SMEF_COW review

[Dean_De 61]

Hi Fellow VJ,

I just want to share how my SMEF_COW seminar went. I was done with my seminar last October 28, 2011 ( Friday ) @ Cebu City. Cebu coz I live in Leyte and its closer to travel to and from Leyte

Anyways, I went there at 7 and I was the first one to arrive and wrote down my name. When I went there, the security guard told us to read what we need to prepare and made us wait till 8:00. At around 8 we were allowed to get inside and went at the 3rd floor of the Aya-ay arcade building where the SMEF is located. the building doesn't look nice itself from the outside and you can't tell that it is really the SMEF not unless you ask the guard Well, I didn't went there to be a building inspector so I would focus more on why I was there, the seminar.

The process started at around 8:15am. First They called us based on who came first and so, I was called first..YEHAAAAA! When I was called, the lady behind the counter asked me for my my passport biographical page, visa, live birth, 2 valid ID's , my fiance's live birth, and his passport ( all mentioned are just photocopy )After the lady verified the veracity of the documents, I was given a form to answer. Talking about the form, it was funny coz there were check marks in there telling us to answer what was marked with a check. After being able to fill it up religiously, we were told again that there were still details left unanswered ( CONFUSING ) but we did what we were asked

While filling up the forms, we were again called by the cashier. there we paid 250 php and we were told to wear orange shirt and our pictures were taken ( hehehe - kidding with the orange shirt - but the lady behind the counter took our pics from the webcam in front of the counter ) then we went back to continue filling out the forms.

TIPS for the form:

1 Know your fiance/e's :

- mothers maiden name

- know his phone and cellphone number

- educational attainment ( if they are done with college - know his specialization )

- work and its exact address

- if he / she is divorced, know how many time he was divorced and the nationality of his x's

2. Contact person here int he Philippines

- exact address

- phone & mobile number

- email add if applicable

3. Any relative int he US

- exact address

- mobile number

4. You will be asked to state how did you guys met. and write down the website if you met online. If you both are introduced by a friend or any acquaintance, be sure to know the exact name of the person, address, contact number, and email add.

After I was done and passed the exam..hahahha - I mean after filling up the forms religiously, I submitted it and we were told to wait at the conference room ( i will just call it that). there the actual guidance and counseling seminar occurred.

Before the seminar started, my mind was already wondering if REALLY the ones facilitating the seminar is biased / anti-Foriegn I read some VJ's here complaining that the people who lectured them was giving negative statements against their foriegn fiance/e . I told myself, if I hear something not right, I would surely share my opinion

Ma'am Loi came in and introduced herself and what SMEF is all about. Why there is a need for this counseling and getting the sticker and certificate. While the discussion went on, I have not heard her say anything negative about foreign fiance/e

Well, she shared bad stories of Filipinas abroad. But she wasn't so biased and blamed it all to foreign fiance/e. We shared thoughts and opinion on how to take care of the genuine relationship with our soon to be husband. And what to do just in case we are placed in a bad situation. We were educated about immigration laws and policy, where to check and get updates..so on and so forth...all I heard was really nothing but to prepare Filipino/a who decides to travel abroad.

We had our lunch break at 12 and went back 1 pm. That afternoon, the one- on- one talk happened. Questions ask are ( well, it differs from case to case ) :

1. Who was my petioner

2. His birthday and age

3. My age

4. My children

5. His children and its ages

6. His x, nationality

7. Questions about his previous divorce ( i thought the questions was too personal, but I think why they ask it is not to really be judgmental but to really know how far the couples talk..the reason why fiance/e got divorced. they ask this coz they do have list of the immigration black list and they will read the divorce paper..and if the x-spouse is dead, they will ask for a death certificate to really know the cause of the x-spouse death )

8. about my x-husband..where he lives, is he ok with the kids and their relationship to their son to be father..reason why I got annulled.

