Manila's CFO Seminar

[chinese_mutt 11]

What is the deal with this CFO Seminar for Filipino immigrants? If they have a visa in hand, can't they leave their country? It seems the CFO Seminar is another way for the Philippine government to fleece money from their citizens.

What are the repercussions if my wife attempts to leave for the US without having completed the CFO Seminar?

OOOPS! Wait until you/she have to pay the P1620 travel tax plus the P750 terminal fee. I'll agree on them both being a ripoff!

I agree the seminar is appropriate to a point but they go too far... like wanting copies of the USA fiance's divorce decree.. That has already been given at the I-129 Petition and interview at the Embassy. CFO has no right demanding these things and denying the CFO stamp if you do not provide. In some cases the CFO seminar is like another embassy interview. Especially of you go to Taft Avenue PRISM. It is an all day very frustrating experience and the USA Fiance is not allowed in because they do not want him to hear then telling the women how the fiancee will beat them and turn them into prostitutes! It scares a lot of women. But we have to go through it or your fiancee can not board the plane to depart the Philippines.

I did not present my husband's divorce papers but was able to obtain the certification. Sometimes they also look at the age gap of the couple to determine that no one is being duped or anything. If you are the Petitioner (US Citizen), you will never understand the need for this because you are taught about your rights from birth... here in the Philippines, very small percentage of people know their rights, much less where to go for help.

If your fiance knows you and is confident about your character, listening to the videos and horror stories won't scare her.

As I said, there are lots of women who gets abused by their husband/employer abroad. You may not do this to your fiance BUT there are women who do suffer from maltreatment while abroad. AT least if they get this seminar, they know that there is a way out. That there are places where they can obtain help. Please do not dismiss this seminar as some governmental scheme to get more money, you as the US Citizen have no right to say so unless you yourself have suffered abuse.

[RonMay 1]

What is the deal with this CFO Seminar for Filipino immigrants? If they have a visa in hand, can't they leave their country? It seems the CFO Seminar is another way for the Philippine government to fleece money from their citizens.

What are the repercussions if my wife attempts to leave for the US without having completed the CFO Seminar?

OOOPS! Wait until you/she have to pay the P1620 travel tax plus the P750 terminal fee. I'll agree on them both being a ripoff!

I agree the seminar is appropriate to a point but they go too far... like wanting copies of the USA fiance's divorce decree.. That has already been given at the I-129 Petition and interview at the Embassy. CFO has no right demanding these things and denying the CFO stamp if you do not provide. In some cases the CFO seminar is like another embassy interview. Especially of you go to Taft Avenue PRISM. It is an all day very frustrating experience and the USA Fiance is not allowed in because they do not want him to hear then telling the women how the fiancee will beat them and turn them into prostitutes! It scares a lot of women. But we have to go through it or your fiancee can not board the plane to depart the Philippines.

are you the petitioner or the beneficiary? coz to be honest the prism never told us how our partner will beat us or turn us into a prostitute. they only showed us videos how women are being led into something and turned out different... like one story there, an australian had a penpal in phil and they exchanges letters (no internet that time)... they decided to meet coz they think its time to settled down and guess what? the guy used his old photos where he was still young and when they met in present the guy actually is very very old! and a lot more stories that one should be aware of. and these documentary is not from PRISM by the way. they borrowed it from MGB (magandang gabi bayan) a tv program were they show a lot of stories that happens in and out of the country good or bad. so there's nothing bias about it... and the seminar never lasted all day at least for me. started 1:00 until almost 3:00. perhaps you guys went there and it already started and ask to go back in the afternoon or i dont know why it was a whole day ordeal for you... not once did i change my mind or even scared when they showed the documentary, but it helped me get aware of these circumstances if such thing occur. and foreign spouse is not allowed because its for filipino citizen that want to migrate and work abroad. and they prefer using our mother tongue to communicate w/ us so it would be a hassle if a foreigner would be there and tried to explain both english and tagalog...

just my thoughts

Edited May 22, 2009 by RonMay

[dustonio 1]

Let me outline my thoughts why I think the CFO is a waste of time and money. First of all, I am a petitioning American husband. I relocated to the Philippines in 2007 to be with my then-fiance, established residency and we got married in 2008. After a long process of filling out mountains of paperwork, medical exams at St. Lukes, and paying all the fees, we were elated and even a bit teary-eyed when the case officer said, "Congratulations!". It was one of the happiest days of our lives.

I was ready to book our return ticket to the US and prepare for our departure until my wife mentioned that she might have to attend a seminar. I couldn't believe this. I asked her how she knew and she said that she heard from somebody else in line at the US Embassy that there is a seminar to attend. I am certain not to be the only person who was surprised to hear about this, especially after all the formal paperwork through the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration, the Philippine government then slaps an extra "tax" on departing Filipino citizens.

