CFO question. Unusual circumstances

[flicks1998 1,044]

1 hour ago, timk said:

Hey everyone,

I wanted to try and revise this thread, as I have another question.

My wife was successfully able to amend her original CFO certificate, from her single to married name. 

We now have her temp. certificate, which will expire on July 31, 2021.

 

THE CFO rep has not exactly been clear with us regarding the use of the temporary, vs the official document with sticker that they will send in a few weeks.
 

"You may use your OF-CORS temporary certificate on your departure if you have a scheduled flight prior to July 31, 2021 (the validity of the temporary certificate). As the OF-CORS temporary certificate is only valid until July 31, 2021, you will still need to receive your original CFO registration sticker and GCC which do not have expiry dates."

 

So I am either an idiot, or the above comments from the CFO rep does not make any sense to me. 

 

My question: Are we able to fly using the temporary certificate prior to the expiration date? She is ready to go, so we do not want to wait another "few weeks" if we do not have to. 

Thank you everyone. Much appreciated if somebody can help us out here. 

 

 

Yes.  We used the temporary certificate to leave in February. We were not waiting around for any stickers or official document to be sent in the mail. Both the airline at prescreening and immigration had no questions. Others on this board have done the same thing. 

[timk 1]

Fantastic!

Really appreciate the response. 

[flicks1998 1,044]

Just now, timk said:

Fantastic!

Really appreciate the response. 

Just for fun I just checked if the official document ever came to the address we gave and it has not. So we would have been waiting almost 3 months for nothing. Your fine to go as is and try leaving as soon as you can and get out of that nightmare there. 👍

[timk 1]

Not surprising at all, and yes....flights will be booked for her and the kiddos this week. Just need to find a decent Covid testing facility with 24 hr results. 

[flicks1998 1,044]

6 hours ago, timk said:

Not surprising at all, and yes....flights will be booked for her and the kiddos this week. Just need to find a decent Covid testing facility with 24 hr results. 

If your flying PAL they have the testing center in ermita. Results back in less than 24 hours. 

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

3 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

If your flying PAL they have the testing center in ermita. Results back in less than 24 hours. 

Are the PAL facilities restricted to only PAL passengers?  I could not find any definitive information on that.

 

They do have a lot of good testing information on their website:

 

https://www.philippineairlines.com/en/ph/home/covid-19/TravelingWithinThePH/PAL_COVID-19_TestingPartners

 

https://www.philippineairlines.com/en/ph/home/covid-19/DepartingFromThePH/DestinationsRequiringCOVID-19Testing

[flicks1998 1,044]

2 hours ago, seekingthetruth said:

Are the PAL facilities restricted to only PAL passengers?  I could not find any definitive information on that.

 

They do have a lot of good testing information on their website:

 

https://www.philippineairlines.com/en/ph/home/covid-19/TravelingWithinThePH/PAL_COVID-19_TestingPartners

 

https://www.philippineairlines.com/en/ph/home/covid-19/DepartingFromThePH/DestinationsRequiringCOVID-19Testing

You should double check with them but it appeared they are not. It appeared PAL passengers received a discount on the PCR test from 4500p to 3300p. Not sure on the antigen test. I’m pretty sure anyone can go to the testing center though. 

[top_secret 2,347]

If it's for US, a Rapid Antigen test is sufficient.  My wife just got her Rapid Antigen test for our Peru trip from these guys. https://www.internationalsps.com/covid-testing. Rapid Antigen swab test was P1400 and she walked out with a proper test result certificate in 20 minutes.  They also have mobile service in Metro Manila area where they would come to you for P500 extra charge.  So P1900 for Rapid Antigen testing wherever you are.  But my wife declined that service on the basis that she didn't want to have to explain to the neighbors why a van with a PPE clad swabbing team showed up at her condo.  RT-PCR is also available from them with guaranteed time for results although unless it's a destination or airline that requires RT-PCR it's hard to see the benefit of that over Rapid Antigen test.

 

Edited April 29, 2021 by top_secret

[timk 1]

They will not be flying PAL, as there is no guarantee the flight will actually happen getting out of there. I'm pretty much settled on booking a flight with United, as they are not reporting any cancellations. 

On PAL's website however, it does mention that all US bound passengers need the RT-PCR test. Can anyone 100% confirm this? While speaking to the United rep, he didn't seem too knowledgeable on which type of test was needed. 

 

[flicks1998 1,044]

27 minutes ago, timk said:

They will not be flying PAL, as there is no guarantee the flight will actually happen getting out of there. I'm pretty much settled on booking a flight with United, as they are not reporting any cancellations. 

On PAL's website however, it does mention that all US bound passengers need the RT-PCR test. Can anyone 100% confirm this? While speaking to the United rep, he didn't seem too knowledgeable on which type of test was needed. 

 

US entry requirements are either a PCR or antigen test taken within 72 hours of your flight.  However, you need to double check the transiting country on what there requirements are as well.  Some countries require a PCR test to transit, some say you can have a PCR or antigen test while others say no test at all for transit.  If you have any doubts at all, the PCR test is the safer way to go.

[flicks1998 1,044]

1 hour ago, top_secret said:

 But my wife declined that service on the basis that she didn't want to have to explain to the neighbors why a van with a PPE clad swabbing team showed up at her condo.  

 

Smartest thing she could have done.  Otherwise the whole barangay would be under lockdown for weeks and people dragged out of their homes.  Some provincial towns were having government officials go house to house searching for COVID positive people so they could drag them off to a hospital or makeshift "medical center".

[top_secret 2,347]

18 minutes ago, flicks1998 said:

Smartest thing she could have done.  Otherwise the whole barangay would be under lockdown for weeks and people dragged out of their homes.  Some provincial towns were having government officials go house to house searching for COVID positive people so they could drag them off to a hospital or makeshift "medical center".

Her barangay has kind of been taking a don't ask don't tell approach to COVID in the neighborhood.  They would prefer not to notice anything COVID related. Which is fine.  But it was pretty convenient for her to go down to the test center and get a 20 minute Rapid Antigen test.

[timk 1]

Flicks, great point. Safe than sorry. Not sure what is the protocol for Guam and Hawaii for transit.

Thanks to top_secret for posting the link for ISPS. Turns out they have a testing center 10 minutes away from my Asawa. A literal relief. 

[flicks1998 1,044]

On 4/28/2021 at 11:04 PM, timk said:

Flicks, great point. Safe than sorry. Not sure what is the protocol for Guam and Hawaii for transit.

Thanks to top_secret for posting the link for ISPS. Turns out they have a testing center 10 minutes away from my Asawa. A literal relief. 

Hawaii has their own requirements and technically they require a test taken within 72 hours of boarding your flight.  However the federal requirements (CDC) are 3 days and not 72 hours.  This gives more flexibility to the traveler.  Im sure the agents for the airlines in the Philippines are going to stick to the 72 hour rule and just for smooth traveling, I would use that as your guidance as well. 

 

For Guam nothing was listed for any test requirements:  Travellers transiting through Guam International Airport (GUM) will be required to remain in designated portions of the airport while awaiting connecting flights for less than 13 hours.
(Until further notice)

Edited April 30, 2021 by flicks1998

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

On 4/29/2021 at 8:09 AM, top_secret said:

They also have mobile service in Metro Manila area where they would come to you for P500 extra charge.

I suspect that the P500 "come to you" service has some tight restrictions.  That is cheap for a home service of that type.  If anyone finds out, let us know.