Rescheduling GCP Class (Manila)

[Moofy 1]

My Fiancee's interview is Tuesday (10.25). Our lawyer royally screwed up and didn't inform us we needed to register online and ahead of time for the GCP class. It's quite possible her visa will be ready for pickup as soon as Friday (10.28) or Monday (10.31). Once the visa is ready she's heading to the airport and taking the first PAL flight to America. The earliest GCP class available was 11.03. Our lawyer seems rather detached from things (isn't communicating very well with us, etc. and avoiding saying he made a mistake) so I feel compelled to explore options to correct this issue on my own. She really needs to take the GCP ASAP and 11.03 is just too far out.

Is there any way to get her into a class in Manila prior to the 3rd by calling somebody? It would be absurd for her to have to wait an extra 3-6 days sitting in a hotel room by herself just because we didn't register for the GCP in time (which was due to our lawyer failing to inform us we had to).

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

Indeed she needs to take the course from CFO to clear customs at the airport to leave the Philippines.

Your best option is to continue to check for any last second cancelations, sometimes an opening pops up randomly and try to get into it day before the interview as she needs to have her passport on hand I believe to attend. She does not have to have done the interview but just show them the passport and then go back afterwards to get the final stamp once she has the K-1.

Otherwise she will have to wait in Manila til the appointment ... It is a requirement to attend the CFO before departure from the Philippines. Hopefully this all gets sorted out for you easily and quickly

Edited October 22, 2016 by Ben&Zian

[Moofy 1]

Her flight arrives around noon in Manila on Monday (the day before the interview). Should she just go to the class location after she checks in to the hotel and hope she can get in?

Also, are you saying she can't take the class while the Embassy has her Visa (and is processing for pickup)? (e.g. she must have her visa?)

My understanding is the class didn't stamp the visa; instead provided a different piece of paper? Of course this is very important; if she must have her visa in order to take the class that means she can't take it while she's waiting for the embassy to prepare it for pickup...

[aratamorne 165]

She can attend the CFO seminar prior to her interview. She just brings her NOA2 and interview papers to show that she will need it the class and is going through the K-1 process. They will give her a certificate and one she gets her Visa, she can just get a stamp at the CFO office or at NAIA before she leaves. Just make sure that she calls ahead and makes an appointment at NAIA since CFO travels between all three terminals.

Can't help with the lawyer part, but CFO is a Philippines requirement, not immigration, so depending on the lawyer and their experience with the Philippines in particular, they may not have been aware or not considered it part of their responsibility. The best thing for you to use for everything including sanity checks is VISAJourney as well as Greenbaum's page. http://dennyeyberg.wixsite.com/filipino-am-visa

Good Luck,

[Moofy 1]

Thank you for the response Arata; so a few questions. Can she go to the class while her visa is with Immigration waiting to be stamped? (e.g. after interview but before issuance)

Also, it sounds like she can take the class when she doesn't have her visa, but before she can board a plane, she must go back to the "office" (wherever that is - if somebody could provide a link, I'd appreciate it) and have her visa stamped once she shows proof she took the class. Correct?

What's the difference between the NAIA and CFO -- and you say "travels between all three terminals" -- what does that mean?

We paid our lawyer a premium to ensure all aspects of her getting here were handled; he's in the Philippines and has 4+ years of experience. He should have known about this, and he also dropped the ball on another aspect of the case -- but the important thing now is to ensure we do everything we can to get her in.

As I mentioned she arrives in Manila on Monday around noon and her interview is Tuesday morning. It sounds like what she needs to do is call the CFO "handling agency" (hard to tell what it is due to the limited details on the website) and see if she can get in for a 2-3pm class or something (on Monday). BTW where are these classes taught? What's the address? None of that information appears to be available on the registration website.

Thanks to everyone for your help!

[aratamorne 165]

This is the CFO website. She can register online. http://www.cfo.gov.ph/gcp.html I would have her call them to confirm if she can still attend while the Embassy has her passport. Sagot or Greenbaum might know the answer to that one. CFO does not allow walk-ins for the seminar. The CFO office in Manila is about a 10-15 minute pedicab ride from the US Embassy area.

Commission on Filipinos Overseas

Citigold Center, 1345 Pres. Quirino Ave. cor. Osmeña Highway, Manila

Telephone: (+632) 552-4700, Email: info@cfo.gov.ph

The CFO employee(s) at NAIA travel between Terminal 1, 2, & 3 so an appointment is required so they can be sure to be at the proper terminal for anyone who needs them.

