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LynAndArt

CFO Seminar

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

Hi guys,

Quick question, is it better to have my fiancée do the CFO seminar before the interview or after? Which is quickest, easiest, etc..?

Thanks,

Lyn and Art

K1 VISA
Feb 17 2009 - Met Online
Apr 19 2009 - 1st Visit to the Philippines
Nov 03 2009 - 2nd Visit to the Philippines
Nov 04 2009 - Engaged
Apr 20 1010 - 3rd Visit to the Philippines
Nov 19 2010 - I-129F Mailed to Texas Lock Box
Nov 22 2010 - Received Date
Nov 29 2010 - NOA1
May 12 2011 - NOA2 Email and Text that we are approved (165-days)! Oh Thank God!
May 16 2011 - NOA2 Hard copy Received

Jul 07 2011 - Lyn and the girls pass their medicals - Thank God!
Jul 22 2011 - Interview - APPROVED
Aug 01 2011 - Picked up visas from 2GO
Aug 03 2011 - CFO Seminar
Aug 13 2011 - POE Detroit
Sep 23 2011 - Married


AOS

May 1 2012 - Mailed I-485 for Marilyn and the Girls
May 16 2012 - NOA-1 Text and Email Received
Jun 23 2012 - REF - Need tax returns for K2s
Jan 31 2013 - GC's For Lyn and Gwen. Got a REF for Uriel's Medical
Mar 21 2013 - Got CG for Uriel. We are done for 2 years

ROC

Dec 27 2014 Mailed I-751

Jan 05 2015 NOA-1 Received

Sept 24 2015 REF - Need more info to establish residency and shared financials

Dec 05 2015 Mail Response to Ref

Jan 25 2016 Received approved NOA-1

Feb 1 2016 10 year GC's received for Lyn and the girls - on to citizenship

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It's easiest if she'll do it when she have the visa in hand. She can do it before the interview too, however, she needs to go back for the sticker when she gets her visa because they need to put the sticker on her passport. To save energy, time, effort, and money - it's better to do it when she receives her visa. :) She doesn't have to go back for the sticker anymore.

October 2008 - we first met each other at work (Makati, Philippines)

February 2010 - we finally admitted that we are in love (yay!)

Mar 18-Apr 5, 2010 - hubby went to the Philippines for vacation to celebrate his birthday

March 31, 2010 - engagement day!! yay!!

August 21-29, 2010 - hubby went back again to PH for the wedding prep

October 19-November 2, 2010 - hubby arrived in PH for our wedding :)

October 23, 2010 - WEDDING DAY!!

March 18-28, 2011 - hubby's visit to Philippines for his bday (2nd bday together)

USCIS Stage - 136 days for USCIS journey

December 2, 2010 - I-130 sent to Chicago Lockbox

December 6, 2010 - I-130 received!! yay!!

December 13, 2010 - NOA1 text message received!

December 16, 2010 - NOA1 hard copy received in the mail

April 28, 2011 - NOA2!!! Thank you LORD!

NVC Stage - 21 days for NVC journey

May 2, 2011 - NOA2 hard copy received in the mail; NVC received our case

May 6, 2011 - Case number and IIN ; DS3230 sent by beneficiary through email to NVC

May 10, 2011 - AOS bill invoiced and paid

May 13, 2011 - IV bill generated and paid

May 16, 2011 - IV bill shows "PAID" ; AOS and DS230 packets sent to NVC

May 18, 2011 - NVC received both packets

May 19, 2011 - Medical exam - PASSED!!! :)

May 27, 2011 - Sign in Failed and Case Complete!!! Woot!

June 9, 2011 - Interview date assigned

July 14, 2011 - Interview @8:30am - APPROVED!!!!

July 21, 2011 - Visa Received! FINALLY!

July 23, 2011 - POE - Salt Lake City, Utah *home sweet home*

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Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Philippines
Timeline

I was told that it is better to do the CFO Seminar after you're granted visa and have it on hand. My fiance got approved last 7th, and I told her to wait for the Visa before proceeding to the next step. They will not issue the stickers if you do not have your passport and visa. Hope this helps.

K1 Visa -

AOS Timeline
AUG 24 2011 > K1 Visa POE San Francisco CA (Finally
OCT 06 2011 > Got Married in Redwood City CA (Ehem!)

NOV 14 2011 > SUBMITTED I-1485, I-765 & I-131 Application via USPS to Chicago Lockbox
NOV 18 2011 > Received text and email (I-797 Notice of action was sent via mail)
NOV 26 2011 > Received Biometrics Appointment Letter for DECEMBER 13...
DEC 13 2011 > BIOMETRICS DONE
JAN 07 2011 > Received INTERVIEW Notice for FEB 1st!
JAN 14 2012 > EAD RECEIVED
FEB 01 2012 > INTERVIEW DONE we got APPROVED for conditional GREENCARD yESSSS!!!

