CFO... ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

[EWRI6884 0]

Well its not just about a piece of paper to me... its about privacy and authority. You will never have rights if you roll over for every agency, person or organization that THINKS they know whats best. If they really think that picture will TRACK ME DOWN... Please... its ridiculous! I have submitted WAY more credible information to USCIS that could track me down if I was THAT bad guy.

As Ronjie said above, the overall theme was how bad foriegners can be or are... even the examples they gave my Fiancee were totally one sided, not once did they (CFO speakers) consider why or how the said Filipina in the story got into the situation. Thankfully my Fiancee is smart and independent enough to call it like it really is... apparently the Nun didnt like it much but, call a spade a spade.

As other posters have mentioned, the overall general idea of the seminar does make sense and could be uselful to most. They just need to leave the one sided negativity and the threatening gestures of witholding their certificate of completion unless they provide pics or know certain private matters. Just like everything else there... the only thing consistant is inconsistancy.

Edited December 13, 2008 by EWRI6884

[RyaNRiza 1]

It's not only USCIS which needs credible information, but also the Philippine government. If there is nothing to hide at all, there's nothing to be afraid of. Our government has the righ to ask whatever paper it is that they need when it comes to legal matters. Marriage is a legal matter, and in this kind of situation, it involves its citizens.

I believe all of the fiancees who who have undergone the seminar are smart enough, or else, they have left their fiances and decided not to pursue marriage after seeing those videos, thinking all foreigners have the same kind of attitude.

Like glady's said, it's an eye-opener for those whose motive in marrying a foreigner is wrong (scammers). On the videos shown to us, the motives of those women wanting to get married to a foreigner was "money." When I saw those videos, what came to mind was that, those videos are to discourage scammers and not at all to discourage someone whose motivation and intention is pure.

I personally don't have bad feelings about my CFO seminar and the requirements they asked from me. I took everything they said optimistically except the sticker's fee which is required to be stamped after the seminar.

It's either follow their rules and give the requirements they needed, directly complain to the concern agency about their policies, roles and motivation of the seminar if you don't like it, or drop the plan of marrying a Filipina. We've got enough choices.

You are not the only one who complained about this. I think the purpose of CFO seminar is misunderstood.

[ray77755 0]

So what documents does my fiance need to bring to the seminar?

[JM2008 0]

My Fiancee just had her CFO experience... Wow, what we thought was JUST going to be a "Good to Know" and "Informative" event turned into partial interrogation on these women.

My Fiancee said that overall they were nice to her but were strict, pushy and sometimes rude to most others. I am NOT sure what this whole CFO thing is really supposed to be but when they start quizing them on my pants size and requesting pictures of us be left with them, it seems to me that its BS... As far as I know (And I may be wrong) CFO is not the convening authority on VISA's and who should and shouldnt depart the country. I COMPLETELY understand what I believed to be the idea behind this program, and that was to... inform the Pinoys traveling abroad and make them completely aware of all their options (A GOOD THING). But when they told my Fiancee that they want to have our picture and she had to go back home to get one for them to keep, I was thinking.. WOW.. do they have that much power? Sounds communist to me...

Sorry for my rant but... We just didnt realize it was going to be like this, kinda thought it was JUST an INFORMATIVE seminar.

Can I ask how did you come to learn that the CFO was required?

My fiance just went through her visa interview and they mentioned absolutely nothing to her about a CFO seminar. She heard about it through some other visa applicants while she was at the embassy. Now she's received her visa and while there is a sheet included that says where she can get take her CFO seminar, it says absolutely nothing about it being a requirement.

Also, did your fiance have her passport returned to her stamped (allowing her to go to the USA) by the end of the day?

[RyaNRiza 1]

So what documents does my fiance need to bring to the seminar?

Had my seminar in Cebu. They asked photo copies of the first and last page of my passport, birth certificate, one picture of me and my (then) fiance together and fee. Your fiancee can go before she had her visa. But to save time, I suggest to have her attend after having the visa because they will not give the certificate which is required for the stamping of the sticker on her passport. I don't know about the requirements CFO-Manila asked. Good luck!

[EWRI6884 0]

So what documents does my fiance need to bring to the seminar?

Had my seminar in Cebu. They asked photo copies of the first and last page of my passport, birth certificate, one picture of me and my (then) fiance together and fee. Your fiancee can go before she had her visa. But to save time, I suggest to have her attend after having the visa because they will not give the certificate which is required for the stamping of the sticker on her passport. I don't know about the requirements CFO-Manila asked. Good luck!

Im not sure of everything she brought there... I know she had her passport photos and the fee's but had to go back to get a pic of us two together.

Well my Fiancee did the CFO in Cebu BEFORE she had her interview and therefor she didnt have her passport with her, it was sent to the Embassy from SLMC. But she DID get her certificate at the end of the day from CFO which she will use to get the stamp at the airport prior to her departing for the US.

[F23 0]

My Fiancee just had her CFO experience... Wow, what we thought was JUST going to be a "Good to Know" and "Informative" event turned into partial interrogation on these women.

My Fiancee said that overall they were nice to her but were strict, pushy and sometimes rude to most others. I am NOT sure what this whole CFO thing is really supposed to be but when they start quizing them on my pants size and requesting pictures of us be left with them, it seems to me that its BS... As far as I know (And I may be wrong) CFO is not the convening authority on VISA's and who should and shouldnt depart the country. I COMPLETELY understand what I believed to be the idea behind this program, and that was to... inform the Pinoys traveling abroad and make them completely aware of all their options (A GOOD THING). But when they told my Fiancee that they want to have our picture and she had to go back home to get one for them to keep, I was thinking.. WOW.. do they have that much power? Sounds communist to me...

