CFO Seminar Experience (December 2014)

[cheesecake_A+J 7]

I had my CFO seminar yesterday. I’m sharing my experience and I hope it will be helpful for those who will have their seminar at CFO Manila.

HOW TO GET THERE: I rode the LRT(1) and alighted at Pedro Gil Station. Then I rode a Sta.Ana/Tulay/Paco jeepney and the driver dropped me off at Union St.(the right side). From there, I walked to Citigold Center (the orange building). It’s just a 5-minute walk.

I got there at 7:30 AM. The guy at the front desk asked for my appointment confirmation form, my 2 valid ID’s, and photocopies of my ID’s. He got one of my ID’s and returned the rest of my documents. He gave me a lanyard with a pink "F" and told me to proceed to the 3^rd floor.

At the 3^rd floor, I was given the guidance and counseling form that I had to fill out. It is not the online registration form from the CFO website. I am very thankful that I read Hank’s guide(Thank you, Hank! ) and other blogs because they gave very helpful tips on the information that you have to put there that you may not know off the top of your head. Here are some of those information:

-Your petitioner’s address, landline number, email address, and place of birth

-Your petitioner’s occupation, educational attainment, and degree/course

-Your petitioner’s mother’s full MAIDEN name (the CFO counselor said that this is very important)

I gave the form and the CFO officer asked me for the photocopy of my 2 valid ID’s and asked me to wait to have my picture taken. It was not a long wait which was nice. Before taking my picture, the lady asked for my fiance’s birthday and then asked me if I was okay with the picture. She told me to wait till the seminar starts. It was only 8:00 AM. I went to the USA room to wait and talked with other fiancées and spouses who were waiting. It was nice meeting other people and hearing them share their stories. There were 15 of us at first but they asked 2 ladies to go to the Australia room.

We had our seminar at 9:00 AM and the counselor was really nice and funny. Actually, I think the seminar is helpful. It is not a seminar to scare us but a seminar to inform us. And when the counselor “holds” someone, it is because she sees something questionable about the relationship. She gave examples of situations why they wouldn’t issue the certificate and some are really scary. I’m glad that the seminar was not boring because we had to sit there for more than three straight hours. We ended at 12:40 and the counselor said that we could have our lunch or have our one on one counseling. I went straight to counseling so I can be done right away.

I wasn’t really nervous when the counselor was asking me questions. She asked how my fiancé and I met and what happened next. She wanted to see how the relationship developed. Then she asked follow-up questions based on my answers. She asked if I had pictures with my fiancé from where we first met in person. I brought a lot (75 pictures! lol) and asked her which ones she wanted to see. She said that she wanted to look at all of them. She was also asking me questions while looking at the pictures. She asked how my fiancé proposed and what made me say yes. I was relaxed and it was like telling your love story to a friend. I think the best part of the day was when I answered what made me say yes when my fiancé proposed to me. She said, “Yes, your pictures really show your love for each other. That’s why we spend time going over all the pictures that you show us. You know, there are some couples’ pictures where you can’t see that.” Her comment really made me happy because my fiancé and I really love each other. I’m glad that our love can be seen even in pictures.

She asked for a copy of my fiance’s passport and told me that since I am returning anyway because I will return for my sticker(Lord willing my visa is approved ), she will just issue my certificate when I return because she needs to take some of my pictures. She didn’t want to get them since I might still use them for my interview. That was nice of her. She told me to scan 5-10 pictures and put them together and include the ones with my family. I made sure though that I was okay and I didn’t have any problems. She said yes and I thanked her.

I went to the first floor and paid 400 pesos. I returned my pink “F” ID and my ID was returned to me. I was done at 1:00 PM.

Here are the documents/requirements/proof of relationship that I had and I underlined the ones that the CFO officer and counselor asked me to submit:

1. 2 valid ID’s (I used my PRC ID and my NBI clearance)

2. Photocopy of the 2 ID’s

3. Appointment confirmation form

4. Fee (P400)

5. Original and copy of birth certificate

6. Original and copy of CENOMAR

7. (2) 2x2 passport photos

8. Copy of my fiance’s passport

9. Copy of his birth certificate

10. Copy of his tax return (I blackened out his SSN)

11. Pictures together

12. Chat logs (The counselor asked one girl there for chat logs so it’s better to be prepared. The girl had them so it was good. )

*THESE WERE THE THINGS THAT I HAD TO SUBMIT, BUT IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT IT IS THE SAME FOR EVERYONE, SO IT’S BETTER TO HAVE ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS WITH YOU.