I-751 Removal of Condition Journey
DEC 27 2013 > Sent I-751 packet Laguna Niguel Office, CSC
JAN 2 2014 > Packet sent back because of wrong filing fee (wrote $585 instead of $590)
JAN 2 2014 > Re-sent I-751 packet with the correct filing fee this time
JAN 6 2014 > They have received my packet

JAN 9 2014 > Check enchashed

JAN 12 2014> Received Biometrics Appointment

JAN 31 2014> Biometrics done!

April 30 2014> GC Approved

May 4 2014> Letter received Card in production

May 7 2014> Received 10 yr GC! WEEEEEE!!! THANK GOD!

Watch our cute wedding video!

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

I wouldn't say there is anything about being better or not. Just depends on if you can/want to travel twice. My wife went and got her CFO done before the visa in hand, since we had time to spare (I was there in Phils and traveling back with her to US). So she did it one day, picked up visa a few days later, and went back and had sticker attached. Good luck on travels.

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I had my seminar last month. I have no visa yet. I paid for the seminar fee and the CFO registration. They registered me even without my visa and passport. I was advised to just present my CFO certificate receipt passport visa etc.... at NAIA on the day i will leave the country. Passport sticker will just follow there too. No need of going back to CFO office. But that still depends on her if she wants to have it done soon or later. Btw i registered at CFO Cebu. Hope this helps. :)

Edited by krieg_n_aice

3.17.2011 - filed for I-130

3.24.2011 - I-130 NOA1 received

5.19.2011 - filed for I-129f

5.24.2011 - I-129f NOA1 received

6.24.2011 - I-129f NOA2 received (APPROVED)

6.24.2011 - I-130 NOA2 received (APPROVED)

7.26.2011 - NVC received; Case Number and IIN received; gave email address; DS 3032 Sent

7.27.2011 - AOS Bill invoiced and paid (In Process)

7.28.2011 - AOS appears PAID

8.01.2011 - IV FEE invoiced and paid (In Process)

8.03.2011 - AOS sent ~~>received (8.5); APPROVED (8.15)

8.10.2011 - IV Packet sent ~~>received (8.12); APPROVED (8.19)

8.19.2011 - SIF

8.26.2011 - Interview date assigned (10.5)

8.30.2011 - Received interview package by email

9.05.2011 - Medical exam: passed (9.6)

10.5.2011 - INTERVIEW DATE - Approved

11.15.2011 - POE: Detroit

11.21.2011 - SSN Received

12.19.2011 - GC received

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Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Philippines
Timeline

From friends of my fiancee who are working on their visas. I have heard the CFO is better to do before the embassy interview. You need almost all of the exact same paperwork as for the embassy. Also, the ono on one is similar to the embassy but a much longer interview. (the one on one at the CFO is an hour.) We are planning on doing hers between medical and embassy. if you are in or near manila or cebu, you can do at any time. But if not, sometimes it is good to do during the embassy or medical visit to manila to have out of the way. All depends on how you plan to travel. the CFO can really mes up your travel plans if not well planned.

K-1 Visa Timeline:

02/11/2011 - Engaged at her house by her Godmother.

02/18/2011 - Engagement party with relatives - propose in Visayan.

02/24/2011 - K-1 packet sent.

09/18/2011 - POE, Viva Las Vegas, Baby !!!!! Home to Phoenix.

12/10/2011 - Official Wedding

07/05/2012 - Princess Rose born.

07/07/2012 - AP/EAD received.

07/17/2012 - AOS passed. (Birthday for Mama Rayos)

event.png

event.png

event.png

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Filed: Timeline

My fiancee plans on flying back home (Malaybalay City) and wait for the visa to be delivered... no sense in hanging around Manila in a costly hotel for 2 weeks just so the 2GO courier can arrive. So, waiting to take the CFO after getting that visa would be rather bothersome since she'd have to travel back to Manila (or Cebu) just for the CFO.

We're still waiting for NOA2 so I hadn't thought of this before about what order the CFO should be done in.

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

From friends of my fiancee who are working on their visas. I have heard the CFO is better to do before the embassy interview. You need almost all of the exact same paperwork as for the embassy. Also, the ono on one is similar to the embassy but a much longer interview. (the one on one at the CFO is an hour.) We are planning on doing hers between medical and embassy. if you are in or near manila or cebu, you can do at any time. But if not, sometimes it is good to do during the embassy or medical visit to manila to have out of the way. All depends on how you plan to travel. the CFO can really mes up your travel plans if not well planned.

We are past the medical and waiting for the interview so I was thinking that she could get the seminar out of the way, then just go back and get the stickers once she has the visa.

She is in Manila so she does not have to travel from a provience or worse another island.

