Finace turned away by CFO

[Epiphany 0]

Per the thread posted here stating she can take the CFO class anytime. I sent her down there to get it done.

They sent her away and told her that she needed her visa first. Since she will most likely be flying out the day of the Visa I dont think we will have time.

What gives???????

6.2 Beneficiaries are required to attend a CFO Guidance and Counseling Seminar that are held in Manila and Cebu, whichever is more convenient, before traveling abroad (the corresponding links within my signature). Attending the CFO Guidance and Counseling Seminar is a Philippine government requirement which states, "Per Republic Act 8239 and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Order 28-94, Filipinos proceeding abroad as fiancé(e)s and spouses of foreign nationals are required to attend the CFO's guidance and counseling programs... " For more info [CLICK HERE]. The Guidance and Counceling Seminar may be taken at any time and the certificate given at the conclusion of the seminar does not expire. Please check out this instructional information on the PRISM Guidance and Counceling Seminar experience [CLICK HERE] (Thx Sillygirl).

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Per the thread posted here stating she can take the CFO class anytime. I sent her down there to get it done.

They sent her away and told her that she needed her visa first. Since she will most likely be flying out the day of the Visa I dont think we will have time.

What gives???????

6.2 Beneficiaries are required to attend a CFO Guidance and Counseling Seminar that are held in Manila and Cebu, whichever is more convenient, before traveling abroad (the corresponding links within my signature). Attending the CFO Guidance and Counseling Seminar is a Philippine government requirement which states, "Per Republic Act 8239 and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Order 28-94, Filipinos proceeding abroad as fiancé(e)s and spouses of foreign nationals are required to attend the CFO's guidance and counseling programs... " For more info [CLICK HERE]. The Guidance and Counceling Seminar may be taken at any time and the certificate given at the conclusion of the seminar does not expire. Please check out this instructional information on the PRISM Guidance and Counceling Seminar experience [CLICK HERE] (Thx Sillygirl).

Epiphany...

It sure looks like you had an epiphany. Hehehehe!!!

Seriously, my wife, then fiancee, went to the PRISM (in Manila) to attend the "Guidance and Counseling Seminar" without her visa. However, she needed to have two forms of ID and her birth certificate, which required a zerox copy and the original of the BC. Nothing more... Nothing less... Once she received her visa, she went down to the CFO (in Manila), with her G&C Certificate, visa, ID, and fee to receive the CFO sticker within her visa (the CFO did request a copy of the visa and ID before processing the visa to include the CFO sticker).

This is the part about this process that I don't like because, at times, these things happen when you run into someone who does not understand the processs. Whereas, a routine requirement becomes a hassle for others to get accomplished. I recommend calling the CFO beforehand (which I will add to the guide) to ensure that no problems arise upon the visit.

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

p.s. - Which location did your fiancee go to Manila or Cebu?

Edited July 17, 2007 by Sheriff Uling

[Epiphany 0]

Per the thread posted here stating she can take the CFO class anytime. I sent her down there to get it done.

They sent her away and told her that she needed her visa first. Since she will most likely be flying out the day of the Visa I dont think we will have time.

What gives???????

6.2 Beneficiaries are required to attend a CFO Guidance and Counseling Seminar that are held in Manila and Cebu, whichever is more convenient, before traveling abroad (the corresponding links within my signature). Attending the CFO Guidance and Counseling Seminar is a Philippine government requirement which states, "Per Republic Act 8239 and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Order 28-94, Filipinos proceeding abroad as fiancé(e)s and spouses of foreign nationals are required to attend the CFO's guidance and counseling programs... " For more info [CLICK HERE]. The Guidance and Counceling Seminar may be taken at any time and the certificate given at the conclusion of the seminar does not expire. Please check out this instructional information on the PRISM Guidance and Counceling Seminar experience [CLICK HERE] (Thx Sillygirl).

Epiphany...

It sure looks like you had an epiphany. Hehehehe!!!

Seriously, my wife, then fiancee, went to the PRISM (in Manila) to attend the "Guidance and Counseling Seminar" without her visa. However, she needed to have two forms of ID and her birth certificate, which required a zerox copy and the original of the BC. Nothing more... Nothing less... Once she received her visa, she went down to the CFO (in Manila), with her G&C Certificate, visa, ID, and fee to receive the CFO sticker within her visa (the CFO did request a copy of the visa and ID before processing the visa to include the CFO sticker).

This is the part about this process that I don't like because, at times, these things happen when you run into someone who does not understand the processs. Whereas, a routine requirement becomes a hassle for others to get accomplished. I recommend calling the CFO beforehand (which I will add to the guide) to ensure that no problems arise upon the visit.

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

p.s. - Which location did your fiancee go to Manila or Cebu?

Thanks I did call them and spoke to a kind man named Mr Dennis? He said she can come down tomorrow and he would make sure she got in.

My girl is very timid and shy. If someone tells her to go away she goes away. I have had to call several places over there to "FIX" things. Once the very determined "American" gets on the phone with the person causing my girl problems the problem gets fixed right away.

Im like a semi-friendly pit bull when someone causes my gal problems.

[Dakine 26]

Per the thread posted here stating she can take the CFO class anytime. I sent her down there to get it done.

They sent her away and told her that she needed her visa first. Since she will most likely be flying out the day of the Visa I dont think we will have time.

What gives???????

