"CFO Guidance Counseling Program", Philippines Seminar. Needing advice and answers

[Andrew&Vangie 1]

My Wife is Filipino, this coming Sept she will be attending the requirement Guidance Counseling Seminar, for to recieve her certificate. What we are unsure of is..

1. How far in advance can "we" schedule a appointment in cebu?

2. Is it possible for the Foreign Spouse to schedule the appointment online?

3. When does she receive her certificate?

The seminar she will be taking is the "CFO Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP)"

We have to our knowledge all the docs needed for her seminar. Thank you for reading this, we really need to know as I've said, we will be in Cebu Sept. So I am wondering if I (spouse) can schedule her appointment ahead for her.

Thanks,

Andrew & Vangie

[Pitaya 2,576]

~Moved from IR1/CR1 Process to Phil. Regional Forum~

~Inquiry is country-specific~

[bowens44 213]

My Wife is Filipino, this coming Sept she will be attending the requirement Guidance Counseling Seminar, for to recieve her certificate. What we are unsure of is..

1. How far in advance can "we" schedule a appointment in cebu?

2. Is it possible for the Foreign Spouse to schedule the appointment online?

3. When does she receive her certificate?

The seminar she will be taking is the "CFO Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP)"

We have to our knowledge all the docs needed for her seminar. Thank you for reading this, we really need to know as I've said, we will be in Cebu Sept. So I am wondering if I (spouse) can schedule her appointment ahead for her.

Thanks,

Andrew & Vangie

1. I think you can schedule it whenever you like but if it's before she has the VISA she will go back to get the sticker when VISA is in hand.

2. I scheduled my fiancees appointment

3. she gets the certificate the same day but if she doesn't have the visa shw will have to return for the sticker when she odes

[Greenbaum 12,258]

My Wife is Filipino, this coming Sept she will be attending the requirement Guidance Counseling Seminar, for to recieve her certificate. What we are unsure of is..

1. How far in advance can "we" schedule a appointment in cebu?

2. Is it possible for the Foreign Spouse to schedule the appointment online?

3. When does she receive her certificate?

The seminar she will be taking is the "CFO Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP)"

We have to our knowledge all the docs needed for her seminar. Thank you for reading this, we really need to know as I've said, we will be in Cebu Sept. So I am wondering if I (spouse) can schedule her appointment ahead for her.

Thanks,

Andrew & Vangie

1. You can schedule at any time, but it is best to do it after she receives her visa. That way, she is only making one trip. But it is your choice.
2. Yes, the Foreign Spouse can schedule the appointment.
3. She will receive her certificate when she presents her visa. This all hinges on whether on the day of the CFO class she has her visa. If she has it then they will secure the CFO sticker in with the visa that's contained in the passport. If she does not have her visa, then she must return to either Cebu, Manila or NAIA CFO locations to receive her sticker before departing the Philippines.

More information can be found here.

[Brassballs 47]

Previous not totally accurate:

Certificate of completion is given after completing the seminar regardless if she doesn't have a US visa. Actual 'sticker' to allow leaving the country is affixed to her passport after the visa is entered by the USEM.

Also when you schedule the appointment you will get a confirmation page that she will have to present when she shows up at the CFO office.

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Previous not totally accurate:

Certificate of completion is given after completing the seminar regardless if she doesn't have a US visa. Actual 'sticker' to allow leaving the country is affixed to her passport after the visa is entered by the USEM.

Also when you schedule the appointment you will get a confirmation page that she will have to present when she shows up at the CFO office.

Yes your right. I meant to say you get the certificate once you finish the seminar.

[Darnell 8,478]

and an ice cream !

[Brassballs 47]

Yeah, my asawa said the ice cream was the best part of the seminar!

[Hank_ 9,173]

1. You can schedule at any time, but it is best to do it after she receives her visa. That way, she is only making one trip. But it is your choice.
2. Yes, the Foreign Spouse can schedule the appointment.
3. She will receive her certificate when she presents her visa. This all hinges on whether on the day of the CFO class she has her visa. If she has it then they will secure the CFO sticker in with the visa that's contained in the passport. If she does not have her visa, then she must return to either Cebu, Manila or NAIA CFO locations to receive her sticker before departing the Philippines.

More information can be found here.

brassballs caught it already... never mind.

Edited August 6, 2015 by Hank_

[Greenbaum 12,258]

brassballs caught it already... never mind.

[Andrew&Vangie 1]

Hey! thank you all for replying, i greatly appreciate it! We was confused, Wifey was sent there to Cebu for attending seminar, she later on mentioned to me they needed a copy of my passport or naturalization (u.s.) and an confirmed print out appointment. We will be trying out this again in September. I was wondering if I (the Husband) can schedule the appointment on a specific date, seeing we will have a short stay in cebu on the date I arrive. My Wife mentioned that when she arrived at the DFA sub_office location in Tacloban, they told her she couldn't get her passport until she attended seminar and get her certificate, has anyone heard such thing, needing to get passport and they turn a citizen down for a passport because they don't have the seminar certificate?

Some thoughts I am unclear on:

1.Can i (the Husband) schedule a date on a month advance? ( we want to schedule the date for right after i fly in)

2. What questions the cfo officer will ask my Wife?

3. What docs we need to prepare and copy?

4. About the print out confirmation of appointment, can I (the husband) print out this here in the states and bring it for on the date of seminar?

Thank you all for helping me

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Hey! thank you all for replying, i greatly appreciate it! We was confused, Wifey was sent there to Cebu for attending seminar, she later on mentioned to me they needed a copy of my passport or naturalization (u.s.) and an confirmed print out appointment. We will be trying out this again in September. I was wondering if I (the Husband) can schedule the appointment on a specific date, seeing we will have a short stay in cebu on the date I arrive. My Wife mentioned that when she arrived at the DFA sub_office location in Tacloban, they told her she couldn't get her passport until she attended seminar and get her certificate, has anyone heard such thing, needing to get passport and they turn a citizen down for a passport because they don't have the seminar certificate?

