goes to CFO after an approved interview (like her passport for example). Everything I read about CFO before my fiancee went made it seem complicated (the way they put it on the CFO website is a s s backwards... especially considering it is so simple). Don't bother registering online, just tell her to go to St. Mary's bright and early in the morning. St. Mary's address is on CFO's website. CFO is just a simple seminar to give Filipinos information about other cultures and to tell them where to get help should their sponsor turn out to be an idiot.

[Conan 0]

CFO is easy. My fiance went about 15 days after her approved USEM interview and on the same day she left the RP for America. St. Mary's conducts CFO counseling. It is best to go to St. Mary's, because it is a lot less crowded so way more comfortable. They hold several seminars a day and seminars for those leaving for the US are held everyday at both St. Mary's and CFO. If your finacee starts early in the morning at St. Mary's, she'll get it done. Total time is less than 4 hours - I think there is 2 parts to the counseling which can always be done on the same day. I'm not sure which documents she needs to bring. Some of the documents they say they want aren't available if your fiancee goes to CFO after an approved interview (like her passport for example). Everything I read about CFO before my fiancee went made it seem complicated (the way they put it on the CFO website is a s s backwards... especially considering it is so simple). Don't bother registering online, just tell her to go to St. Mary's bright and early in the morning. St. Mary's address is on CFO's website. CFO is just a simple seminar to give Filipinos information about other cultures and to tell them where to get help should their sponsor turn out to be an idiot.

Good deal. So she doesn't even have to schedule?

I read somewhere that they take the Visa and then mail it back later. Is this true? Can this be avoided?

Thanks again

[mRs StOcKwElL 1]

CFO is easy. My fiance went about 15 days after her approved USEM interview and on the same day she left the RP for America. St. Mary's conducts CFO counseling. It is best to go to St. Mary's, because it is a lot less crowded so way more comfortable. They hold several seminars a day and seminars for those leaving for the US are held everyday at both St. Mary's and CFO. If your finacee starts early in the morning at St. Mary's, she'll get it done. Total time is less than 4 hours - I think there is 2 parts to the counseling which can always be done on the same day. I'm not sure which documents she needs to bring. Some of the documents they say they want aren't available if your fiancee goes to CFO after an approved interview (like her passport for example). Everything I read about CFO before my fiancee went made it seem complicated (the way they put it on the CFO website is a s s backwards... especially considering it is so simple). Don't bother registering online, just tell her to go to St. Mary's bright and early in the morning. St. Mary's address is on CFO's website. CFO is just a simple seminar to give Filipinos information about other cultures and to tell them where to get help should their sponsor turn out to be an idiot.

Good deal. So she doesn't even have to schedule?

I read somewhere that they take the Visa and then mail it back later. Is this true? Can this be avoided?

Thanks again

Dedixon is right less crowded in St Mary's...

No schedule for CFO seminar...the earliest time it starts is 830 in the morning, next is 11:30 and 2:30...if you dont have the visa yet, you can go there for the seminar only. Bring your passport and have photocopied the front page (2copies), your birth certificate, have it photocopied too, if your fiance is a divorcee be sure to bring copy of divorce decree/s. you will fill-up 2forms before the interview. They don't take your passport with visa...

If you have already the visa, have it photocopied (2copies) after the seminar you will be directed to go at the back where the CFO office is for the sticker.

Good luck!!!

Edited January 16, 2009 by mRs StOcKwElL

[Jasman0717 9]

Good deal. So she doesn't even have to schedule?

I read somewhere that they take the Visa and then mail it back later. Is this true? Can this be avoided?

Thanks again

Claudeth did hers in Cebu as a walk in. She did everything in one day and boarded the plane the next.

[DEDixon 39]

Just FYI - The Visa is firmly attached to her RP passport, the Visa is in the passport as a page, I think they affix the Visa to an existing page in the passport. It is very neatly done and this is why the USEM retains the RP passport (the RP passport is taken by St. Luke personnel and forwarded to the USEM after passing the medical examine). If a beneficiary is approved for a visa after the interview at the USEM, the USEM retains the RP passport further so the Visa can be attached to it.

Maybe you can see why it isn't a good thing when the CO at the USEM returns a passport to the beneficiary after the interview.

Also, don't give up the RP passport to CFO or St. Mary's, they don't need it for anything.