6.2 Beneficiaries are required to attend a CFO Guidance and Counseling Seminar that are held in Manila and Cebu, whichever is more convenient, before traveling abroad (the corresponding links within my signature). Attending the CFO Guidance and Counseling Seminar is a Philippine government requirement which states, "Per Republic Act 8239 and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Order 28-94, Filipinos proceeding abroad as fiancé(e)s and spouses of foreign nationals are required to attend the CFO's guidance and counseling programs... " For more info [CLICK HERE]. The Guidance and Counceling Seminar may be taken at any time and the certificate given at the conclusion of the seminar does not expire. Please check out this instructional information on the PRISM Guidance and Counceling Seminar experience [CLICK HERE] (Thx Sillygirl).

Per the thread posted here stating she can take the CFO class anytime. I sent her down there to get it done.

They sent her away and told her that she needed her visa first. Since she will most likely be flying out the day of the Visa I dont think we will have time.

Very difficult to fly the day she gets the visa. Even if she has the CFO senimar first she will have to get the CFO sticker in her passport first.

Registration in Manila starts at 10 AM for the sticker.

She must have told them she wanted to do the seminar and get the sticker and they would be correct in saying she needs the visa to do so.

CFO screws up a lot but I've never heard of anyone being refused to do the seminar unless they were lacking documents such as divorce decrees and letters of consent for being underage.

My wife and anak got their stickers at 10 AM and flew out at 3:30PM.

Barely made the plane. They actually wouldn't have if I didn't fly her business [Mabuhay] as they let them walk on without standing in lines.

Edited July 17, 2007 by beckypua

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Per the thread posted here stating she can take the CFO class anytime. I sent her down there to get it done.

They sent her away and told her that she needed her visa first. Since she will most likely be flying out the day of the Visa I dont think we will have time.

What gives???????

6.2 Beneficiaries are required to attend a CFO Guidance and Counseling Seminar that are held in Manila and Cebu, whichever is more convenient, before traveling abroad (the corresponding links within my signature). Attending the CFO Guidance and Counseling Seminar is a Philippine government requirement which states, "Per Republic Act 8239 and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Order 28-94, Filipinos proceeding abroad as fiancé(e)s and spouses of foreign nationals are required to attend the CFO's guidance and counseling programs... " For more info [CLICK HERE]. The Guidance and Counceling Seminar may be taken at any time and the certificate given at the conclusion of the seminar does not expire. Please check out this instructional information on the PRISM Guidance and Counceling Seminar experience [CLICK HERE] (Thx Sillygirl).

Epiphany...

It sure looks like you had an epiphany. Hehehehe!!!

Seriously, my wife, then fiancee, went to the PRISM (in Manila) to attend the "Guidance and Counseling Seminar" without her visa. However, she needed to have two forms of ID and her birth certificate, which required a zerox copy and the original of the BC. Nothing more... Nothing less... Once she received her visa, she went down to the CFO (in Manila), with her G&C Certificate, visa, ID, and fee to receive the CFO sticker within her visa (the CFO did request a copy of the visa and ID before processing the visa to include the CFO sticker).

This is the part about this process that I don't like because, at times, these things happen when you run into someone who does not understand the processs. Whereas, a routine requirement becomes a hassle for others to get accomplished. I recommend calling the CFO beforehand (which I will add to the guide) to ensure that no problems arise upon the visit.

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

p.s. - Which location did your fiancee go to Manila or Cebu?

Thanks I did call them and spoke to a kind man named Mr Dennis? He said she can come down tomorrow and he would make sure she got in.

My girl is very timid and shy. If someone tells her to go away she goes away. I have had to call several places over there to "FIX" things. Once the very determined "American" gets on the phone with the person causing my girl problems the problem gets fixed right away.

Im like a semi-friendly pit bull when someone causes my gal problems.

Epiphany...

Thank goodness you were able to get a hold of someone that understands the process! Oh, by the by, I know exactly what you mean because I had my wife call me as soon as she had any problems. So I had been talking to people while she waited for me to straighten things out. It's a shame that it had to come down to me getting into someone's backside in order to get things done, but that's what it came down too. Hopefully, you will not have anymore problems overall while she is in the Phil.

Good luck...

Sheriff Uling

[Epiphany 0]

.Very difficult to fly the day she gets the visa. Even if she has the CFO senimar first she will have to get the CFO sticker in her passport first.

Registration in Manila starts at 10 AM for the sticker.

She must have told them she wanted to do the seminar and get the sticker and they would be correct in saying she needs the visa to do so.

CFO screws up a lot but I've never heard of anyone being refused to do the seminar unless they were lacking documents such as divorce decrees and letters of consent for being underage.

My wife and anak got their stickers at 10 AM and flew out at 3:30PM.

Barely made the plane. They actually wouldn't have if I didn't fly her business [Mabuhay] as they let them walk on without standing in lines.

Well my flight is 11pm on the 3rd business day after the interview (Monday). Depending on when the visa is ready for pickup and if they let us pick it up? I will try to have her fly home with me. So if the visa is ready Friday which is 2 business days after the interview thats great and gives us the weekend to prepare.

[TinTin and Samby 11]

For us Americans, just remember the following:

Everything is harder in the Philippines.

Even the most logically obvious clerical error requires a PROCESS to get corrected in the Philippines.

Every interation of a given process in the Philippines will take on a defination of its own, depending on which person at which office on which day you inquire.

All Processes in the Philippines will require 4,248,254.5 photocopies of 2,735,248 Original Forms and Identifications.

By National decree, no Process in the Philippines is allowed to be completed in a single unt of work. Multiple visits are always required.

All that said, I would follow any process, make as many photocopies as are required and wait in any line as many times as needed to be with my sweetheart, Kristine!

Warm Regards,

Samby

Edited July 18, 2007 by Samby