One Week in Manila

[Kris & Liezl 3]

From those who have been there and done that, I would greatly appreciate some scheduling advice...

I plan to send my fiance to Manila for about a week (her father may accompany her, as she has never been out of the Visayas or even her island for the most part). So in 1 week, she needs to get her Medical exam done, go do the CFO thing, and an Interview. Is it even possible?

How long is the medical exam? I cant tell if it is 2 or 3 days.

How long is the CFO thing?

How long is the interview process? A half day, a full day?

I was thinking: Mon-Tues (Medical), Wed (CFO), and Thurs or Fri (Interview), with 1 day or so to explore Manila.

Or did another schedule work better for you?

Also...

How much money should I budget for this? Her father has a little money, but not much. And she did not sign a contract to teach another year, so her budget is drying up. They're actually very conservative with money, which is good. I just don't know what cost of living is in Manila...

(Please don't include fees for medical, CFO, and interview in your estimates - I think I know those already).

[th and jv 3]

here's an approximate timeline :

(assuming interview sched has been set)

day 1 - first day of medical (lab tests, physical, etc)....

this may take whole day....

most (including me) had it full morning....i was out at 1130am....

day 2 - second day of medical (immunization).....

this may vary if st lukes will find some "health" concerns....

CFO may be either pm of day one or day 2

or, if too hectic, on day 3 (half day - suggest she takes the morning session at good shepherd convent)

day 3 - CFO

day 4 or day 5 - interview.... (normally half day only)

it is really hard to squeeze all of the above in a week's time, but its possible...... you have to make sure you have already your confirmed appointment.....

please remember that st lukes medical results has to be at the US embassy before interview date so we expect a more smooth journey.....

when i had my medical at st lukes, i have heard from the staff that they can give the medical result (sealed) to the applicant if they can prove that interview sched is too close to the medical..... but best to ask from them before hand.....

as for the expenses:

travel expenses (this varies from where they are in the visayas and what mode of transportation)

(approx. P6,000 to P7,000 round trip per person by plane)

hotel accommodation (range from P2,000 - P5,500 a night) - suggest they book hotel near the embassy

taxi fare (airport to and from hotel - budget P1,000)

taxi fare to move around (depends how often)

meals (depends again where they will eat)

please take note that above are approximate.....

hope this helps a little......

good luck

From those who have been there and done that, I would greatly appreciate some scheduling advice...

I plan to send my fiance to Manila for about a week (her father may accompany her, as she has never been out of the Visayas or even her island for the most part). So in 1 week, she needs to get her Medical exam done, go do the CFO thing, and an Interview. Is it even possible?

How long is the medical exam? I cant tell if it is 2 or 3 days.

How long is the CFO thing?

How long is the interview process? A half day, a full day?

I was thinking: Mon-Tues (Medical), Wed (CFO), and Thurs or Fri (Interview), with 1 day or so to explore Manila.

Or did another schedule work better for you?

Also...

How much money should I budget for this? Her father has a little money, but not much. And she did not sign a contract to teach another year, so her budget is drying up. They're actually very conservative with money, which is good. I just don't know what cost of living is in Manila...

(Please don't include fees for medical, CFO, and interview in your estimates - I think I know those already).

Edited April 30, 2011 by th and jv

[uverseman 5]

As I understand, the CFO sticker must be placed on the visa. If you go to the CFO and pass the class and get a certificate, you still need the sticker and will not have your visa for about 10 days after your interview. How exactly will that work? I ask because my fiancee will be coming to Manilla from Mindanao and will have this issue. any suggestions?

[Richie Rich 70]

As I understand, the CFO sticker must be placed on the visa. If you go to the CFO and pass the class and get a certificate, you still need the sticker and will not have your visa for about 10 days after your interview. How exactly will that work? I ask because my fiancee will be coming to Manilla from Mindanao and will have this issue. any suggestions?

From my understanding --You can attend the CFO Class and get the certificate and when you get the visa and passing back through Manila to the USA or whereever --then you can go in and get the stcker on the visa to travel .

[Richie Rich 70]

From those who have been there and done that, I would greatly appreciate some scheduling advice...

I plan to send my fiance to Manila for about a week (her father may accompany her, as she has never been out of the Visayas or even her island for the most part). So in 1 week, she needs to get her Medical exam done, go do the CFO thing, and an Interview. Is it even possible?

How long is the medical exam? I cant tell if it is 2 or 3 days.

How long is the CFO thing?

How long is the interview process? A half day, a full day?