Thanks,

Lyn and Art

K1 VISA
Feb 17 2009 - Met Online
Apr 19 2009 - 1st Visit to the Philippines
Nov 03 2009 - 2nd Visit to the Philippines
Nov 04 2009 - Engaged
Apr 20 1010 - 3rd Visit to the Philippines
Nov 19 2010 - I-129F Mailed to Texas Lock Box
Nov 22 2010 - Received Date
Nov 29 2010 - NOA1
May 12 2011 - NOA2 Email and Text that we are approved (165-days)! Oh Thank God!
May 16 2011 - NOA2 Hard copy Received

Jul 07 2011 - Lyn and the girls pass their medicals - Thank God!
Jul 22 2011 - Interview - APPROVED
Aug 01 2011 - Picked up visas from 2GO
Aug 03 2011 - CFO Seminar
Aug 13 2011 - POE Detroit
Sep 23 2011 - Married


AOS

May 1 2012 - Mailed I-485 for Marilyn and the Girls
May 16 2012 - NOA-1 Text and Email Received
Jun 23 2012 - REF - Need tax returns for K2s
Jan 31 2013 - GC's For Lyn and Gwen. Got a REF for Uriel's Medical
Mar 21 2013 - Got CG for Uriel. We are done for 2 years

ROC

Dec 27 2014 Mailed I-751

Jan 05 2015 NOA-1 Received

Sept 24 2015 REF - Need more info to establish residency and shared financials

Dec 05 2015 Mail Response to Ref

Jan 25 2016 Received approved NOA-1

Feb 1 2016 10 year GC's received for Lyn and the girls - on to citizenship

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Filed: Country:
Timeline
I had my seminar last month. I have no visa yet. I paid for the seminar fee and the CFO registration. They registered me even without my visa and passport. I was advised to just present my CFO certificate receipt passport visa etc.... at NAIA on the day i will leave the country. Passport sticker will just follow there too. No need of going back to CFO office. But that still depends on her if she wants to have it done soon or later. Btw i registered at CFO Cebu. Hope this helps. :)

This is the first time I've heard of someone suggesting you show up at the airport without the CFO Sticker, just with the certificate & receipt. Who suggested this to you?

Personally I'm an "Error on the side of caution" guy and would get the sticker in the passport before going to the airport. The cost of an extra day in Manila is much less than a lost flight because of missing sticker.

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

My fiancee plans on flying back home (Malaybalay City) and wait for the visa to be delivered... no sense in hanging around Manila in a costly hotel for 2 weeks just so the 2GO courier can arrive. So, waiting to take the CFO after getting that visa would be rather bothersome since she'd have to travel back to Manila (or Cebu) just for the CFO.

We're still waiting for NOA2 so I hadn't thought of this before about what order the CFO should be done in.

Yeah. You guys might to start planning for that now so that you have one less thing to worry about during your medical/interview time.

Thanks,

Lyn and Art

K1 VISA
Feb 17 2009 - Met Online
Apr 19 2009 - 1st Visit to the Philippines
Nov 03 2009 - 2nd Visit to the Philippines
Nov 04 2009 - Engaged
Apr 20 1010 - 3rd Visit to the Philippines
Nov 19 2010 - I-129F Mailed to Texas Lock Box
Nov 22 2010 - Received Date
Nov 29 2010 - NOA1
May 12 2011 - NOA2 Email and Text that we are approved (165-days)! Oh Thank God!
May 16 2011 - NOA2 Hard copy Received

Jul 07 2011 - Lyn and the girls pass their medicals - Thank God!
Jul 22 2011 - Interview - APPROVED
Aug 01 2011 - Picked up visas from 2GO
Aug 03 2011 - CFO Seminar
Aug 13 2011 - POE Detroit
Sep 23 2011 - Married


AOS

May 1 2012 - Mailed I-485 for Marilyn and the Girls
May 16 2012 - NOA-1 Text and Email Received
Jun 23 2012 - REF - Need tax returns for K2s
Jan 31 2013 - GC's For Lyn and Gwen. Got a REF for Uriel's Medical
Mar 21 2013 - Got CG for Uriel. We are done for 2 years

ROC

Dec 27 2014 Mailed I-751

Jan 05 2015 NOA-1 Received

Sept 24 2015 REF - Need more info to establish residency and shared financials

Dec 05 2015 Mail Response to Ref

Jan 25 2016 Received approved NOA-1

Feb 1 2016 10 year GC's received for Lyn and the girls - on to citizenship

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my wife did the CFO seminar right after her embassy interview. She had everything that she took to the embassy interview for the CFO seminar and had no issues. of course we did make a copy of her passport bio page before it got turned in at St. Lukes.

For our Full timeline

event.png

Removal of conditions Journey

16 March 2012 Sent I-751 package from Aviano AB, Italy.

29 March 2012 Received everything back...wrong fee. thought we didn't have to pay biometrics since we were sending fingerprint cards and passport photos.

