Pre-Departure Seminar (CFO) WARNING

[duckhunter1 18]

To those here that are in the 'issued' status on their visa and are preparing for your flight take warning. There is a required pre-departure seminar in Manila or Cebu which must be completed prior to flying. The seminar is given by the CFO department in Philippines. My advice is 'do not purchase your ticket before this seminar is complete'. The people, these bureaucrats, who work in the CFO office are not very accommodating. Please take warning...if your seminar starts at 9am or 2pm look at the fine print at the bottom of the schedule confirmation record page. In fine print it says 'you must be at the appointment 1 hr 30 min prior to your seminar time'. #######? Their office doesn't even open until 8am so you must be outside their doors for 30 minutes waiting on the sidewalk. My fiancé showed up at 8am for a 9am seminar and was refused entry even though she had a scheduled appointment. As a result of this type of unaccommodating policy of the CFO office I have lost a $1000 ticket which was booked for Wednesday evening. Don't trust these people they are not there to help you. They are muscle flexors who like power and control. It's not suppose to be this difficult! Welcome to Philippines!

[Hank_ 9,174]

We tried to warn you.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

Why can't you or your fiance follow simple instructions? I say that because this whole process that y'all have been going through has been one headache after another for you, and I remember how you have tried to ask about going around the process to get things done faster. Sadly, this is the process in the Philippines and you MUST follow the instructions laid down or you will have to wait. That is how the Philippines is, I know it sucks but that's how it is.

Your fiance probably was on Juan/Philippine time and was thinking that it's ok to show up just a few minutes late. That they will accommodate her because that's how the Philippines runs and works on Juan time. But she got caught and now must suffer the consequences.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

You have been on VJ for months now and it's been said many times what to expect, where to go and how to process without problems.

[duckhunter1 18]

Thanks for the positive encouraging words. We have been through hell with this Visa because unfortunately I am in the U.S. She is in Philippines and I can't get her to follow any form of instruction whatsoever. I am a very detailed design engineer working in the nuclear industry. I write very specific engineering details and drawings for repairs, new designs, preventative maintenance and upgrades to very complex equipment. I have a high level security clearance so I know what crossing T's and dotting I's mean sir. So this entire process is very frustrating for me and as a result it's now costing me dearly financially. She started her process for acquiring a passport and it took 14 weeks and 5 or 6 trips to DFA. Then the medical exam required a total of 4 visits lasting about 30 days. Then the embassy interview was rescheduled 4 times because of various things. On top of that her mom is trying to steal her documents to prevent her from coming here so she had to change her visa delivery address. She's been living in hotels to get away from her. She has a safety deposit locker storing her Visa and passport. It's really pathetic and there's nothing at all I can do about exit just be patient with her. I am concerned that she won't be able to successfully fly here without getting lost in the airport or screwin around and missing her flight because she wants to shop at various airport retail stores. I don't know I'm just ranting. Her Visa was approved and 'ready' on March 4th. If I had been there with her she would have been here months ago but unfortunately I can't quit my job to be there she has to do that on her own. The truth be known I'm totally disillusioned and clueless as to what to do.

You know,...when a seminar says 9am - 12pm usually that means show up before 9 am to be safe. The fine print at the bottom of the confirmation page, which I didn't have possession of, says '90 minutes before'. The CFO website says they open at 8am. How is it possible to be present at 7:30 am when they don't open the doors until 8 am? This is quite weird in my opinion and the CFO people were militant about it. There were at least 3 other young ladies also turned away yesterday morning.

URGGH!!

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

Thanks for the positive encouraging words. We have been through hell with this Visa because unfortunately I am in the U.S. She is in Philippines and I can't get her to follow any form of instruction whatsoever. I am a very detailed design engineer working in the nuclear industry. I write very specific engineering details and drawings for repairs, new designs, preventative maintenance and upgrades to very complex equipment. I have a high level security clearance so I know what crossing T's and dotting I's mean sir. So this entire process is very frustrating for me and as a result it's now costing me dearly financially. She started her process for acquiring a passport and it took 14 weeks and 5 or 6 trips to DFA. Then the medical exam required a total of 4 visits lasting about 30 days. Then the embassy interview was rescheduled 4 times because of various things. On top of that her mom is trying to steal her documents to prevent her from coming here so she had to change her visa delivery address. She's been living in hotels to get away from her. She has a safety deposit locker storing her Visa and passport. It's really pathetic and there's nothing at all I can do about exit just be patient with her. I am concerned that she won't be able to successfully fly here without getting lost in the airport or screwin around and missing her flight because she wants to shop at various airport retail stores. I don't know I'm just ranting. Her Visa was approved and 'ready' on March 4th. If I had been there with her she would have been here months ago but unfortunately I can't quit my job to be there she has to do that on her own. The truth be known I'm totally disillusioned and clueless as to what to do.