[xmaricrisx 25]

First off, yes, your fiance can take the CFO seminar before getting her visa; she will get a certificate upon completion, but she will have to return to the CFO building when she retrieves her visa in order to get the stamp placed in her passport. Immigration at NAIA will not let her leave the country without the stamp.

Second, CFO is appointment based only; you can call and ask if there is a spot open for her but usually the CFO seminars need to be reserved online at least a week in advance in order to get the date that you want. Spots fill up really quickly.

Hope everything works out for you. Good luck!

Edited October 23, 2016 by xmaricrisx

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K1 Process to Phil. Regional Forum~

~Inquiry is country-specific~

[Sagot 1,548]

My Fiancee's interview is Tuesday (10.25). Our lawyer royally screwed up and didn't inform us we needed to register online and ahead of time for the GCP class. It's quite possible her visa will be ready for pickup as soon as Friday (10.28) or Monday (10.31). Once the visa is ready she's heading to the airport and taking the first PAL flight to America. The earliest GCP class available was 11.03. Our lawyer seems rather detached from things (isn't communicating very well with us, etc. and avoiding saying he made a mistake) so I feel compelled to explore options to correct this issue on my own. She really needs to take the GCP ASAP and 11.03 is just too far out.

Is there any way to get her into a class in Manila prior to the 3rd by calling somebody? It would be absurd for her to have to wait an extra 3-6 days sitting in a hotel room by herself just because we didn't register for the GCP in time (which was due to our lawyer failing to inform us we had to).

Any advice would be appreciated.

Your planning is totally off for when you will get the visa AFTER the interview. 1st - she does not pickup the visa it is delivered by 2GO, 2nd - it is quite normal for the visa to not be delivered for 7-14 days after the visa is ISSUED, and issued is NOT the interview.. ISSUED comes days or weeks later.

She can complete CFO-GCP before the interview without issue, then just return once she has her passport w/visa in hand to get the sticker.

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

Do note the embassy states: Do not finalize arrangements for travel to the United States, dispose of property, or resign from your job until a visa has been issued and delivered to you. Generally, a single-entry fiancé(e) (K1) nonimmigrant visa is valid for six months from the date of issuance, unless its validity is limited by medical or other restrictions.

https://ph.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/82/2016/08/K1-and-K2-Applicant-Interview-Preparation-Instructions-08112016-English-336KB.pdf

Edited October 23, 2016 by Philippines^Sagot

[xmaricrisx 25]

Your planning is totally off for when you will get the visa AFTER the interview. 1st - she does not pickup the visa it is delivered by 2GO, 2nd - it is quite normal for the visa to not be delivered for 7-14 days after the visa is ISSUED, and issued is NOT the interview.. ISSUED comes days or weeks later.

She can complete CFO-GCP before the interview without issue, then just return once she has her passport w/visa in hand to get the sticker.

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

Actually, she has the option to pick up her visa at any 2GO (e.g. MOA); once she gets notification from 2GO that it is available she can pick it up herself and not wait for them to deliver it. But you are correct, in saying that it can take 7-14 days for the visa to be available, at least for K1 visas; they are often put into AP for a few days before changing the status to ISSUED. Therefore, OP might want to be a little more flexible with their schedule, or rethink the plan.

[Sagot 1,548]

Actually, she has the option to pick up her visa at any 2GO (e.g. MOA); once she gets notification from 2GO that it is available she can pick it up herself and not wait for them to deliver it. But you are correct, in saying that it can take 7-14 days for the visa to be available, at least for K1 visas; they are often put into AP for a few days before changing the status to ISSUED. Therefore, OP might want to be a little more flexible with their schedule, or rethink the plan.

yes that is an option that may save a day or two if picked up at MOA. Glad you mentioned it. Still his planning is not in touch with reality.

[Moofy 1]

Actually, Friday the 28th is a possibly; it all depends on their workload. People have had their visa ready for pickup 3 days after the interview (although very rare). The issue is the holiday on the 31st and 1st. More than likely the Visa would be ready for pickup on the 2nd.

We won't buy the ticket until she has the visa with the GCP stamp in hand. I'll keep everyone informed as to the progress.

[Sagot 1,548]

[Moofy 1]

We got her into the GCP class by sending an EMail to the main address; a lady named Iluminada made it happen.

Many thanks to her!

[Sagot 1,548]

Good to here!