I was thinking: Mon-Tues (Medical), Wed (CFO), and Thurs or Fri (Interview), with 1 day or so to explore Manila.

Or did another schedule work better for you?

Also...

How much money should I budget for this? Her father has a little money, but not much. And she did not sign a contract to teach another year, so her budget is drying up. They're actually very conservative with money, which is good. I just don't know what cost of living is in Manila...

(Please don't include fees for medical, CFO, and interview in your estimates - I think I know those already).

Kris & Leizel --my fiancee is planning to do the same thing . She is coming from Mindanow also in may to do the medical /interview and cfo seminar --all in 1 week . I am sending her about 40,000 pesos to cover all her expenses (not including Visa fees and tickets ) . I plan on day 1 and 2 --Medical . Day 3 --CFO seminar , Day 4 --rest day .Day 5 --Interview .Good luck . When is yr fiancee plan on going to manila ?

[AKteacher 104]

I went with my fiancee (now wife) through the whole process in Manila last summer. She should be able to do everything EXCEPT the CFO process in a week. In order to complete everything, she'll almost certainly have to stay longer.

The CFO is a 2-step process at 2 separate locations. My wife used PRISM - I would recommend this because it is the fastest. But I don't think you'll be able to do everything in 1 week. First of all, they keep her passport at the medical exam and she gets it back later from the embassy with the visa inside. So she will not have her passport after the medical exam. You can do the first part of the CFO (the seminar-which is in Paco near the intersection of Quirino Ave. & the South Superhighway) before the medical and with the passport but no visa. However, in order to get the sticker (which comes at the counseling session, at the other location which is at Taft Ave. near Vito Cruz), she must have her passport back with the visa inside.

So she should be able to do the medical and Embassy interview, but will have to wait for the CFO sticker until she already has her visa. Because Manila can be relatively expensive, most people go there for the medical and interview, then go home and wait for the passport to be delivered with the visa in it. Then they do the CFO process afterward. Otherwise she'll be hanging around Manila, waiting for the visa in Manila in order to complete the CFO process. That's what we did, and it took 3 weeks from start to finish. Not a problem for us, because I used to live in Manila and we have friends and relatives there. But if she doesn't know anybody and is tight on money, then hanging around Manila that long might not be a good idea. If she's from a small town out in some province, she should be cautioned to be careful around Manila. Most areas are not terribly dangerous, but there are plenty of things to watch out for.

The expenses mentioned above will keep her very comfortable. These can be reduced considerably if she's willing to really budget. If time is not an issue, she could take a ferry instead of an airplane. Hotels can be had for less than 2,000 per night (sure it's not the Hyatt but who cares), or a boarding house for MUCH less. Taxi fare from the Ninoy Aquino Airport to the Ermita area runs about 400-500 pesos for a coupon taxi (recommended for safety even though the price is quite high), or you can take a jeepney to Baclaran and take the LRT to UN Avenue for a total one-way cost of about 50 pesos per person (just travel light, and watch your luggage on the LRT).

Hope this helps. If you have any more questions, let me know.

[Kris & Liezl 3]

Kris & Leizel --my fiancee is planning to do the same thing . She is coming from Mindanow also in may to do the medical /interview and cfo seminar --all in 1 week . I am sending her about 40,000 pesos to cover all her expenses (not including Visa fees and tickets ) . I plan on day 1 and 2 --Medical . Day 3 --CFO seminar , Day 4 --rest day .Day 5 --Interview .Good luck . When is yr fiancee plan on going to manila ?

We've run into a hiccup with her birth certificate. Hopefully if we can get that cleared up this month, and her passport, then we'll schedule an interview for probably June or July. Everything is depending on this birth certificate issue right now...

Wow so you're sending close to $1000 just for expenses? Hmmm, so I guess Manila is more expensive.

[Kris & Liezl 3]

I went with my fiancee (now wife) through the whole process in Manila last summer. She should be able to do everything EXCEPT the CFO process in a week. In order to complete everything, she'll almost certainly have to stay longer.

The CFO is a 2-step process at 2 separate locations. My wife used PRISM - I would recommend this because it is the fastest. But I don't think you'll be able to do everything in 1 week. First of all, they keep her passport at the medical exam and she gets it back later from the embassy with the visa inside. So she will not have her passport after the medical exam. You can do the first part of the CFO (the seminar-which is in Paco near the intersection of Quirino Ave. & the South Superhighway) before the medical and with the passport but no visa. However, in order to get the sticker (which comes at the counseling session, at the other location which is at Taft Ave. near Vito Cruz), she must have her passport back with the visa inside.