30 March 2012 Sent everything out again from Aviano AB, Italy.

10 April 2012 Check cashed

17 April 2012 Received NOA1 dated 6 April.

06 Dec 2012 Received 10 yr green card. Letter said it was approved 28 November 2012.

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
Timeline

... for me, i try to do things the earliest possible time ...

... i did the CFO seminar (cubao) before i got the visa ...

... i had the time then ...

... and the sticker when i got the visa (manila - i was in the vicinity) ...

... its better to have it done ahead of time ...

... we wouldnt know if there will be things popping up the days ahead ...

but still depends individually - for schedule (time and place)

but the earlier done, the better

good luck

AOS journey

31 March 2011 - Mailed thru USPS (AOS/EAD/AP)

03 April 2011 - NOA (AOS/EAD/AP)

18 April 2011 - successful walk-in biometrics

21 April 2011 - NOA (AOS transfer to CSC)

25 May 2011 - EAD/AP approved

04 June 2011 - EAD/AP combo card received

16 June 2011 - AOS/GC approved

22 June 2011 - GC received by mail

3r4r2ij8einw7.png

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This is the first time I've heard of someone suggesting you show up at the airport without the CFO Sticker, just with the certificate & receipt. Who suggested this to you?

Personally I'm an "Error on the side of caution" guy and would get the sticker in the passport before going to the airport. The cost of an extra day in Manila is much less than a lost flight because of missing sticker.

CFO officers in CEBU told me so. I was there the other month June 16 2011.

What I just need is the CFO sticker after registration. SHE (the officer) told me to just proceed to CFO office/officer in NAIA. As a requirement to renew my passport (change of status) i need a guidance counseling certificate that's why I had the seminar last month. I was even surprised they had me registered because I though you can't if you don't have the visa yet.

I have attached my receipt that I had been registered and my certifications as a proof.

The decision is still yours. I was not suggesting anything. I was merely telling everyone about my case.

3.17.2011 - filed for I-130

3.24.2011 - I-130 NOA1 received

5.19.2011 - filed for I-129f

5.24.2011 - I-129f NOA1 received

6.24.2011 - I-129f NOA2 received (APPROVED)

6.24.2011 - I-130 NOA2 received (APPROVED)

7.26.2011 - NVC received; Case Number and IIN received; gave email address; DS 3032 Sent

7.27.2011 - AOS Bill invoiced and paid (In Process)

7.28.2011 - AOS appears PAID

8.01.2011 - IV FEE invoiced and paid (In Process)

8.03.2011 - AOS sent ~~>received (8.5); APPROVED (8.15)

8.10.2011 - IV Packet sent ~~>received (8.12); APPROVED (8.19)

8.19.2011 - SIF

8.26.2011 - Interview date assigned (10.5)

8.30.2011 - Received interview package by email

9.05.2011 - Medical exam: passed (9.6)

10.5.2011 - INTERVIEW DATE - Approved

11.15.2011 - POE: Detroit

11.21.2011 - SSN Received

12.19.2011 - GC received

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Wife did it about 1 year ago...long before our interview and passed with no problems. She didn't get the sticker though, since they won't issue that until the visa is on the passport. But they did give her the documents she needs to prove she's cleared it, so it's a simple stop by the day before she leaves to get it.

ROC

06/15/2013 - I-751 Sent

06/19/2013 - NOA 1

07/17/2013 - Biometrics

08/19/2013 - Case transferred from VSC to CSC

09/17/2013 - Approved!

09/23/2013 - Received approval notice.

10/09/2013 - Card received. Fini!

N400

12/18/2017 - N400 submitted

12/19/2017 - NOA

01/09/2018 - Biometrics

04/10/2018 - Interview

04/27/2018 - Oath

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Filed: Country:
Timeline
CFO officers in CEBU told me so. I was there the other month June 16 2011.

What I just need is the CFO sticker after registration. SHE (the officer) told me to just proceed to CFO office/officer in NAIA. As a requirement to renew my passport (change of status) i need a guidance counseling certificate that's why I had the seminar last month. I was even surprised they had me registered because I though you can't if you don't have the visa yet.

I have attached my receipt that I had been registered and my certifications as a proof.

The decision is still yours. I was not suggesting anything. I was merely telling everyone about my case.

There is no need for you to prove anything. I know that CFO can be completed before received the Visa, that's what Anna did.

I would suggest you confirm with the CFO Office at NAIA about being able to get the sticker there. In the 2 plus years I've been on VJ I've never heard of anyone getting the sticker at the airport. Most who did the seminar early get their sticker the day before and one of the two Manila CFO locations.

It would really suck to get to the airport and miss your flight because someone gave you bad information.

Again, all I'm saying is that it's in your own best interest to confirm what you were told by contacting the CFO office at NAIA.

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