9. What are the positive and negative traits of my fiance and how do I deal with his negative traits

10. How is his relationship to my kids.

11. Was I bringing my kids? I told him they will follow.

12. Does my kids accept my fiance as their soon to be step dad?

I might be missing some more questions but majority of that I think is listed already

After the talk, Ma'am Loi told me the interview went well and I am OK to leave..lmao..she wrote OK at my paper.

I went out and waited until my name was called at the cashier. I signed at their log book and paid 5php for the certificate. After getting the certificate I was told to go at the CFO office for the sticker.

The CFO is at a different place, its close the DFA building @ causing-lozada. It didn't took me long there. I gave them my passport and also a photocopy of the biographical page and visa. then filled up the form. after that I paid 400php then they placed sticker at my passport and clipped the cfo certificate. gave us pamphlets and handbook. One of which they gave us should be sent to them after arriving the US and there for 2 weeks. It is self -addressed so no worries.

Goodluck to everyone!!!

[je & wyn 4]

Hi Fellow VJ,

I just want to share how my SMEF_COW seminar went. I was done with my seminar last October 28, 2011 ( Friday ) @ Cebu City. Cebu coz I live in Leyte and its closer to travel to and from Leyte

Anyways, I went there at 7 and I was the first one to arrive and wrote down my name. When I went there, the security guard told us to read what we need to prepare and made us wait till 8:00. At around 8 we were allowed to get inside and went at the 3rd floor of the Aya-ay arcade building where the SMEF is located. the building doesn't look nice itself from the outside and you can't tell that it is really the SMEF not unless you ask the guard Well, I didn't went there to be a building inspector so I would focus more on why I was there, the seminar.

The process started at around 8:15am. First They called us based on who came first and so, I was called first..YEHAAAAA! When I was called, the lady behind the counter asked me for my my passport biographical page, visa, live birth, 2 valid ID's , my fiance's live birth, and his passport ( all mentioned are just photocopy )After the lady verified the veracity of the documents, I was given a form to answer. Talking about the form, it was funny coz there were check marks in there telling us to answer what was marked with a check. After being able to fill it up religiously, we were told again that there were still details left unanswered ( CONFUSING ) but we did what we were asked

While filling up the forms, we were again called by the cashier. there we paid 250 php and we were told to wear orange shirt and our pictures were taken ( hehehe - kidding with the orange shirt - but the lady behind the counter took our pics from the webcam in front of the counter ) then we went back to continue filling out the forms.

TIPS for the form:

1 Know your fiance/e's :

- mothers maiden name

- know his phone and cellphone number

- educational attainment ( if they are done with college - know his specialization )

- work and its exact address

- if he / she is divorced, know how many time he was divorced and the nationality of his x's

2. Contact person here int he Philippines

- exact address

- phone & mobile number

- email add if applicable

3. Any relative int he US

- exact address

- mobile number

4. You will be asked to state how did you guys met. and write down the website if you met online. If you both are introduced by a friend or any acquaintance, be sure to know the exact name of the person, address, contact number, and email add.

After I was done and passed the exam..hahahha - I mean after filling up the forms religiously, I submitted it and we were told to wait at the conference room ( i will just call it that). there the actual guidance and counseling seminar occurred.

Before the seminar started, my mind was already wondering if REALLY the ones facilitating the seminar is biased / anti-Foriegn I read some VJ's here complaining that the people who lectured them was giving negative statements against their foriegn fiance/e . I told myself, if I hear something not right, I would surely share my opinion

Ma'am Loi came in and introduced herself and what SMEF is all about. Why there is a need for this counseling and getting the sticker and certificate. While the discussion went on, I have not heard her say anything negative about foreign fiance/e

Well, she shared bad stories of Filipinas abroad. But she wasn't so biased and blamed it all to foreign fiance/e. We shared thoughts and opinion on how to take care of the genuine relationship with our soon to be husband. And what to do just in case we are placed in a bad situation. We were educated about immigration laws and policy, where to check and get updates..so on and so forth...all I heard was really nothing but to prepare Filipino/a who decides to travel abroad.

