CFO Seminar experience

[clairegie 265]

Due to a slight miscalculation, my mom dropped me off at the CFO office at 2:30AM. Yikes so early!

But people's advice to come around 3:30 was right. People started pouring in around 4 AM. By 5AM, the lines were already long.

For k1 visa and spouses, line up at the ramp. Don't listen to any weird people around you. They will tell you different things about where to line up. Be at the ramp! Prepare 2 valid ID's with photocopy. In my case, I presented my passport & NBI clearance. At 6:30AM, the guard let us in one by one. He took my NBI clearance and handed me a data sheet to fill out. If you don't have a visa yet, chances are you wont be handed this form. Although the counselor said it is also up to the guard's discretion if he thinks you should be given one or not. I was given a white ID with a pink F boldly printed on it. (Don't worry about the number on the ID, it doesn't determine the order in which you will be entertained.)

At around 6:30 we were sitting in a room where the cashier windows are while we fill out the forms. A man will eventually go up front and give instructions about how to arrange the documents they need from you, depending on what type of visa you have. He will tell you that there are staplers up front and use them to secure your papers.

By the way, please make sure you know your fiance's complete address (including zip code), and his mother's maiden name (his mother's name BEFORE she was married). If your fiance doesn't have a land line, provide the number of his nearest relatives. Know your own zip code too! The visa number is the RED TEXT, not the long control number on the upper right of your visa.

For people with the pink ID's, you will be asked to sit at the back because a guard will call you around 7AM to tell you to come up to the 3rd floor. Use the stairs! You will get there faster. You will then go into a room and you will hand your papers to the woman at the desk, who will hand you another form to fill out. Try to fill it out fast but make sure the form is complete and correctly answered, then hand it back to her. She will check your papers, once ok'd, she will ask for a photocopy of your passport bio page (if you don't have an extra photocopy, you can present a different gov't ID photocopy, they don't accept postal because it can easily be faked) and take your photo then tell you what time to come back for the seminar & which room you will use. Remember, 15 slots AM and PM so fill it out fast if you want the 9AM slot.

Me and the girls I met there decided to eat first before the seminar. At the left of the CFO building, there is a canteen you can eat at. They also have a xerox machine (3 pesos per page).

We went back at 8:30AM. The counselor then had us watch some videos and then discussed the forms we filled out to make sure we answered it correctly. She goes through every number, so make sure you listen or else she will scold you for not listening if you ask something that was already discussed. Once you are confident that your forms are complete, hand it to her and she will review them. This is when the "one on one" will happen. She will ask questions about your answers on the form and she will ask for random documents to double check your answers. In my case, she asked for my fiance's birth certificate to make sure I didn't lie about his mother's maiden name.

For the others, she asked for their annulment papers, divorce papers, pictures, birth certificate or cenomar. It's case to case basis, so be prepared. If you cant provide them, you will need to contact her once you are ready to submit them. Bring everything like its your interview at the embassy. Being ON HOLD is not something you want. Also try to find out the nationality of your fiance(e)'s ex wife/wives/hubby & why they broke up. They will ask that.

Once she says your papers are OK, she will tell you to go down to the 1st floor cashier and pay the fee. Give them all your papers plus your passport if you already have your visa. Keep your receipt, you will show it after the seminar. Come back to your seminar room at the 3rd floor.

She will start with the actual CFO seminar (ours started around 11:30AM) and will cover anything from visa types, to domestic violence, to how life is in the States etc., to a checklist of things you need on your departure. Once the seminar is done, if you weren't put ON HOLD, you just need to go back to window 1 at the 1st floor, show your receipt, and get your certificate (and sticker if you already have your visa) and you're done! Keep the certificate, it is yours for life. Don't ever give the original to anyone, just photocopies.

I was done by 2PM, took a cab home and slept the rest of the day. Very tiring. The counselor was strict and didn't allow us to interrupt the seminar with questions. She will entertain them at the end. They were right though, if you are shy or you seem "distracted", she will definitely zone in on you. And you don't want the special attention. Just be confident when speaking to them and you will be fine. Good luck!

Edited November 27, 2013 by iammrsregi

[bigdog 376]

Great job on the write-up.

[Earthmoon 3]

Wow, thanks for the info. Does it necessary to attend CFO?

[clairegie 265]

Wow, thanks for the info. Does it necessary to attend CFO?

if you are immigrating, yes it is required. you won't be allowed to leave the country without your cfo sticker & certificate. However, this is for the Philippines only. I don't know if Singapore has the same process.

Edited November 27, 2013 by iammrsregi

[Zedayn 485]

Great write up! This will prove helpful in the future. Where did you attend your CFO seminar?

[clairegie 265]

Great job on the write-up.

Thank you!

Great write up! This will prove helpful in the future. Where did you attend your CFO seminar?

Thank you! I had the seminar at CFO Manila, the one at Quirino Avenue corner Osmeña Highway

[Earthmoon 3]

Thanks iammrsregi, I am Filipina working in SG and planning to go back PH first before leaving for US. Your post helps...

[jgoodman 8]

Thank you for this great write up!

[JobienJeck 10]

Thanks for sharing. I'm attending the CFO seminar next week, this helps a lot.

[clairegie 265]

Thank you! GL with your upcoming seminars

[rbrck 1]

thanks for the post that would surely help us

[roseann01 2]

Thank you for this very helpful post

[clairegie 265]

glad to help

[Earthmoon 3]

Hi, can I ask how long it take to get the CFO cert and sticker? Or does they give it right away after the seminar? Thanks for your help.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Hi, can I ask how long it take to get the CFO cert and sticker? Or does they give it right away after the seminar? Thanks for your help.

When you finish the seminar, which takes about half a day to complete, and if you have your visa with you, they will affix the sticker and give you the certificate of completion. After that, your free to leave the country. If you do not have your visa, then you will have to return to either CFO Offices located in Manila, Cebu or NAIA with your certificate to have the sticker affixed to your passport.

Good luck