Is Pre Departure Orientation Seminar in Manila a must?

[aralnaej24 1]

My friend who flew to the US to marry her fiance last 2009 didn't go to this Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar after receiving her passport with visa. She said that she has been told to attend a seminar but was not obliged to do so. I'm not sure if this is still acceptable as of 2013, or if it's already being strictly implemented. Any information? Thank you!

[dobbietoo 8]

Yes, its obsoletely necessary before the visa holder can leave the country. It must have changed at some point since 2009. My fiancé is attending it next month before her interview. I believe its 40 US and takes about 4 hours. You can go to a morning session or afternoon. Below is the actual document I receive from my attorney:

CFO SEMINAR AND COUNSELING BY APPOINTMENT

EFFECTIVE 1 JUNE

INQUIRER.net First Posted 15:48:00 06/12/2007 Filed Under: Arts, Culture &

Entertainment

The Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) announces that effective 1 June 2007, attendance

to the CFO Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and Peer Counseling in Manila will be

done by appointment. Clients may reserve a schedule through telephone numbers (63-2) 563-

1965 and (63-2) 561-8321 local 103, or through website www.cfo.gov.ph.

In accordance with Republic Act 8239 and Department of Foreign Affairs Order No. 28-94 and

No. 11-97, a Filipino traveling abroad as fiancé(e) or spouse of a foreign national is required to

attend the CFO’s guidance and counseling programs as a pre-requisite to the issuance of a

passport.

The program aims to orient the clients on the realities of cross-cultural marriages and help them

make informed decisions regarding their marriage. It covers migration laws, welfare and support

services available in their country of destination, rights of Filipinos overseas, and problem

management.

Guidance and counseling programs are conducted at the St. Mary Euphrasia Foundation-Center

for Overseas Workers located at the Good Shepherd Convent, 1043 Aurora Blvd., Quezon City

(at the back of LRT2 Katipunan Station) and at the People’s Reform Initiative for Social

Mobilization, Inc. (PRISM) located at the 2nd Floor of Equitable-PCI Bank Building, 2422 Taft

Avenue, Manila (opposite De La Salle University). In Cebu City, a CFO Office is also located at

the Causing-Lozada Bldg., Osmena Blvd., corner M.J. Cuenco Ave.

CFO issues guidance and counseling certificates to clients who have satisfactorily completed the

program.

[dobbietoo 8]

Also, check out this site: www.cfo.gov.ph.

[aralnaej24 1]

This is very helpful. thank you so much! I wonder if I can already attend this seminar while our petition is still being checked by National Visa Center. Or we have to wait until our petition is sent to the US Embassy in Manila and wait for the formal notice from them.

[aralnaej24 1]

ok I just read the site. I have to do it after I get my fiancee visa. Thanks for the info!

[Netsikai 20]

You can attend the CFO even before your us embassy Manila interview...you will be given counseling and guidance certificate after the seminar and you have to go back to CFO office after the arrival of your passport and visa so u will be given sticker....then you are good to go to USA...

I did my medical and CFO same week, and us embassy interview after 8 working days of medical...still waiting for my passport and visa.

[Hank_ 9,174]

This is very helpful. thank you so much! I wonder if I can already attend this seminar while our petition is still being checked by National Visa Center. Or we have to wait until our petition is sent to the US Embassy in Manila and wait for the formal notice from them.

You can attend CFO before, many others here on VJ attend CFO before their interview.

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; 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. It has been posted recently that even if you complete the online form you will still be required to complete another form at CFO... not sure why.

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: originals & copies of; CENOMAR (CEMAR and marriage certificate if married), certified birth certificate. Passport and copies of 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.

When you get to the 3rd floor, You'd be asked to fill up an Information Sheet. (Yes, you have to fill it up there, It's not the downloadable one on the CFO website.) Make sure you answer ALL questions/fields. Rendering this incomplete will be one of their criterias for you to be "HELD/ON HOLD" for one on one counseling.

Information Needed on the Form:

- Basic Information about you, the fiance(e)/spouse (Name, Address, Birthday, etc.; Your Birthplace is important too, specify which city/town/area/province)

- Basic Information about your petitioner (Sometimes you are going to be asked for the Birth Certificate copy)

- FULL MAIDEN NAME of fiance(e)/spouse's MOTHER

- Contact person in the Philippines, specifically immediate family as in Father, Mother, Siblings.

- Landline Number of Petitioner. (I know, I know, most of you guys don't use landlines now. That's what was running through my mind too.) If no landline is available, Landline of Petitioner's Nearest Relative or Petitioner's Neighbor.

- Petitioner's Educational Attainment, Degree/Course, Occupation

- Information on Petitioner's Divorce/Annulment/Death of previous wife or husband. You must have a copy of the Divorce Decree/Death Certificate.

- ZIPCODES. Both the petitioner and the beneficiary. Never forget to write those down.

** 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) Bring the ID of the parents, plus copies, postal ID should be adequate.

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

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

~ Moving from K-1 Process to Philippines regional forum- topic is Manila specific ~

[aralnaej24 1]

Hank_ thank you so much! That was very helpful and informative.

[sunandmoon 450]

CFO was a requirement in 2006, so it's not something that has changed since 2009.

[Rahstyles 10]

Thats somee bullllllll shhhhhhhh

You gotta attend cfo 2 times?/? WE already did it once and it was a pain....

[aralnaej24 1]

last question... can I attend the seminar even without the MLA case number yet from the National Visa Center? Or we need to wait for that one first?

[sunandmoon 450]

last question... can I attend the seminar even without the MLA case number yet from the National Visa Center? Or we need to wait for that one first?

yes, you can attend the seminar at any time.

[aralnaej24 1]

Thank you guys for all the info!

[Robb&Ann 101]

"You may avail of the Guidance and Counseling Session even while you are still processing or waiting for your visa. If such is the case, you will only be issued the GCC. Once your visa is released, you will return to CFO to continue with your registration. The CFO sticker will then be affixed on your passport."