Before my wife and I received our marriage certificate in the Philippines, we were required to go through "marriage counseling". What a waste of time! It was a two-part session and they talked about everything from birth control, to the price of eggs and rice, and how to live on your own. I normally wouldn't care if everybody had to attend the sessions, but people were showing up 2 hours late for the morning session, and some didn't even attend the afternoon session, yet received the same certificate we did. Furthermore the counseling was like a church session with hymnal singing and then after passing out the certificates, they asked for monetary donations. A day later my wife received a text message from the organizer asking if we could continue attending more sessions. This left a bad taste in my mouth and I realized it is just a scam to get more money out of us.

Secondly, I do not believe the CFO has any authority to prevent abuse of Philippine citizens while abroad. How do I know this? A close Filipino relative is now stuck in Dubai. She went through an OFW agency, got placed as a caregiver in Dubai, and after three months, still has not received a paycheck. She is a 21st century slave! They took her passport, they confiscated her cell phone and prevent her from communicating with her family back in the Philippines. So far she's been able to contact us only three times by asking the borrow somebody else's cell phone. Each time her story is more and more frightful. The latest news is that the elderly person who she is supposed to be taking care of, who has dementia, had wandered outside during the evening and she was scolded and said that she would be held liable if anything were to happen to him.

Thirdly, I can assure you that there are a lot of Filipinos getting married to Americans for purely financial reasons. During the course of our application process, my wife had chatted with several other young women who were going through the same process. Two of these women were attractive, in their mid-20s, and were getting married to men in upper-50s or 60s -- that's a thirty year / forty year age gap! Before you attack me and say that "love has no age boundary" or "my fiance/wife is not like that", let me tell you the facts. In both cases, these women admitted to my wife that they are only getting married because they want to support their family in the Philippines. One gentleman was sending $1,000/month to her family and she felt obliged to get married to him. The other woman said that her old fiance is in the US, but her boyfriend (who is the same age as her) recently moved to Canada as OFW, and that she will be able to visit her boyfriend once she settles down in the US.

Fourthly, I can also tell you about a Philippine woman who married an older American man 15+ years ago. She now travels back to the Philippines, spends all his money on new cars, houses and fancy vacations in the Philippines, and nearly every month I see her with a new boyfriend, some Filipino, some American.

Needless to say, the CFO is a waste of time and money. It's just yet another way for the government to exercise a "tax" on its citizens while duping the rest of the public that it's providing a valuable service.

[Zuiko 0]

What is the deal with this CFO Seminar for Filipino immigrants? If they have a visa in hand, can't they leave their country? It seems the CFO Seminar is another way for the Philippine government to fleece money from their citizens.

What are the repercussions if my wife attempts to leave for the US without having completed the CFO Seminar?

OOOPS! Wait until you/she have to pay the P1620 travel tax plus the P750 terminal fee. I'll agree on them both being a ripoff!

I agree the seminar is appropriate to a point but they go too far... like wanting copies of the USA fiance's divorce decree.. That has already been given at the I-129 Petition and interview at the Embassy. CFO has no right demanding these things and denying the CFO stamp if you do not provide. In some cases the CFO seminar is like another embassy interview. Especially of you go to Taft Avenue PRISM. It is an all day very frustrating experience and the USA Fiance is not allowed in because they do not want him to hear then telling the women how the fiancee will beat them and turn them into prostitutes! It scares a lot of women. But we have to go through it or your fiancee can not board the plane to depart the Philippines.

Yea, may fiancee had to bring my divorce decree with her to the CFO too. Then she had to fill out a form where she didn't put my home number in one of the lines. They told her that any unfilled areas will warrant an unstamped visa. What the hell is that all about? She used my cell number instead and got her stamp

[Zuiko 0]

What is the deal with this CFO Seminar for Filipino immigrants? If they have a visa in hand, can't they leave their country? It seems the CFO Seminar is another way for the Philippine government to fleece money from their citizens.

What are the repercussions if my wife attempts to leave for the US without having completed the CFO Seminar?

The deal is, it's a bureaucracy. But thanks to all the abusive dumbasses it's much needed. It's also good for those that have no clue as to what they are getting into. Otherwise, a simple "call 911 for emergency" from the CO to the benificary would do (if going to the US).

[Joan >3 Bob 20]

What is the deal with this CFO Seminar for Filipino immigrants? If they have a visa in hand, can't they leave their country? It seems the CFO Seminar is another way for the Philippine government to fleece money from their citizens.

What are the repercussions if my wife attempts to leave for the US without having completed the CFO Seminar?

The deal is, it's a bureaucracy. But thanks to all the abusive dumbasses it's much needed. It's also good for those that have no clue as to what they are getting into. Otherwise, a simple "call 911 for emergency" from the CO to the benificary would do (if going to the US).

Why does not the process require the American fiance of the filipino girl go to a seminar to be aware of all the Philippine women scammers....some marrying and just using the man to get her permanent green card and then leaving him and then petitioning her Filipino Bf to come to the USA... or running off to a different American BF that she has had before she started scamming the current petitioner ???? or running off with a different American BF that was awaiting her until she got permanent status??? I personally can not think of a reason a man would go through the long costly stressful petition , medical, embassy interview, cost to fly her here, AOS fees...just to not love her and plan on abusing her??? Maybe there are some mental men that do that but I think that is a very small fraction of men. But I believe the percentage of scamming Philippione women is a much larger percentage than foreigner abusing men.

