CFO guidence and counseling program

[dalidali 0]

Hello out there.....

I am a US citizen planning on marrying a Filipina national woman in the Philippines here very shortly.

Most likely will be early September 2014.

I am agnostic and she is a non practicing Catholic, as is all her family.

Our tentative plan is to get married in front of a family friend, who happens to be a full on judge in Cebu City.

Strictly civil ceremony with only a handful of family and friends in attendance. No church will be involved.

Her choice and I concur.

It's my understanding that we will need to attend the CFO (Commission of Filipinos Overseas) guidance and counseling program together.

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2341:what-is-cfo-guidance-and-counseling-program&catid=110:frequently-asked-questions&Itemid=858

I further understand that this program is required for her to obtain the necessary certificate and the CFO sticker which is required when attempting to exit the country.

Further, I believe this certificate is needed for her to change her PH passport into in her now married name.

My question is: Does a civil marriage cut out the Catholic church in any and all premarital "seminars"?

We are both middle aged mature adults and certainly do not need any counseling on how to live a life or how to boil an egg from any person, much less a total stranger who slants towards religious tenants.

Is the CFO guidance and counseling program a one day (or a couple of hours or less) program?

Is this program typically done before or after the marriage?

Edited August 13, 2014 by dalidali

[mymarley 14]

only a filipino national will attend cfo...those who are residing in the philippines... and will fly to USA...since shes cr1 coz u guys getting married in the philippines she needs that so she can change her last name into marriedname on her passport... but if shes k1 she can do that before flying to usa or its up to her... before interview or after..coz they need the passport...

[mymarley 14]

sorry i dont have any idea about civil wedding...coz i got married before in the phil but it was made by a fixer...sooo i dont advice that..they dont have proper documentation...im annulled and married now to us citizen...

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hello out there.....

I am a US citizen planning on marrying a Filipina national woman in the Philippines here very shortly.

Most likely will be early September 2014.

I am agnostic and she is a non practicing Catholic, as is all her family.

Our tentative plan is to get married in front of a family friend, who happens to be a full on judge in Cebu City.

Strictly civil ceremony with only a handful of family and friends in attendance. No church will be involved.

Her choice and I concur.

It's my understanding that we will need to attend the CFO (Commission of Filipinos Overseas) guidance and counseling program together.

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2341:what-is-cfo-guidance-and-counseling-program&catid=110:frequently-asked-questions&Itemid=858

I further understand that this program is required for her to obtain the necessary certificate and the CFO sticker which is required when attempting to exit the country.

Further, I believe this certificate is needed for her to change her PH passport into in her now married name.

My question is: Does a civil marriage cut out the Catholic church in any and all premarital "seminars"?

We are both middle aged mature adults and certainly do not need any counseling on how to live a life or how to boil an egg from any person, much less a total stranger who slants towards religious tenants.

Is the CFO guidance and counseling program a one day (or a couple of hours or less) program?

Is this program typically done before or after the marriage?

You don't attend CFO at all. Your fiancee only attends CFO after you are married 1) for changing her passport to her married name, or 2) for exiting the Philippines to get the sticker in her passport, but she only attends ONCE, after she has the CFO certificate she is done. For the sticker later she needs only to present the certificate and the sticker will be affixed in the passport once the visa is in it.

There are a variety of other requirements to get a marriage license, hopefully you are on top of that.

Congrats with your future wedding.

Edited August 13, 2014 by Hank_

[dalidali 0]

only a filipino national will attend cfo...those who are residing in the philippines... and will fly to USA...since shes cr1 coz u guys getting married in the philippines she needs that so she can change her last name into marriedname on her passport... but if shes k1 she can do that before flying to usa or its up to her... before interview or after..coz they need the passport...

If I understand you correctly.......ONLY the PH national needs to attend the CFO seminar and not the intended spouse, or soon to be spouse?

