Hi,

My fiancee's I-129F was approved a couple of weeks ago, and we expect she will have her embassy interview in late January. I am a bit worried about the CFO Guidance and Counseling Seminar because I have heard that they are very judgmental about large age differences and divorces. Well, I am 28 years older than Joy (she's 21), and I have been divorced 3 times, most recently from a Filipina. So, I have a feeling that the CFO will give Joy a hard time.

I had considered having Joy get her CFO Guidance and Counseling certificate early, but someone told me that they would likely go easier on her if she already had the visa in hand. So, we decided to wait until after the embassy interview to go to CFO. (Also, since she will need to get the CFO stamp anyway, we will kill 2 birds with one stone.)

QUESTION: Does anyone have any thoughts on which of the CFO locations will likely be easier on Joy? Some fols have told horror stories about some nun in Cebu, and others say Manila is worse. What should we do? Thanks.

i am 29 years older than my wife. i was married before to a filipina. my wsife was then 18.

we went to cebu. it took her two full days. they gave my wife a hard time. also her parents had to show up in person even though they submitted the proper affidavit. i also had to give a letter of intent, i had to print my childrens email to my wife and give to the cfo.

we did it early. i was with her.

personaly i would do it early and do it in manila

better safe than sorry

I recently attended CFO seminar in Cebu and it went well... My fiance is 36 and I'm 23. I attended the seminar at St. Mary in front of San Carlos Boys High in Mango Ave. They didn't give me any hassles and problems at all. I was there 7:30am and it started 10am and it ended up around 2pm and I was done with my CFO stamp and certificate before 3pm. I suggest to have your fiancee's seminar in Cebu with Visa on hand....

Its a case to case basis but dont worry they will still release a certificate they may take it long but will still release it.

Claudeth did Cebu after the visa was issued and they were kind of harsh, it took twelve hours to get through the process. Can't speak for Manila

It's much better as you said for her to go with visa in hand.
Just be sure she has everything she took to the interview with her. Especially Certified copies of divorce.
Friend of mine 63 and fiance 24 just got thru CFO prior to getting her visa.
They wouldn't let her do the seminar the first time as they wanted a Certificate of singleness from him as he's never been married. That raised a red flag with me also.
She went back again without such and they let her take it anyway.
CFO is notorious for being inconsistent!

However they are used to dealing with old "utots" with maganda young pinay!

Thanks for the input... Has anyone had any experiences in Manila?

I took my CFO in Manila specifically in SMEF in Quezon City. I haven't had a hard time with it, actually the counselor who interviewed me was very nice.

I guess it will not make any difference if she take the CFO in Manila or Cebu. Just be prepared because they are more concerned especially the younger ladies below 25 yeras old. And as what others said, its a case to case situation.

This is what i did when i went to my CFO. I memorized everything about my fiance, his address, work, birthday, his birthplace, parents names, thier addresses and their birthdays, i also memorized the name of my fiance's ex-wife and the date of their divorce.

It is important to memorized those things because if the counselor ask her about it, she can give them a straight forward answer without looking into the documents. It depends on how you answer the questions.

i agree also did the same thing. memorized all the important dates and names. didnt had a hard time in CFO manila along taft. good luck

I had mine in manila. I think 2 months in advance without any medical & interview date yet. I took the seminar in PRISM somewhere in taft avenue.
Passport CFO stamp after I had the visa at Quirino Ave., South superhighway, Manila.
Never had any bad experience maybe b'cuz me and my fiance are both single and with a 13 yrs age gap only.
Just remember to bring your fiancee divorce paper, if divorce.
If his divorce 3 or 4 times bring all the the divorce papers.
If only 22 or 23 years old and below bring your parental consent letter.
I was asked for a picture of me and my fiancee, unfortunately
I didn't have any so i told them i don't have it with me.
Bring few so that you have something to show just incase and so to satisfy them.

i didnt even go to that cfo thing...im here now in SF...no problem and troubles wheni was in immigration they didnt even search or look for it....just sharing my experience...