CFO Experience

[Chez&Rick 11]

I wanted to write about my experience at CFO for those spouse/fiancee who will get their Guidance and Counseling Certificate

I just went at the CFO today, and received my Guidance and Counseling Certificate. I am from Cavite so i woke up at 2 o'clock in the morning, left the house at 3am and arrived there at 4:15 am. I dont want to take any chances of not getting any slot as they only entertain 15 slots in the morning and 15 slots in the afternoon.

CFO is located at the Citigold Center, 1345 Pres. Quirino Avenue Corner Osmeña Highway (South Superhighway) Manila, Philippines

When I arrived there, a lot of people are already there waiting. But i noticed that the line in the left side which is for spousal/fiancee counseling are more longer than the others but they are spouse/fiancee of different countries. I brought a folding chair with me because i know am gonna wait for hours there. But i suggest that if you are planning to go there for GC Certificate, might as well bring a biscuit and a bottled water with you because its gonna be a long day.

You should bring with you the following:

1. Marriage Certificate and a photocopy

2. Two valid IDs, have it photocopied as well

3. 400 pesos

4. And supporting documents. Ex. photos of you and him, divorce papers (if applicable), and birth certificate of spouse.

These supporting documents might be requested by your counselor. Because its gonna be a hassle if you are from somewhere far, so be sure you have these with you.

This is only for spousal passport amendment requirement meaning you will need GC to use your spouse name on your passport.

but for fiancee here is the link http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1348%3Afiancee-spouses-and-other-partners-of-foreign-nationals&catid=140&Itemid=833

both spousal and fiancee requirements are here.

At 7 am, they opened the door and let us in. They took one of our IDs and will give you CFO pink ID that is for spousal and fiancee. We proceed to the third floor where forms will be handed out to fill in.

Now, in filling in forms, be accurate. You should know your husband's information well like his address (if in military, it should be his resident address and not his deployment address), zip code, his/her mother's maiden name, telephone number, cellphone number. They will not issue your GC without filling in all the needed information.

They will encode your name and take a picture of you for your GC certificate.

Afterwards, your filled-in form will be reviewed and this is where the counselor asks for supporting documents if there is something amiss or suspicious in your form. So always be ready with your documents. The counselor will give an okay mark on your form and H mark if your are ON HOLD. On hold mark will be given a one-on-one counseling if you have a sensitive issues regarding relationship with your spouse or fiance or if you have a pending documents to be seen by your counselorr. You will be paying 400 pesos at the cashier (window number 5). Then you'll be given a receipt and go back to third floor for the counseling.

When the counseling is done, you will go back to the first floor to window number 4, present your receipt and tell them you are done with the counseling. They will give your Guidance and Counseling Certificate. And you are done.

I actually got my GC certificate at 2 pm. I was sooo hungry and tired.

Now I believe that there is really no love without pain.

Edited May 23, 2013 by RickandChez

[jennybate 2]

i am a spouse and i need to get new passport,so before i get new passport CFO is the one requirments i am right

[Chez&Rick 11]

i am a spouse and i need to get new passport,so before i get new passport CFO is the one requirments i am right

Yes, if you are to change your passport to use your husband surname, Guidance and Counseling Certificate is one of the requirement.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Congrats, welcome to US soon!

[jennybate 2]

i only have 1 valid id thats is a postal id then i will bring my marriage and birth certificate is that accepted for ID'S requirments

[Chez&Rick 11]

Congrats, welcome to US soon!

thank u!!!

[jennybate 2]

if i get GCC is this no expiry

[Chez&Rick 11]

i only have 1 valid id thats is a postal id then i will bring my marriage and birth certificate is that accepted for ID'S requirments

your old passport with your maiden name is accepted. Or any IDs in your maiden name. One IDs should be in your married name and one ID in your maiden name is accepted.

I dont know if the birth certificate is accepted, but i think it is in my personal judgement.

[Chez&Rick 11]

if i get GCC is this no expiry

GCC has no expiration date. Its a lifetime certificate. You need to present the original to DFA and Airport but never give the original, just the photo copy.

As for me, doing a CR1 visa, i need to get it before NVC received our file and asked for IV packet (biographical page of your passport is needed in IV packet). Because once NVC asked for your IV packet, and the documents has not been produced, you will only delay your process.

Edited May 23, 2013 by RickandChez

[Chez&Rick 11]

i only have 1 valid id thats is a postal id then i will bring my marriage and birth certificate is that accepted for ID'S requirments

Oh.. I read the requirements again from CFO http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1348:fiancee-spouses-and-other-partners-of-foreign-nationals&catid=140

thats the link. and it said that Two (2) valid identification cards (IDs) with photograph

So i guess Birth certificate is not allowed since it has no photograph.

But im sure one maiden ID aside from your one married ID is allowed because i have seen a lot of them submitting that today and its accepted.

[Markieboy 104]

Congratulations on getting your CFO certificate! And thank you for sharing your experience!

I, too, am a firm believer of not taking any chances...especially in the Philippines. Kudos on sharing that tip regarding limited slots!

Good luck with the rest of your journey!

[Chez&Rick 11]

Congratulations on getting your CFO certificate! And thank you for sharing your experience!

I, too, am a firm believer of not taking any chances...especially in the Philippines. Kudos on sharing that tip regarding limited slots!

Good luck with the rest of your journey!

Yeah! specially in the Philippines... I laughed at that.

Thank you!

[jennybate 2]

my old passport is my maiden name when i did not get married,i will get new passport coz i used the maiden name of my husband so maybe they requesting valid id's for the maiden name of my husband i have only one id

[jennybate 2]

i did not get new passport coz they said make sure the passport u can show to embassy is valid for 6 months is that right

[Chez&Rick 11]

my old passport is my maiden name when i did not get married,i will get new passport coz i used the maiden name of my husband so maybe they requesting valid id's for the maiden name of my husband i have only one id

One of the requirements is two valid ID with photograph. You can use your Postal ID and your passport in your maiden name.

You dont have to worry if it is in maiden name, they will accept it.

Also the expiration of passport is 5 years. You need not to worry also that.

I hope I understand your query right.