CR-1 Visa issued can't get CFO

[Jordan & Jenet 48]

Quote

 

Hello All,

I need some assistance, We filed ROM months ago and it is still not processed, is there any way that my wife can get her CFO so that she can leave to the US without the certified processed copy of the report of marriage? This is getting crazy, We have waited so long and now this is stopping everything. 

We are both depressed as hell and don't know what to do at this point.

Thanks,
Jordan

[hunny&me 274]

2 minutes ago, Jordan & Jenet said:

Hello All,

I need some assistance, We filed ROM months ago and it is still not processed, is there any way that my wife can get her CFO so that she can leave to the US without the certified processed copy of the report of marriage? This is getting crazy, We have waited so long and now this is stopping everything. 

We are both depressed as hell and don't know what to do at this point.

Thanks,
Jordan

So, do you have your Visa on hand? Have she tried to register for CFO and was she not allowed to take seminar because ROM on PSA paper is not available??  If so, have you reasoned with them that Consulate have backlog (provide maybe an email inquiry of their reply).

 

We mailed our ROM on Feb, opened/received by Sanfo Consulate on 03/22; we got our ROM back on 05/26 with registry date of 05/23.  They said transmission is in June, so waiting on monthend to request transmission number again.

[top_secret 2,387]

You are likely to get some blowback from CFO but certainly there are people who made it through CFO without a ROM.  It can be done.  The rules for CFO are pretty much whatever the counselor says they rules are and therefore negotiable.  It could come down to luck of which counselor she gets and how they size up your wife from talking to her. 

 

I have also seen CFO occasionally come through at the last moment if there is a date specific crises such as "my flight is Tuesday and I'll lose my reservation and it will cost $500 if I can't make that flight and we are doing everything we can to get them to finish processing this ROM but they say it will take 6 months........"

[Chancy 6,241]

24 minutes ago, Jordan & Jenet said:

We filed ROM months ago and it is still not processed, is there any way that my wife can get her CFO

 

Did the CFO counselor specifically state that they needed the ROM on PSA paper?  If not, I suspect the ROM transmittal record from an official DFA email will be enough, along with an explanation that there is a backlog at the PH consulate for ROM processing.  Check this post from @top_secret on how to get the transmittal record --

 

 

[Chancy 6,241]

1 hour ago, top_secret said:

You are likely to get some blowback from CFO but certainly there are people who made it through CFO without a ROM.  It can be done.

 

Agree.  I am one of those with a foreign marriage certificate but no ROM and got hassled by CFO for it, but I got my CFO certificate anyway.

 

@Jordan & Jenet, your wife is in a much better position than I was for the CFO counseling because you actually filed for ROM.  Just get those transmittal records from DFA.

 

Edited June 8, 2022 by Chancy
typo

[Jordan & Jenet 48]

3 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Agree.  I am one of those with a foreign marriage certificate but no ROM and got hassled by CFO for it, but I got my CFO certificate anyway.

 

@Jordan & Jenet, your wife is in a much better position than I was for the CFO counseling because you actually filed for ROM.  Just get those transmittal records from DFA.

 

Thank you, the first news really destroyed us. So this is giving us some hope and my wife will contact the counselor tomorrow again. I told her don't give up no matter what.

[morry & ren 124]

4 hours ago, Jordan & Jenet said:

Hello All,

I need some assistance, We filed ROM months ago and it is still not processed, is there any way that my wife can get her CFO so that she can leave to the US without the certified processed copy of the report of marriage? This is getting crazy, We have waited so long and now this is stopping everything. 

We are both depressed as hell and don't know what to do at this point.

Thanks,
Jordan

Hey guys,

Please let me give you a word of advise. You have made it this far and we all know it is by far the most challenging experience you will probably ever go through! The CFO is the last hurdle before she gets on that plane! They absolutely LOVE to flex their muscles and abuse what little power they have it seems. Just stay the course and be strong for one another and things will be fine when she gets on that plane! It will all be worth it in the end! God Bless and good luck!

[Hank_ 9,174]

All the Zoom weddings have really back things up, so I have read.

[RO_AH 1,659]

7 hours ago, Jordan & Jenet said:

This is getting crazy, We have waited so long and now this is stopping everything.
We are both depressed as hell and don't know what to do at this point.