Some thoughts I am unclear on:

1.Can i (the Husband) schedule a date on a month advance? ( we want to schedule the date for right after i fly in)

2. What questions the cfo officer will ask my Wife?

3. What docs we need to prepare and copy?

4. About the print out confirmation of appointment, can I (the husband) print out this here in the states and bring it for on the date of seminar?

Thank you all for helping me

Did you go to Hank's guide or mine. You'll find most of these questions answered. Links are in our signature at the arrows.

[Mike&Imelda 3]

Hey! thank you all for replying, i greatly appreciate it! We was confused, Wifey was sent there to Cebu for attending seminar, she later on mentioned to me they needed a copy of my passport or naturalization (u.s.) and an confirmed print out appointment. We will be trying out this again in September. I was wondering if I (the Husband) can schedule the appointment on a specific date, seeing we will have a short stay in cebu on the date I arrive. My Wife mentioned that when she arrived at the DFA sub_office location in Tacloban, they told her she couldn't get her passport until she attended seminar and get her certificate, has anyone heard such thing, needing to get passport and they turn a citizen down for a passport because they don't have the seminar certificate?

Some thoughts I am unclear on:

1.Can i (the Husband) schedule a date on a month advance? ( we want to schedule the date for right after i fly in)

2. What questions the cfo officer will ask my Wife?

3. What docs we need to prepare and copy?

4. About the print out confirmation of appointment, can I (the husband) print out this here in the states and bring it for on the date of seminar?

Thank you all for helping me

1. You can schedule on the open appointment dates when you log on - not sure if they go a month ahead but they may. I seem to recall them being within the next 2 weeks.

2. All kinds. If you are divorced, they will ask about that - why, when etc. Ask for copy of divorce decree.

3. (see below from appointment print out)

4. I made it. PDFed it and emailed it to her. (You will need a digital photo of her to upload with the app)

Copied from Appointment Confirmation:

Requirements for Attendance to Guidance and Counseling Program

1. Original and photocopy of two (2) valid identification cards with photograph;

2. Duly completed guidance and counseling form;

3. If married, original and photocopy of marriage contract on security paper from the National Statistics Office

(NSO), or from Local Civil Registry Offices (LCRO); or original and photocopy of Report of Marriage duly

registered by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate or the Department of Foreign Affairs (if married abroad);

4. Other documents as may be required by the counselors; and

5. Payment of Php 400.00 counseling and registration fee.

[jandjin 19]

CFO requirements are becoming so much pain in the @$$... Now they want copy of husbands passport and even naturalization????

My fiancee is planning to attend CFO seminar in a few month and I'm just wondering what else they will ask once my fiancee brings all of their requirements ....

Hey! thank you all for replying, i greatly appreciate it! We was confused, Wifey was sent there to Cebu for attending seminar, she later on mentioned to me they needed a copy of my passport or naturalization (u.s.) and an confirmed print out appointment. We will be trying out this again in September. I was wondering if I (the Husband) can schedule the appointment on a specific date, seeing we will have a short stay in cebu on the date I arrive. My Wife mentioned that when she arrived at the DFA sub_office location in Tacloban, they told her she couldn't get her passport until she attended seminar and get her certificate, has anyone heard such thing, needing to get passport and they turn a citizen down for a passport because they don't have the seminar certificate?

Some thoughts I am unclear on:

1.Can i (the Husband) schedule a date on a month advance? ( we want to schedule the date for right after i fly in)

2. What questions the cfo officer will ask my Wife?

3. What docs we need to prepare and copy?

4. About the print out confirmation of appointment, can I (the husband) print out this here in the states and bring it for on the date of seminar?

Thank you all for helping me

Edited August 9, 2015 by jandjin

[Hank_ 9,173]

Hey! thank you all for replying, i greatly appreciate it! We was confused, Wifey was sent there to Cebu for attending seminar, she later on mentioned to me they needed a copy of my passport or naturalization (u.s.) and an confirmed print out appointment. We will be trying out this again in September. I was wondering if I (the Husband) can schedule the appointment on a specific date, seeing we will have a short stay in cebu on the date I arrive. My Wife mentioned that when she arrived at the DFA sub_office location in Tacloban, they told her she couldn't get her passport until she attended seminar and get her certificate, has anyone heard such thing, needing to get passport and they turn a citizen down for a passport because they don't have the seminar certificate?

Some thoughts I am unclear on:

1.Can i (the Husband) schedule a date on a month advance? ( we want to schedule the date for right after i fly in) YES

2. What questions the cfo officer will ask my Wife? Maiden name of your mother, where you work, how you met.. and so on. the maiden name is a sneaky... that one make sure she knows.

3. What docs we need to prepare and copy? see below

4. About the print out confirmation of appointment, can I (the husband) print out this here in the states and bring it for on the date of seminar? DOESN'T MATTER WHO PRINTS IT OUT, just bring it.

Thank you all for helping me

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2345:requirements-with-images&catid=110:frequently-asked-questions&Itemid=858

Required documents & "OTHER DOCUMENTS" they ask for at CFO: originals & copies of; CENOMAR (CEMAR and marriage certificate if married), certified birth certificate. Passport and copies of bio page of passport, visa page from passport, pictures together. From USC (copies of) - bio page of passport, birth certificate, divorce decree are the most common requests. The "other documents" clause can be ANYTHING with those nit-wits at CFO.

Edited August 9, 2015 by Hank_