Need Recommendation for Lawyer in Philippines (CFO issues)

[lelonis 0]

Firstly, I am Canadian and my partner is in the Philippines.

I've been trying to get married with my fiancée who is in the Philippines for the past year and recently we discovered costa rica which he planned on going to this December. We've submitted every document requested and had the affidavit authorized etc etc. However,

yesterday during her CFO interview they threw another wrench into our issues. They want my full medical history and my full military medical history which I am not happy about. I'm on LTD from the Military but that information is under the privacy act and getting it is impossible and not only makes me feel violated in every way. Providing them with my criminal record, chat logs, pictures, history, passport copies and more is enough for me.

 

I think what we need is a legit lawyer in the philippines or Cavite or Manila area. 

 

Can anyone recommend a lawyer that can help us deal with this issue, won't scam us out of money, give us advice and who will deal with the CFO? We are ready to do whatever it takes but providing them my medical records from the military and healthcare in Canada + military records is out of the question.

 

Thank you.

[RO_AH 1,659]

2 hours ago, lelonis said:

Firstly, I am Canadian and my partner is in the Philippines.

I've been trying to get married with my fiancée who is in the Philippines for the past year and recently we discovered costa rica which he planned on going to this December. We've submitted every document requested and had the affidavit authorized etc etc. However,

yesterday during her CFO interview they threw another wrench into our issues. They want my full medical history and my full military medical history which I am not happy about. I'm on LTD from the Military but that information is under the privacy act and getting it is impossible and not only makes me feel violated in every way. Providing them with my criminal record, chat logs, pictures, history, passport copies and more is enough for me.

 

I think what we need is a legit lawyer in the philippines or Cavite or Manila area. 

 

Can anyone recommend a lawyer that can help us deal with this issue, won't scam us out of money, give us advice and who will deal with the CFO? We are ready to do whatever it takes but providing them my medical records from the military and healthcare in Canada + military records is out of the question.

 

Thank you.

A lawyer can't help you with this. I would suggest getting married online in Utah in USA.

[John & Rose 7,239]

I really don't believe CFO has that much authority.  Something seems off here.  I know many US military that never had to do anything but birth certificate and divorce papers.  Have you ever met her in person?  I was just going to recommend the online wedding too but RO_AH beat me to it.  I am not sure about the Utah wedding for a Canadian though.  Hopefully you will find something there.

 

Edited October 4, 2021 by John & Rose

[Corgent 93]

I've read about cases where CFO Counselors were not responsive to communications / taking too long, and it was solved by sending the CFO a message through their Facebook page. Maybe you could consider going over their head, get eyes on it by a higher level and hope it doesn't backfire for you.

[Adventine 3,201]

That's definitely way too invasive. This may be one of those situations where escalating to a CFO supervisor may be useful.

 

If you don't get any traction, I don't think hiring a lawyer will help. Data privacy laws exist in the Philippines but are nowhere near as strictly enforced as in Western countries.

 

If escalating to CFO higher ups doesn't help, consider an online marriage instead.

[RO_AH 1,659]

2 hours ago, John & Rose said:

I am not sure about the Utah wedding for a Canadian though.

People have posted about getting married online in Utah and neither person was a US citizen.

[John & Rose 7,239]

1 hour ago, RO_AH said:

People have posted about getting married online in Utah and neither person was a US citizen.

That is awesome. That was the one part I was not sure about. 

[Joe Kano 327]

16 hours ago, lelonis said:

Firstly, I am Canadian and my partner is in the Philippines.

I've been trying to get married with my fiancée who is in the Philippines for the past year and recently we discovered costa rica which he planned on going to this December. We've submitted every document requested and had the affidavit authorized etc etc. However,

yesterday during her CFO interview they threw another wrench into our issues. They want my full medical history and my full military medical history which I am not happy about. I'm on LTD from the Military but that information is under the privacy act and getting it is impossible and not only makes me feel violated in every way. Providing them with my criminal record, chat logs, pictures, history, passport copies and more is enough for me.

 

I think what we need is a legit lawyer in the philippines or Cavite or Manila area. 

 

Can anyone recommend a lawyer that can help us deal with this issue, won't scam us out of money, give us advice and who will deal with the CFO? We are ready to do whatever it takes but providing them my medical records from the military and healthcare in Canada + military records is out of the question.

 

Thank you.

Can you try another CFO office? Are is there only one open now of days?

[RO_AH 1,659]

7 hours ago, Joe Kano said:

Can you try another CFO office? Are is there only one open now of days?

It is all done virtually now with a phone interview. No "offices".

[jameyj 73]

Register again with a different email. You'll likely get a different "consoler" who may be more reasonable. 

 

What is CFO going to do with medical records? they are not doctors. They are not even qualified to do what they are supposed to do. The whole process is a joke!

[lelonis 0]

21 hours ago, RO_AH said:

People have posted about getting married online in Utah and neither person was a US citizen.

Unfortunately it's not a legal marriage for Canadians. Our laws are very strict about what's a marriage and especially for sponsorship purposes. I already have an immigration lawyer up here for us. Problem is her to travel outside of Philippines

[lelonis 0]

23 hours ago, John & Rose said:

I really don't believe CFO has that much authority.  Something seems off here.  I know many US military that never had to do anything but birth certificate and divorce papers.  Have you ever met her in person?  I was just going to recommend the online wedding too but RO_AH beat me to it.  I am not sure about the Utah wedding for a Canadian though.  Hopefully you will find something there.

 

We haven't met in person. We've been trying all year, this trip was supposed to be that and then marriage after a month or so of living together in Costa Rica. But to get her to fly out we've been in hell since we learned about cfo and started dealing with them. It never ends the requirements and feels as they just want to destroy relationships but that's my opinion and doesn't help me. I have no clue what to do. Really don't want to wait for borders to open as that might be 1 to 2 years more with how ph is

[Adventine 3,201]

14 minutes ago, lelonis said:

We haven't met in person. We've been trying all year, this trip was supposed to be that and then marriage after a month or so of living together in Costa Rica. But to get her to fly out we've been in hell since we learned about cfo and started dealing with them. It never ends the requirements and feels as they just want to destroy relationships but that's my opinion and doesn't help me. I have no clue what to do. Really don't want to wait for borders to open as that might be 1 to 2 years more with how ph is

 

I don't mean to be rude, but are you 100% sure it's really CFO asking for your medical and military records?

[John & Rose 7,239]

18 minutes ago, Adventine said:

 

I don't mean to be rude, but are you 100% sure it's really CFO asking for your medical and military records?

My question EXACTLY.  The only time I heard this kind of stuff being asked for it was by the “beneficiary” and her family. 

[John & Rose 7,239]

35 minutes ago, lelonis said:

We haven't met in person. We've been trying all year, this trip was supposed to be that and then marriage after a month or so of living together in Costa Rica. But to get her to fly out we've been in hell since we learned about cfo and started dealing with them. It never ends the requirements and feels as they just want to destroy relationships but that's my opinion and doesn't help me. I have no clue what to do. Really don't want to wait for borders to open as that might be 1 to 2 years more with how ph is

I have been around for about 6 years and literally talk to thousands of Filipinos in the process. I have NEVER heard of CFO asking for this kind of stuff. They can be difficult and they do pick on weaker people but never have I even heard rumors about them asking for that kind of information, especially for a simple vacation. Be very careful.  Not all Filipinas are 100% who they say they are.  CFO is to help the Filipino with the transition and what they are asking for in this case would have nothing to do with their actual job.