CFO at St. Mary's and COF Extension Office

[lovelyjoy 13]

Just want to share my CFO experience at St. Mary's Euphrasia Foundation - Center for Overseas Workers in Katipunan, QC (near LRT 2 Katipunan station) yesterday. I was able to catch the 1:30 pm session after getting lost in Cubao.

Anyhow, I've observed some changes in the requirements from what I've read here on VJ. Btw, I already have my visa when I attended the seminar. If you don't have it yet, you can still attend the counseling/seminar but you need to come back for the stamp or else you will risk being de-planed. I've read on VJ that it is better to attend here because you can have both the pre-marital counseling and the COF stamp at the same compound. COF has an extension office at the SMEF Bldg. I wish they have better facilities and experienced/well-informed facilitators.

They don't require applicants to bring 2x2 pics (they take the pics at the registration area) and other documents like NBI or BC or CENOMAR anymore. But I've observed that they ask previously married attendees their divorce/annulment papers. And the data immigrant summary for those with K3/CR1 visas.

They also charge a lot (P5/page) for the photo copies so I suggest you bring 3 photo copies of your visa & passport before going there, plus the original. An extra photo copy of ID's (with pic and signature) if you will avail of the Metrobank ATM remittance card/passbook.

You will be told to photo copy your pre-marital counseling certificate after the seminar before you can proceed to the CFO office for the stamp and certificate. You can have it photo copied at SMEF compound if you don't want to go out of the area or if you're in a hurry.

Prepare to answer a number of forms: 1 for the counseling (back-to-back), 1 for CFO (back-to-back), 1 for Metrobank card, 2 take-home forms and 1 survey form. Bring your fiance's info sheet. You will need data like his mother's maiden name, zipcode, his college or vocational degree, his parent's contact info if he doesn't have a landline. They will require you to give 4 contact numbers (2 from you and 2 from your fiance) - if you don't have a landline you can include your parent's number or your closest friend. You can bring your cellphone to copy contact info or text/call your fiance if you have questions.

The payment is still P250 for the pre-marital counseling, P400 for the CFO sticker and certificate for a total of P650. Eat before you go there, you will be hungry once it's over.

After registration, allot 20-30 mins to fill out forms before the actual counseling/seminar starts. Before the seminar, 2 ladies from Metrobank gave a very convincing talk (judging from those who availed of the card including myself. Lol!) Prepare to watch an old traumatic video of Magandang Gabi Bayan about Filipinas who were abused by their foreign spouses. The talk was kinda long (about 2.5 hrs) but Ma'am Thess one of the facilitators was both funny and engaging.

There was a short Q&A, followed by the one on one counseling. Once you're cleared, photo copy your certificate for the CFO sticker. Check the details on your certificate first before proceeding to the photocopy area. Then you can proceed to the CFO office, same building but at the back area. After payment, they'll give you reading materials, another form, receipt and your certificate.

Our batch was kinda big, more than 20 people. We had ladies going to the US, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Switzerland etc. I and my new friend Dora were done before 5pm.

For more info, visit their website http://www.smef-cow-phil.org/.

[Sashi Bells 3]

Thanks for sharing! Updated and informative!

[7teeners 2]

Thanks for the update

[je & wyn 4]

Just want to share my CFO experience at St. Mary's Euphrasia Foundation - Center for Overseas Workers in Katipunan, QC (near LRT 2 Katipunan station) yesterday. I was able to catch the 1:30 pm session after getting lost in Cubao.

Anyhow, I've observed some changes in the requirements from what I've read here on VJ. Btw, I already have my visa when I attended the seminar. If you don't have it yet, you can still attend the counseling/seminar but you need to come back for the stamp or else you will risk being de-planed. I've read on VJ that it is better to attend here because you can have both the pre-marital counseling and the COF stamp at the same compound. COF has an extension office at the SMEF Bldg. I wish they have better facilities and experienced/well-informed facilitators.

They don't require applicants to bring 2x2 pics (they take the pics at the registration area) and other documents like NBI or BC or CENOMAR anymore. But I've observed that they ask previously married attendees their divorce/annulment papers. And the data immigrant summary for those with K3/CR1 visas.

They also charge a lot (P5/page) for the photo copies so I suggest you bring 3 photo copies of your visa & passport before going there, plus the original. An extra photo copy of ID's (with pic and signature) if you will avail of the Metrobank ATM remittance card/passbook.

You will be told to photo copy your pre-marital counseling certificate after the seminar before you can proceed to the CFO office for the stamp and certificate. You can have it photo copied at SMEF compound if you don't want to go out of the area or if you're in a hurry.

Prepare to answer a number of forms: 1 for the counseling (back-to-back), 1 for CFO (back-to-back), 1 for Metrobank card, 2 take-home forms and 1 survey form. Bring your fiance's info sheet. You will need data like his mother's maiden name, zipcode, his college or vocational degree, his parent's contact info if he doesn't have a landline. They will require you to give 4 contact numbers (2 from you and 2 from your fiance) - if you don't have a landline you can include your parent's number or your closest friend. You can bring your cellphone to copy contact info or text/call your fiance if you have questions.

The payment is still P250 for the pre-marital counseling, P400 for the CFO sticker and certificate for a total of P650. Eat before you go there, you will be hungry once it's over.

After registration, allot 20-30 mins to fill out forms before the actual counseling/seminar starts. Before the seminar, 2 ladies from Metrobank gave a very convincing talk (judging from those who availed of the card including myself. Lol!) Prepare to watch an old traumatic video of Magandang Gabi Bayan about Filipinas who were abused by their foreign spouses. The talk was kinda long (about 2.5 hrs) but Ma'am Thess one of the facilitators was both funny and engaging.

There was a short Q&A, followed by the one on one counseling. Once you're cleared, photo copy your certificate for the CFO sticker. Check the details on your certificate first before proceeding to the photocopy area. Then you can proceed to the CFO office, same building but at the back area. After payment, they'll give you reading materials, another form, receipt and your certificate.

Our batch was kinda big, more than 20 people. We had ladies going to the US, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Switzerland etc. I and my new friend Dora were done before 5pm.

For more info, visit their website http://www.smef-cow-phil.org/.

Ita was very nice of you to share such an informative experience, that would be certainly be very helpful for those who are on that stage of their journey....God bless!

[ghienhie18 0]

thanks for sharing this... i just want to ask if what are the requirements that i need to bring?

[lovelyjoy 13]

thanks for sharing this... i just want to ask if what are the requirements that i need to bring?

Sis, just click the link I posted. The requirements are on their website.