my wife is in us and her kids are in philippines

[sunandmoon 450]

I see.. Beejay was in the UAE when he started his process to come to the USA just he was born in the Philippines. Now maybe that would make it easier for us to pick up the children from the UAE or Japan instead of picking them up from their home country. This is all sounding just way to complicated. We pay for her x to take the kids on one last family vacation where we all meet and then part ways. Or we pay the x to file an annulment that my wife will not show up for. Her not showing up will actually speed up the process strangely. She also wouldn't want to show up for fear the judge may refuse the annulment and order her to stay with her x. Am I in the twilight zone. Is it also this hard for a USA citizen to leave their own country?

still will not work. once the visa is in the children's passports, need the CFO sticker to depart on an international flight.

[shockazulu 0]

I wasn't with my wife so it would be the same situation.

The children's Visa will list you as the petitioner and CFO will ask who that person is. What will she answer?

At this point I think it may be a good idea to just wait till the Visas are ready for the Children. Then we will send my wife's x husband to the CFO to get the stamps for their passport and Visas. If they deny him at this point we will have him file for their annulment and we will have to wait for that process. If he gets the stamp then it will be time for a touchdown dance and we will book our flights to bring our children to the USA.

Edited January 18, 2012 by shockazulu

[sunandmoon 450]

At this point I think it may be a good idea to just wait till the Visas are ready for the Children. Then we will send my wife's x husband to the CFO to get the stamps for their passport and Visas. If they deny him at this point we will have him file for their annulment and we will have to wait for that process. If he gets the stamp then it will be time for a touchdown dance and we will book our flights to bring our children to the USA.

still, you might want to consult an immigration attorney who is knowlegable with Philippine laws and procedures. does your wife watch Citizen Pinoy?

[beejay 125]

I see.. Beejay was in the UAE when he started his process to come to the USA just he was born in the Philippines. Now maybe that would make it easier for us to pick up the children from the UAE or Japan instead of picking them up from their home country. This is all sounding just way to complicated. We pay for her x to take the kids on one last family vacation where we all meet and then part ways. Or we pay the x to file an annulment that my wife will not show up for. Her not showing up will actually speed up the process strangely. She also wouldn't want to show up for fear the judge may refuse the annulment and order her to stay with her x. Am I in the twilight zone. Is it also this hard for a USA citizen to leave their own country?

You are better off listening to Bob4Anna and SunandMoon. Even if your wife does not go to pick up her child from PH it sounds like the child will still have to get the CFO sticker. I'm not sure what they will have to do to get that but that seems to be where the issue is and meeting them in a third country won't clear it up.

For the record my husband is from PH but we were living in UAE when we processed his visa. We departed from there and he has never had a CFO sticker in his passport and has never been asked about it when we have gone back to PH.

It's not unheard of but not all countries are like this. My husband and I have been refused boarding for a flight out of PH back to UAE when we were first dating when he forget to get his POEA clearance. They don't play around.

[Brian121957 43]

Send email to David and Susan at visa_support@yourfilipinawife.com explain what is happening. I know your case has some very tough issues but they may have a few ideas and I know they still have legal contacts in the Philippines.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

At this point I think it may be a good idea to just wait till the Visas are ready for the Children. Then we will send my wife's x husband to the CFO to get the stamps for their passport and Visas. If they deny him at this point we will have him file for their annulment and we will have to wait for that process. If he gets the stamp then it will be time for a touchdown dance and we will book our flights to bring our children to the USA.

CFO will still inquire about the Petitioner that's listed on the Kids' Visas.

How will they react when he replies "Oh, That's my Wife's American Husband"?

It still doesn't change the fact that the PH Gov't won't acknowledge your marriage.

The safest route here would be for her to file petitions for the kids now as an LPR (would be F2A with approx 2.5 year wait for Visa Number). If a Visa number is available for them before she naturalizes then that's good, if not then once she has her Naturalization Certificate she'll contact USCIS and upgrade the petitions to IR which would make them current.

Since the petitioner would be their Mother your marriage would never come into play.

[shockazulu 0]

CFO will still inquire about the Petitioner that's listed on the Kids' Visas.

How will they react when he replies "Oh, That's my Wife's American Husband"?

It still doesn't change the fact that the PH Gov't won't acknowledge your marriage.

The safest route here would be for her to file petitions for the kids now as an LPR (would be F2A with approx 2.5 year wait for Visa Number). If a Visa number is available for them before she naturalizes then that's good, if not then once she has her Naturalization Certificate she'll contact USCIS and upgrade the petitions to IR which would make them current.

