CFO for Child of U.S. Citizen

[rickster62 2]

My wife and I are U.S.citizens (she has dual citizenship) and we are nearing the end of the IR2 jjourney via DCF for our locally adopted 12 year old niece (see my post in the DCF Forum). I know that, due to her age, our daughter is exempt from attending. Will one of us need to attend for her by proxy, or are we (and our daughter) exempt due to our U.S. citizenship? My gut tells me we still have to go, but can't find anything definitive.

Salamat!

[Greenbaum 12,258]

rickster62, on 15 Jan 2016 - 2:57 PM, said:

My wife and I are U.S.citizens (she has dual citizenship) and we are nearing the end of the IR2 jjourney via DCF for our locally adopted 12 year old niece (see my post in the DCF Forum). I know that, due to her age, our daughter is exempt from attending. Will one of us need to attend for her by proxy, or are we (and our daughter) exempt due to our U.S. citizenship? My gut tells me we still have to go, but can't find anything definitive.

Salamat!

I am not up to speed on your question so I am unable to answer. But, there is a great individual here that has completed a DCF for his daughter not to long ago, and I think she is about the same age as yours. Send him a PM his handle is Brassballs. No joke. He'll be able to help you.

[Brassballs 47]

If your daughter will be traveling on a Philippine PP with CR2 visa, then yes she will need a CFO exit stamp also. Wander around the CFO website to see what the attendance requirements are. Under some age the applicant need not attend, the exit need only be registered with the CFO which your wife can do. I think that 'teens' need to attend a seminar geared to that age group but not entirely positive about that as my step-daughter was only 4 at the time.

I presume that you are residing in the PI? CFO is fairly responsive about answering the phone and emails or at least returning calls so I would call them directly to be sure. Good lick.

[rickster62 2]

Great! Thanks, Greenbaum and Brassballs (love it!). The three of us will be flying from Davao once we get our Manila case number, and we plan on staying for the physical and interview. No big deal to attend the seminar as long we're there anyway. As she is under 13, she does not need to attend, but we may very well need to attend by proxy for her. I'll give them a ring.

[Brassballs 47]

My asawa just confirmed that you need to take your daughter's PP, copy of the data page and visa page, and a couple of 2x2 photos. You don't need to schedule a time slot, but I would show up in the morning.

[Greenbaum 12,258]

rickster62, on 15 Jan 2016 - 8:26 PM, said:rickster62, on 15 Jan 2016 - 8:26 PM, said:

Great! Thanks, Greenbaum and Brassballs (love it!). The three of us will be flying from Davao once we get our Manila case number, and we plan on staying for the physical and interview. No big deal to attend the seminar as long we're there anyway. As she is under 13, she does not need to attend, but we may very well need to attend by proxy for her. I'll give them a ring.

For children who are minors, 0-12 yo. are not required to attend the seminar. As long they have their visa the parent can just go to CFO and pay 400 pesos to receive the sticker when they are attending the CFO interview. You said she was 12 so she does not need to attend and you go over and pay the fee and receive the sticker.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Greenbaum

[rickster62 2]

Brassballs--with regard to the Philippine Passport, our adopted daughter currently has no passport whatsoever.Will we need to get one for her before we leave for the U.S,, or will the IR2 visa be sufficient?

[rickster62 2]

I also read on the CFO site that we do not need to have her visa before attending the seminar for her. This would work out best for us, as we can attend while waiting in Manila for her interview

[Hank_ 9,173]

My wife and I are U.S.citizens (she has dual citizenship) and we are nearing the end of the IR2 jjourney via DCF for our locally adopted 12 year old niece (see my post in the DCF Forum). I know that, due to her age, our daughter is exempt from attending. Will one of us need to attend for her by proxy, or are we (and our daughter) exempt due to our U.S. citizenship? My gut tells me we still have to go, but can't find anything definitive.

Salamat!

IF the child will have a U.S. passport when she travels to the USA she does not attend CFO as that is for exiting immigrants only.

So your answer is in.. will she have a U.S. passport or will she have a Philippine passport with a visa.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Hank_

[rickster62 2]

Good post, Hank! As far as I can tell, she will become a U.S. citizen immediately upon entering the U.S, but not until then. So the logical conclusions are that she will need a Philippine passport with a visa stamp, and that we will need to attend the CFO seminar.

[Brassballs 47]

Kinda right, kinda wrong.....

