PRISM & CFO Question

[J and O 0]

Getting ready for Olive to do her PRISM and CFO and I am so confused now after reading posts and looking at their website.

Can she do her PRISM without her VISA being approved yet...we are waiting for the embassy to pickup her CEMONOR at the Passy office on Friday before the VISA will be approved. Somewhere I read that you need a reservation can you not just walk in.

Does she only need her passport when she goes to the CFO office or does she need that for the PRISM too, and can she just walk in for the CFO?

Also would appreciate if someone could give me the times for the PRISM...it seems like I had read somewhere 10:00 for the morning time???

Thanks J & O

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

Here's the link http://www.cfo.gov.ph/

Edited August 2, 2010 by ~happyndinlove~

[J and O 0]

Thank so I guess we have to wait until after she receives her VISA/passport and letter to make a reservation for her PRISM/CFO meeting. She needs her passport and it is still at the embassy. Best guess now for her to get here will probably be maybe the end of August....ugh!!!!

[TOM&Riz 4]

Getting ready for Olive to do her PRISM and CFO and I am so confused now after reading posts and looking at their website.

Can she do her PRISM without her VISA being approved yet...we are waiting for the embassy to pickup her CEMONOR at the Passy office on Friday before the VISA will be approved. Somewhere I read that you need a reservation can you not just walk in.

Does she only need her passport when she goes to the CFO office or does she need that for the PRISM too, and can she just walk in for the CFO?

Also would appreciate if someone could give me the times for the PRISM...it seems like I had read somewhere 10:00 for the morning time???

Thanks J & O

J&O it seems you have PRISM and CFO confused, PRISM is PEOPLE'S REFORM INITIATIVE FOR SOCIAL MOBILIZATION INC. that CFO (Commision on Filipino's Overseas) regulates, yes its best to visit the website, she will need her VISA in order to get her sticker or she will have to go back with her VISA

There is a schedule there for the sessions 10:00 is the first session

Good Luck

[J and O 0]

I do realize that PRISM and CFO are two separate identies. Thanks I think I have it figured out???

[scotty's girl 1]

She doesn't have to make a reservation to be able to attend the seminar, she can walk in. She can also attend the seminar (PRISM) even without her passport, however, it is better for her to wait till she receives it because she can go directly to the CFO office after the seminar to have her passport stamped with a CFO sticker.

[JORDANTONI09 10]

I agree with scotty's girl. I also suggest that you tell your fiancée to wait until she gets her visa. When she receives her visa packet, there will be a CFO guide in the Air21 plastic. That way, she'll get to accomplish the seminar and have the sticker affixed to her passport all in one day.

The seminar starts at 10:00 am and the next schedule is at 1:00 pm. (PRISM)

Once she has her visa, tell her to bring the ff:

-photocopy of passport

-photocopy of visa

-Php 250 payment for the seminar

She might be asked to apply for a BDO Kabayan Savings account. She can decline. If she decides to apply for it, tell her to bring the ff:

-1x1 or 2x2 I.D.

-photocopy of a valid I.D.

-Php 50

For the sticker and Guidance and Counseling Certificate at CFO:

-Valid ID

-photocopy of passport

-photocopy of visa

-photocopy of Guidance and Counseling Certificate of Attendance (from PRISM or SMEF-COW)

By the way, how is the case going? Has she contacted the Embassy?

[J and O 0]

I agree with scotty's girl. I also suggest that you tell your fiancée to wait until she gets her visa. When she receives her visa packet, there will be a CFO guide in the Air21 plastic. That way, she'll get to accomplish the seminar and have the sticker affixed to her passport all in one day.

The seminar starts at 10:00 am and the next schedule is at 1:00 pm. (PRISM)

Once she has her visa, tell her to bring the ff:

-photocopy of passport

-photocopy of visa

-Php 250 payment for the seminar

She might be asked to apply for a BDO Kabayan Savings account. She can decline. If she decides to apply for it, tell her to bring the ff:

-1x1 or 2x2 I.D.

-photocopy of a valid I.D.

-Php 50

For the sticker and Guidance and Counseling Certificate at CFO:

-Valid ID

-photocopy of passport

-photocopy of visa

-photocopy of Guidance and Counseling Certificate of Attendance (from PRISM or SMEF-COW)

By the way, how is the case going? Has she contacted the Embassy?

She picked up her NBI clearance Thur 7/29 and dropped it off at the Embassy...the CENOMAR was done at Passay and wasn't ready for Friday's Embassy pickup. She called Monday a.m. and found out she can't pick it up...only the Embassy can...however they did tell her that it should be done late on Monday or Tuesday. She is going to call again late today to be sure it is done.