Since the petitioner would be their Mother your marriage would never come into play.

I found this... That we can apply for the stamp by proxy. Maybe the Proxy will not get asked that question? it is worth giving it a shot before we wait 2.5 years for the F2A route.

Who are exempted from pre-departure registration?

All Filipino emigrants leaving the country to settle abroad permanently are required by law to register with CFO. No one is exempted from pre-departure registration.

But the following are not required to attend the pre-departure orientation seminar and to be personally present during the registration (they can also be registered by proxy):

* Minors 12 years old and below

* Senior citizens 60 years old and above

* Those with mental illness or psychiatric disability, and incapacitated due to permanent or long-term ailments

What are the requirements for registration by a proxy?

The same registration requirements for older emigrants apply for children 12 years old and below. The following additional documents, however, are required if the proxy is not the legal/natural/adoptive parent/s of the registrant:

* One (1) valid identification card with photograph (original and photocopy) of the proxy; and

* Special power of attorney (SPA) or a notarized letter of authorization from the parent/s or guardian/s authorizing the proxy to register the minor.

In the registration of Filipino emigrants under other special circumstances (those with mental illness or psychiatric disability, who are incapacitated due to permanent or long-term illness, and 60 years old and above), the proxy is required to present the following additional requirements:

* Medical certificate/report (except for those who are 60 years old and above);

* Letter of authorization from the emigrant; and

* Original and photocopy of a valid identification card with photograph of the proxy.

[sunandmoon 450]

I found this... That we can apply for the stamp by proxy. Maybe the Proxy will not get asked that question? it is worth giving it a shot before we wait 2.5 years for the F2A route.

Who are exempted from pre-departure registration?

All Filipino emigrants leaving the country to settle abroad permanently are required by law to register with CFO. No one is exempted from pre-departure registration.

But the following are not required to attend the pre-departure orientation seminar and to be personally present during the registration (they can also be registered by proxy):

* Minors 12 years old and below

* Senior citizens 60 years old and above

* Those with mental illness or psychiatric disability, and incapacitated due to permanent or long-term ailments

What are the requirements for registration by a proxy?

The same registration requirements for older emigrants apply for children 12 years old and below. The following additional documents, however, are required if the proxy is not the legal/natural/adoptive parent/s of the registrant:

* One (1) valid identification card with photograph (original and photocopy) of the proxy; and

* Special power of attorney (SPA) or a notarized letter of authorization from the parent/s or guardian/s authorizing the proxy to register the minor.

In the registration of Filipino emigrants under other special circumstances (those with mental illness or psychiatric disability, who are incapacitated due to permanent or long-term illness, and 60 years old and above), the proxy is required to present the following additional requirements:

* Medical certificate/report (except for those who are 60 years old and above);

* Letter of authorization from the emigrant; and

* Original and photocopy of a valid identification card with photograph of the proxy.

I do not think that will work. your wife would have obtain the Special POA for the person acting as proxy. she would do that at the Philippine Embassy nearest to where you live. even with a proxy, questions could still be asked since your name would be the annotation on the children's visas.

[shockazulu 0]

I do not think that will work. your wife would have obtain the Special POA for the person acting as proxy. she would do that at the Philippine Embassy nearest to where you live. even with a proxy, questions could still be asked since your name would be the annotation on the children's visas.

I know questions could still be asked..... but this is worth a try. Why not role the dice and try it. The worst thing that could happen is they say no. Then we are back to the 2 1/2 year wait for the other route. I don't see the sense it makes for them to keep a child separated from her mother 2 more years, when it will happen anyway but with a pile of more paperwork.

Edited January 19, 2012 by shockazulu

[shockazulu 0]

still will not work. once the visa is in the children's passports, need the CFO sticker to depart on an international flight.

Is there any way to depart on a international flight out of the Philippines without a Visa or CFO? Like if we want to visit them outside of the Philippines maybe we should not get them their Visas just yet? Its been a long time since my wife has seen them and I would like to meet them. I am now affraid to take my wife to the Philippines for fear they will not let her leave because she didn't get a annulment. We would like to take a Vacation to Japan and had planned to stop there on our way back to the USA to begin with.