I'm not an immigration lawyer so take this at face value. Back to square 1:

2 US citizens are adopting a foreign national in her home country. Upon the adoption being finalized and before entering the US is she eligible to apply for a US passport from the embassy in her country or must she apply after the POE? I don't know. Need other input or call the USEM for verification.

If she will enter the US on a CR2 visa as you originally state, then you need to get her a Philippine passport as soon as possible using her birth name or actually the name you used on the CR2 application. But... When the adoption is complete I presume she then legally can use your surname which I presume is the name you would want her US passport issued in? So if she can travel with a US PP then the cfo question is moot.

If she will travel with Phil PP then she will need cfo certificate and stamp affixed to that pp but since less than 13 there is no seminar to attend. Just take the docs I stated earlier.

First question that needs to be addressed is when does her USC begin? If in fact she will use a Phil PP you need to have that in hand before any USEM interview and if I remember correctly I thought PP number was part of the CR2 application process.

Hope I haven't confused the issue.

[rickster62 2]

THANKS BB--HERE ARE SOME RESPONSES(so shouting intended, just separating your comments from mine)

Kinda right, kinda wrong.....

WISH A WAS WRONG, CAUSE THEY WOULD MAKE IT FAR EASIER!

I'm not an immigration lawyer so take this at face value. Back to square 1:

TRUST ME ON THIS, YOU AND AND MANY OTHERS ON THIS FORUM KNOW FAR MORE THAN THE IMMIGRATION LAWYER AND "CONSULTANT" I HAVE HIRED (CHECK OUT MY THREAD UNDER DCF)

2 US citizens are adopting a foreign national in her home country. Upon the adoption being finalized and before entering the US is she eligible to apply for a US passport from the embassy in her country or must she apply after the POE? I don't know. Need other input or call the USEM for verification.

SHE WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A US PASSPORT IMMEDIATELY UPON ENTERING THE US, BUT NOT SOONER. SO YES, WE WILL APPLY AFTER POE

If she will enter the US on a CR2 visa as you originally state, then you need to get her a Philippine passport as soon as possible using her birth name or actually the name you used on the CR2 application. But... When the adoption is complete I presume she then legally can use your surname which I presume is the name you would want her US passport issued in? So if she can travel with a US PP then the cfo question is

SAME AS BEFORE. NO US PASSPORT UNTIL WE HIT THE STATES. I HAVE BEEN TAKING CARE OF SO MANY DETAILS AND DOCUMENTS THAT i HAD JUST PLAIN NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT GETTING HER PASSPORT

If she will travel with Phil PP then she will need cfo certificate and stamp affixed to that pp but since less than 13 there is no seminar to attend. Just take the docs I stated earlier.

WILL DO

First question that needs to be addressed is when does her USC begin? If in fact she will use a Phil PP you need to have that in hand before any USEM interview and if I remember correctly I thought PP number was part of the CR2 application process.

WE'VE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED (AN IR2 THROUGH DCF) WITHOUT HER PASSPORT. NOW WE ARE WAITING FOR HER IV MANILA CASE NUMBER. DO YOU A GOOD NUMBER TO CALL WHERE I ACCELERATE THE PROCESS, AND ALSO GET FINALITY TO SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS?

Hope I haven't confused the issue.

NOT AT ALL, AND THANKS AGAIN!

[Brassballs 47]

Totally ignorant about the DCF process. Hard to believe you already have a IR2 approved without a Phil PP or IV case # so the DCF must be entirely different from the more common (at least on the forum) CR2 / K2 procedure.

For sure your daughter will need a Phil PP and make sure it uses the same name as the IR2 visa. Takes about 3-4 weeks to get. Shorter time if you pay more.

USEM phone #'s are scatted around here as well as e-mail addresses. Try the USEM website first and as always in the Phills ask 3 times and tend to believe the 2 answers that are mostly the same.

There's an expedite request e-mail in the US but can't remember if it was to the USCIS or NVC, Search both sites.

Keep us informed

[Hank_ 9,173]

• VISA INFORMATION AND APPOINTMENT SERVICE

  Philippines: (632) 976-8500, (632) 976-8501 or (632) 976-8502, Monday-Friday, 8:00a.m.-8:00p.m. (Except on Philippine and US Holidays).

  US: (703) 520-2235, during 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time).

  Callers are able to speak with an English-, Tagalog-, Ilocano-, or Cebuano-speaking operator.

[Brassballs 47]

Taglish also if required and convenient,