CFO Reviews

[sunandmoon 450]

here are a couple of recent ones, along with links to the threads.

Posted by Dean_De on Oct 30th

Hi Fellow VJ,

I just want to share how my SMEF_COW seminar went. I was done with my seminar last October 28, 2011 ( Friday ) @ Cebu City. Cebu coz I live in Leyte and its closer to travel to and from Leyte

Anyways, I went there at 7 and I was the first one to arrive and wrote down my name. When I went there, the security guard told us to read what we need to prepare and made us wait till 8:00. At around 8 we were allowed to get inside and went at the 3rd floor of the Aya-ay arcade building where the SMEF is located. the building doesn't look nice itself from the outside and you can't tell that it is really the SMEF not unless you ask the guard Well, I didn't went there to be a building inspector so I would focus more on why I was there, the seminar.

The process started at around 8:15am. First They called us based on who came first and so, I was called first..YEHAAAAA! When I was called, the lady behind the counter asked me for my my passport biographical page, visa, live birth, 2 valid ID's , my fiance's live birth, and his passport ( all mentioned are just photocopy )After the lady verified the veracity of the documents, I was given a form to answer. Talking about the form, it was funny coz there were check marks in there telling us to answer what was marked with a check. After being able to fill it up religiously, we were told again that there were still details left unanswered ( CONFUSING ) but we did what we were asked

While filling up the forms, we were again called by the cashier. there we paid 250 php and we were told to wear orange shirt and our pictures were taken ( hehehe - kidding with the orange shirt - but the lady behind the counter took our pics from the webcam in front of the counter ) then we went back to continue filling out the forms.

TIPS for the form:

1 Know your fiance/e's :

- mothers maiden name

- know his phone and cellphone number

- educational attainment ( if they are done with college - know his specialization )

- work and its exact address

- if he / she is divorced, know how many time he was divorced and the nationality of his x's

2. Contact person here int he Philippines

- exact address

- phone & mobile number

- email add if applicable

3. Any relative int he US

- exact address

- mobile number

4. You will be asked to state how did you guys met. and write down the website if you met online. If you both are introduced by a friend or any acquaintance, be sure to know the exact name of the person, address, contact number, and email add.

After I was done and passed the exam..hahahha - I mean after filling up the forms religiously, I submitted it and we were told to wait at the conference room ( i will just call it that). there the actual guidance and counseling seminar occurred.

Before the seminar started, my mind was already wondering if REALLY the ones facilitating the seminar is biased / anti-Foriegn I read some VJ's here complaining that the people who lectured them was giving negative statements against their foriegn fiance/e . I told myself, if I hear something not right, I would surely share my opinion

Ma'am Loi came in and introduced herself and what SMEF is all about. Why there is a need for this counseling and getting the sticker and certificate. While the discussion went on, I have not heard her say anything negative about foreign fiance/e

Well, she shared bad stories of Filipinas abroad. But she wasn't so biased and blamed it all to foreign fiance/e. We shared thoughts and opinion on how to take care of the genuine relationship with our soon to be husband. And what to do just in case we are placed in a bad situation. We were educated about immigration laws and policy, where to check and get updates..so on and so forth...all I heard was really nothing but to prepare Filipino/a who decides to travel abroad.

We had our lunch break at 12 and went back 1 pm. That afternoon, the one- on- one talk happened. Questions ask are ( well, it differs from case to case ) :

1. Who was my petioner

2. His birthday and age

3. My age

4. My children

5. His children and its ages

6. His x, nationality

7. Questions about his previous divorce ( i thought the questions was too personal, but I think why they ask it is not to really be judgmental but to really know how far the couples talk..the reason why fiance/e got divorced. they ask this coz they do have list of the immigration black list and they will read the divorce paper..and if the x-spouse is dead, they will ask for a death certificate to really know the cause of the x-spouse death )

8. about my x-husband..where he lives, is he ok with the kids and their relationship to their son to be father..reason why I got annulled.

9. What are the positive and negative traits of my fiance and how do I deal with his negative traits

10. How is his relationship to my kids.

11. Was I bringing my kids? I told him they will follow.

12. Does my kids accept my fiance as their soon to be step dad?

I might be missing some more questions but majority of that I think is listed already

After the talk, Ma'am Loi told me the interview went well and I am OK to leave..lmao..she wrote OK at my paper.

