CFO Seminar Questions

[dd215 9]

Does anyone know what the specific requirements are to attend the Philippine DFA required CFO Seminar? Recently a friend of mine who attained a K-1 Visa for his fiancé was told that she had to have her parents or a guardian present in order for them to vouch that she was leaving the country on her own accord. This, of course, came as a complete surprise and the family had to scramble to get the dad to Cebu, where they attended the seminar. The woman was 21 years old? I can understand that for a minor. I ask, because my fiancé is not quite 21. She'll be turning 21 in 6 months. Her mom lives in a fairly distant province. Will we have to fly her(mom) to Cebu or Manila to attend the CFO seminar with us? Is there an age requirement that mandates a parent/guardian present other than 18 or below? We just want to make sure there are no surprises next month when I fly out to pick her up after the Embassy interview. Thank you very much in advance. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Edited February 21, 2013 by dd215

[sld 5]

must be over 24 to marry without consent. Maybe

[Vic20r 14]

must be over 24 to marry without consent. Maybe

When i attended mine in Cebu, there were 2 girls (18yrs old) attending cfo seminar too. The other 18 yrs old was a new mom but they did not ask any consent anymore. The other 18yrs old from Mindanao and had to call her parents to get the early boat trip to be with her and she was told to go to DSWD with them for some kind of legal papers.

[UK-USA-K1 128]

I'm no expert here, but I did a quick google search and found this:

"(Marriage applicants aged 18 to 21 must have written parental consent. Those aged 22 to 24 must have received parental advice.)"

http://k1-fiance-visa.com/philippine-k-visas-philippine-requirements-and-laws.htm

This was in regards to the local laws. I would guess that's why they need a parent present. My best advice would be to call or email the consulate in question and they should be able to advise you on what is necessary.

[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 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)

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

[dd215 9]

Thank you for the responses. From what I gather there appears to be a bit of ambiguity. The "consent" clause seems to be within the Philippine law relating to marriage in the Philippines and obtaining a Philippine marriage license. The CFO Seminar website makes no mention of the age issue relating to parental consent forms being provided. However, as I have learned, the Philippines can be quite provincial in how things are interpreted, so to leave nothing to chance, I'm going to make sure my fiancé's mom is present during the seminar. Thank's again for the good info!

[Hank_ 9,174]

I doubt they will let her inside with you fiancee so she will have to sit outside waiting.

[Vic20r 14]

I doubt they will let her inside with you fiancee so she will have to sit outside waiting.

If his fiancee needs a parental consent, then the mom will be with her because she will be interviewed too in CFO seminar which is what he was referring to.