 

5 hours ago, Jordan & Jenet said:

Thank you, the first news really destroyed us.

Relax a bit. You need to be giving your wife confidence. We went through so many hurdles in the process along with Covid lock downs, sputum testing, 221g, 2nd medical because first expired. It's not the end of the world. You should know that this is a long process and be prepared for anything that comes your way. Keep a positive attitude, because getting down, depressed, "destroyed" over this is a waste of energy.

 

You are not the first to hit hurdles and definitely wont be the last. You are close to the finish line just stay strong.

[PWB 213]

22 hours ago, Jordan & Jenet said:

Hello All,

I need some assistance, We filed ROM months ago and it is still not processed, is there any way that my wife can get her CFO so that she can leave to the US without the certified processed copy of the report of marriage? This is getting crazy, We have waited so long and now this is stopping everything. 

We are both depressed as hell and don't know what to do at this point.

Thanks,
Jordan

It has been over one year since we filed in Houston and we are still waiting.  For some unexplained  reason Houston would not accept the Death Certificate of previous husband and paperwork was sent to Manila for approval.  ROM has become a nightmare of paperwork and waiting on Manila to reply.

[hunny&me 274]

2 hours ago, PWB said:

It has been over one year since we filed in Houston and we are still waiting.  For some unexplained  reason Houston would not accept the Death Certificate of previous husband and paperwork was sent to Manila for approval.  ROM has become a nightmare of paperwork and waiting on Manila to reply.

@PWB Just curious on this.... The previous husband, was he a Filipino? If yes,  the death certificate that you submitted to Phil Houston Consulate, was it the PSA certified copy?

[PWB 213]

No, and that is the problem.  The worst of circumstances, he was German and had returned home to Germany for heart treatment.  He attempted to travel back to the Philippines before he had fully recovered and died in flight.  The plane landed in Ethiopia and the hospital declared him deceased and issued a death certificate, that death certificate was good enough to get a CEN0MAR and a K1 visa, get married and all that, but it isn't good enough for the Houston Consulate who have refused to process our ROM. We have complained all the way to the Philippines Embassy in Washington and no help.  Our case is under review by PSA. 

[hunny&me 274]

7 hours ago, PWB said:

No, and that is the problem.  The worst of circumstances, he was German and had returned home to Germany for heart treatment.  He attempted to travel back to the Philippines before he had fully recovered and died in flight.  The plane landed in Ethiopia and the hospital declared him deceased and issued a death certificate, that death certificate was good enough to get a CEN0MAR and a K1 visa, get married and all that, but it isn't good enough for the Houston Consulate who have refused to process our ROM. We have complained all the way to the Philippines Embassy in Washington and no help.  Our case is under review by PSA. 

Maybe Report of Death? Hard though for which Consulate will that fall into or maybe report in Philippines.  Sorry, sounds complicated.

[PWB 213]

23 minutes ago, hunny&me said:

Maybe Report of Death? Hard though for which Consulate will that fall into or maybe report in Philippines.  Sorry, sounds complicated.

The frustrating thing is his Death Certificate was approved for every aspects of our K1 visa and was never challenged any where except Houston.  Given the fact that Houston Consulate had a difficult time explaining what was needed.   They wanted a raised stamp.  We called then Ethiopian Hospital and was told the copy we had was the copy available.  Just as a side point there are no Ethiopian Consulate's open due to a war in their country and the Embassy was not helpful.   

[hunny&me 274]

1 hour ago, PWB said:

The frustrating thing is his Death Certificate was approved for every aspects of our K1 visa and was never challenged any where except Houston.  Given the fact that Houston Consulate had a difficult time explaining what was needed.   They wanted a raised stamp.  We called then Ethiopian Hospital and was told the copy we had was the copy available.  Just as a side point there are no Ethiopian Consulate's open due to a war in their country and the Embassy was not helpful.   

I see... Yes, Philippines is Biggie on Original or Certified documents (waiting for the time they join the digital era ).  Maybe the death was reported to Germany? Maybe they have a centralized records (like PSA for Philippines) that your wife can request (ie - certified copy with raised stamp)?  Sorry, I feel your stress.