CFO experience

[Kevin_S 1]

There is no good reason why people have to show up at 3AM to get a slot, and then stay there for close to 12 straight hours. No efficiency whatsoever.

I agree. My wife attended the CFO in Cebu. There are only 12 slots for Americans each day. The first day she didn't get in, but she did the 2nd day. She was there for 11 hours, with only 1 hour for lunch. She brought pictures, but were not asked for them. They did want a copy of my bio page of my passport. She didnt have any parent advice (she is 22). They never mentioned it. She has her sticker and is ready to travel. Too bad the Government offices are so terrible in customer service. Seems like most times it's an all day affair just to get one piece of paper.

[Travelpro 3]

I had no idea about this CFO requirement before reading this post. So, thanks for that. I found info by Googling it.

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

I want to confirm. Since my Fiancee is 23 yrs old, I also need a letter from her parents? I thought that was only a requirement for getting married in the Philippines.

[actob99 156]

I had no idea about this CFO requirement before reading this post. So, thanks for that. I found info by Googling it.

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1348%3Afiancee-spouses-and-other-partners-of-foreign-nationals&catid=140&Itemid=83

I want to confirm. Since my Fiancee is 23 yrs old, I also need a letter from her parents? I thought that was only a requirement for getting married in the Philippines.

It is a requirement for getting married in the Phils. But the CFO thinks their the regulatory agency for America-issued visa's so they have(and come up with on the spot) requirements of their own. Best to take everything with you to the Ceminar, take a deep breathe and go through the process, and then vent in here...

[Travelpro 3]

Parents just need to sign Form# 7? No additional paperwork for this particular item such as additional letter?

In Form # 7 who is the (Signature of person administering oath)?

[actob99 156]

Parents just need to sign Form# 7? No additional paperwork for this particular item such as additional letter?

In Form # 7 who is the (Signature of person administering oath)?

I would bring a copy of the parents identification as some have had to have it if parents aren't going. My fiancee at the time had her moms postal ID with her but they didn't ask for that. Mom was outside and they wouldn't let her in and they didn't want to talk to her. (hmmmm isn't mom the best person to make sure her daughter will be safe?)

My fiancee at that time, went to the city hall in her province and had a notary sign that section there. That's all that is needed.

[Travelpro 3]

Her parents will not be there so I will make sure she has copies of their postal ID. Thanks!

[madison925 2]

Her parents will not be there so I will make sure she has copies of their postal ID. Thanks!

Any form of Identification will do, as long as they will be able to confirm that the signatures are legit and exact. I guess

Edited February 17, 2013 by madison925

[actob99 156]

Her parents will not be there so I will make sure she has copies of their postal ID. Thanks!

It's overkill and BS but hate to be there and that was the one thing they were dinging people on that day..

[jdclover 0]

Apparently there's this, which most seem to be something the embassy should have already handled (at least for the US embassy)

The following are some of the grounds for non-issuance of Counseling Certificate:

* Submission or presentation of fraudulent documents by the counselees and/or their foreign partners

* Misrepresentation by the counselees' and/or their foreign partners during the counseling

The certificate may also be temporary withheld for the following reasons:

* Counselee may be a prospective victim of mail-order bride scheme, forced prostitution, and domestic violence, among others

* Counselee is a minor or below 18 years of age

* Counselee had earlier attended counseling session(s) but is subsequently petitioned by another foreign partner I guess they would know about petitions from other countries, not sure if the embassies from various countries speak to each other

* Counselee presents or submits incomplete, or questionable/doubtful documents

* Counselee is believed to be intimidated by other persons to marry the foreign partner How would they even determine this?

* Counselee lacks background information on the foreign partner I don't even know everything about my mothers/brothers/etc and I've know them for my whole life, getting to know someone is a lifelong process

* Counselee has children from previous relationship(s)

* Counselee has not personally met foreign partner

* Counselee is included in the CFO Watchlist Wouldn't the embassies have their own watch lists?

* Foreign partner is included in the CFO Watchlist (e.g. foreign partner is a serial sponsor)again I'd think the embassies have their own watch lists, repeat petitioners and such

* Foreign partner is believed to be an imminent threat on the counselee's life

Most of the above that I haven't commented on I feel should all be handled by the embassies, these are things they would come across during the visa process. I haven't been to the CFO with my fiance yet, was planning on taking her Monday, but these horror stories seem like they are overdoing things.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Look long enough you will always find more to worry about. CFO may be annoying but its pretty simple for the most part. I have listed the most common things asked for at CFO.

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 and marriage certificate 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)

[JoBri 548]

Wow, I dont remember my wife having to go through all that. Sounds like it really changed in the 4 years since then.

I got there at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, expecting I would be the 2nd or 3rd person there, but lo and behold, a line was already formed with over a dozen people! We stood waiting for two hours (I felt sorry for the pregnant woman in line with me) until the doors were opened. We were ushered in and the guard checked my papers (he looked for a photocopy of my passport, visa, one valid ID, NSO, and NBI). He took one valid ID and gave me a pink "CFO ID" to wear around my neck.

We sat down in front of some counters for two more hours until he announced that people with pink CFO ID's go to the 9th floor. We took the elevator to the 8th floor and then the stairs to the 9th floor. A nice old woman with glasses gave us forms to fill out (this is different from the online form) which asked for basic personal information about me and my fiance (birthdate, contact details, mother's maiden name, etc.) and a few ones like "What are your some of your concerns about living abroad" which had multiple choice answers like "Different culture", "Isolation/boredom/homesickness", etc. I was the first to pass my form, and the woman took my passport, my online registration form, and the papers that the guard downstairs checked for. She told me to wait and took other people's papers. After a while she called my name, took my picture, and told me to wait again.

After an hour, our counselor showed up holding our passports with the papers and called us one by one for the one-on-one interview. This is the tricky part because she can ask basically anything she wants from you. I was armed with everything - I already had the visa in my passport, all of my documents (NSO, NBI, CENOMAR, parent's advice - she didn't ask for this, which was weird because I am only 24), even my fiance's passport bio page! What she asked for was pictures of me and my fiance. Now this was the one thing I didn't bring because I was of the understanding that this was a SEMINAR, not an INTERVIEW. I could understand if this was required for those without the visa yet, but for Pete's sake, I had already passed my real interview with the US embassy proving our bona fide relationship and the visa was in my passport to prove it! I showed her photos on my iPhone, but she wanted hard copies (3 to be exact).

The seminar finished around 11:30 a.m. but I had to take a cab to Robinson's, have the photos printed at Netopia, and take a cab back to the CFO office. I finished around 2 p.m., dying from sleepiness and hunger (drama!). All in all, it was a bad experience, but I'm just glad it's over.

[Rahstyles 10]

CFO

[JHventesinko 5]

Look long enough you will always find more to worry about. CFO may be annoying but its pretty simple for the most part. I have listed the most common things asked for at CFO.

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 and marriage certificate 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)

Hi VJ friends. I am a spouse of an LPR and im 24. We got married when i was 21. Do u guys have an idea if i will be needing any letter from my parents that they approved of marriage?

[JHventesinko 5]

Also has anyone been asked for an original of their marriage certificate? Coz i just have a photocopy. My original is with the embassy. Thank

[JoBri 548]

We had to use the original when getting me and my son registered in DEERS as military dependents. They wouldnt take a copy.

Also has anyone been asked for an original of their marriage certificate? Coz i just have a photocopy. My original is with the embassy. Thank