What i f i want to have early CFO, what are the documents i will be needing??? I don't have passport because it is in the US Embassy.... my birth certificate was not return to me, i will get it tomorrow....

Thanks

Is their anyone here had their CFO already?? Can you share your experience?

Thanks

Another thing i'm only 23 years old and my fiance was divorce, do i need to bring the copy of his divorce??? and do i need Parent consent letter????

Thank you for your reply, this will be helpful to me....

Your welcome! Make sure you know your petitioner's middle name, which is the mother's maiden name, work phone, cellphone, in short, all the infos about him. You won't have any problems if your documents are complete and well-prepared.

Good luck again!

--Mae

Your welcome! Make sure you know your petitioner's middle name, which is the mother's maiden name, work phone, cellphone, in short, all the infos about him. You won't have any problems if your documents are complete and well-prepared.

Good luck again!

--Mae

Actually, it's funny that I'm reading this advice now... I just talked to my girl last night and she had a problem at the CFO because she wasn't certain what name was my middle name. Well, if the petitioner is US born, and he is caucasian and not of asian or other descent, I can tell you that his middle name will NOT be his mother's maiden name. The more common practice is that it's a chosen name, much like the first name. For example, my name is Jeffrey Walter Zentner. My middle name was given to me because of a great uncle who passed away many years ago. His first name was Walter. My mom was very close to him, and thus gave me his name. My mother's maiden name is Bastow, and none of my siblings have her name as a middle name. The lady instructing my girl at the CFO told my girl that my proper name is Jeffrey Walter Bastow Zentner, but she was incorrect. I think this is very common in the PI, but not in the US. Hope my answer helps.

Technically, you are right and they also know that at CFO that American's middle name is a chosen name, not your mom's maiden name. But still, they would like to know your mom's middle name. I remember, during my CFO, my counselor put my then fiance's mother's maiden name on top of his middle name. A lot of applicants had a hard time during their seminars because of not knowing their fiance's/husband's mother's maiden name that's why it's better that applicants know it.

--Mae

True. My girl was upset because the CFO counselor said, "you have known him this long and you still don't know his middle name??" My girl was confused because she knew my name was Walter, but was confused as to why it wasn't Bastow. She was scared when the counselor lashed out verbally, so she just followed suit and did what they asked to satisfy the course. Yet, she and I have a great relationship and we share a lot, but I never thought to discuss how Americans derive their middle name. It never occurred to me, but it would be beneficial for everyone to know that this will likely come up during their CFO experience.

I agree, they can be very confusing. When I filled out the form for the guidance and counseling, the counselor asked me if the middle name that I put was my husband's mom's maiden name. When I said no, she asked me if I know it. I said yes and so when I told her, she made a correction and wrote it on top of my husband's real middle name. The counselors at PRISM must specify that they are asking for the fiance's/husband's mother's maiden name in place for the middle name. That way applicants won't get confused about it. I'm fortunate that my husband explained to me how the name goes here in US. Because in the Philippines, men and women use their mother's maiden name for middle name. For women, once they got married, the middle name changes to their own maiden name, drop the mother's maiden name and use the husband's last name, while for men, even if they got married, nothing changes. It's so confusing too but that's how it goes over there. After I got married, instead of dropping my mom's maiden name and use my own maiden name as my middle name (the Philippine way), I thought I'd follow how the name goes here in US, which means keeping the middle name that I have been using all my life. I didn't follow how they do it in the Philippines to make things more understandable. And besides, I'm already here in US so I better follow how they do it here. Lucky for those who have two names like Maria Cristina or Mary Anne or Christine Marie, etc... When they get here, they can just add their new last name without getting confused about the middle name.

--Mae

I wonder if the counselors really do know the practice in the USA regarding this. It seems they are confusing people with their practice of emphasizing the mother's maiden name as a middle name. To be honest, if you asked all of my ex GF's what my mother's maiden name was, I don't think any would be able to answer the question. It's not a focal point of discussion, and it's not one of the questions that many think to ask. The most common way that a gf/fiancee would know the name is if they knew the grandparents on the mother's side personally. Then they might know. So it's not really emphasized here. But it is emphasized at the seminar, so keep this in mind people! So my girl was initially upset about not having our children having her last name as their middle name. She wanted to have an american middle name, but then the filipino family name too, so that the child would have 4 names. I told her that it would be a bit strange in the US, but if she wanted it, fine. She seems to have changed her mind regarding this though. By the way, her plan is to actually change her last name to her middle name, and then take my last name. So I guess this is the standard PI practice? I think her plan is fine though, because I think it sounds better and it's the name she has been identified with the most during her life thus far.

I'm thinking about giving this link to the head of PRISM so she would know the problems most applicants encounter during the guidance and counseling. What do you think?

I wonder if the counselors really do know the practice in the USA regarding this. It seems they are confusing people with their practice of emphasizing the mother's maiden name as a middle name. To be honest, if you asked all of my ex GF's what my mother's maiden name was, I don't think any would be able to answer the question. It's not a focal point of discussion, and it's not one of the questions that many think to ask. The most common way that a gf/fiancee would know the name is if they knew the grandparents on the mother's side personally. Then they might know. So it's not really emphasized here. But it is emphasized at the seminar, so keep this in mind people! So my girl was initially upset about not having our children having her last name as their middle name. She wanted to have an american middle name, but then the filipino family name too, so that the child would have 4 names. I told her that it would be a bit strange in the US, but if she wanted it, fine. She seems to have changed her mind regarding this though. By the way, her plan is to actually change her last name to her middle name, and then take my last name. So I guess this is the standard PI practice? I think her plan is fine though, because I think it sounds better and it's the name she has been identified with the most during her life thus far.

I think it's a good idea. My girl was confused and she was fed wrong information. The counselors really couldn't know though, because they are giving instructions on matters that they themselves never experienced. It's difficult to instruct on cultural differences without actually being experienced in USA culture.

I think it's a good idea. My girl was confused and she was fed wrong information. The counselors really couldn't know though, because they are giving instructions on matters that they themselves never experienced. It's difficult to instruct on cultural differences without actually being experienced in USA culture.

Thanks for this info. I didn't know that the petitioner's middle name the CFO counselors will ask is the maiden name of the petitioner's Mother.

I am confused now about the middle name our children will have in the future. Will it not be my maiden name then? Ryan told me once about this, but I wouldn't want my children's middle name my mom's maiden name I want my children's middle name my maiden name What should we do?