Visa on hand!!! Next step...CFO seminar! What to do?

[KP&RP 4]

Got my visa from 2GO yesterday and already booked my ticket for NY. I'll attend the CFO seminar on monday. My question is:

*What to bring on the CFO seminar?

*What's the best time to go there for me to get in the 15 slots?

*Do I get m CFO certificate/sticker on the same day?

Hope to hear from you and get some tips of do's and don'ts about CFO seminar. THANKS VJers!

[nealxette 4]

go to www.cfo.gov.ph

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Go as early as 5am and make sure you get in the right line as the staff are known for pointing you to the wrong direction (at least proven by Mike). Also pre-fill the form or else you'll loose your spot in the line.

Yes you get both since you have the visa already.

Congrats and you're only one step away!

[RyRo 47]

1. Original and Photocopy of Passport

2. Original and Photocopy of Visa

3. 1 pc of 2x2 or passport size photograph

4. 1 valid identification card with photo

5. Duly completed form (downloadable at www.cfo.gov.ph)

6. Payment of 400 Pesos

7. Photocopy of 2 valid ID's

You may also want to bring supporting Docs if ever the counselor will ask for it (although mine didnt)

CENOMAR

PHOTOCOPY OF PETITIONERS PASSPORT

NBI CLEARANCE (Personal copy)

Birth Certificate

its better to be prepared than be sorry

Congrats

[redvelvet 12]

Basically, the CFO seminar has 2 parts:

1. One-on-one session with a counselor

2. A group seminar about moving to USA

The first part is very important. The counselor will ask you details about your relationship with your husband/wife/fiance(e) in America. You need to prove to the counselor that you will be fine when you go to America and that you know your partner very well. Some people do not get their certificates right away if there are issues like huge age gap or the fiancee is very young.

Good luck!

[Tahoma 2,292]

Got my visa from 2GO yesterday and already booked my ticket for NY. I'll attend the CFO seminar on monday. My question is:

Congratz on receiving your visa!!!

*What to bring on the CFO seminar?

Bring everything listed on the CFO website and everything you brought along to your Embassy interview. Take no chances.

*What's the best time to go there for me to get in the 15 slots?

Early! Maybe 5:00 a.m.

*Do I get m CFO certificate/sticker on the same day?

Yes.

Hope to hear from you and get some tips of do's and don'ts about CFO seminar. THANKS VJers!

[Ryan H 3,838]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to Philippines regional forum; topic is about the CFO seminar which is specific to the Philippines.

[Hank_ 9,174]

CFO:

ALL exiting required to attend. There have been changes regarding CFO so for sure read through their website.

Update: Please check the schedule of the counseling session before proceeding to CFO because it is country-specific and the slots are limited only to 15 per session (two sessions per day) for Manila and 12 per session (only one session a day) for Cebu. It is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

CFO Online Registration Form: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/pdf/downloadable%20forms/registrationform.pdf Complete this and print a couple copies to bring to the CFO seminar, it will save you time.

http://www.philembassy.no/sites/default/files/downloads/new_gcp_flyer.pdf

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

Required documents & "OTHER DOCUMENTS" they ask for at CFO: copies of; CENOMAR (CEMAR if married), certified birth certificate, bio page of passport, visa page from passport, pictures together. From USC (copies of) - bio page of passport, birth certificate, divorce decree (if been married before) are the most common requests. The "other documents" clause can be ANYTHING with those nit-wits at CFO.

** From the Family Code of the Philippines: it's 21-25 years old for advice and 18-21 years old for consent. (Some are posted on VJ that they were not asked for this, yet others have been asked, so be prepared)

Art. 14. In case either or both of the contracting parties, not having been emancipated by a previous marriage, are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, they shall, in addition to the requirements of the preceding articles, exhibit to the local civil registrar, the consent to their marriage of their father, mother, surviving parent or guardian, or persons having legal charge of them, in the order mentioned. Such consent shall be manifested in writing by the interested party, who personally appears before the proper local civil registrar, or in the form of an affidavit made in the presence of two witnesses and attested before any official authorized by law to administer oaths. The personal manifestation shall be recorded in both applications for marriage license, and the affidavit, if one is executed instead, shall be attached to said applications. (61a)

Art. 15. Any contracting party between the age of twenty-one and twenty-five shall be obliged to ask their parents or guardian for advice upon the intended marriage. If they do not obtain such advice, or if it be unfavorable, the marriage license shall not be issued till after three months following the completion of the publication of the application therefor.A sworn statement by the contracting parties to the effect that such advice has been sought,together with the written advice given, if any, shall be attached to the application for marriage license. Should the parents or guardian refuse to give any advice, this fact shall be stated in the sworn statement.

Examples (from Quezon City):

Advice of Parents: http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/images/stories/downloadables/forms/parentadvice.pdf

Consent to Marry: http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/images/stories/downloadables/forms/consenttomarriage.pdf

[Kevo 69]

You have to have the visa first before the CFO? #######!

I was planning on having her do the exam/CFO all in one trip to Manila.

[Hank_ 9,174]

You have to have the visa first before the CFO? #######!

I was planning on having her do the exam/CFO all in one trip to Manila.

Nope don't need the visa to do CFO, just go back after you get the visa to have the sticker affixed in the passport. But you do need the passport to attend the class so do it before the interview or you have to wait until the visa is in hand.