CFO for Vacation Travel vs K1

[Kurt and Kristina 72]

Greetings:

My fiancée and I have filed for our K-1 (waiting with NOA2 not until April 2023), and we are wanting to go on vacation in Thailand. 

Understanding that a CFO letter/stamp is required for her to leave the Philippines even with Thailand being visa free for both of us.

Would this CFO stamp be sufficient for the vacation travel AND the K-1 next year, or are they two different stamps/authorizations? 

I have to admit, this is so confusing for me, but the USCIS introduces enough delays, I don't want any on the other side of the pond...

Thank you all!

-Kurt

[Adventine 3,196]

That CFO for tourists is still a thing? Are the immigration officers still asking for it from random travelers? Crazy. 

 

My personal advice is, you guys should just find some nice resorts in Palawan or similar so that neither of you has to bother with the CFO requirements until you actually have to, when the K1 visa is granted. I understood that, depending on the CFO officer, the documents can be invasive.

 

As a personal anecdote, I went on international vacations several times over many years, both with and without companions. Never got a CFO and never had an issue. Same for my peers who were also single Filipinas travelling abroad for vacation. As harsh as it sounds, a lot depends on your fiancee's background and the snap judgments officers make about her.

[Chancy 6,241]

9 hours ago, Kurt and Kristina said:

Would this CFO stamp be sufficient for the vacation travel AND the K-1 next year, or are they two different stamps/authorizations?

 

If your fiancee gets a CFO sticker (with no expiration date), then it will be good for the K1 as well.  If all she gets is the temporary certificate (which expires in a few months), then she'll need another one for the K1.  There's a process for renewing the CFO document or requesting the stamp, but check back again next year (if necessary) as the procedure might change then.

 

[Kurt and Kristina 72]

Thank you both for all the useful information. It is much appreciated!!

-Kurt

[confusedshoes 193]

I've never heard of a CFO sticker being required for tourists. Was this recent? And have they also gotten rid of it? Or is just for tourists that also has other visas (such as K1s)?

[Adventine 3,196]

@confusedshoes apparently this "trend" started during COVID when the Philippines didn't allow foreign tourists for a long time. Lots of people who wanted to meet their partners tried travelling internationally to see them instead. The problem was, a lot of these travellers fit the profile of vulnerable people at high risk of human trafficking (young single Filipinas with no significant assets of their own, travelling abroad for the first time, some to meet their foreign partner for the first time... I'm sure you know the type).

 

So randomly, PH exit immigration started demanding CFOs from Filipino tourists, depending on their mood and how they profiled the person. This caused a lot of angst - offloading at the last minute and CFO officers who would demand the most ridiculous documents and ask invasive questions. All for simple tourist trips.

 

Again, this is just secondhand info I got from this forum and social media. I travelled for tourism before, during and after COVID and never got asked for a CFO for tourist trips. I think it's totally ridiculous. At the same time, I can understand the alarm bells in PH exit immigration when confronted with rising numbers of single Filipinas who never traveled abroad before, starry-eyed about meeting an Internet stranger for the first time in a foreign country, and with no resources of their own in case something went wrong overseas.

 

[confusedshoes 193]

6 hours ago, Adventine said:

@confusedshoes apparently this "trend" started during COVID when the Philippines didn't allow foreign tourists for a long time. Lots of people who wanted to meet their partners tried travelling internationally to see them instead. The problem was, a lot of these travellers fit the profile of vulnerable people at high risk of human trafficking (young single Filipinas with no significant assets of their own, travelling abroad for the first time, some to meet their foreign partner for the first time... I'm sure you know the type).

 

So randomly, PH exit immigration started demanding CFOs from Filipino tourists, depending on their mood and how they profiled the person. This caused a lot of angst - offloading at the last minute and CFO officers who would demand the most ridiculous documents and ask invasive questions. All for simple tourist trips.

 

Again, this is just secondhand info I got from this forum and social media. I travelled for tourism before, during and after COVID and never got asked for a CFO for tourist trips. I think it's totally ridiculous. At the same time, I can understand the alarm bells in PH exit immigration when confronted with rising numbers of single Filipinas who never traveled abroad before, starry-eyed about meeting an Internet stranger for the first time in a foreign country, and with no resources of their own in case something went wrong overseas.

 

I hope I live to see the day when meaningful investment by the govt. to improve the quality of education, opportunities and life in our country surpasses the incredible efforts poured into these stop gap, red tape, CFO PDOS sticker seminar this and that offloading never-ending money-draining humiliation maze that Filipino citizens (mostly women) have to go through, chipping away at the ever shrinking amount of freedom and dignity we have. A single seminar after a lifetime of no education won't stop someone's decision to leave for economic reasons and doesn't address the problem behind that drastic decision in the first place. It's just over all sad and depressing because as it is right now, whichever way is all a trap. I can't blame someone who wants to escape hardship (mistake or no), that's human but I can and do blame the govt. that makes it more impossible for anyone to want to live in the Ph.

 

Yesterday, I asked a friend that recently (last month) visited us here in SF from Manila if anything about a CFO sticker came up while she going through immigration in PH and she said no, she's not heard of that, she doesn't have one and she wasn't asked about it. She doesn't fit the profile of those you mention would usually experience this kind of scrutiny (although she was travelling alone, she's married and a frequent traveler).

 

I don't believe I'll be scrutinised like this either, I'm married and also not a first time traveler (although I haven't anywhere outside the US since covid).