I went out and waited until my name was called at the cashier. I signed at their log book and paid 5php for the certificate. After getting the certificate I was told to go at the CFO office for the sticker.

The CFO is at a different place, its close the DFA building @ causing-lozada. It didn't took me long there. I gave them my passport and also a photocopy of the biographical page and visa. then filled up the form. after that I paid 400php then they placed sticker at my passport and clipped the cfo certificate. gave us pamphlets and handbook. One of which they gave us should be sent to them after arriving the US and there for 2 weeks. It is self -addressed so no worries.

Goodluck to everyone!!!

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/336504-smef-cow-review/

Posted by Deren & Yamy Sept 19th

Hello, everyone! So, I just attended my seminar today (11AM) in the Good Shepherd Convent since I read bad reviews with PRISM (additional P150.00 handouts which is unnecessary cost).

They gave a feedback form but I wasn't able to drop it into the box.

Here's what I think about the experience (registrant with VISA in hand):

LOCATION: If you are going to use the LRT Line 2, it's pretty convenient. It's literally right next to the Katipunan Station (from Recto, Santolan bound). CFO satellite office is right in the same compound as St. Mary's.

It's pretty humid in the waiting areas and the canteen with a few of the fans working. Only one in the Guidance & Counseling waiting room. The canteen is like a random space that they decided to turn into a canteen. Not much food to see or expect here. The fans are turned off too unless you ask the lady to turn it on. TIP: Bring your food and drinks. I had no choice because I was hungry and was moved to the 11AM session since I was late for the 8:30am session.

The seminar room is air-conditioned and is in the 2nd floor.

REGISTRATION: Staff is fair to okay. Not really the welcoming hotel receptionist type. I was a bit annoyed when she asked for 3 photocopies of my passport and my visa when their website didn't state that as far as I remember. She will give you a form to fill-up which is pretty much the same as the one from CFO's website. They will take a digital picture of you and receive your seminar payment of Php 250.

CONTENT: I'm very much disappointed with this. 4 hours of rambling and beating around the bush about domestic abuse. In my opinion, the seminar is not well structured, biased and pretty subjective.

1st part, there was this representative from Metrobank promoting opening a Savings Account and an OFW Remittance account. When I asked her 3 simple yet important questions, she can't answer it. She keeps on describing the accounts but when I asked the crucial questions that everyone cares about, she can't answer it. The questions involved: available bank affiliates in the countries we're going, bank transfer charge (to compare with other wire transfer services like Moneygram or Xoom), how fast the money will be received.

Short briefing of St. Mary's history as an NGO and being an affiliate of the government goes here...Why the seminar was mandated by the government...

2nd, they required us to introduce ourselves to the group. I'm a bit off with the idea since in my head, you (other participants) don't need to know stuff about me and my partner in a way that it is a requirement. I'll tell you if I want to tell you. But for a format to be followed...BLEH. (Name, age, country of destination, optional background story) In my opinion, where is confidentiality. I'd prefer to have these facts asked privately.

3rd, we were shown a video clip of Magandang Gabi Bayan, an old show of Noli de Castro from more than a decade ago? It featured 3 cases of domestic abuse in different forms (physical, emotional, financial/mental) by foreign spouses of Filipinas. The title of the episode is "Karanasan/Kapalaran ng Pilipina sa Dayuhan" (Experience of Filipinas with Foreigners). Can't find it online though.

We were asked about our individual reactions. I expressed mine which is in sense goes like this, "The key is, regardless of being married or not to a Filipino or a foreigner, you have to be vigilant, self-reliant and ready with a contingency plan for the worst scenario. The scenarios presented to us are not limited to foreigners alone, even Filipinos hurt their wives. No one have a good grasp of what's going on another person's mind may they be spouse, friend, sibling or stranger. So, it's important to be prepared for the worst and save some for yourself."

The seminar was more or less 3-4 hours of unstructured rambling and prejudiced opinions and uneducated suggestions (marry someone else if it doesn't work within 90 days...I can't believe they even suggest that. I was expecting "go home to your family and be banned from a K1 visa. 1st, the K1 visa has your fiance's name on it. It's also pretty insulting to say it won't work or your relationship with your lover will fail and is not genuine.")

4th, we were given forms. Asked to go downstairs for the individual interview. Pretty basic questions. I was delayed with the requirement of a "landline". Okay, it might be for record checking but in this time, everybody else is going wireless and for them to require a landline number is absurd.

