One Week in Manila

[hope.andsun 7]

you can take the CFO at any time. It seems to work much better IF you take it BEFORE the medical and embassy interview. The counselors feel better that you are more informed on things. At least that is what I am hearing from those who are traveling to US. the family I am involved in:I am bringing a niece of the family. One girl has her parents traveling in a few weeks, and the aunt has two brothers traveling in a month, plus the daughter hopefully in a year or two. I am involved in a while new section of the family in the village. But it is like a section of the village is already here in my town.

Once you take the CFO guidance session, when you leave the Philippines, you can stop at the CFO desk in NAIA and get your sticker showing the certificate (looks like a green check). You do not have to go to the CFO office unless you want to. the key is to have two valid id's for the guidance class. If you want the certificate and the sticker at the same time, that is only at cebu. In manila, you go to the center, then to the CFO main office.

from the CFO face book site: CFO's extension desk is located in all 3 terminals of NAIA.

(the last I heard the extensions desk hours at 6 am to 11 pm - airport hours - but not confirmed recently.)

Just know the CFO is ONLY part where the Philippine government really can exercise control. EXPECT additional requirements at times. Sometimes it goes smoothly. But in my case where my fiance IS significantly younger then me, I expect massive problems.

great information! Thanks! Might have it done anytime soon

[rylin 3]

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 .

hi ritchie yup your right with that.. i have read it on this link

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1348:fiancee-spouses-and-other-partners-of-foreign-nationals&catid=140#ThirdA

it says

Important Notes:

* The CFO and SMEF-COW have offices in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. PRISM is in Metro Manila only. Visit the offices where it is most convenient.

* Please check the schedule of the counseling session before proceeding to SMEF-COW or PRISM because it is country-specific and the slots are only limited. It is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

* You may avail of the Guidance and Counseling Session even while you are still processing or waiting for your visa. If such is the case, you will only be issued the GCC. Once your visa is released, you will return to CFO to continue with your registration. The CFO sticker will then be affixed on your passport.

* You will pay a fee totaling PhP 650.00. The PhP 250.00 is paid as counseling fee at SMEF-COW or PRISM while the PhP 400.00 is for registration at the CFO.

i am also from davao and ill be going to manila all by myself, thats why ive been trying to read more infos and preparing myself trying to figure out the easiest way without spending too much while i wait for the nvc to send our packet to the embassy .so when my letter comes my plan is to stay there for a week and find inns or motel(coz the hotel there are quite expensive..) where it's close to the embassy so in that way it will be more accessible in st. lukes and to the embassy and save money for the trasportation ant time.

so the first thing that i will do is have my cfo counseling first and get my guidance counceling certificate and proceed to the next step and that is my medical then after that is my interview and if i passed ill go back to davao and wait for my visa.

when i get my visa ill book my flight and then go to manila 1 day earlier on my flight schedule.and continue with the process they say that it wont take long on getting that sticker all u have to do is present the requirements for the cfo registration and after that they will put the sticker in your passport.and thats it your good to go.

as of now thats my tentative plan.lol

and if u have some advices and tips please let me know..

thanks and godbless!

[Tahoma 2,292]

I have taken the time while waiting for NOA2 for my fiance to get her TB/HepB and other shots as needed. this way in going to the St Lukes medical, she should pass with no problems. The TB shot is 800php ($18US plus the checkup) The cost of the TB shot far outweighs any issues at St. Lukes.

I have never heard of a TB shot. I'm thinking that you are talking about a TB skin test. A TB skin test won't help at St. Lukes. To my knowledge, there's nothing that will help at St. Lukes except a clean chest x-ray, and there's no shot that I know of that will guarantee a clean chest x-ray.

jollibee

mcdonalds

burger King

hooters

chowking

^^^ You're flying 8,000 miles to eat at those places?!?

PS...There's some fabulous food in 'Pinas. You should try it!!!

[gretchen_darren 67]

TB Shot. Not heard of in the US, but given in over 170 countries worldwide. Vaccine known as BCG. Given widely in the Philippines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_Calmette-Gu%C3%A9rin

[saniko 0]

Most Filipinos get a positive in the PPD test because of the BCG vaccine. But it is not required for adults, only a clean chest xray will clear you.

