HELP!! CFO HAS ME STRESSING!

[Hank_ 9,174]

I'm sure Hank and GB are already aware of this, but I perused the CFO website and, oddly enough, found no reference to the Parental Advice/Consent letter at all. I would have at least expected some mention of it in the Filipino Spouses and Partners of Foreign National section (http://www.cfo.gov.ph/). If it's there, I couldn't find it.

Nevertheless we're going the notarization and bringing copy guardian's ID route. Why risk it? My guess is it's one of those luck of the draw deals: Some counselors don't ask and know it's not technically "required," while others know they can "require" just about whatever they want.

Separately, I'm confused as to the stamp itself. The CFO website says you can take the seminar while waiting for your visa/before the release of the visa. But in that case, the applicant doesn't have her passport on-hand. My question: How could she then get the stamp? My assumption is, if going this route, my fiancé would need to make a second trip to the CFO to get stamped, upon getting her passport back?

I hate making assumptions, btw the way. Especially in matter of critical import.

Did you look under "other documents as may be required by counselors" ? And that means ANYTHING and EVERYTHING the counselor asks for is REQUIRED.

I have tried to keep the list updated as CFO asks for different things. Reading what is listed under the CFO tab should cover most all the bases.

As for your other question; you can not get the sticker affixed in the passport until the visa is there.

[luckytwo15 13]

I'm sure Hank and GB are already aware of this, but I perused the CFO website and, oddly enough, found no reference to the Parental Advice/Consent letter at all. I would have at least expected some mention of it in the Filipino Spouses and Partners of Foreign National section (http://www.cfo.gov.ph/). If it's there, I couldn't find it.

Nevertheless we're going the notarization and bringing copy guardian's ID route. Why risk it? My guess is it's one of those luck of the draw deals: Some counselors don't ask and know it's not technically "required," while others know they can "require" just about whatever they want.

Separately, I'm confused as to the stamp itself. The CFO website says you can take the seminar while waiting for your visa/before the release of the visa. But in that case, the applicant doesn't have her passport on-hand. My question: How could she then get the stamp? My assumption is, if going this route, my fiancé would need to make a second trip to the CFO to get stamped, upon getting her passport back?

I hate making assumptions, btw the way. Especially in matter of critical import.

Your assumption is correct. My fiancée did the Cebu CFO seminar in April 2014. CFO gave her a certificate stating she successfully completed CFO's requirements.

She was issued her K1 visa in February 2015. We took her passport and CFO certificate to the CFO counter at NAIA Terminal 1 and they placed the sticker in her passport. The sticker is the size of one full passport page.

Edited February 18, 2015 by luckytwo15

[VOL 425]

I don't think they do the sticker anymore.

We got our at the airport and it was a piece of paper stapled to the backpage of her passport.

[luckytwo15 13]

I don't think they do the sticker anymore.

We got our at the airport and it was a piece of paper stapled to the backpage of her passport.

She got the sticker 10 days ago at the airport, no paper or stamp.

[VOL 425]

So hank there is really no workaround?

Once the visa is attached, cfo sticker should be there too?

You are suppose to do CFO and get "sticker", I have never heard anyone failing CFO, I have know those who had to go back once they knew the Petitioners mother's maiden name.

But trying to fly out of Davao without a CFO would be hit and miss and not recommended. They usually attach the US Visa somewhere in the middle, So if the person checking that day would depend on how well they do their job.

[Hank_ 9,174]

The sticker is always there, but they do staple the certificate in the back of the passport as well... some just are paying too much attention and only notice the certificated stapled..

[VOL 425]

She got the sticker 10 days ago at the airport, no paper or stamp.

Was it an actual sticker, They used to be about 2 inches high and wide.

Or did they give her small piece of paper with her picture on it about 4" high and 8 1/2 Wide?

Correction:

I see the new stickers are now much bigger than the old yellow stickers, and they still stick them in the passport. I see the thing the attach at back of passport is also different than when I went thru this process a few years ago..

Edited February 18, 2015 by VOL

[luckytwo15 13]

Was it an actual sticker, They used to be about 2 inches high and wide.

Or did they give her small piece of paper with her picture on it about 4" high and 8 1/2 Wide?

Correction:

I see the new stickers are now much bigger than the old yellow stickers, and they still stick them in the passport. I see the thing the attach at back of passport is also different than when I went thru this process a few years ago..

They didn't attach any paper to the back of her passport, sticker only.

Edited February 18, 2015 by luckytwo15

[VOL 425]

They didn't attach any paper to the back of her passport, sticker only.

The sticker is all you need.