Do you or anyone happen to know if the Catholic church sponsored seminars can be cut out entirely if marrying civilly?

[dalidali 0]

You don't attend CFO at all. Your fiancee only attends CFO after you are married 1) for changing her passport to her married name, or 2) for exiting the Philippines to get the sticker in her passport, but she only attends ONCE, after she has the CFO certificate she is done. For the sticker later she needs only to present the certificate and the sticker will be affixed in the passport once the visa is in it.

There are a variety of other requirements to get a marriage license, hopefully you are on top of that.

Congrats with your future wedding.

OK thank you......I quoted anothers response before I saw yours.

I am on top of everything EXCEPT the Catholic church being involved and their sponsored seminars.

That I have yet to sort that out, or get a confirmed answer one way or the other.

Edited August 13, 2014 by dalidali

[Hank_ 9,174]

OK thank you......I quoted anothers response before I saw yours.

I am on top of everything EXCEPT the Catholic church being involved and their sponsored seminars.

That I have yet to sort that out, or get a confirmed answer one way or the other.

Church isn't involved if you are doing a civil ceremony that I have ever heard of.

[RyanFritzie 4]

My husband and I got married last March 14, Civil Ceremony and I am catholic and my husband is Presbyterian. Upon applying for our Marriage License, we were asked about our age so they can figure if we are going to take the Pre- Marriage Counselling, We didn't have to, because i was over 29 and husband is over 29 also. You will only have to take a Seminar for Marriage if you are going to have a Church Wedding ( Catholics ).

CFO

I just had my Counseling last August 4 so that I can change my passport to my Married name. It only took 3 hours

[Infoneeded 32]

OK thank you......I quoted anothers response before I saw yours.

I am on top of everything EXCEPT the Catholic church being involved and their sponsored seminars.

That I have yet to sort that out, or get a confirmed answer one way or the other.

a few years back when were applying for a marriage license , only the city health officer gave uns seminar on family planning. civil weddidng was here in manila tho, idk with regards to cebu. but common sense, your only doin a civil ceremony so there shouldnt be church involve. anyways, if thats they want, maybe you should attend, coz they won't give you ur license to marry if you don't complete their requirements...

[dalidali 0]

Church isn't involved if you are doing a civil ceremony that I have ever heard of.

Thanks Hank......that is what I had hoped for.

Unless I am told otherwise by a PH government agency, I will proceed without a church sponsored seminar.

[baby44 0]

CFO is only for Philippines Citizen going abroad, teaching what to do and their rights and info where to seek help in case of problems etc.

Civil wedding you only need:

licensed you can get from civic registrar where your fiancée lives

legal capacity to marry for American, you can get that from US embassy in Manila

[bendinlar 16]

The government of the Philippines requires pre-marriage counceling for all couples getting married, whether its civil or church. If you're not catholic, then the government puts on the counceling. That's what we did, a one day seminar to fill the requirements. All about managing a household, budgeting, family planning, anti abuse laws, you get the idea. There was a bit in there about the spiritual side, but it was a nondenominational kinda thing.

If you are both over, I think,25, there is an exception. Go with what the LCR tells you.

The CFO has been covered pretty well, so no need to expound on that.

Got your affidavit in leau of legal capacity to marry yet? $50 at the embassy, or consulate in Cebu.

Congrats and best wishes.

[dalidali 0]

If you are both over, I think,25, there is an exception. Go with what the LCR tells you.

Got your affidavit in leau of legal capacity to marry yet? $50 at the embassy, or consulate in Cebu.

Congrats and best wishes.

Thanks bendinlar.....I have it all covered.

Were both well beyond the age you stated, so we'll see about any exceptions.

Later this month I will visit the US Consulate in Cebu.

I have the notary form all filled out and ready to submit.

[dvc 11]

Remember, you have to apply for the license at least 10 days before the ceremony. (A holdover from the days of marriage banns) This also means you must be in RP at least 10 days before the ceremony.