I agree 911 is a simple solution if the girl is being abused.

[dustonio 1]

What is the deal with this CFO Seminar for Filipino immigrants? If they have a visa in hand, can't they leave their country? It seems the CFO Seminar is another way for the Philippine government to fleece money from their citizens.

What are the repercussions if my wife attempts to leave for the US without having completed the CFO Seminar?

The deal is, it's a bureaucracy. But thanks to all the abusive dumbasses it's much needed. It's also good for those that have no clue as to what they are getting into. Otherwise, a simple "call 911 for emergency" from the CO to the benificary would do (if going to the US).

Why does not the process require the American fiance of the filipino girl go to a seminar to be aware of all the Philippine women scammers....some marrying and just using the man to get her permanent green card and then leaving him and then petitioning her Filipino Bf to come to the USA... or running off to a different American BF that she has had before she started scamming the current petitioner ???? or running off with a different American BF that was awaiting her until she got permanent status??? I personally can not think of a reason a man would go through the long costly stressful petition , medical, embassy interview, cost to fly her here, AOS fees...just to not love her and plan on abusing her??? Maybe there are some mental men that do that but I think that is a very small fraction of men. But I believe the percentage of scamming Philippione women is a much larger percentage than foreigner abusing men.

I agree 911 is a simple solution if the girl is being abused.

Ha ha! You are so right. You forgot to include "nose sensitivity training" for the foreign husbands when the Filipino wife fries up a batch of her stinky fish, or when she comes home with a sack of durian fruit.

[Zuiko 0]

What is the deal with this CFO Seminar for Filipino immigrants? If they have a visa in hand, can't they leave their country? It seems the CFO Seminar is another way for the Philippine government to fleece money from their citizens.

What are the repercussions if my wife attempts to leave for the US without having completed the CFO Seminar?

The deal is, it's a bureaucracy. But thanks to all the abusive dumbasses it's much needed. It's also good for those that have no clue as to what they are getting into. Otherwise, a simple "call 911 for emergency" from the CO to the benificary would do (if going to the US).

Why does not the process require the American fiance of the filipino girl go to a seminar to be aware of all the Philippine women scammers....some marrying and just using the man to get her permanent green card and then leaving him and then petitioning her Filipino Bf to come to the USA... or running off to a different American BF that she has had before she started scamming the current petitioner ???? or running off with a different American BF that was awaiting her until she got permanent status??? I personally can not think of a reason a man would go through the long costly stressful petition , medical, embassy interview, cost to fly her here, AOS fees...just to not love her and plan on abusing her??? Maybe there are some mental men that do that but I think that is a very small fraction of men. But I believe the percentage of scamming Philippione women is a much larger percentage than foreigner abusing men.

I agree 911 is a simple solution if the girl is being abused.

Ha ha! You are so right. You forgot to include "nose sensitivity training" for the foreign husbands when the Filipino wife fries up a batch of her stinky fish, or when she comes home with a sack of durian fruit.

Yea, you're so right. No kind of orientation for USC petitioners stateside especially helping the fiancee deal with the culture shock. But female scammers run just as abundant here as well. Usually there are stop signs during a long distance relationship but are difficult to validate. So we give faith and trust in our fiancee and when all goes well the better the LOVE. Bring on the stinky fish & fruit baby...but...ummm...maybe not the durian

[Joan >3 Bob 20]

What is the deal with this CFO Seminar for Filipino immigrants? If they have a visa in hand, can't they leave their country? It seems the CFO Seminar is another way for the Philippine government to fleece money from their citizens.

What are the repercussions if my wife attempts to leave for the US without having completed the CFO Seminar?

The deal is, it's a bureaucracy. But thanks to all the abusive dumbasses it's much needed. It's also good for those that have no clue as to what they are getting into. Otherwise, a simple "call 911 for emergency" from the CO to the benificary would do (if going to the US).

you ar soooo right....the stink from some of the fisah cooking never leaves the house and also the shirimp paste. I told my wife to open windows when she cooks fish and to not cook shrimp paste in the house.

Why does not the process require the American fiance of the filipino girl go to a seminar to be aware of all the Philippine women scammers....some marrying and just using the man to get her permanent green card and then leaving him and then petitioning her Filipino Bf to come to the USA... or running off to a different American BF that she has had before she started scamming the current petitioner ???? or running off with a different American BF that was awaiting her until she got permanent status??? I personally can not think of a reason a man would go through the long costly stressful petition , medical, embassy interview, cost to fly her here, AOS fees...just to not love her and plan on abusing her??? Maybe there are some mental men that do that but I think that is a very small fraction of men. But I believe the percentage of scamming Philippione women is a much larger percentage than foreigner abusing men.

I agree 911 is a simple solution if the girl is being abused.

Ha ha! You are so right. You forgot to include "nose sensitivity training" for the foreign husbands when the Filipino wife fries up a batch of her stinky fish, or when she comes home with a sack of durian fruit.