Commission on Filipinos Overseas - Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar

[VersaV 0]

So we hit another snag in this confusing yet stressful homecoming.

 

Long story short: My wife's arrival date was supposed to be May 1 but had to push it back due to circumstances out of our control. Departure date was on the 22nd there however...

 

While she was at the Immigration Booth, she did not have a certification that she took the "PDOS" course from the CFO office. It was not on the sheet after she got her Passport back after her interview & wasn't stated on the US Visa Website (but later saw that it was required & stated on the US Embassy Manila website)

 

So we have to cancel her flight yet again and now she has to register.

Has anyone took this course online and is it a quick turnaround time? I see that they have been doing only the virtual course due to the pandemic.

 

For right now, she's staying at a hotel until we can get this certificate and can finally be on US Soil

 

Thanks in advance.

 

PS- I will update our timeline since these past few weeks has been hectic. 

Edited May 23, 2021 by VersaV

[Hank_ 9,174]

What visa type is your wife?   I see by your timeline she is IR/CR-1 (Spouse of U.S. citizen) she would take the GCP seminar.   PDOS would be spouse of green card holder (Filipino LPR)

 

GCP  https://cfo.gov.ph/overseas-filipinos-cfo-online-registration-system-or-of-cors-2/

 

PDOS  https://cfo.gov.ph/overseas-filipinos-cfo-online-registration-system-or-of-cors/

 

 

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

Edited May 23, 2021 by Hank_

[angeljolie 188]

4 hours ago, VersaV said:

is it a quick turnaround time?

1-3 days depending on how quick her assigned counselor works. Let your wife register as early as 7:30 am because slots are limited. Documents required are basically those required at the embassy interview.

[VersaV 0]

5 hours ago, Hank_ said:

What visa type is your wife?   I see by your timeline she is IR/CR-1 (Spouse of U.S. citizen) she would take the GCP seminar.   PDOS would be spouse of green card holder (Filipino LPR)

 

GCP  https://cfo.gov.ph/overseas-filipinos-cfo-online-registration-system-or-of-cors-2/

 

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

Thanks. We got confused on what she needs to take. That 2nd website seems to be outdated since everything is all virtual. Just hoping we have a quick turnaround.

 

1 hour ago, angeljolie said:

1-3 days depending on how quick her assigned counselor works. Let your wife register as early as 7:30 am because slots are limited. Documents required are basically those required at the embassy interview.

I hope it's quick. She's going to register once it hits 7am.

[VersaV 0]

Also, does she have to take both the GCP and PDOS? Or just the GCP only? 

[Joe Kano 327]

CFO and Travel Tax is just another way for the PI government to extract money from you, I would call it a legalized scam supported by the Government of Philippines 

[Just Paul 4,595]

10 hours ago, VersaV said:

While she was at the Immigration Booth, she did not have a certification that she took the "PDOS" course from the CFO office. It was not on the sheet after she got her Passport back after her interview & wasn't stated on the US Visa Website (but later saw that it was required & stated on the US Embassy Manila website)

It is an uniquely Filipino requirement.  We found out about it when doing research about the process of leaving PI. She did it before getting the VISA.

[Hank_ 9,174]

4 hours ago, VersaV said:

Thanks. We got confused on what she needs to take. That 2nd website seems to be outdated since everything is all virtual. Just hoping we have a quick turnaround.

 

I hope it's quick. She's going to register once it hits 7am.

Yes, aware the 2nd website is adjusted for everything being online.  I listed it mostly for the documents list as to what  CFO requests.   CFO is known to request documents that are not listed on their website (they use the "other documents" clause)

 

57 minutes ago, VersaV said:

Also, does she have to take both the GCP and PDOS? Or just the GCP only? 

You only take one as related to your visa type, as noted earlier.

[VersaV 0]

On 5/23/2021 at 11:28 AM, Hank_ said:

Yes, aware the 2nd website is adjusted for everything being online.  I listed it mostly for the documents list as to what  CFO requests.   CFO is known to request documents that are not listed on their website (they use the "other documents" clause)

 

You only take one as related to your visa type, as noted earlier.

Thanks Hank

 

She was able to get a tele-conference with a CFO rep on Tuesday, filled out the app, paid the fee, and got the temporary certificate all within a 4 hour time window. Unfortunately, the covid test she took Friday already expired so she has to take one again.

 

Wish the Biden Admin made it a week instead of 3 days. If all goes well, I'll re-book the flight right away.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Glad you got CFO handled.    

 

This beer virus stuff has been annoying to say the very least.