So she should be able to do the medical and Embassy interview, but will have to wait for the CFO sticker until she already has her visa. Because Manila can be relatively expensive, most people go there for the medical and interview, then go home and wait for the passport to be delivered with the visa in it. Then they do the CFO process afterward. Otherwise she'll be hanging around Manila, waiting for the visa in Manila in order to complete the CFO process. That's what we did, and it took 3 weeks from start to finish. Not a problem for us, because I used to live in Manila and we have friends and relatives there. But if she doesn't know anybody and is tight on money, then hanging around Manila that long might not be a good idea. If she's from a small town out in some province, she should be cautioned to be careful around Manila. Most areas are not terribly dangerous, but there are plenty of things to watch out for.

The expenses mentioned above will keep her very comfortable. These can be reduced considerably if she's willing to really budget. If time is not an issue, she could take a ferry instead of an airplane. Hotels can be had for less than 2,000 per night (sure it's not the Hyatt but who cares), or a boarding house for MUCH less. Taxi fare from the Ninoy Aquino Airport to the Ermita area runs about 400-500 pesos for a coupon taxi (recommended for safety even though the price is quite high), or you can take a jeepney to Baclaran and take the LRT to UN Avenue for a total one-way cost of about 50 pesos per person (just travel light, and watch your luggage on the LRT).

Hope this helps. If you have any more questions, let me know.

It looks like this is probably the best option for us. She does not know anyone in Manila, but her father will accompany there - he has been there in his youth. So I suppose she can do the Medical and Interview in a week. Then go home and wait, and if a visa is issued, then I can have her go back to Manila for the CFO thing and fly out of Manila. Thanks everyone, for your replies!

Oh, one more question. For accompanying proof related to the Affidavit of Support, can I block out my Social Security Number?

Wow, AKteacher, how did you get a Filipina to move to Alaska? My fiance is cold when it is like 70 degrees there.

[AKteacher 104]

It looks like this is probably the best option for us. She does not know anyone in Manila, but her father will accompany there - he has been there in his youth. So I suppose she can do the Medical and Interview in a week. Then go home and wait, and if a visa is issued, then I can have her go back to Manila for the CFO thing and fly out of Manila. Thanks everyone, for your replies!

Oh, one more question. For accompanying proof related to the Affidavit of Support, can I block out my Social Security Number?

Wow, AKteacher, how did you get a Filipina to move to Alaska? My fiance is cold when it is like 70 degrees there.

Why would you want to block out your SS#? I would think it would be part of the proof that it is YOU who is making the money.

Yes I brought a Pinay to Alaska! In fact, we live on the North Slope. There are many other Filipinos here, and she actually likes it. The humidity is low, so it doesn't feel as cold as it actually is, and of course we keep each other warm at night!

[B_J 2,752]

Like some of the others, I have a fiance from Mindanao. Our plan is for a week to do the medical and interview. (Mon/Tue medical, Thur or Fri interview) Then, once she receives the visa, have her go back to Manila about a day or two before she's set to leave. I believe that St. Mary's can do all of the CFO process in one trip. So, that should save a lot of time and money.

[Kris & Liezl 3]

I would want to block out my Social Security Number because I don't want anyone there stealing my identity and creating a financial nightmare for me. I'm not asking if I can block out everything... My name and address will still be on everything. And my letter of employment as well as pay stubs all have my name and address as well. I'm providing the affidavit of support with no co-sponsors. If they need to verify I am the one making the money, my company has an employment verification number and I can provide my employee number. I just prefer not to invite financial disaster if I can... Do they mind if I block out my SSN on the papers I submit?

[AKteacher 104]

I would think you would want to prove it's you. Just because somebody has your SS# doesn't mean they can steal your money. It's not exactly a state secret and they're available out there anyway. If you're that concerned about it, then I would recommend that you put a fraud alert on your credit reports with the major credit bureaus. That will prevent anyone from opening new accounts without taking extra steps to prove your identity.

[Tahoma 2,292]

The Embassy already has your Social Security number. It's on your I-129F and your G-325A.

[analou scott 8]

you can also do your CFO in Cebu if its closer. you get the sticker in your passport at DFA

[southcalhog 43]

you can also do your CFO in Cebu if its closer. you get the sticker in your passport at DFA

Thats what my Fiance is going to do.Get her CFO in Cebu cause she is in the province there.