CFO Nightmare...Please Help

[mtb324 0]

Hi everyone,

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. My fiance obtained a K1 visa and was all set to fly out. We were unaware of the CFO process. My fiance was told she needed a yellow sticker and was held back from flying. She missed the flight entirely. She was then told she didn't have proper ID (even though she had a passport). She had to return home and get a police clearance. She came back the next day and took the seminar. Afterwards, she went through some kind of interview with a Filipino officer (it all sounded quite shady) who started giving her new requirements. Because she is 21 1/2 years old, he asked her for parent consent (is this legal? We were always told her age was old enough she did not need parent consent). They also asked for my divorce papers, which we had already given 6 months before as part of our visa app. So she has had to return home for a second time to get her mother's consent and is headed back to the CFO on Thursday (closed tomorrow). We are terrified that they are going to just keep asking for new requirements. The worst part is that our visa expires in 8 days (she had to finish college).

What is going on here? Is this some sort of scam or is this the normal process? It almost seems like they are looking for a bribe or that this is some kind of third world official scam or something? We are very nervous. Does anyone know what else we should bring or have on hand? Could they be trying to run out the clock to the visa expiration for some reason.

Thanks for any advice!

[henrie 0]

she needs it before she can leave the philippines.. here's the website

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1347:for-filipinos-leaving-the-country-with-an-immigrant-visa&catid=139:pre-departure-orientation-seminar&Itemid=917

[mtb324 0]

Yes but that website says that a parent consent is needed from age 13-19. She is 21 and a half. Seems very fishy...

Also they asked for divorce papers which are not mentioned at all there.

[Mr.&Mrs.EMB 55]

CFO is not a scam. The Philippine Government just got stricter now especially for migrants to the US through marriage. The rationale of the seminar at CFO is to educate filipno women on what they will be expecting about the US culture and how to protect their rights in case of abuse. Cases of fraud (filipinos/filipinas) marrying for citizenship have been going up and cases of abused (filipinos/filipinas) by their foreign spouses.

The parents consent is needed for anybody in PI marrying below 24 yrs of age. It is a requirement. Check: The Republic of the Philippines - The Family Code Executive Order Number 209.

The CFO is run by nuns and there is no scam there. They are just really strict about filipinos marrying foreigners especially younger filipina women and more so if the age gap is quite significant.

Now the expiry of her fiance visa, call US embassy in manila and ask what papers you need to bring to have an extension of which.

[henrie 0]

i dont know about the divorce papers as well as the parent's consent. But since it's not on the website maybe they are just asking it as an addt'l document.

[Mr.&Mrs.EMB 55]

BTW, the divorce papers you've been asked earlier in the process was at USCIS or at US embassy. CFO is a separate entity from any immigration process of going to US. CFO is a requirement by The Philippine Government before they clear the migrant of leaving PI.

[mtb324 0]

Okay that is good to know that we are still within "official channels." I will call to ask for an extension. My fiance is bringing the consent form plus we are emailing the officer a scan of my divorce papers. Do you think there is anything else we might need? What's frustrating is that all of our papers are in the visa packet that says not to open under any circumstance. For instance, my divorce papers are in there, proof of relationship, I-129 or whatever and all the other stuff.

I'm so thankful that the US is moving away from this sort of insane government bureaucracy. It's just crazy that the poor girl is standing there with a passport and a packet full of identifying information and they make her go three hours to get another form of ID. Does that make any logical sense in the real world?

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Everything is explained at Hank_'s website. http://visaconnection-philippines.com/#. Click on CFO and follow. You won't regret the help from Hank_!!

[Dukester 2]

I understand your frustration and annoyance but there is an info sheet regarding CFO seminar on the visa packet from the embassy. Anyway goodluck and congratulations!

Edited April 8, 2014 by Dukester

[joyceanne 0]

Yes but that website says that a parent consent is needed from age 13-19. She is 21 and a half. Seems very fishy...

Also they asked for divorce papers which are not mentioned at all there.

Your right, parent consent supposed to be needed if you are at age 13-19. I was 22 when I had my CFO, so I don't understand why they needed parent consent below 24 years old, unless they have changed their rules and policies. And also about the documents they were asking for, they are really mandatory, she should have every single documents she have the next time she comes back for CFO. And one more thing, its not a scam, its really part of the law now for every migrating Filipino around the world..

Good luck! You'll be fine don't worry bout it..

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi everyone,

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. My fiance obtained a K1 visa and was all set to fly out. We were unaware of the CFO process. My fiance was told she needed a yellow sticker and was held back from flying. She missed the flight entirely. She was then told she didn't have proper ID (even though she had a passport). She had to return home and get a police clearance. She came back the next day and took the seminar. Afterwards, she went through some kind of interview with a Filipino officer (it all sounded quite shady) who started giving her new requirements. Because she is 21 1/2 years old, he asked her for parent consent (is this legal? We were always told her age was old enough she did not need parent consent). They also asked for my divorce papers, which we had already given 6 months before as part of our visa app. So she has had to return home for a second time to get her mother's consent and is headed back to the CFO on Thursday (closed tomorrow). We are terrified that they are going to just keep asking for new requirements. The worst part is that our visa expires in 8 days (she had to finish college).

What is going on here? Is this some sort of scam or is this the normal process? It almost seems like they are looking for a bribe or that this is some kind of third world official scam or something? We are very nervous. Does anyone know what else we should bring or have on hand? Could they be trying to run out the clock to the visa expiration for some reason.

Thanks for any advice!

As you noticed from all the replies, CFO is not a scam and they are not looking for a "behind the back handshake" either... ie a bribe.

The CFO website has some of the required documents listed but they use the "other documents" clause to cover any and everything they can think of to ask for. I have tried to keep current with "their list" on my website, you can follow the flashing arrow below and click on the CFO tab for more info.

CFO is a Philippines government requirement that, sadly, is not well known, the embassy only makes note of it a couple times so if you are not paying attention you will get to the airport with no CFO sticker and get turned away.

[Mr.&Mrs.EMB 55]

That is why it is important to always have copies -- several copies of every document you think might be needed one way or another. It's always best to have everything and more than to have none when needed.

The parent's consent is under The Philippine Law -- The Family Code of The Philippines Executive Order No. 209. Know the law.

Everything you need just ask around here. Most people on VJ are helpful and informative but double check too because sometimes there are misinformation especially if there are updates on a law or a rule that others may not know about. Good luck!

[Darnell 8,478]

Hank_ - can you or anyone else confirm this? (below)

Are scanned and printed copies of divorce documents allowed at the CFO thingie? If yes, that will help to shave the time for the OP.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hank_ - can you or anyone else confirm this? (below)

Are scanned and printed copies of divorce documents allowed at the CFO thingie? If yes, that will help to shave the time for the OP.

No issue with copies of the divorce documents at CFO, copies of most everything is fine with CFO, they may ask to see an original of the CENOMAR but will only want to keep a copy.

[Mr.&Mrs.EMB 55]

Okay, my wife just corrected me using legal jargons haha parental consent is needed for below 21..meaning from 20 years old. The Family Code says what you need is Parental Advice (letter that the parent's approved of said marriage). Parental advice is needed aged 21 and below 25.