CFO Seminar experience

[chiaki26 9]

Hi everyone! Finished CFO today and thankfully received the certificate and sticker on my passport.

Just want to share a few tips I've picked up based on what I've seen, heard, and experienced today:

- Make sure you have all the listed requirements

- Take the 'Other Requirements' part seriously

[chiaki26 9]

Continued: my post got posted too soon-

Take the other requirements part seriously

- This could depend on your case. If you are 21 below, make sure you have your parental consent letter with you. Better if notarized. Bring a photocopy of your parent's valid ID

- If your petitioner has been previously divorced, bring copies of divorce papers

- Bring anything else extra that you think may be asked from you: petitioner's birth cert copy, pictures of you and your partner, etc

- Memorize your petitioner's information by heart: I was asked for my fiance's physical address in the States, landline, and mobile phone number. Know his mother's maiden name. Understand the nature of his job.

- Answer confidently and truthfully.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

[Hank_ 9,171]

Yup.

[fayriebaby 21]

Congrats! I had my seminar 8months ago and went smooth! They just ask me my plans when i get to the US and viola finish. Just going to get my sticker after my interview (God knows when). Happy trip!

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Nice review. Seems you have touched on the points that most often are recommended to pass the CFO without concerns. Thanks for the post.

[Jazz0412 0]

I will have my cfo seminar tom. I'm so nervous because I'm married before to a Japanese national & get divorce in Japan.. I haven't apply for recognition of divorce here in the philippines! I'm just wondering if the Cfo will accept my divorce decree from Japan? I have my annotated MC from the NSO from my present husband! I hope they will accept that bec. I don't want to go through the process of judicial recognition of divorce bec. we don't have the money for that! I don't know what to do? Can someone pls. give me some advice!

[dynb 17]

Continued: my post got posted too soon-

Take the other requirements part seriously

- This could depend on your case. If you are 21 below, make sure you have your parental consent letter with you. Better if notarized. Bring a photocopy of your parent's valid ID

- If your petitioner has been previously divorced, bring copies of divorce papers

- Bring anything else extra that you think may be asked from you: petitioner's birth cert copy, pictures of you and your partner, etc

- Memorize your petitioner's information by heart: I was asked for my fiance's physical address in the States, landline, and mobile phone number. Know his mother's maiden name. Understand the nature of his job.

- Answer confidently and truthfully.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Hi, thanks for the heads up. How many hours was it? Did they put a sticker on your passport after the CFO seminar? Thanks!

[chiaki26 9]

I was there a long time because our counselor was late and someone else had to fill in.

Seminar was roughly 1.5 hours and one on one interviews around 1.5 hours too. Then some waiting for payment and releasing of cert and passport with sticker. After the seminar they will instruct you to pay and wait for cert and sticker.

I was there roughly 5 hours or so, with all the waiting included

[Greenbaum 12,258]

I will have my cfo seminar tom. I'm so nervous because I'm married before to a Japanese national & get divorce in Japan.. I haven't apply for recognition of divorce here in the philippines! I'm just wondering if the Cfo will accept my divorce decree from Japan? I have my annotated MC from the NSO from my present husband! I hope they will accept that bec. I don't want to go through the process of judicial recognition of divorce bec. we don't have the money for that! I don't know what to do? Can someone pls. give me some advice!

Here is how it works: (You might have done some of the steps that's ok... just walk through each step to completion)

1. Once you attain the divorce you will need the decision of the divorce (works also for an annulment), entry of judgment, then the decree of divorce (annulment).
2. Then you’ll need to secure copy of the marriage contract with the divorce (annulment) annotated on it. A total of four documents.
3. You’ll need to wait 20 days from receipt of the Solicitor General of copy of the decision before you can secure the Entry of Judgment.
4. After securing the Entry of Judgment, you will have to register the same to the Local Civil Registrar where the marriage took place or Filipino’s hometown. The said office will transmit the same to the NSO.
5. You will show the Court what date the LCR transmitted the documents to the NSO. With the proof of receipt of the NSO, the Court will then issue the Decree of Divorce (Annulment). After 15 days from receipt of the NSO of your documents, you can now request a copy of the marriage contract with the annotated divorce (annulment) proceedings. You need to request at least 4 certified copies for future use.

These are the steps for marriage in the Philippines but a divorce elsewhere.

[coa24 69]

If I remember correctly, the CFO is only for those who are under 30 correct?

[Hank_ 9,171]

If I remember correctly, the CFO is only for those who are under 30 correct?

INCORRECT. CFO is for ALL exiting the Philippines with an immigrant visa (or K-1) irregardless of age.

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1347:for-filipinos-leaving-the-country-with-an-immigrant-visa&catid=139

Edited March 19, 2015 by Hank_

[coa24 69]

Thanks for the information.

[Jazz0412 0]

Thanks for the info Greenbaum.. I got my CFO certificate today!

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Thanks for the info Greenbaum.. I got my CFO certificate today!

Your welcome. Good luck.

Edited March 19, 2015 by Greenbaum

[cam3rabox 0]

Do you have idea if a tourist visa needs cfo??