Exiting the Philippines

[trlittle 0]

My fiancee is a Filipina that has been living in Hong Kong for the last 18 years. She has traveled back and forth to visit her family when she is able with no problem. After she recieves her visa in HK she is thinking of going home to visit before coming here to Florida. I think I read that there is a course which is required for citizens of the Philippines to take before they leave the country. Can anyone tell me if that would apply to her(she would be there a week or two) and how easy is it to take so that you don't have a problem when you leave the country. Thanks for any help.

[orimai 2]

Hi! I am not sure if this is what your refering to or not but Mai had to go to a seminar. It was 1 day thing they had her do when she went to renew her passport with her new last name. It was a guidance & counseling thing by commission on filipinos over seas. I guess the dept of foreign affairs will pick up on it and require it if she goes to change her passport. She had to take supporting documents like her birth certificate to the seminar. The sticker she supposedly gets for that needs to be presented at the airport before she can leave the Phils. Sounds pretty lame to me, a good way to make money off Americans taking a spouse back to the US. I'd be curious to see what others have to say about all this.

Orimai

[trlittle 0]

Thanks, yep thats the one I was thinking of. My fiancee will already have her visa (K1) so she will not need to change her name or renew her passport. I wonder if she had to take the class before she went to HK even though she does not recall it. Also if she comes directly to the US will she have to take the class whenever she returns to the Philippines? I would hate to have her turned away from her flight over this in either case.

[orimai 2]

Thanks, yep thats the one I was thinking of. My fiancee will already have her visa (K1) so she will not need to change her name or renew her passport. I wonder if she had to take the class before she went to HK even though she does not recall it. Also if she comes directly to the US will she have to take the class whenever she returns to the Philippines? I would hate to have her turned away from her flight over this in either case.

Thats a good question, Im not sure. Mai just told me that the seminar included other countries not just the US. I'm not sure how they handle that or determine who gets what. I wish I could be more help.

Orimai

[beameup 0]

I'd be curious to see what others have to say about all this.

Orimai

:lol: :lol: :lol:

When she starts to exit the airport at Manila holding a Philippine Passport WITHOUT the CFO Authorization (Commission on Filipinos Overseas) - then expect that the Airport Authorities will be seeing $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ signs for their pockets.

She very likely could be taken into a room and as the clock ticks - tic,tic,tic,tic - the plane starts it's engines - tic,tic,tic.

It's not a pretty picture.

[trlittle 0]

I'd be curious to see what others have to say about all this.

Orimai

:lol: :lol: :lol:

When she starts to exit the airport at Manila holding a Philippine Passport WITHOUT the CFO Authorization (Commission on Filipinos Overseas) - then expect that the Airport Authorities will be seeing $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ signs for their pockets.

She very likely could be taken into a room and as the clock ticks - tic,tic,tic,tic - the plane starts it's engines - tic,tic,tic.

It's not a pretty picture.

So are you saying that is only a requirement based on the type of Visa. As I said she has never had a problem traveling back and forth to Hong Kong for her employment. I know she was last home inAugust of 2005. For all I know she may already have the authorization. Do you happen to have a link where I could learn more about the CFO Authorization. Thanks

[archie07 0]

I'd be curious to see what others have to say about all this.

Orimai

:lol: :lol: :lol:

When she starts to exit the airport at Manila holding a Philippine Passport WITHOUT the CFO Authorization (Commission on Filipinos Overseas) - then expect that the Airport Authorities will be seeing $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ signs for their pockets.

She very likely could be taken into a room and as the clock ticks - tic,tic,tic,tic - the plane starts it's engines - tic,tic,tic.

It's not a pretty picture.

So are you saying that is only a requirement based on the type of Visa. As I said she has never had a problem traveling back and forth to Hong Kong for her employment. I know she was last home inAugust of 2005. For all I know she may already have the authorization. Do you happen to have a link where I could learn more about the CFO Authorization. Thanks

The course is required if she has a foriegn fiance or spouse.

[Christine n Carl 0]

My understanding is there is a requirement for all filipino emigrants to take sometype of class.

Here is the CFO link to research more information

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/

[trlittle 0]

My understanding is there is a requirement for all filipino emigrants to take sometype of class.

Here is the CFO link to research more information

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/

Thanks, thats just what we needed.

[Dean/Gra 0]

My fiancee is a Filipina that has been living in Hong Kong for the last 18 years. She has traveled back and forth to visit her family when she is able with no problem. After she recieves her visa in HK she is thinking of going home to visit before coming here to Florida. I think I read that there is a course which is required for citizens of the Philippines to take before they leave the country. Can anyone tell me if that would apply to her(she would be there a week or two) and how easy is it to take so that you don't have a problem when you leave the country. Thanks for any help.

She needs to attend the "CFO" seminar. It is given in Manila and Cebu. In Manila it is given at PRISM.. When she completes the course her visa will be stamped. She will not be allowed to board the airplane until she has the stamp. There is a minimal amount of cost for this, of course. It depends on which country she is going to for the particular class she goes to. They tell her how we american husbands beat our wives and all that #######.

Good Luck,

[Jasman0717 8]

Never mind, I missed the part where she had been living in HG for 18 years. I would still be interested to know if she now is required to do the CFO class. I would think not if she has been traveling between HK and the Philippines for the past 18 years. Keep us posted. Thanks

Edited April 6, 2007 by jasman0717

[Ken_Maria 0]

Hong Kong is a member of the ASEAN and she does not need a visa to travel to any country in the ASEAN. Since she is leaving the PI for the U.S. (assumption) the immigrations officer will be looking for the CFO certificate and stamp up on departure. However, when we departed, I do not remember the Check-in counter or immigrations; looking for or asking for the Travel Tax receipt nor the CFO. I still think the CFO is a scam by the Filipino authorities to garner money from their over seas workers and foreign spouses. Good luck, Ken & Maria

Never mind, I missed the part where she had been living in HG for 18 years. I would still be interested to know if she now is required to do the CFO class. I would think not if she has been traveling between HK and the Philippines for the past 18 years. Keep us posted. Thanks

[walls1010 3]

My friend who worked in HK for a couple of years got her K1 visa in HK US Embassy and she decided to go back in the Philippines to see her family before coming to the US. According to her she did not take the seminar and no question ask in the immigration. Yeah, she paid a terminal fee and travel tax, but my other friend who got her K1 visa in Manila US Embassy she didn't pay the terminal fee but she still paid the travel tax!

[walls1010 3]

BTW, taking that seminar is more expensive than paying a terminal fee...hahahaha!

[beameup 0]

She won't be laughing if held up by authorities at the Manila International Airport (NAIA) - and what??? - for saving a few $$$??

BTW, taking that seminar is more expensive than paying a terminal fee...hahahaha!