Sorry for my rant but... We just didnt realize it was going to be like this, kinda thought it was JUST an INFORMATIVE seminar.

Just take the CFO after you recieved your Visa so that you have all needed,you can do it in just half day.I suggest you take the CFO in Manila at St. Mary. No hassles and no need to show your pictures together they will not ask there...good people are conducting seminars. Smile! i've been there too!

Oh! okay she did??? good idea too! but time consuming... going back there again to get a stamp...but anyway it's okay.

Edited December 13, 2008 by Loshiel_Kenny

[lady23 0]

my CFo seminar experienced was ok.. no insulting question, only asked few question like name of petioner, where he lives, and where did we met, when and how long he visited to me here, and the reason why got divorced to her ex-wife, and a cellphone number and tel. no. too. that's all. We're only 10 attended the seminar and it was done smoothly... the lady was very nice, and friendly... did not ask picture.. But you know guys, have a friend, met her in US Embassy were same date of interview. she is in US now last Nov. 29, and was shocked because she told me she did not attend cfo seminar. When she depart in the airport, they asked for the sticker. and she told she dont have it. Employee asked her if the cfo sticker is not important or need in the US, She said no... Having cfo seminar is just our gov't require it here. And it's not really part of the visa requirement... Just wonder why she able to depart while dont have that sticker. I thought , if no sticker, you cant go to US, And it is mandatory requirement to have it so that can go to US.

[lady23 0]

took my cfo seminar at St. Mary also, it is easy there and no hassle, it is a one stop processing for certificate and sticker.

[gladys 0]

So what documents does my fiance need to bring to the seminar?

Check the attachement here. This was the piece of paper that was sent to me with the VISA packet. The stamp is not a requirement of the USCIS but by the Philippine government. If there is no stamp on her passport, she can't get out of the country.

Hope this will help!

[ronjie 0]

If I was you I would give them false info and a fake picture of the fiancee with someone else. they really su-k asking so much stuff

[Brian-Charisma 0]

My Fiancee just had her CFO experience... Wow, what we thought was JUST going to be a "Good to Know" and "Informative" event turned into partial interrogation on these women.

My Fiancee said that overall they were nice to her but were strict, pushy and sometimes rude to most others. I am NOT sure what this whole CFO thing is really supposed to be but when they start quizing them on my pants size and requesting pictures of us be left with them, it seems to me that its BS... As far as I know (And I may be wrong) CFO is not the convening authority on VISA's and who should and shouldnt depart the country. I COMPLETELY understand what I believed to be the idea behind this program, and that was to... inform the Pinoys traveling abroad and make them completely aware of all their options (A GOOD THING). But when they told my Fiancee that they want to have our picture and she had to go back home to get one for them to keep, I was thinking.. WOW.. do they have that much power? Sounds communist to me...

Sorry for my rant but... We just didnt realize it was going to be like this, kinda thought it was JUST an INFORMATIVE seminar.

sorry to hear this news...i had my CFO last september and they never asked for pictures...its just pure counselling and they just gave some info......

[sunlyk 1]

The pictures is for record purposes. It's used as evidence like if someone got scammed then they can complain it to CFO. I asked them before why do they need pictures for both of us with clear face, they said that there once incident that petitioner petition 2 Filipina at the same time then the Filipina did not believed it but once they showed the picture she was shocked.

[JM2008 0]

Can anyone here share how they came to learn that the CFO seminar was required? My fiance learned about it through word of mouth. I can't possibly imagine that the majority of K1 immigrants from the Philippines are learning about the CFO seminar requirement through word of mouth.

My fiance recently went to Manila for her visa interview and one week later received her visa shipped via Delbros. However, during her interview, no one with the embassy told her anything about the CFO seminar and in my correspondence with the embassy, they informed me that only the visa and valid passport was required to travel to the USA. Shipped with the visa was a form with some information about the CFO seminar at St. Mary's. But nowhere on the form does it state that the CFO is a requirement. The only thing my fiance heard about the CFO seminar prior to receiving her visa from the embassy was through word of mouth.

While we now can safely presume that it's required, how can we be certain that there isn't anything else that's required that either me or my fiance haven't been told about?

[EWRI6884 0]

Can anyone here share how they came to learn that the CFO seminar was required? My fiance learned about it through word of mouth. I can't possibly imagine that the majority of K1 immigrants from the Philippines are learning about the CFO seminar requirement through word of mouth.

My fiance recently went to Manila for her visa interview and one week later received her visa shipped via Delbros. However, during her interview, no one with the embassy told her anything about the CFO seminar and in my correspondence with the embassy, they informed me that only the visa and valid passport was required to travel to the USA. Shipped with the visa was a form with some information about the CFO seminar at St. Mary's. But nowhere on the form does it state that the CFO is a requirement. The only thing my fiance heard about the CFO seminar prior to receiving her visa from the embassy was through word of mouth.

While we now can safely presume that it's required, how can we be certain that there isn't anything else that's required that either me or my fiance haven't been told about?

Yeah... it was word of mouth for Us too. I just read about all the procedures and requirements that past appilicants had experienced. I think you are right though, if the benificiary isn't being told about this requirement EXCEPT word of mouth, there should be something mentioned. Luckily, most have figured it out through word of mouth and haven't experienced delays or missed flights.