[sunandmoon 450]

I see.. Beejay was in the UAE when he started his process to come to the USA just he was born in the Philippines. Now maybe that would make it easier for us to pick up the children from the UAE or Japan instead of picking them up from their home country. This is all sounding just way to complicated. We pay for her x to take the kids on one last family vacation where we all meet and then part ways. Or we pay the x to file an annulment that my wife will not show up for. Her not showing up will actually speed up the process strangely. She also wouldn't want to show up for fear the judge may refuse the annulment and order her to stay with her x. Am I in the twilight zone. Is it also this hard for a USA citizen to leave their own country?

they probably would have to get tourist visas for Japan. I believe Hong Kong is visa free fro Filipino Citizens.

[sunandmoon 450]

Is there any way to depart on a international flight out of the Philippines without a Visa or CFO? Like if we want to visit them outside of the Philippines maybe we should not get them their Visas just yet? Its been a long time since my wife has seen them and I would like to meet them. I am now affraid to take my wife to the Philippines for fear they will not let her leave because she didn't get a annulment. We would like to take a Vacation to Japan and had planned to stop there on our way back to the USA to begin with.

sorry, in my previous reply I quoted wrong post.

[LSnBigBear 61]

I don't have an answer to your question but I do have a question of my own. I have been told that tourist visa for Filipinos is next to imposable. How did she get one?

As long as you have alot of money in your bank account to prove you are a tourist and you are not going to be here to work you can get one of these Tourist Visa's. This is the way I understood it but I may be wrong.

Actually it is difficult for a Filipino to get a tourist visa as they are by percentage on the same list or worse in over-staying as Mexican Nationals. So they are somewhat targeted. I did however in 2006 bring my ex GF back to USA for a visit to my family. I was on assignment working as an Ex Pat in Philippines. She dated an Englishman and Welshman prior to me and had visited their country and never over stayed. She was awarded a single entry up to 6 months. I just returned from the Philippines in August. While I was there I was told she was dating another American and that she got a multiple entry visa up to 10 years which I am very happy for her as she is a good person. So bacically it can be accomplished. And she never had much money in her accounts or owned property. Her employer wrote her a letter when we went for her interview that stated she could have her job back upon her return. There is a great travel agency in Cebu City we used that prepares the Filipina well for her interiew. BLue Horizons is the Travel Agency name.

[LSnBigBear 61]

If she returned to the Philippines 2 years ago how did she get back into the US after overstaying her first entry by 18 months?

CFO isn't just for leaving the Philippines to get married, it's the "Commission for Filipinos Overseas", all Filipinos who are immigrating to another country or will be working in another country are required to get exit clearance from CFO before they are allowed to exit the country.

I don't know how you'd legally get CFO Clearance when the relationship between you and the kids isn't recognized by the Philippines.

I do not believe she will need a CFO. If she was married in USA legally and was now married to a Filipino or anyone else then they will be free and clear to go and pick her children up. CFO is basically a seminar if I am not mistaken which a Nun and Priest Teach ( I started the K1 process 4 years ago so I know a little. This is not my first rodeo lol) explaining how it is to adapt in a foreign land along with do's and don'ts. Some teach as I was told to undestand the foreigner your marrying or going to work for will be much different then the one you met on line, in person or hired you etc. Therefore since she is legally in USA and her children are really to young to grasp the seminar then I do not believe they will need it. If so it is half a day thing. This is how I understand it that Clearance. Might I suggest going to the Philippine Government Website and reviewing... That would be the best. Thanks

[shockazulu 0]

I do not believe she will need a CFO. If she was married in USA legally and was now married to a Filipino or anyone else then they will be free and clear to go and pick her children up. CFO is basically a seminar if I am not mistaken which a Nun and Priest Teach ( I started the K1 process 4 years ago so I know a little. This is not my first rodeo lol) explaining how it is to adapt in a foreign land along with do's and don'ts. Some teach as I was told to undestand the foreigner your marrying or going to work for will be much different then the one you met on line, in person or hired you etc. Therefore since she is legally in USA and her children are really to young to grasp the seminar then I do not believe they will need it. If so it is half a day thing. This is how I understand it that Clearance. Might I suggest going to the Philippine Government Website and reviewing... That would be the best. Thanks

Yes I have looked at the CFO site repeatedly and I have searched the entire internet for a similar problem. I have only heard 1 horror story that a woman was not given her sticker when they saw she was leaving with a fiancee visa but she was still married in the Philippines. The lady had to wait 2 years for her annulment before she could get the sticker. But I have not seen any other stories of difficulties. I am not sure if all this worrying is necessary or not. But this is serous stuff and I want to be sure I am not missing anything when it comes to my family being together.