 

[Adventine 3,196]

@confusedshoes the most important thing is that you've already got a green card. I don't expect you to have any issues with CFO, unlike OP's fiancee, who may be at higher risk for issues, even if she simply wants to go on vacation.

[top_secret 2,417]

For the OP, if you are traveling TOGETHER as tourists and she does not yet have a fiance visa in her passport, there is a high probably she would be sent for a secondary exit immigration interview, but she would almost certainly PASS the interview and you would successfully travel together.  All the offloading of tourists and random CFO requirements for tourists typically affect women traveling alone and particularly if they are meeting foreign boyfriends overseas.  Traveling with said foreign boyfriend in her immediate physical possession typically results in success.  Albeit often with an annoying, obtrusive secondary interview if it's a first overseas trip.  Get to the airport early but enjoy your trip to Thailand.

[GinoNiña 182]

Hi! my question in not related to your topic.But I would like to know how you are able to file for K1 on Feb. 2022? Phils is lockdown up to about mid Feb 2022 from march 2020. 

I was able to see her as soon as they open up which is about mid Feb 2022. my noa1  is apr 2022.

Thanks

[Palawan 131]

On 9/8/2022 at 11:59 PM, confusedshoes said:

I've never heard of a CFO sticker being required for tourists. Was this recent? And have they also gotten rid of it? Or is just for tourists that also has other visas (such as K1s)?

It's been hit and miss for decades, Had a Aussie buddy wanted to take his gf home to visit, she had tourist visa she had to do CFO, this was over a decade ago.

[Palawan 131]

On 9/7/2022 at 11:04 PM, Kurt and Kristina said:

Greetings:

My fiancée and I have filed for our K-1 (waiting with NOA2 not until April 2023), and we are wanting to go on vacation in Thailand. 

Understanding that a CFO letter/stamp is required for her to leave the Philippines even with Thailand being visa free for both of us.

Would this CFO stamp be sufficient for the vacation travel AND the K-1 next year, or are they two different stamps/authorizations? 

I have to admit, this is so confusing for me, but the USCIS introduces enough delays, I don't want any on the other side of the pond...

Thank you all!

-Kurt

Where did you get the information :  "Understanding that a CFO letter/stamp is required for her to leave the Philippines even with Thailand being visa free for both of us"?

 

Is this hear say? Bureau of Immigration? Facebook?

[Kurt and Kristina 72]

I’m regards to my fiancée, she has not traced out of her country before (no passport stamps) and my worry was that she may be offloaded at BoI exit. We were able to secure the temp CFO certificate and we will attempt travel to Bali this November. We will be together and traveling to/from MNL with my return flight to the USA from MNL, so, it will show we need to return - along with an AOS, and proof of round trip airfare etc. for the Bali vacation. 
 

in regards to how we filed in February, I secured a visa to the Philippines and landed 11/30/21. Yes there was lockdown, but I was there to finish my SRRV (visa), which is how I was allowed in country. The only “work around” I was aware of at the time. It was neither cheap nor easy, but none of this is either of those.   we met on Dec 4th and filed / NOA 1 on 2/7/22, and like most, packed a lunch because we will be waiting for awhile. 
 

I appreciate all the comments, input and questions.  Thank you. 

[GinoNiña 182]

48 minutes ago, Kurt and Kristina said:

I’m regards to my fiancée, she has not traced out of her country before (no passport stamps) and my worry was that she may be offloaded at BoI exit. We were able to secure the temp CFO certificate and we will attempt travel to Bali this November. We will be together and traveling to/from MNL with my return flight to the USA from MNL, so, it will show we need to return - along with an AOS, and proof of round trip airfare etc. for the Bali vacation. 
 

in regards to how we filed in February, I secured a visa to the Philippines and landed 11/30/21. Yes there was lockdown, but I was there to finish my SRRV (visa), which is how I was allowed in country. The only “work around” I was aware of at the time. It was neither cheap nor easy, but none of this is either of those.   we met on Dec 4th and filed / NOA 1 on 2/7/22, and like most, packed a lunch because we will be waiting for awhile. 
 

I appreciate all the comments, input and questions.  Thank you. 
 

Thanks for clarification  .

I am looking at the graph here in VJ website There was a big dip after March 2020 and stabilized at around 50 per month. I believe there is going to a big spike pretty soon as well. Because of very low k1 applicants filed in 2020 and 2021, were going to see a big rise on k1 visas. This if there is no furlough happened at the agencies involved. 

 

[Palawan 131]

57 minutes ago, Kurt and Kristina said:

I’m regards to my fiancée, she has not traced out of her country before (no passport stamps) and my worry was that she may be offloaded at BoI exit. We were able to secure the temp CFO certificate and we will attempt travel to Bali this November. We will be together and traveling to/from MNL with my return flight to the USA from MNL, so, it will show we need to return - along with an AOS, and proof of round trip airfare etc. for the Bali vacation. 
 

in regards to how we filed in February, I secured a visa to the Philippines and landed 11/30/21. Yes there was lockdown, but I was there to finish my SRRV (visa), which is how I was allowed in country. The only “work around” I was aware of at the time. It was neither cheap nor easy, but none of this is either of those.   we met on Dec 4th and filed / NOA 1 on 2/7/22, and like most, packed a lunch because we will be waiting for awhile. 
 

I appreciate all the comments, input and questions.  Thank you. 

In theroy she shouldn't need a CFO Stamp, but in reality you seem to know how it works in Philippines.  I would suggest getting one to be safe, and it doesn't sound like you are in time crunch either.

 

If you do get the stamp it may be able to serve double duty when she leave for USA.