CFO announcement and new Schedules

[hcfrey 6]

hello VJers especially from the Philippines don't know where to post this but i will just put it here

Important Announcement For Filipino Spouses/Partners Of Foreign NationalsBeginning 16 July 2012, the Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP) for Filipino spouses / partners of foreign nationals will be conducted by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) in its Manila and Cebu offices.

Under Department Orders No. 11-97, No. 15-89, and No. 28-94 of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Filipino spouses and other partners of foreign nationals are required to attend the guidance and counseling program as a pre-requisite to the issuance of passports. The objective is to enable the spouses/partners make informed decisions and prepare them for the realities of cross-cultural marriages.

The number of attendees per session is LIMITED, and participants will be accommodated strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. Only for those with COMPLETE GCP REQUIREMENTS will be considered. A guidance and counseling certificate will be issued to those who have satisfactorily completed the guidance and counseling program. This certificate will be presented to Philippine immigration authorities at the airport on the day of departure.

The schedule of sessions in Manila and Cebu is listed below.

Filipino spouses of Korean nationals who have passed the GCP will be required to take the Two-Day South Korea Cultural Workshop (SKCW). This will be conducted EXCLUSIVELY at the CFO offices in Manila and Cebu starting July 25, 2012.

Meanwhile, GCP Counseling sessions at the People's Reform Initiative for Social Mobilization Inc. (PRISM) will continue until July 13, 2012, and at the St. Mary Euphrasia Foundation-Center for Overseas Workers (SMEF-COW) until September 15, 2012.For further assistance, you may email the CFO at imiravalles@cfo.gov.ph or info@cfo.gov.ph.

Guidance and Counseling Sessions in CFO Manila Office (Effective July 16, 2012)

United States of America

Monday to Friday(12 slots everday)

9:00 am-12:00 nn

Canada

Tuesdays and Fridays(12 slots per session)

9:00 am-12:00 nn

Other European countries

Mondays(12 slots per session)

9:00 am-12:00 nn

Germany

Wednesdays(12 slots per session)

9:00 am-12:00 nn

United Kingdom and Italy

Thursdays(12 slots per session)

9:00 am-12:00 nn

Japan

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays(12 slots per session)

2:00 PM- 5:00 PM

South Korea and other Asia Pacific Countries

Tuesdays and Thursdays(12 slots per session)

2:00 PM- 5:00 PM

Australia

Mondays and Thursdays(12 slots per session)

2:00 PM- 5:00 PM

Taiwan

Tuesdays(12 slots per session)

2:00 PM- 5:00 PM

New Zealand

Wednesdays(12 slots per session)

2:00 PM- 5:00 PM

Other Countries (Middle East, South Africa, etc.)

Fridays(12 slots per session)

2:00 PM- 5:00 PM

Guidance and Counseling Sessions in CFO Cebu Office (Effective July 16, 2012)

US and Canada

Mondays to Fridays(12 slots everyday)

2:00 PM- 5:00 PM

Australian and New Zealand

Monday and Wednesday(12 slots per session)

2:00 PM- 5:00 PM

Japan and South Korea

Tuesdays and Thursdays(12 slots per session)

2:00 PM- 5:00 PM

EU and other countries

Fridays(12 slots per session)

2:00 PM- 5:00 PM

In view of these changes, the CFO Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS)and Peer Counseling Sessions for Filipino emigrants will follow the new schedule as specified below:

Schedule of Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) for Filipino EmigrantsCFO Manila (effective 16 July 2012)

United States of America

Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays( 70 slots everyday)

10:00 am - 12:00 nn

Tuesdays and Fridays( 70 slots everyday)

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Canada

Mondays to Fridays( 60 slots everyday)

9:30 am - 12:00 nn

Europe

Tuesdays and Fridays( 70 slots everyday)

10:00 am - 12:00 nn

Australia and New Zealand

Tuesdays and Fridays( 60 slots everyday)

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Japan and other Asian countries

Mondays and Thursdays( 70 slots everyday)

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Schedule of Peer Counseling Sessions for Filipino Youth Emigrants (13 to 19 Years Old)CFO Manila (Effective July 16, 2012)

All Countries

Mondays to Fridays(25 slots per session)

9:30 am - 12:00 nn2:00 pm-5:00 pm

Schedule of Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) CFO Cebu (Effective July 16, 2012)

USA and Canada

Monday to Friday(40 slots per session)

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 n.n

Australia and New Zealand

Mondays and Wednesdays(40 slots per session)

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 n.n

Japan

Tuesdays and Thursdays(40 slots per session)

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 n.n

EU and Other Countries

Fridays(40 slots per session)

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 n.n

Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) for Exchange Visitor Program Participants (J-1 visa holders) CFO Manila (Effective May 8, 2012)

J1 Orientation Seminar

Wednesdays and Fridays(60 slots per session)

12:00 n.n. – 1:30 p.m

2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m

[Loida and Ed 11]

good to know !!!!! my fiancee and her children are in cebu ... thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

[Ontarkie 14,543]

Moved to the Philippines forum as this is country specific.