[spartan 2]

Been searching for a lot of info on CFO. Haven't found clear answers to these questions:

When is the earliest CFO can be attended? After NOA2? before? What is recommended?

AFTER THE NOA2 SHE CAN ATTEND THE SEMINAR.

Should she wait until after receiving her Visa or before. Is there an advantage to doing it early?

SHE CAN ATTEND WITHOUT HER VISA YET. I ATTENDED CFO RIGHT AFTER I GOT MY NOA2.

Do they give you your Visas back right away or do they mail them?

IF SHE WILL ATTEND THE SEMINAR AND HAVE THE VISA ALREADY THE CFO WILL STAMP HER VISA AND THEN THEY WILL GIVE IT BACK TO HER RIGHT AWAY.

What kind of info does fiance have to know about me? I read mother's maiden name, mother's phone number, anything tricky.

CFO WILL JUST ASK ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP, ASK SOME PICTURES AND ASK ABOUT FIANCE'S LIKES, BEHAVIOR AND IF HE/SHE IS DIVORCE. WELL, JUST SOME BASIC INFORMATION. I NEVER HEARD OF MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME OR PHONE NUMBER.

My fiance has never talked to my mom on the phone yet. Is this bad?

NO IT IS NOT BAD. I NEVER TALKED TO MY HUBBY'S MOM WHEN I WAS STILL IN THE PHILS. WE JUST SENT EMAIL. BUT THE CFO NEVER ASK ABOUT MY HUBBY'S MOM.

Any thing else I should know?

SHE SHOULD KNOW ALL ABOUT HER FIANCE'S WORK AND NAME OF COMPANY, PHONE/ CELL NUMBER, EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND (HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE DEGREE) AND WHAT COURSE? FIANCE'S ADDRESS, BIRTHDATE. THESE ARE SOME QUESTIONS IN THE FORM THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED UP IN CFO BEFORE THE SEMINAR.

P.S. TELL HER TO BRING SOME PRINTED EMAIL CUZ SOME CFO ASK IT.

Thank you

[Loving Neneng 1]

Been searching for a lot of info on CFO. Haven't found clear answers to these questions:

When is the earliest CFO can be attended? After NOA2? before? What is recommended?

AFTER THE NOA2 SHE CAN ATTEND THE SEMINAR.

Should she wait until after receiving her Visa or before. Is there an advantage to doing it early?

SHE CAN ATTEND WITHOUT HER VISA YET. I ATTENDED CFO RIGHT AFTER I GOT MY NOA2.

Do they give you your Visas back right away or do they mail them?

IF SHE WILL ATTEND THE SEMINAR AND HAVE THE VISA ALREADY THE CFO WILL STAMP HER VISA AND THEN THEY WILL GIVE IT BACK TO HER RIGHT AWAY.

What kind of info does fiance have to know about me? I read mother's maiden name, mother's phone number, anything tricky.

CFO WILL JUST ASK ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP, ASK SOME PICTURES AND ASK ABOUT FIANCE'S LIKES, BEHAVIOR AND IF HE/SHE IS DIVORCE. WELL, JUST SOME BASIC INFORMATION. I NEVER HEARD OF MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME OR PHONE NUMBER.

My fiance has never talked to my mom on the phone yet. Is this bad?

NO IT IS NOT BAD. I NEVER TALKED TO MY HUBBY'S MOM WHEN I WAS STILL IN THE PHILS. WE JUST SENT EMAIL. BUT THE CFO NEVER ASK ABOUT MY HUBBY'S MOM.

Any thing else I should know?

SHE SHOULD KNOW ALL ABOUT HER FIANCE'S WORK AND NAME OF COMPANY, PHONE/ CELL NUMBER, EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND (HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE DEGREE) AND WHAT COURSE? FIANCE'S ADDRESS, BIRTHDATE. THESE ARE SOME QUESTIONS IN THE FORM THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED UP IN CFO BEFORE THE SEMINAR.

P.S. TELL HER TO BRING SOME PRINTED EMAIL CUZ SOME CFO ASK IT.

Thank you

Hello my wife had the seminar in about May 2008 and just got her Visa so does she just take the Passport with visa attached to CFO and get a stamp?

[cieloazul 0]

Are children required to attend the CFO seminar?