My girl has sticker (Just looked) and some type of small paper with her picture on it, I bet it what she filled out when she registred for CFO

[Blueblood 5]

Your assumption is correct. My fiancée did the Cebu CFO seminar in April 2014. CFO gave her a certificate stating she successfully completed CFO's requirements.

She was issued her K1 visa in February 2015. We took her passport and CFO certificate to the CFO counter at NAIA Terminal 1 and they placed the sticker in her passport. The sticker is the size of one full passport page.

Forgive me guys, I'm a bit confused, so thanks for your patience with this question: The long and of the short of it is fiancés CAN go to the seminar without their passport and visa with, complete everything; pay; etc. But then they must RETURN to CFO to get sticker later? Or can they get that at the airport (no extra trip to CFO)? It sounds like the former, but I'm not sure...

TIA and have a great day, everyone!

Edited February 18, 2015 by Blueblood

[Blueblood 5]

Did you look under "other documents as may be required by counselors" ? And that means ANYTHING and EVERYTHING the counselor asks for is REQUIRED.

I have tried to keep the list updated as CFO asks for different things. Reading what is listed under the CFO tab should cover most all the bases.

As for your other question; you can not get the sticker affixed in the passport until the visa is there.

Yes, I saw that Hank, but found no specific reference to the Advice/Consent letter. Yes, I understand it means anything and everything. To wit, without your website and this one, people could really be in for extra hassles and surprises. If my fiancé and I read the CFO site only, we'd have no idea of even the concept of the Advice/Consent letter...

You do a terrific job of updating your site, btw. Cheers

[VOL 425]

Forgive me guys, I'm a bit confused, so thanks for your patience with this question: The long and of the short of it is fiancés CAN go to the seminar without their passport and visa with, complete everything; pay; etc. But then they must RETURN to CFO to get sticker later? Or can they get that at the airport (no extra trip to CFO)? It sounds like the former, but I'm not sure...

TIA and have a great day, everyone!

either

Can go back to CFO and get sticker

or can get at airport.

Just make sure the CFO has somebody station at the airport, we got ours at terminal 3. I would assume they have it in terminal 1 also.

[luckytwo15 13]

We tried Terminal 3, but CFO counter there closed at something like 9pm. The information counter close by the CFO counter called Terminal 1 CFO, which was open. We had picked up her visa package earlier in the day at moa, around 6pm on a Friday and just didn't want to deal with another wait until CFO Manila opened on Monday.

We didn't have a flight booked yet, which i think is a requirement to get stickered at the airport. So we talked in circles about standby ticketing, etc on the phone to CFO Terminal 1 and to the guard at Terminal 1. They let us in and put the sticker in the passport. We had to fill out the CFO information sheet all over again.

Also, taxis offered us a ride from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 ranging from 450 to 900 pesos. We found a terminal connection bus that shuttles between terminals for 20 pesos per person. Just had to wait about 20 minutes as the bus filled.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Yes, I saw that Hank, but found no specific reference to the Advice/Consent letter. Yes, I understand it means anything and everything. To wit, without your website and this one, people could really be in for extra hassles and surprises. If my fiancé and I read the CFO site only, we'd have no idea of even the concept of the Advice/Consent letter...

You do a terrific job of updating your site, btw. Cheers

Most of the documents asked for at CFO are not listed; copy of USC birth certificate being a quick easy one, and the variety of information needed about the USC is not listed. This gives the counselors vast power. And rocking the boat does nothing positive.

You can talk about how it is not listed on the CFO website, but we can take that thinking to the embassy as well.... if you call the embassy and ask about starting the visa application they will tell you to wait until you received the letter from the embassy... you know the letter that never arrives. How many people sit for months on end waiting and now knowing better? There are snags like this throughout the process, you will bump into more once dealing with USCIS again.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Forgive me guys, I'm a bit confused, so thanks for your patience with this question: The long and of the short of it is fiancés CAN go to the seminar without their passport and visa with, complete everything; pay; etc. But then they must RETURN to CFO to get sticker later? Or can they get that at the airport (no extra trip to CFO)? It sounds like the former, but I'm not sure...

TIA and have a great day, everyone!

You can get your CFO sticker at Terminal 3 on the 3rd Floor at the CFO desk or at CFO NAIA desk is at terminal one.. beside TIEZA travel tax desk.. between the entrance doors with the x-ray / conveyor machines..

You must still take the seminar either at the Cebu or Manila locations. Get the certificate and once you have your passport take it with the certificate to the CFO locations; CEBU, MANILA or at Manila NIAI Term 1 or Term 3. They request that you call ahead 2-3 days, CFO NAIA: 632-879-5685 or 02-879-5685 to ensure that someone will be available and knows when to meet you. They cover 3 terminals so they could be anywhere if you were to show up without an appointment.

They are open from 5am till 12 midnight