5th, releasing of Guidance & Counseling Certificate. Annoyed me more when they require you to pay Php 14.00 for the photocopy of documents they would keep/forward to CFO Paco. We paid almost Php 700 and you can't cover that for a copy of our papers? What about the "centralized system" they boasted about during the seminar which reaches until foreign countries? Can't they input that there?

6th, proceed to CFO satellite office "at the back of their building". I was expecting a more decent space. It was like an old stock room / random poorly maintained public bathroom from the outside with little signage of CFO-this-way-->

Small lounge after a small hallway to the tiny office. Processing is fast here anyway. You need to pay the Php400 here. They will staple the CFO certificate to your passport, check the CFO form (from online or filled-up from St. Mary's if you don't have it), put the sticker on a passport page.

Then, I went home at around 2:30pm to 2:45pm.

Over all, I think they should work on a much structured module for this seminar to include a crash course of starting life in another country (finding jobs, intercultural relations, support system, communication methods, currency/saving & spending in a foreign currency, education, relationship matters, etc.) I think the domestic abuse subject should just be a part of it instead of being the WHOLE thing.

I also suggest doing the CFO and Seminar after receiving the visa to save you from the hassle of traveling back there for your sticker.

That's all I can say for now.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/330239-cfo-seminar-reviewfeedback/

Posted by SJG on Aug 15th

To ALL Filipinos leaving the country on a K1, K3, CR-1 or IR-1 visa:

Please be reminded that in order to leave the country, we are REQUIRED by the Philippine Government to attend the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) guidance and counseling session. It's a half-day seminar held daily on 2 locations in Metro Manila: the St. Mary Euphrasia Foundation-Center for Overseas Workers in QC or the People's Reform Initiative for Social Mobilization, Inc. in Taft Ave, Manila; there's also one office in Cebu at Causing-Lozada Building, Osmeña Boulevard corner

MJ Cuenco Street, Cebu City. Please check this link for the complete info.

Yesterday, I went to St. Mary Euphrasia office located inside the Good Shepherd Convent in QC (LANDMARK: adjacent to St. Bridgette School, beside the LRT2 Katipunan, across PSBA and Sta Clara Convent.) I was there at around 7am, registration begins at 7:30am and the first session starts at 8:30am. Registration fee is 200 pesos.

The first part of the seminar discusses Domestic Violence at length and how spouses can seek protection if (heaven forbid) one of us fall into the hand of an abusive partner. This lasts from 8:30am - 10am.

The second part comes right after. It's a group and one-on-one counselling where you will be advised on how to proceed with the immigration processing once you land in America. If you have other concerns, may it be personal or document-related this is the right time to ask. Counselling session for the 8:30 batch ends at 12 noon and the counselors will issue you a CFO Certificate of Attendance, which you need to photocopy after.

After lunch, I went to the CFO Office at the 2nd floor and submitted the photocopy of my attendance certificate and the duly-accomplished CFO form (which you can download at the CFO website: www.cfo.gov.ph). You will have to pay 400 pesos for them to issue you with another certificate and a sticker which they attach to your passport. Without the sticker and the certificate, you will be stopped by the Immigration Officer at NAIA and will not be allowed to fly out.

You would also be provided with pamphlets and reading materials about the Philippine Consulate and Embassies in the United States, as well as the contact details of CFO Offices. Make sure you read them because they are very, very useful!

If you have other questions, let me know.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/324835-mandatory-cfo-seminar-for-filipino-emigrants/

if there are others, please feel free to post...

[i'm-in-love 1]

this info made me nervous

thank u anyway!!!

[TeapotGirl 66]

great post!

[southcalhog 43]

Very Good, Thanks for sharing!

[HopeFaithLove 13]

Thanks for compiling and sharing ! Thanks much also to all those who posted these very good reviews ! Great !

[sunandmoon 450]

CFO Website... http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1348%3Afiancee-spouses-and-other-partners-of-foreign-nationals&catid=140%3Aguidance-and-counseling-program&Itemid=833

[newhallone 2]

I was not there but Riza's flight was late getting into Manila. She made it to the cfo around 4pm. She told me she was very late. I am not sure what time they started. She said she walked in and sat down and didn't say anything. While she listened she filled out her paperwork. Soon they were done and seeing as her paperwork was all filled out she was the first to do interview. She had to go get sticker the next day as it was too late. She is now flying back to Gensan. All set to go now! I fly out in about 2 weeks.