CFO - WIll this work to skip it

[VOL 425]

CFO in my opinion is just a rip off to make money. I assume nothing has changed in the last few years.

Once you get your visa, Why not just fly to Singapore and then buy a ticket there to USA?

USA does not require a CFO stamp

[Mr.&Mrs.EMB 55]

I wouldn't recommend this. Before whoever you petitoned for (immediate family) when it comes to that line where the BI (Bureau of Immigration) checks the passport and ask where will you go and for what reason will they go to wherever..I think it's a bad idea to lie and besides that, is that really all worth it to lie about? The whole immigration process was tedious in itself already and CFO costs only about $25 or $35 (can't remember exactly) and a half day seminar. It's up to you though. Good luck!

[Greenbaum 12,259]

VOL, on 05 Apr 2014 - 08:19 AM, said:

CFO in my opinion is just a rip off to make money. I assume nothing has changed in the last few years.

Once you get your visa, Why not just fly to Singapore and then buy a ticket there to USA?

USA does not require a CFO stamp

You may fined this thread to be helpful. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/480958-bypass-cfo-split-topic/

Question. Why be stupid and chance losing everything for a half day 35 dollar seminar to prove a point.

[malenliam 18]

Buying a ticket flying to Singapore is more expensive, risky, than just to attend half day seminar. Beside your finace will learn something from seminar.

I attended the seminar because it is one of the requirement to change my family name to my married name in my passport.

[bendinlar 16]

And not to mention getting caught can potentially get you stuck in a mess trying to explain your way out of a human trafficking investigation. Their getting picky on that stuff.

Short version, it's the law, and not worth the risk, they may be a little hard at times, but it is for the greater good.

[Hank_ 9,174]

CFO in my opinion is just a rip off to make money. I assume nothing has changed in the last few years.

Once you get your visa, Why not just fly to Singapore and then buy a ticket there to USA?

USA does not require a CFO stamp

This has been discussed many times here. I only know of one person who actually was able to do that only because she had been working in Singapore for years so had many stamps in her passport showing travel back and forth to Singapore. I know of many more who go to the airport, the agent saw the visa, looked for the CFO stamp then when not finding one turned the person away instructing them to complete CFO and get the sticker in the passport, causing them to miss their flight.

Do you really think "giving that a try" is a great idea at that juncture in time?

[Al422 221]

Look at the greand scheme of things. If the Singapore route would let you bypass the whole visa route, I mean the petition, the police clearances, the med exam , the interview and all those hundreds of dollars and months of waiting, we would be talking about a substantial prize here.

But a half day seminar and a few bucks? Chump change if you ask me. Just do it and get it done. And you know what? Some ladies who went there grudgingly actually learned a few things. You never know.

Edited April 5, 2014 by Al422

[Darnell 8,478]

CFO in my opinion is just a rip off to make money. I assume nothing has changed in the last few years.

Once you get your visa, Why not just fly to Singapore and then buy a ticket there to USA?

USA does not require a CFO stamp

Uhm, most of the exit staff know to look at the visa stamps. IMO, without it, even on a jump out to singapura, yer lass is gonna get dinged and sent home.

[Boiler 45,525]

Do men have to do it?

[Hank_ 9,174]

ALL those immigrating must attend.

[Boiler 45,525]

Interesting

And those emigrating?

[Hank_ 9,174]

Those too! (go ahead pick on my spelin)

[Al422 221]

Folks, this is 1/2 of a day. It is truly hard to believe that after all the ####### you went thorough to get that visa the CFO is anything worse than a fly on your nose.

For Pete's sake just get it done and stop worrying about it

[gretchen_darren 67]

an Pinay (or Pinoy) CANNOT leave without a CFO stamp. No matter which destination they are going to. Since the Visa says K-1 and is for USA, there is no point EVEN attempting to get around this requirement. It is a LAW in the Philippines, just like the laws in the USA. Your son to be asawa is required to fulfill the requirements of her country of residence UNTIL the person becomes a citizen of another country with a valid passport from said country.

Trying to skip, or go around Philippine Law might work, but CFO is NOT something to try and skip out on. there are exceptions, but they are very very few and far between. It is so damn cheap, and a day or two at most.

Trying to skip out on it can prevent your pinay or pinoy from EVER leaving the country. Just because you have a visa from the USA (or some other country) does not guarantee admisison to the USA to ability to leave their country of residence. Skipping the CFO is a Federal crime in the Philippines. You could be held liable as much as they are for attempting it. The CFO would make an example of you if caught, and use your case for examples to other Pinoys/Pinays leaving the country.

It may be a rip-off, but it is the Philippine law. How many rip-offs do you tolerate in the USA on daily basis??? Just get gas in your car, or go buy groceries, or go get take out??? How much do people mark up items to make a profit, and just how many times are you taxed on your dollar?

[gretchen_darren 67]

please see this page for penalties: http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2013/ra_10364_2013.html

You could face anywhere from 6 years to 20 years in prison and anywhere from 500,000 php to 5,000,000 php in fines, not to mention other international issues. Plus you would never be allowed to file with USCIS for another foeign spouse for life. The few measly pesos and time is not worth risking this type of penalty in a foreign prison.