CFO PDOS Scheduling

[John & Rose 7,239]

My future asawa's visa application includes her two children (14 and 17).  I am trying to lay out a schedule so we can make sure everything is covered.  With timelines at USCIS slipping I am trying to get as much done as possible.

 

Rose can do her CFO seminar without the visa but the visa has to be in place for her kids. That means that I can't schedule the PDOS until after everything else is complete and visas are in place.

 

In my searches here I have seen that it can take 3 to 4 months for the first opening for the PDOS seminar.  Does anyone have experience with that?  I am hoping that isn't true but the way everything else is going right now I wouldn't be surprised.

Edited August 18, 2017 by jwlussow

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Not true kids don't need there passports to take their pdos. Scheduling is hit or miss won't know till you try it for yourself. Everything is fluid in each step.

[John & Rose 7,239]

Just now, Greenbaum said:

Not true kids don't need there passports to take their pdos. Scheduling is hit or miss won't know till you try it for yourself. Everything is fluid in each step.

On their site they said that the kids need both their passport and visa in place in order to schedule the seminar.  I just tried last night.  I will look at it again but there is a checkbox asking if they already have the visa.  If the answer is no, it won't take you to the registration link.

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 hour ago, Greenbaum said:

Not true kids don't need there passports to take their pdos. Scheduling is hit or miss won't know till you try it for yourself. Everything is fluid in each step.

Since when? 

 

Immigrates 13-19 yrs. do attend Peer Counseling at PDOS, but I found no exceptions noted about not needing their passport w/visa.   And they must make an appointment through the PDOS system on the CFO website... which requires their passport w/visa to get scheduled.

 

A. What is the Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) in CFO?

Filipino emigrants or those leaving the country to settle permanently abroad are required to register with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), and attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) or Peer Counseling Session. Topics discussed include travel regulations, immigration procedures, cultural differences, settlement concerns, employment and social security concerns, and rights and obligations of Filipino migrants.

The PDOS is for emigrants aged 20-59 years old who are petitioned by their parents, siblings, or immediate relatives, including independent applicants. The Peer Counseling Program is for emigrants aged 13-19 years old.

To attend the Pre-Departure Orientation/Peer Counseling Program at CFO Manila, clients are required to use the RESERVATION and REGISTRATION (R&R) Online System.

 

http://cfo.gov.ph/rnr-pdos.html

Edited August 18, 2017 by Hank_

[John & Rose 7,239]

Yep.  She can do the CFO but the kids are required to have their visas in hand before I can schedule the PDOS.  Just adds more time to the journey.  I won't know how long until after they receive their visas.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

6 hours ago, Hank_ said:

Since when? See my remarks below.

 

Immigrates 13-19 yrs. do attend Peer Counseling at PDOS, but I found no exceptions noted about not needing their passport w/visa.  Op wants to move the process along in a timely fashion and heard that the passport is required and it is not required to attend the appointment but they will need to return after the interview with their passport/visa to have the certificate added. That hasn't changed in ages. And they must make an appointment through the PDOS system on the CFO website... which requires their passport w/visa to get scheduled.  They can schedule without having the physical passport as long as they have the passport number for scheduling.  If not then yes they would need the passports.

 

A. What is the Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) in CFO?

Filipino emigrants or those leaving the country to settle permanently abroad are required to register with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), and attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) or Peer Counseling Session. Topics discussed include travel regulations, immigration procedures, cultural differences, settlement concerns, employment and social security concerns, and rights and obligations of Filipino migrants.

The PDOS is for emigrants aged 20-59 years old who are petitioned by their parents, siblings, or immediate relatives, including independent applicants. The Peer Counseling Program is for emigrants aged 13-19 years old.

To attend the Pre-Departure Orientation/Peer Counseling Program at CFO Manila, clients are required to use the RESERVATION and REGISTRATION (R&R) Online System.

 

http://cfo.gov.ph/rnr-pdos.html

 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

6 hours ago, jwlussow said:

Yep.  She can do the CFO but the kids are required to have their visas in hand before I can schedule the PDOS.  Just adds more time to the journey.  I won't know how long until after they receive their visas.

My wife and stepchildren 9 and 20 at the time (3 years ago), did CFO without passports. Later in the week they had their interview. Then once they received their passports they returned to CFO and had the certificates placed in the passports of all three. They never needed the passports to complete CFO.

 

Now if there is a requirement that changes the process, I sure would like to see it in writing because so far I can't find anything that disputes what I am saying.

[John & Rose 7,239]

Just now, Greenbaum said:

My wife and stepchildren 9 and 20 at the time (3 years ago), did CFO without passports. Later in the week they had their interview. Then once they received their passports they returned to CFO and had the certificates placed in the passports of all three. They never needed the passports to complete CFO.

 

Now if there is a requirement that changes the process, I sure would like to see it in writing because so far I can't find anything that disputes what I am saying.

All kinds of mixed information.  I see that children are not allowed in the CFO seminar, which is specifically for adults with immigrant visas.  

The cfo.gov.ph site states that the visa is required for the children in PDOS but NOT required for the adult in the CFO seminar.

According to the cfo website, children must take PDOS and the requirements are below:

 

B. Requirements

No need to photocopy any registration document
No need to submit ID photos 

1. Original valid passport
2. Original valid visa
3. One (1) valid identification (ID) card with photograph (see list of valid IDs)
4. Payment of PhP400.00 registration fee
5. Attendance in the PDOS or Peer Counseling session
6. Original of the following country-specific documents:
   • US-bound emigrants (except for K visa holders): Immigrant Data Summary.
   • Canada-bound emigrants: Confirmation of Permanent Residence
   • Italy-bound emigrants: Nulla Osta
   • Japan-bound emigrants: Certificate of Eligibility
   • Australia-bound emigrants: Visa Grant Notification Letter
   • New Zealand-bound emigrants: Letter of approval for Work to Residence visa

After satisfactory compliance with the registration process and attendance to the PDOS, a CFO Emigrant registration sticker is affixed to your passport. This will be checked by the Bureau of Immigration on your day of departure.