TIPS:

1. Please make sure that you attend the CFO seminar(or remind your fiancée about it). There was one girl there who had to rebook her flight because she didn’t go to the seminar. I saw a sample visa packet and the CFO paper is even included there. I don’t know how that can be missed! Too much excitement maybe.

2. Be on time. The same girl (I feel bad for her) was late before and they didn’t let her in anymore. Don’t ask me what happened next.

3. Don’t book your flight too close to your CFO seminar because the counselor might ask you for additional documents. You’ll never know.

4. Be ready with all your documents.

5. Bring pictures or chat logs that you can leave with the counselor in case she asks you to submit them.

6. Bring food if you are always hungry like me. Or if you want to do the counseling right away after the seminar.

6. Enjoy the experience and try not to think that it is an added burden to a list of other things that we have to do. You’ll also make new friends there.

Edited December 4, 2014 by A+J <3

[EmieCB 0]

Hi, did they really asked the original Birth certificate and Cenomar? cause I don't have it anymore, the CO at the interview asked for it to be submitted. Now, I'm worried..

[Elle&Kyle 10]

Hi! Thank you! This is very helpful! I'll schedule my CFO by next week.

[cheesecake_A+J 7]

Hi! They didn't ask me for my birth certificate and CENOMAR. I gave them my copies when I gave the copies of my ID's but they just returned them to me. I underlined the ones that I had to submit. We really don't know what "other documents" they will ask for. For your peace of mind, why not get new certified copies of your birth certificate and original CENOMAR , especially that you will need certified copies of your birth certificate when you are in the US. I'm not sure though where else we would need the CENOMAR, but the counselor advised us to bring an original CENOMAR. That's something I need to ask Hank.

Congratulations, by the way! Your visa is already approved. Don't worry too much.

Edited December 4, 2014 by A+J <3

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi, did they really asked the original Birth certificate and Cenomar? cause I don't have it anymore, the CO at the interview asked for it to be submitted. Now, I'm worried..

Yes CFO asks to see an original CENOMAR and BC, but they will only keep copies if you provide them. (this, and more, info is in the guide below)

It is also a good idea to bring a couple extra NSO birth certificates to the USA with you.

[cheesecake_A+J 7]

Hi! Thank you! This is very helpful! I'll schedule my CFO by next week.

You are welcome! And thank you. I hope it goes well. Congratulations on your approval!

[Elle&Kyle 10]

You are welcome! And thank you. I hope it goes well. Congratulations on your approval!

Thank you! Congratulations on yours too! I hope we get our visas real soon!

Thanks to Hank too!

[cheesecake_A+J 7]

Thank you! Congratulations on yours too! I hope we get our visas real soon!

Thanks to Hank too!

You're welcome. I'll have my interview on the 10th. but thank you

Yes, Hank has been a great help here in VJ.

[Elle&Kyle 10]

You're welcome. I'll have my interview on the 10th. but thank you

Yes, Hank has been a great help here in VJ.

Oh, best of luck! I thought of posting a topic regarding my interview, I thought that might help others. But for the life of me I can't figure out how to post under the Philippines haha, I'm afraid I might piss off the mods here. Anyway, I'm sure you will pass the interview

[cheesecake_A+J 7]

Thank you!

Haha. Go to Forums. Scroll down and go to General Discussion Area. You will see Regional Discussion and Philippines is there. That's where you can post your interview experience, or you can also put it in your timeline. Thank you for your encouragement. I pray so.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Oh, best of luck! I thought of posting a topic regarding my interview, I thought that might help others. But for the life of me I can't figure out how to post under the Philippines haha, I'm afraid I might piss off the mods here. Anyway, I'm sure you will pass the interview

Post your interview review in your timeline. You can access your timeline from any of your postings, it is listed on the left. Once you are on your timeline page, the edit button is next to your picture, after clicking that you will need EDIT one more time in the upper middle of the page... now you can add your reviews and update your timeline.

[Elle&Kyle 10]

Thank you both! I'll look it up

[Rissa92 1]

What if I don't have BC of my petitioner? He was born in China and he said he doesn't have it since he's grew up and live in the US?

[Hank_ 9,174]

What if I don't have BC of my petitioner? He was born in China and he said he doesn't have it since he's grew up and live in the US?

You will simply have to explain that to CFO, after the copy of the BIO page of his passport should be more than enough. Not quite sure what a copy of the USC BC is good for at CFO... aside from them pretending to be like the embassy interview process.

[cheesecake_A+J 7]

Yes, just tell them why your fiancé doesn't have his BC. Most of us were only asked for the copy of the bio page of the USC's passport. One lady didn't have it and she told the counselor that it's not included in the "requirements" on the CFO website. Just bring all the documents that you have.