We had our lunch break at 12 and went back 1 pm. That afternoon, the one- on- one talk happened. Questions ask are ( well, it differs from case to case ) :

1. Who was my petioner

2. His birthday and age

3. My age

4. My children

5. His children and its ages

6. His x, nationality

7. Questions about his previous divorce ( i thought the questions was too personal, but I think why they ask it is not to really be judgmental but to really know how far the couples talk..the reason why fiance/e got divorced. they ask this coz they do have list of the immigration black list and they will read the divorce paper..and if the x-spouse is dead, they will ask for a death certificate to really know the cause of the x-spouse death )

8. about my x-husband..where he lives, is he ok with the kids and their relationship to their son to be father..reason why I got annulled.

9. What are the positive and negative traits of my fiance and how do I deal with his negative traits

10. How is his relationship to my kids.

11. Was I bringing my kids? I told him they will follow.

12. Does my kids accept my fiance as their soon to be step dad?

I might be missing some more questions but majority of that I think is listed already

After the talk, Ma'am Loi told me the interview went well and I am OK to leave..lmao..she wrote OK at my paper.

I went out and waited until my name was called at the cashier. I signed at their log book and paid 5php for the certificate. After getting the certificate I was told to go at the CFO office for the sticker.

The CFO is at a different place, its close the DFA building @ causing-lozada. It didn't took me long there. I gave them my passport and also a photocopy of the biographical page and visa. then filled up the form. after that I paid 400php then they placed sticker at my passport and clipped the cfo certificate. gave us pamphlets and handbook. One of which they gave us should be sent to them after arriving the US and there for 2 weeks. It is self -addressed so no worries.

Goodluck to everyone!!!

[je & wyn 4]

Congratulations!!! You are indeed done with the first chapter of this journey I would say...thanks for giving time to share all your experiences on this journey that greatly help other members to be updated that gives members a glimpse of what to expect somehow when they are on that stage. Good luck on the next chapterliving in the US and on AOS journey. Btw I have one quick question though, my fiance will be having his medical on nov 2, if gods willing everything went well, is there anything that he needs to receive from slec regarding his vaccination that will be administerd by slec? Or other paperworks he will be needing for AOS journey, will u please share with me what he needs to expect AFTER the medical. Your response is greatly appreciated. God bless!

[Leatherneck 693]

You did a nice write-up about your experience, surely it'll help other Pinays.

[Tahoma 2,292]

Dhel.......Thanks for sharing your experience...it was a good story. Bookmarked!

[Dean_De 61]

Congratulations!!! You are indeed done with the first chapter of this journey I would say...thanks for giving time to share all your experiences on this journey that greatly help other members to be updated that gives members a glimpse of what to expect somehow when they are on that stage. Good luck on the next chapterliving in the US and on AOS journey. Btw I have one quick question though, my fiance will be having his medical on nov 2, if gods willing everything went well, is there anything that he needs to receive from slec regarding his vaccination that will be administerd by slec? Or other paperworks he will be needing for AOS journey, will u please share with me what he needs to expect AFTER the medical. Your response is greatly appreciated. God bless!

Hi je & wyn..with regards to your question, after a successful medical at SLEC, at the releasing section SLEC will give him his x-ray result w/c is a CD and a paper which has the record of what shots he was given. they will give instructions if he has vaccines yet to be taken when arriving the US.

Good luck!

[Dean_De 61]

Dhel.......Thanks for sharing your experience...it was a good story. Bookmarked!

Hi Tahoma, it's a pleasure to be able to help other somehow. I know the feeling when we are about to enter a specific stage in this whole visa process. Being equipped with info helps and I thought it may help lessen up the tensed feeling and be prepared when we go through the process...with atleast a little to no delay.