CFO Required for PH Passport Change of Name?

[GEEPEECEE 12]

My wife is in the process of getting her documents ready for her visa paperwork.

In anticipation she went to the DFA (Iloilo) to change her name to her married name on her passport (/get new passport). 

Once there, the DFA person said that since she is married to a "non-Filipino" she had to take the CFO seminar before processing the change of name for her passport.

 

Has anyone else encountered this? I was actually caught off guard b/c i always expecting the CFO seminar to come later on in the visa/interview/US Embassy/medical time frame prior to leaving, but not now. I'm really just trying to avoid her to travel manila just to take the CFO seminar when she can do it later. But if it's unavoidable, then she will have to travel twice. 

 

Thanks ahead of time for the responses.

G

[ms.lonely 14]

Yes if she will change her last name but still a CFO certificate is a requirement to leave the country. If she will renew her passport without changing her maiden name to her married name she don't need a CFO to renew.

[Hank_ 9,174]

2 hours ago, GEEPEECEE said:

My wife is in the process of getting her documents ready for her visa paperwork.

In anticipation she went to the DFA (Iloilo) to change her name to her married name on her passport (/get new passport). 

Once there, the DFA person said that since she is married to a "non-Filipino" she had to take the CFO seminar before processing the change of name for her passport.

 

Has anyone else encountered this? I was actually caught off guard b/c i always expecting the CFO seminar to come later on in the visa/interview/US Embassy/medical time frame prior to leaving, but not now. I'm really just trying to avoid her to travel manila just to take the CFO seminar when she can do it later. But if it's unavoidable, then she will have to travel twice. 

 

Thanks ahead of time for the responses.

G

That is normal for renewing the passport when married to a foreigner.   It is good to get CFO-GCP completed early as there is usually limited appt openings.

 

There are four locations.    Manila/Cebu/Clark/Davao:  http://cfo.gov.ph/gcp.html

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/cfo.html

Edited September 19, 2019 by Hank_

[GEEPEECEE 12]

19 hours ago, ms.lonely said:

Yes if she will change her last name but still a CFO certificate is a requirement to leave the country. If she will renew her passport without changing her maiden name to her married name she don't need a CFO to renew.

 

Thanks, it seems like she will have to make two trips. 

 

18 hours ago, Hank_ said:

That is normal for renewing the passport when married to a foreigner.   It is good to get CFO-GCP completed early as there is usually limited appt openings.

 

There are four locations.    Manila/Cebu/Clark/Davao:  http://cfo.gov.ph/gcp.html

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/cfo.html

Thanks! ANother question: WHat are the following?

 

"Proof of residency/Alien Registration Card-ARC (of foreign spouse)" - What is this? Is this like My Passport/State Driver's license?

 

"Certificate of Family relations / registration (of foreign spouse)" - What is this? 

 

Thanks!

[Hank_ 9,174]

5 hours ago, GEEPEECEE said:

 

Thanks, it seems like she will have to make two trips. 

 

Thanks! ANother question: WHat are the following?

 

"Proof of residency/Alien Registration Card-ARC (of foreign spouse)" - What is this? Is this like My Passport/State Driver's license?  NO, IT IS THE ACR CARD JUST AS NOTED .. residency in the Philippines.

 

"Certificate of Family relations / registration (of foreign spouse)" - What is this?  NOT SURE WHAT COUNTRY CFO "BORROWED" THIS IDEA FROM,  FOR MOST IT MEANS A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE IF MARRIED IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY

 

Thanks!

Those two items were added to the "maybe list" not too long ago.