You know,...when a seminar says 9am - 12pm usually that means show up before 9 am to be safe. The fine print at the bottom of the confirmation page, which I didn't have possession of, says '90 minutes before'. The CFO website says they open at 8am. How is it possible to be present at 7:30 am when they don't open the doors until 8 am? This is quite weird in my opinion and the CFO people were militant about it. There were at least 3 other young ladies also turned away yesterday morning.

URGGH!!

That is the thing that is posted OVER and OVER on the Philippines forum that you must follow the EXACT instructions that CFO needs or they can and will deny you. They will even ask for more items than what is required if they think that is what it is needed. If your fiance can not follow instructions what do you think will change when she gets to the US?

[Hank_ 9,174]

Ah ... an engineer....

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Duckhunter@ Now we know what the underlying problem is. Not you but your fiancé. And you have lost control which is easy to do when you are 5,000 miles away. I feel for you buddy. But as they say "you made your bed....." Sorry for not being more encouraging but we talk to so many here that need help and some follow what we have to say and have no problems, while those who don't or don't understand, are lost.

The process is truly simple. There really isn't much that can go wrong if you follow the guides that Hank or I have put together. Each of our guides are in our signature below.

[duckhunter1 18]

I have personally done things in my life that are 100x more complicated and have been very successful at it. It's easy for someone experienced. But if you take someone who's inexperienced and try to teach them from the other side of the world it's not very easy. She may turn out to be teachable in the long run. But for now she's just not use to doing all this paperwork and having to be Johnny on the spot, with all correct documents in hand, etc. She just doesn't know and there's nothing I can do to change it. She says she's sorry a lot. And she also doesn't spend any time on this site even though I asked her to visit here. She would be here 2 months now if I were present helping her.

[Hank_ 9,174]

.. may turn out to be teachable in the long run? You serious?

... WoW!

Yes this process is simple, yet overwhelming also.

Intelligence is in many ways a matter of geography.

Ask a person to define; alley apple and road apple Depending on where they grew up and where they are standing at the moment they may not know either or only one. Not knowing what those are can make a person appear rather stupid in some locals.

Edited July 12, 2016 by Hank_

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

In order to appreciate your situation, you must first understand the nature of the CFO. To beat them at their own game understand their methods and be prepared. Follow these handy tips:

1. Arrive early. If your appointment is at 2PM, be there at 6:30 AM. It sounds ridiculous, but then again, so is the CFO program.

2. I hope you made copies of EVERYTHING that was in your interview packet, because a CFO can and will ask for additional items, despite what they tell you to bring on their website. At my wife's CFO interview, for example, they asked her to supply them with a copy of my birth certificate. They also wanted pics of us together.

3. She will sit through a few propaganda videos made to scare her about life in the USA.

4. Make sure she has exact change for the fees in pesos.

5. Here's the best part - A CFO Officer awards the CFO stamp/sticker base don their descresion, so be prepared if she is one of the handfuls of Filipinos who do not get thier CFO sticker. My wife told me she saw a young pinay (18 years old) get refused a sticker because they felt she was only marrying to escape poverty.

[Hank_ 9,174]

And here is the big one: If you are meek, timid, unsure, don't look them in the eyes when speaking .... CFO will look at you as the bullseye on the target!!

[duckhunter1 18]

This is definitely troublesome information. My fiancé is all of the above that's why she's had so much trouble with DFA, medical, etc. How can these people deny a Pinay citizen the right to use a legitimately acquired Visa? It sounds more like Cuba, Iran, or North Korea to me. it's not the actions of a true free society. If she's denied why couldn't she get a round trip ticket to Singapore or somewhere and depart from there to the U.S.?

[Hank_ 9,174]

This is definitely troublesome information. My fiancé is all of the above that's why she's had so much trouble with DFA, medical, etc. How can these people deny a Pinay citizen the right to use a legitimately acquired Visa? It sounds more like Cuba, Iran, or North Korea to me. it's not the actions of a true free society. If she's denied why couldn't she get a round trip ticket to Singapore or somewhere and depart from there to the U.S.?

Why? Because - Once there is a visa in her passport she will not be boarding any airplane to exit the Philippines, no matter where the plane is headed.

[duckhunter1 18]

There are 25 countries in which Pinoys can travel. Are you saying that the K Visa in her passport restricts her to travel only to the U.S. and all 'free visa' countries for Pinoys are then prohibited?