My CFO Experience and Great Counselor on Our Batch (Sept. 4, 2013)

[William_Marivic 0]

Honestly, been worried before about the CFO thing and even more worried about it than my embassy interview (Sept. 12). So, had mine finally last September 4 after passing my st. lukes medical (sept. 2) and it all went good.... Excellent seminar and I learned a lot from it... In fairness to the CFO office, personally i have understood their goals why they are conducting the seminar, our counselor (Ms. Thea Rabe) was excellent in empowering us about the seminar... Great and very professional.. I like her.. We were treated professionally. And i hope there would be more like her in the CFO office so people wont have misconception why Philippines is conducting such seminar (so one can exit Phils.). Also, I WAS NOT ASK FOR ANY PAPERS when we had one on one counselling but I DID BRING ALL MY DOCUMENTS, exact copy and originals ready for my interview too except for requirements they posted on their website...

Know everything about your fiance and you will never have a problem... And for me, if you attend the CFO seminar and you know your relationship is real and genuine, then according to our counselor, not their job to hold a person form exiting Philippines. So, nothing to worry about...

Also, you can have the seminar in Manila and have the sticker in Cebu (i verified this)

Good luck to those will get the CFO.. And have fun and enjoyable seminar...

Marivic

[Hank_ 9,174]

Glad it went well for you. My wife didn't have any issues at CFO either. I really believe a big part of the CFO experience is the person's attitude.

[pete_falcone 7]

Good thing you liked it. My fiancee went to the Manila one as well on the 4th and she learned a lot from the experience. I was hesitant as well due to feedback I gleaned from past attendants and my general distrust for bureaucratic things, but I'm glad she and others got a lot out of this.

[LynLyn120 3]

Hello, I am only 20 years old, does it mean I need to fill out affidavits? And what are the affidavits that I need to fill out? Thank you!

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

You need notarized parental consent.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/398045-parental-consent-notarization-lawyer-or-civil-registrars/

[Robb&Ann 101]

congrats!

CFO isn't really bad... as long as the counselee is ready before going there, then it should not cause them any delays. CFO does not withheld/not issue anyone's certificate unless

The following are some of the grounds for non-issuance of Counseling Certificate:

* Submission or presentation of fraudulent documents by the counselees and/or their foreign partners

* Misrepresentation by the counselees' and/or their foreign partners during the counseling

The certificate may also be temporary withheld for the following reasons:

* Counselee may be a prospective victim of mail-order bride scheme, forced prostitution, and domestic violence, among others

* Counselee is a minor or below 18 years of age

* Counselee had earlier attended counseling session(s) but is subsequently petitioned by another foreign partner

* Counselee presents or submits incomplete, or questionable/doubtful documents

* Counselee is believed to be intimidated by other persons to marry the foreign partner

* Counselee lacks background information on the foreign partner

* Counselee has children from previous relationship(s)

* Counselee has not personally met foreign partner

* Counselee is included in the CFO Watchlist

* Foreign partner is included in the CFO Watchlist (e.g. foreign partner is a serial sponsor)

* Foreign partner is believed to be an imminent threat on the counselee's life

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1301:registration-and-pre-departure-services&catid=110:frequently-asked-questions&Itemid=858

[Netsikai 20]

I am glad you had a very good experience with CFO ...and enjoyed the counselling....thanks for the nice and sincere review...Good luck on your USEM interview...God bless.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hello, I am only 20 years old, does it mean I need to fill out affidavits? And what are the affidavits that I need to fill out? Thank you!

** From the Family Code of the Philippines: it's 21-25 years old for advice and 18-21 years old for consent. (Some are posted on VJ that they were not asked for this, yet others have been asked, so be prepared) Bring the ID of the parents, plus copies, postal ID should be adequate.

Examples (from Quezon City):

Advice of Parents: http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/images/stories/downloadables/forms/parentadvice.pdf

Consent to Marry: http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/images/stories/downloadables/forms/consenttomarriage.pdf

[William_Marivic 0]

Thank you everyone......... Special thanks to you Hank..... Been following your

posts here ever since we became a member here.. You are so nice here and

very helpful to everyone whose undergoing the process.....

TO flory120, yes you need a notarized parental consent, bring parents ID/s...But I would

suggest bring at least your mom when you have your CFO, so you wont come back for

another session of counselling...

marivic

[lierre 224]

Did the CFO (for travel outside the Philippines) and yes, Ms Thea was nice. Still, I think it's a terrible waste of money.

Why?

Well, did anyone who got a CFO certificate get asked for it before they left the country? None! The last time someone "official" even looked at my certificate was when it was given to me after the CFO seminar thingy.

I am all for the idea of preventing human trafficking. But, the execution is just plain wretched.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Did the CFO (for travel outside the Philippines) and yes, Ms Thea was nice. Still, I think it's a terrible waste of money.

Why?

Well, did anyone who got a CFO certificate get asked for it before they left the country? None! The last time someone "official" even looked at my certificate was when it was given to me after the CFO seminar thingy.

I am all for the idea of preventing human trafficking. But, the execution is just plain wretched.

Once you have the CFO sticker in your passport no one needs to see the certificate, the sticker tells them you attended CFO. And the only ones that care about CFO are the customs people at NAIA, no one in the USA gives a hoot about CFO.

Edited September 6, 2013 by Hank_

[lierre 224]

Once you have the CFO sticker in your passport no one needs to see the certificate, the sticker tells them you attended CFO. And the only ones that care about CFO are the customs people at NAIA, no one in the USA gives a hoot about CFO.

I was told that in order for me to get out of the country as a woman married to a non-Filipino, I needed a CFO certificate. (Sticker is for immigrant visa-related travel)

The 3 times I left the Philippines since I got married... No one ever asked me for it.

Also, I'm applying for my immigrant visa here in a Japan consulate and I've already asked re: CFO from Philippine embassy here... It's not a requirement for my immigration.

The lack of consistency in this trafficking prevention scheme astounds me.

[Hank_ 9,174]

I was told that in order for me to get out of the country as a woman married to a non-Filipino, I needed a CFO certificate. (Sticker is for immigrant visa-related travel)

The 3 times I left the Philippines since I got married... No one ever asked me for it.

Also, I'm applying for my immigrant visa here in a Japan consulate and I've already asked re: CFO from Philippine embassy here... It's not a requirement for my immigration.

The lack of consistency in this trafficking prevention scheme astounds me.

Did you have a visa for entry into the USA in your passport during those three trips? Big difference.

CFO is a Philippines requirement, if you are processing your visa application in Japan there is NO need for CFO as you will not be flying out of the Philippines to the USA with a visa in your passport.

Edited September 6, 2013 by Hank_

[LynLyn120 3]

Thank you everyone......... Special thanks to you Hank..... Been following your

posts here ever since we became a member here.. You are so nice here and

very helpful to everyone whose undergoing the process.....

TO flory120, yes you need a notarized parental consent, bring parents ID/s...But I would

suggest bring at least your mom when you have your CFO, so you wont come back for

another session of counselling...

marivic

Thank you so much for the reply and for the information!

Thank you so much Hank and Daven. I really appreciate it.

[LynLyn120 3]

Thank you everyone......... Special thanks to you Hank..... Been following your

posts here ever since we became a member here.. You are so nice here and

very helpful to everyone whose undergoing the process.....

TO flory120, yes you need a notarized parental consent, bring parents ID/s...But I would

suggest bring at least your mom when you have your CFO, so you wont come back for

another session of counselling...

marivic

But do I really need to bring mama with me? We live in Tacloban, only me my older sister and older brother is here in Manila. Can I just bring one of them instead of mama?