CFO Seminar in Manila, can this be a problem???

[Am & Ra 19]

My fiancee is now ready to schedule her appointment to do CFO seminar in Manila, and recently I've read a few posts about some applicants having problems and not allowed their sticker for their passport showing they completed the seminar. Heard of one girl who was asked to return with more documentation about her fiancee's work history because he was divorced twice in his past. It would be nice to hear from some recent applicants about their experience when attending the CFO Seminar in Manila, and any suggestions they may have???

[bellashay 14]

Hi I had the seminar on December 2015 and was a smooth sailing experience. The counselor was great and the one- one- one session wasn't so bad either. It's just telling your "love story" so to speak to a complete stranger. Make sure that she has all of her documents in order especially if she has her visa already. One girl from our group was requested to come back (she didn't receive a sticker and certificate) because she forgot to bring her CENOMAR. One other girl was asked to return with proof that her fiance is single. I advised her to go back to the counselor and show her fiance's most recent ITR showing he's single, and it met the counselor's requirements.

Bring pictures! Especially with family/ friends. I took a few with me and she took a copy of my wedding picture- the one with my parents. She said it's for documentation. If this is both of your first marriage, they won't go hard on you. Overall there's nothing to be worried about so long as she comes prepared.

[Am & Ra 19]

Hi I had the seminar on December 2015 and was a smooth sailing experience. The counselor was great and the one- one- one session wasn't so bad either. It's just telling your "love story" so to speak to a complete stranger. Make sure that she has all of her documents in order especially if she has her visa already. One girl from our group was requested to come back (she didn't receive a sticker and certificate) because she forgot to bring her CENOMAR. One other girl was asked to return with proof that her fiance is single. I advised her to go back to the counselor and show her fiance's most recent ITR showing he's single, and it met the counselor's requirements.

Bring pictures! Especially with family/ friends. I took a few with me and she took a copy of my wedding picture- the one with my parents. She said it's for documentation. If this is both of your first marriage, they won't go hard on you. Overall there's nothing to be worried about so long as she comes prepared.

Thank you, that is good advice about using ITR as showing single Status. We are not yet married and filed for K-1 visa. I have been married twice; however, the first was when I was 17 years old and divorced a couple years later, she cheated on me and divorced me for boyfriend. I divorced my second wife for cheating on me only a couple years after being married. I've been single for the past 20 years.

I just turned 53 and my fiancee is 27 and pregnant with our baby, we have doctor certification that she conceived during my time spent with her in Makati. If you look at our pictures together there would be know way of knowing our true age gap. Did you see any other couples who passed with large age Gap?

Edited February 21, 2016 by Amy & Randy

[bellashay 14]

Make sure that she has all divorce decrees and that she knows why you got divorced as she's going to be questioned about that. There was a lady from my group that was in her mid 30's and her fiance is in the late 50's and she didn't have any issues whatsoever.

I guess being confident is such a plus factor as counselors are known to "pick on" or to spend more time with women who are timid or who don't know much information about their fiance's or husband's past relationships. My whole individual session was less than 5 minutes.

Good luck.

[Am & Ra 19]

Ok Belashay, thank you for your advice.

Edited February 21, 2016 by Amy & Randy

[TBoneTX 43,377]

Country-specific thread is moved from K-1 Case Progress subforum to the Philippines regional forum.

[Tahoma 2,291]

Take every document with you.

When they want to know the petitioner's mother's maiden name, you will have it with you. It's on the petitioner's G-325A.

When they want a land line phone number and there is no land line, just give them a mobile number.

Don't forget to take divorce decrees. As mentioned above, showing them an income tax return where the petitioner filed as "single" always works too.

And yes, they prey on the timid, the unprepared, and the uninformed.

Other than that, it's a piece of cake.

[Misschristina01 1]

Thank you, that is good advice about using ITR as showing single Status. We are not yet married and filed for K-1 visa. I have been married twice; however, the first was when I was 17 years old and divorced a couple years later, she cheated on me and divorced me for boyfriend. I divorced my second wife for cheating on me only a couple years after being married. I've been single for the past 20 years.

I just turned 53 and my fiancee is 27 and pregnant with our baby, we have doctor certification that she conceived during my time spent with her in Makati. If you look at our pictures together there would be know way of knowing our true age gap. Did you see any other couples who passed with large age Gap?

There's a show I watched on TLC it's called 90 day fiance. The Filipina was 19 and the guy was 58!! So I'm pretty sure the age gap won't matter. If they give you a hard time just tell them about the show good luck!

[Hank_ 9,173]

My fiancee is now ready to schedule her appointment to do CFO seminar in Manila, and recently I've read a few posts about some applicants having problems and not allowed their sticker for their passport showing they completed the seminar. Heard of one girl who was asked to return with more documentation about her fiancee's work history because he was divorced twice in his past. It would be nice to hear from some recent applicants about their experience when attending the CFO Seminar in Manila, and any suggestions they may have???

Biggest suggestion I have is NOT to be meek or timid, those are the types that CFO focuses the extra demands on. If your fiancee is confident, self-assured and looks them in the eyes when speaking there will be fewer issues.

http://visaconnection-philippines.com/index.php/2-guide1/5-cfo-gcp-seminar

[Tahoma 2,291]

There have been age gaps of 40+ years approved by the U.S. Embassy Manila. No worries about it in your case.

[Hank_ 9,173]

Agreed... theirs is not an "age gap" ...

[nessa09 0]

I'm gonna hve mine tomorrow! I hope it'll goes well and I'll share my experience with y'all guys! Wish me luck ??

[Am & Ra 19]

I'm gonna hve mine tomorrow! I hope it'll goes well and I'll share my experience with y'all guys! Wish me luck ??

Please do, that would be great for you to let us know about documents being asked for and questions being asked. Thank you.

[Jenn2000 0]

My fiancee is now ready to schedule her appointment to do CFO seminar in Manila, and recently I've read a few posts about some applicants having problems and not allowed their sticker for their passport showing they completed the seminar. Heard of one girl who was asked to return with more documentation about her fiancee's work history because he was divorced twice in his past. It would be nice to hear from some recent applicants about their experience when attending the CFO Seminar in Manila, and any suggestions they may have???

Hi there. Did they take a photo of you at the cfo office for the certificate? Or they used the photo you uploaded in the online appointment form? The photo I uploaded was too blurry. I couldn't even tell it's me

Thanks

I'm gonna hve mine tomorrow! I hope it'll goes well and I'll share my experience with y'all guys! Wish me luck ??

Hi there. Did they take a photo of you at the cfo office for the certificate? Or they used the photo you uploaded in the online appointment form? The photo I uploaded was too blurry. I couldn't even tell it's me

Thanks

[Am & Ra 19]

They collected 2x2 passport size photo from me. Just bring photo with you.