[koltrone 0]

So its better to attend CFO after the visa issued? I am planning to attend CFO anytime this month because someone told me that the USEM will be looking for it at the interview (kindly correct me if this is wrong). I actually want to do it the more convenient way. If I can do it after the visa and get it done the same day it is soooo much better. thanks!

[DEDixon 39]

So its better to attend CFO after the visa issued? I am planning to attend CFO anytime this month because someone told me that the USEM will be looking for it at the interview (kindly correct me if this is wrong). I actually want to do it the more convenient way. If I can do it after the visa and get it done the same day it is soooo much better. thanks!

You can do it your way, but just remember to do it at St. Mary.

[Honey&Sweety 1]

So its better to attend CFO after the visa issued? I am planning to attend CFO anytime this month because someone told me that the USEM will be looking for it at the interview (kindly correct me if this is wrong). I actually want to do it the more convenient way. If I can do it after the visa and get it done the same day it is soooo much better. thanks!

You can do it your way, but just remember to do it at St. Mary.

Hi, I am done with my interview just yesterday and USEM didn`t asks anything about CFO, they won`t bothered you about it. CFO can be done anytime as soon as you visa approved., I will have my CFO on Wednesday and I am planning to have it in St. Mary`s in QC.

[koltrone 0]

DEDixon and netscot thank you very much for your reply. I have decided to do it after the interview and yes will remember st. mary's

netscot congrats for passing the interview

Edited January 17, 2009 by koltrone

[spartan 2]

YES, THEY WILL PUT A STAMP OR STICKER IN HER PASSPORT WITH HER VISA.

Been searching for a lot of info on CFO. Haven't found clear answers to these questions:

When is the earliest CFO can be attended? After NOA2? before? What is recommended?

AFTER THE NOA2 SHE CAN ATTEND THE SEMINAR.

Should she wait until after receiving her Visa or before. Is there an advantage to doing it early?

SHE CAN ATTEND WITHOUT HER VISA YET. I ATTENDED CFO RIGHT AFTER I GOT MY NOA2.

Do they give you your Visas back right away or do they mail them?

IF SHE WILL ATTEND THE SEMINAR AND HAVE THE VISA ALREADY THE CFO WILL STAMP HER VISA AND THEN THEY WILL GIVE IT BACK TO HER RIGHT AWAY.

What kind of info does fiance have to know about me? I read mother's maiden name, mother's phone number, anything tricky.

CFO WILL JUST ASK ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP, ASK SOME PICTURES AND ASK ABOUT FIANCE'S LIKES, BEHAVIOR AND IF HE/SHE IS DIVORCE. WELL, JUST SOME BASIC INFORMATION. I NEVER HEARD OF MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME OR PHONE NUMBER.

My fiance has never talked to my mom on the phone yet. Is this bad?

NO IT IS NOT BAD. I NEVER TALKED TO MY HUBBY'S MOM WHEN I WAS STILL IN THE PHILS. WE JUST SENT EMAIL. BUT THE CFO NEVER ASK ABOUT MY HUBBY'S MOM.

Any thing else I should know?

SHE SHOULD KNOW ALL ABOUT HER FIANCE'S WORK AND NAME OF COMPANY, PHONE/ CELL NUMBER, EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND (HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE DEGREE) AND WHAT COURSE? FIANCE'S ADDRESS, BIRTHDATE. THESE ARE SOME QUESTIONS IN THE FORM THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED UP IN CFO BEFORE THE SEMINAR.

P.S. TELL HER TO BRING SOME PRINTED EMAIL CUZ SOME CFO ASK IT.

Thank you

Hello my wife had the seminar in about May 2008 and just got her Visa so does she just take the Passport with visa attached to CFO and get a stamp?

[spartan 2]

THE CONSUL NEVER ASK IF YOU'VE ATTENDED THE SEMINAR. ALL SHE WILL ASK IS ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FIANCE AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP. WELL, YOU CAN DO IT ANYTIME, BEFORE OR AFTER YOUR VISA.

So its better to attend CFO after the visa issued? I am planning to attend CFO anytime this month because someone told me that the USEM will be looking for it at the interview (kindly correct me if this is wrong). I actually want to do it the more convenient way. If I can do it after the visa and get it done the same day it is soooo much better. thanks!