However, I did contact my local senator's office and she sent an email last Friday and called today and what they emailed her back with was that the petition was ready to have VISA issued or denied and that there was a notation that the document was received on Thursday. We talked about the CENOMAR and I called the Embassy a little while ago and they said they are still waiting for the CENOMAR and that she should drop that off at the window between 1 and 2 p.m. Monday thru Thursday. I will be calling the senator's office again tomorrow to see if she can find out anything more about the CENOMAR drop off on Friday.

We are trying really hard to keep right on top of everything...and I think we will revert back to original plan to have her go to PRISM/CFO the following day after she receives her VISA/Passport. See no reason why the VISA will not be approved but sure tired of waiting! Not that she isn't worth it but I would sure like to have her here. Also am getting nervous because this petition expires on August 20.

Thanks for asking how this process is going. Appreciate it. By the way congrats on this part of your journey now complete.

Justin

Edited August 3, 2010 by J and O

[JORDANTONI09 10]

I can't even begin to fathom the frustration you both are feeling. This is such a hassle. I'm glad to know that the Embassy provided you with a date so you can eyeball the processing time from there. The CENOMAR takes a while to issue. I remember that mine took six days before it was finally dispatched. Monday or Tuesday sounds just about right so I hope she gets approved by next week!

All of this is due to the CENOMAR, then. Once they receive a copy of the document, the rest will go smoothly. It was quick thinking on your part to reach your local senator's office because that obviously helped. I wish you both the best so you can finally get this part of the journey over and done with. It's best to have her do the seminar and go the CFO office after so that's a good call on your part. I understand what you're feeling and I do hope that she gets approved in time!

You're most welcome! Your previous post came to mind and there aren't a lot of us who got blue slips so I figured to see how you guys are coping. Thank you so much and hang in there!

Toni

She picked up her NBI clearance Thur 7/29 and dropped it off at the Embassy...the CENOMAR was done at Passay and wasn't ready for Friday's Embassy pickup. She called Monday a.m. and found out she can't pick it up...only the Embassy can...however they did tell her that it should be done late on Monday or Tuesday. She is going to call again late today to be sure it is done.

However, I did contact my local senator's office and she sent an email last Friday and called today and what they emailed her back with was that the petition was ready to have VISA issued or denied and that there was a notation that the document was received on Thursday. We talked about the CENOMAR and I called the Embassy a little while ago and they said they are still waiting for the CENOMAR and that she should drop that off at the window between 1 and 2 p.m. Monday thru Thursday. I will be calling the senator's office again tomorrow to see if she can find out anything more about the CENOMAR drop off on Friday.

We are trying really hard to keep right on top of everything...and I think we will revert back to original plan to have her go to PRISM/CFO the following day after she receives her VISA/Passport. See no reason why the VISA will not be approved but sure tired of waiting! Not that she isn't worth it but I would sure like to have her here. Also am getting nervous because this petition expires on August 20.

Thanks for asking how this process is going. Appreciate it. By the way congrats on this part of your journey now complete.

Justin

[Tahoma 2,291]

Hang in there Justin. I realize that the waiting game is h3ll, but you and Olive are almost at the finish line. You will be together again malapit na!

Chinook attended the PRISM seminar the day after she completed her medical. That way, she could check off another thing from her "to-do" list. It was one less thing to worry about. After she received her visa packet and before she flew to Seattle, she dropped by the CFO office to get the CFO sticker.

[J and O 0]

Olive has decided on her own to go on Wednesday and do the PRISM with her decision the same as Chinook's one less thing to do and the sooner "I can leave" once she received her VISA. She also called NSO on Tuesday afternoon and the CENOMAR has been completed and she was told it should be pickup on Friday when the Embassy comes to their weekly pickup. I am going to call the Embassy Friday afternoon before they close just to verify that it has been received and see where we are then.

Thanks for the encouragement and information. It is very much appreciated. Will post an update just as soon as some good news arrives.

Justin

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

Thank so I guess we have to wait until after she receives her VISA/passport and letter to make a reservation for her PRISM/CFO meeting. She needs her passport and it is still at the embassy. Best guess now for her to get here will probably be maybe the end of August....ugh!!!!

Your welcome!

Reservation is unnecessary. She can walk in anytime but best time to go in is early in the morning as it is batch by batch. Also, it is much better to have the CFO thing done after she receive the visa as others above have suggested.

Good luck!