 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

8 minutes ago, jwlussow said:

All kinds of mixed information.  I see that children are not allowed in the CFO seminar, which is specifically for adults with immigrant visas.  

The cfo.gov.ph site states that the visa is required for the children in PDOS but NOT required for the adult in the CFO seminar.

According to the cfo website, children must take PDOS and the requirements are below:

 

B. Requirements

No need to photocopy any registration document
No need to submit ID photos 

1. Original valid passport
2. Original valid visa
3. One (1) valid identification (ID) card with photograph (see list of valid IDs)
4. Payment of PhP400.00 registration fee
5. Attendance in the PDOS or Peer Counseling session
6. Original of the following country-specific documents:
   • US-bound emigrants (except for K visa holders): Immigrant Data Summary.
   • Canada-bound emigrants: Confirmation of Permanent Residence
   • Italy-bound emigrants: Nulla Osta
   • Japan-bound emigrants: Certificate of Eligibility
   • Australia-bound emigrants: Visa Grant Notification Letter
   • New Zealand-bound emigrants: Letter of approval for Work to Residence visa

After satisfactory compliance with the registration process and attendance to the PDOS, a CFO Emigrant registration sticker is affixed to your passport. This will be checked by the Bureau of Immigration on your day of departure.

 

I verified your information and yes it looks like you will need their passport. If it were me I would call to double check so you are not wasting time and can go it without the passports.  This whole process is fluid. Never seen so many changes and conflicting information. What worked for my family is not going to work for yours. Go figure.

[John & Rose 7,239]

I've been looking at this too long!!!  PDOS is for my future wife.  The kids do Peer Counseling.  I need to read through it all again.  

 

I'm so confused!!!!  (as if you couldn't tell!!!)

[John & Rose 7,239]

9 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

I verified your information and yes it looks like you will need their passport. If it were me I would call to double check so you are not wasting time and can go it without the passports.  This whole process is fluid. Never seen so many changes and conflicting information. What worked for my family is not going to work for yours. Go figure.

They have passports.  I'm concerned about the visa because that means we have to wait until the visa is in hand before we can schedule.  I will re-re-re-read it all tonight!!!  It also says the seminar is for immigrant visa holders and the K-1 is a non-immigrant visa!!!

Edited August 18, 2017 by jwlussow

[Greenbaum 12,259]

"It also says the seminar is for immigrant visa holders and the K-1 is a non-immigrant visa!!!" That's what is causing me to be hesitate in confirming that they need their passports.  Why does the mother not need hers as a K-1 and the children are K-2 traveling with mom in the same status. Read some more and make that phone call to CFO. Let's us know what you find out so we can have a clear understanding. Good luck.

[John & Rose 7,239]

1 minute ago, Greenbaum said:

"It also says the seminar is for immigrant visa holders and the K-1 is a non-immigrant visa!!!" That's what is causing me to be hesitate in confirming that they need their passports.  Why does the mother not need hers as a K-1 and the children are K-2 traveling with mom in the same status. Read some more and make that phone call to CFO. Let's us know what you find out so we can have a clear understanding. Good luck.

Will do!!!  I hope my confusion and resolution can help someone else.

[Hank_ 9,174]

3 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

Op wants to move the process along in a timely fashion and heard that the passport is required and it is not required to attend the appointment but they will need to return after the interview with their passport/visa to have the certificate added. That hasn't changed in ages.      They can schedule without having the physical passport as long as they have the passport number for scheduling.  If not then yes they would need the passports.

 

You seem to be mixing GCP with PDOS.  

 

Even if they can schedule with just the passport number, they can not attend without their passport .. listed as required for PDOS

 

2 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

"It also says the seminar is for immigrant visa holders and the K-1 is a non-immigrant visa!!!" That's what is causing me to be hesitate in confirming that they need their passports.  Why does the mother not need hers as a K-1 and the children are K-2 traveling with mom in the same status. Read some more and make that phone call to CFO. Let's us know what you find out so we can have a clear understanding. Good luck.

I do agree the K-2 is a non-immigrant visa.. but, as we are well aware, the K-1/K-2 is treated like an immigrant visa all the way through the process.   So I won't go down that silly path.

 

GCP is for fiancee and spouse of foreigners, states this clearly on their website, and asks when scheduling.   http://cfo.gov.ph/gcp.html

 

Do read through this page:   http://cfo.gov.ph/program-and-services/pdos/emigrant.html

 

 

 

[Hank_ 9,174]

2 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

"It also says the seminar is for immigrant visa holders and the K-1 is a non-immigrant visa!!!" THAT IS JUST WORD GAMES, WE ALL KNOW THE k-1/2 IS TREATED AS AN IMMIGRANT VISA THROUGH THE COMPLETE PROCESS. That's what is causing me to be hesitate in confirming that they need their passports.  Why does the mother not need hers as a K-1 and the children are K-2 traveling with mom in the same status. Read some more and make that phone call to CFO. Let's us know what you find out so we can have a clear understanding. Good luck.

 

Why for the K2?   Because GCP is for spouses and fiancee ONLY,  the child has to attend PEER COUNSELING.. and that requires a PDOS appointment.