MowTin

They certainly didn't tell her at any point. If everyone who gets a spouse immigrant visa needs this document it only makes sense that the interview would be a good time to tell them this. It feels like you have to rely on googling stuff to know all the requirements. (just frustrated because this was the final step in a long process).
 
Her medical was 6 months ago because she lives in Davao and went for the medical in August. She was told she had to return for the sputum. She returned in September then had to wait 2 months for results. The sputum second trip plus 2 month delay messed everything up. Plus we had no idea that the visa expired when the medical expired. 
 
They must know people come from all parts of the Philippines to the medical. It really would make sense to take the sputum if needed at the time of the original medical appointment. 
 
Because of the visa expiry, the plan was for her to go to Guam to get her passport stamped. She was refused boarding because of this. Now if she can't get the CFO stamp Monday I doubt I can get a refund for the Guam ticket ($800). Then we have to pay more back and forth between Davao and Manila for another round of medial and interview. 
 
 

Good news, they let her take the class and she got the certificate!
 
Thanks for the advice. She didn't even have to beg. They were very accommodating. 
 
She has the certificate. Does she need a sticker from the airport CFO desk? 

I was told the stamp on her passport is a temporary green card good for a year. 
 
I wasn't in Guam. I'm in NYC. They let her in and she explained her need to stamp her passport before expiration. Her dad is undergoing surgery right now so she'll come to NY in a couple of months. That was our original plan before we were surprised that the visa expired when the medical expired on Feb 7th. 

I was told the stamp on her passport is a temporary green card good for a year. 
 
I wasn't in Guam. I'm in NYC. They let her in and she explained her need to stamp her passport before expiration. Her dad is undergoing surgery right now so she'll come to NY in a couple of months. That was our original plan before we were surprised that the visa expired when the medical expired on Feb 7th. 

Good news, they let her take the class and she got the certificate!
 
Thanks for the advice. She didn't even have to beg. They were very accommodating. 
 
She has the certificate. Does she need a sticker from the airport CFO desk? 

Good news, they let her take the class and she got the certificate!
 
Thanks for the advice. She didn't even have to beg. They were very accommodating. 
 
She has the certificate. Does she need a sticker from the airport CFO desk? 

Good news, they let her take the class and she got the certificate!
 
Thanks for the advice. She didn't even have to beg. They were very accommodating. 
 
She has the certificate. Does she need a sticker from the airport CFO desk? 

Good news, they let her take the class and she got the certificate!
 
Thanks for the advice. She didn't even have to beg. They were very accommodating. 
 
She has the certificate. Does she need a sticker from the airport CFO desk? 

CFO is something that any Filipino must complete before leaving the country for any type of immigration intent.
 
Yes, we had to do the medical again Fortunately, she was not flagged for sputum the second time. Our biggest issue was the covid shutdown. We did everything we could to try and reschedule the interview after having to go through the sputum. a little over 3 months later we finally got scheduled. We got a 221g and by the time that was fixed and they were ready to issue the visa we only had a few days of validity left and it did not give us enough time. The embassy said retake the medical and then they would issue the visa. Everything went smoothly from there.
 
In your case she has the visa. If she does not use it before it expires it will be a more difficult process. That's why everyone here is suggesting to do anything you can to get the CFO on Monday. Hopefully they will take pity on her and let her through.
 
As far as greasing the wheels, that is common in a lot of things in the Philippines, but don't even think about it with the CFO.

At the CFO, there is potentially a long list of documents they may require at their discretion too.  Make sure she brings all of them.
 
Then on Monday first thing, if there is no appointment online to go to the CFO, be both of you be properly dressed (check their FB page for their  their dress code they just published), and be extremely polite and professional at all times, not rude or raise your voice, but yet beg, plead, cry, and stand firm  for an appointment that same day explaining the VISA will expire, non-refundable plane tickets, ... maybe bring a friend from the Manila times or have higher up contacts as a backup plan  to further encourage them ...  You want to do everything you can not to let that VISA expire ... 
 
Good luck, let us know what happens ... 

No problem to activate the visa January 18 in Guam. The passport stamp of importance is the one in Guam.  She should return to the USA within the timeframe closer to spring than winter though.  Short trip in followed by more than 6 months out  can be problematic.