[RyRo 47]

did i understood it correctly that we have to attend Guidance and Counseling and Pre-departure orientation in 2 separate days? and also dont they accept reservations anymore? thanks

[hcfrey 6]

did i understood it correctly that we have to attend Guidance and Counseling and Pre-departure orientation in 2 separate days? and also dont they accept reservations anymore? thanks

ever since it is first come first serve it is only 1 day you're going to get the sticker right after the seminar IF you already have the Visa when you did the seminar but if you don't have the visa yet you can still do the seminar but you need to go back to get your sticker once you have your visa, i think what they're saying in their announcement that after September it will be one office who will give seminar here in Manila as of now there's 3 offices giving CFO seminar but After July 16th there will be only 2 then after September there will be only 1,

[Shawn C 11]

This is confusing the %$^ out of me for some reason. One place says the counselling (and interview?) is done at CFO office (where you pick up the sticker now) and no longer done at PRISM and SMEF-COW after July 16th, then states SMEF-COW is still going to still do it until Sep. It also states only 12 people a day for US then later says 70 people a day...

I am sure the OP is correct in the information but I'm completely confused with regard to what, where and when has to be done so my fiancee has checked all of the boxes.

I don't mean to complain, but my brain is burned out from trying to explain the entire process (foreign police clearance, medical, CFO and interview) over the phone with a bad connection lately.

Edited July 8, 2012 by Shawn C

[hcfrey 6]

This is confusing the %$^ out of me for some reason. One place says the counselling (and interview?) is done at CFO office (where you pick up the sticker now) and no longer done at PRISM and SMEF-COW after July 16th, then states SMEF-COW is still going to still do it until Sep. It also states only 12 people a day for US then later says 70 people a day...

I am sure the OP is correct in the information but I'm completely confused with regard to what, where and when has to be done so my fiancee has checked all of the boxes.

I don't mean to complain, but my brain is burned out from trying to explain the entire process (foreign police clearance, medical, CFO and interview) over the phone with a bad connection lately.

me too i am confused also with the peer counseling 70 slots a day and that 12 slots a day, but that's what they put on their website, but i don't think they will only give 12 slots a day for fiance and spousal since there's a lot of applicants so i am thinking we're going to be either in 70 slots or 12 slots yes on july 16 there will only 2 offices going to give seminar then after September only CFO manila will give seminar, a lot of my friends are going to get seminar before the 16th so that all they have to do when they get their visa is to have their CFO sticker

Edited July 8, 2012 by hcdt

[asianbabe 0]

Can you pls give me the address of cfo??

[hcfrey 6]

St. Mary Euphrasia Foundation - Center for Overseas Workers (SMEF-COW)

Good Shepherd Convent

1043 Aurora Boulevard

Quezon City

Tel. (632) 913-6439

Fax (632) 913-6438

E-mail: smef_cow@yahoo.com.ph

ofws@pldtdsl.net

migrants@pldtdsl.net

Commission on Filipinos Overseas

Citigold Center, 1345 Pres. Quirino Avenue

Cor. South Superhighway, Manila

Tel. (632) 561-8321 ext. 104, 105, 201-204, 300-304

Fax (632) 561-8332

E-mail: cfodfa@info.com.ph;

cfomieo@info.com.ph

People's Reform Initiative for Social Mobilization (PRISM)

2nd Floor Equitable PCI Bank Bldg.

2422 Taft Avenue

Malate Manila

Tel. Nos.: (632) 525-3114,

(632) 525-3783,

(632) 525-4314

Fax No.: (632) 5253114

E-mail: prism_inc06@yahoo.com.ph

CFO Cebu

Causing Lozada Building

Osmena Boulevard corner M.J Cuenco Street

Cebu City, Philippines

CFO Cebu

Landline # +63 32-255-5253

this are the CFO addresses in Manila and Cebu after September only CFO cebu and CFO manila will be available

[Caryh 5,206]

I wonder if this is coming about because the organizations giving the seminar and counseling have repeatedly over stepped their authority to counsel and turned it into another approval interview step. Sometimes asking for proof totally beyond the scope of the law.

[Ann Marie and Leo 9]

This is confusing the %$^ out of me for some reason. One place says the counselling (and interview?) is done at CFO office (where you pick up the sticker now) and no longer done at PRISM and SMEF-COW after July 16th, then states SMEF-COW is still going to still do it until Sep. It also states only 12 people a day for US then later says 70 people a day...

I am sure the OP is correct in the information but I'm completely confused with regard to what, where and when has to be done so my fiancee has checked all of the boxes.

I don't mean to complain, but my brain is burned out from trying to explain the entire process (foreign police clearance, medical, CFO and interview) over the phone with a bad connection lately.

The Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) for Filipino Emigrants is the 70 people a day (a bigger group)

The the Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP) for Filipino spouses / partners of foreign nationals is the 12 per day