[gretchen_darren 67]

yes, but she has the records to show the shot recently, as well as the xray. In the area she lives, I worry something might happen. The rate of TB in the Philippines is 290 per 100,000. With preventative vaccine available, I am trying to mitigate as much risk as possible. Also, by her having the vaccination, it shows she does not currently have TB. The local clinic has to give her an exam and test to verify she is free of the disease before she can be vaccinated. Also, there is a type of TB which is drug resistent. only 4% of the cases show this type, but it is still something to pay attention to. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure....

[Tahoma 2,292]

Most Filipinos get a positive in the PPD test because of the BCG vaccine. But it is not required for adults, only a clean chest xray will clear you.

^^^ 100% agree. ...and the "clean chest x-ray" can only be performed by St. Lukes. Also, skin tests for TB are unreliable in any case. That's probably what they gave her at her local clinic.

yes, but she has the records to show the shot recently, as well as the xray. In the area she lives, I worry something might happen. The rate of TB in the Philippines is 290 per 100,000. With preventative vaccine available, I am trying to mitigate as much risk as possible. Also, by her having the vaccination, it shows she does not currently have TB. The local clinic has to give her an exam and test to verify she is free of the disease before she can be vaccinated. Also, there is a type of TB which is drug resistent. only 4% of the cases show this type, but it is still something to pay attention to. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure....

It's good you are checking into the medical requirements and trying to be proactive. However, to my knowledge, getting the BCG vaccination does not mean she doesn't have TB. Also, St. Lukes won't care if she passed an "exam" and a "test" at her local clinic, even if the exam included a chest x-ray. She will still have to undergo (and pass) a chest x-ray at St. Lukes. However, if she has a recent chest x-ray from her local clinic, she should take it with her to St. Lukes for comparison by the doctors there.

If St. Lukes finds any abnormalities on the x-ray they give her, she will be required to undergo sputum collection, smear tests, and a two-month TB culture in order to determine whether she has TB.

Good luck with her medical. I hope her x-ray is clean. For Chinook and I, the medical was the most stressful part of our visa journey. The interview at the Embassy was a piece of cake.

[gretchen_darren 67]

yes, I agree , that one week in manila, st. lukes is the worst part of it. You are always praying until you hear the passed. Then you worry about the embassy, and does she really know enough about you to pass. It is one of the most stressful weeks you have. or stressful times on each step. There so many major hurdles. Yes, I know St. liukes has their own test, All I am trying to do is anticipate issues. Since she has to get her vaccines here in the US BEFORE doing AOS (which is 90 days.) I figured while waiting to get her shots there. This way we do not have to rus in the US, just update those things not yet done or complete. The MMR, HepB, HepA, are all long doses over a few month period. As we ll as the rotovirus and others. So starting now there, saves us a lot of time here. the worst part is how miserable she feels after the shots. But at least her parents are there and family. I may not be there, but having her mom there probably helps even more. The hard part about manila is the timeframe. I also worry about typoons, rain, and other issues. Sometimes you buy a room with no refund, only to lose it because of the weather of other international incidents. Hopefully, we can get in and get out before any typhoons come through. (or other natural occurances of issues.) Best of luck to each one.

[B_J 2,752]

I'm still surprised that you'll be eating at Hooters.

[Richie Rich 70]

yes, I agree , that one week in manila, st. lukes is the worst part of it. You are always praying until you hear the passed. Then you worry about the embassy, and does she really know enough about you to pass. It is one of the most stressful weeks you have. or stressful times on each step. There so many major hurdles

I agree with you . I am going through it now . My Fiancee just passed the medical and now for the last hurdle --the Interview . I am more anxious and stressed than her . . I trust all will be well .

[gretchen_darren 67]

HeHe, the girls at hooters wear more clothes then the girls in the village. 90% of girl in the village do not wear undergarments and some of the clothes you can see right through. So eating at Hooters is something nice. Also, it IS for the wings, plus the view of the bay. This is the closest her parents may ever get to America. they will be more interested in the food, then the dress. Besides if my eyes roam in there, I will be in deep kimshey. :devil:

Manila is a chance to mix the two cultures a lot along with other cultures and other cuisines. In the ermita area you have: McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, Pizza Hut, TGI Friday's, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Starbucks, seattle's best, Cinnabon, Krispy Kreme, KFC, sbarro, Little Ceasers, steak escape, subway, Auntie Anne, dunkin donuts, Mrs. Fields, pancake house,