Chaning Philippine passport to married name. Need help with this issue.

[ivantulier 1]

My wife went today to DFA in to have her passport changed to her married name but she was told that she had to go and take the CFO course to be able to change her passport since she was married to me. To my understanding to recive something from CFO you need to have the visa in your passport correct? It's sad to say that when you need help they don't give it to you and especial your own people to get the right answers. So if someone has done this recent and can help me in this process in the correct maner in which my wife does not have to waste time going DFA and getting the wrong information I will greatly apprieciate any information on this matter thanks.

Edited January 14, 2011 by ivantulier

[marriedtomrg 141]

To waive the CFO requirement for amending the passport to reflect the family name of a foreign spouse, you must have been married at least 7 months to your foreign spouse.

If you are married less than 7 months to your foreign spouse, DFA requires the blue certificate of attendance (for completing the guidance and counseling requirement for fiancees and spouses of US citizens); she can complete this requirement even without a visa. Ask your wife to bring the certificate and a photocopy of the certificate.

(DFA just looks at the original for cross-reference; your wife will need the blue certificate and the visa to obtain the CFO sticker later.)

Hope this helps.

My wife went today to DFA in to have her passport changed to her married name but she was told that she had to go and take the CFO course to be able to change her passport since she was married to me. To my understanding to recive something from CFO you need to have the visa in your passport correct? It's sad to say that when you need help they don't give it to you and especial your own people to get the right answers. So if someone has done this recent and can help me in this process in the correct maner in which my wife does not have to waste time going DFA and getting the wrong information I will greatly apprieciate any information on this matter thanks.

[krisca 0]

yep, she has to attend the CFO seminar to be able to change to her married name. . .i went and took the seminar like a year after i got married. no visa is required. . .

[ivantulier 1]

To waive the CFO requirement for amending the passport to reflect the family name of a foreign spouse, you must have been married at least 7 months to your foreign spouse.

If you are married less than 7 months to your foreign spouse, DFA requires the blue certificate of attendance (for completing the guidance and counseling requirement for fiancees and spouses of US citizens); she can complete this requirement even without a visa. Ask your wife to bring the certificate and a photocopy of the certificate.

(DFA just looks at the original for cross-reference; your wife will need the blue certificate and the visa to obtain the CFO sticker later.)

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the help.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

Well it changed since my wife did hers. All she did was took a NSO copy of our marriage certificate and filled out the paperwork for the passport. We were only married for about 4 months at the time.

[timcass_12 5]

wow! how things changed for such a short period of time. I didn't have to go through this complex process when I changed my name on my passport to my married name. I only presented them the NSO copy of our marriage certificate and pay the fee. The only difficulty I encountered at that time is the very long line and arduous waiting time at the DFA