True or False: CFO can require police clearance or FBI report for petitioner

[Croz 0]

On 10/11/2025 at 8:37 PM, J.M. said:

I agree that this part is not accurate.  Nobody has reported any DOS authentication of FBI Background checks.  I'm not sure what you mean by the "Philippine Embassy" since no Philippine Embassy plays any part in this at all.

I stopped looking for it - but in my late night search I had found some websites (state dept??  FBI??) that mentioned the Philippines not being on some "internation network" for Authentication.....and the only way the FBI criminal background check could be authenticated - was (Philippines only) a 2-step process.

 

1.  Once you had the fbi document - you had to fill out the state dept form.    You could fill out the form online and A) mail the form in for a 5+ week turnaround.....B) walk the document in - for a 7 day turnaround if you also would go pick it up (in DC)....or C).  If you got fingerprints elsewhere and mailed it all in - the turnaround was I think a few months.

 

2.   Once you received the authenticated document - you would have to schedule an appointment with a US based Philippine embassy to have them perform their authentication.   This had to happen after you got the stamped?/certified? Document from the state dept.

 

3.  Then next-day the letter to your Fiance - who would then upload the document to the cfo and schedule her interview 

 

-------

reading all of that greatly concerned me - because my Fiance has already been to the Cebu cfo twice.   First time we weren't told about a police clearance.   2nd time - I assumed "background check" was what they wanted because we don't have "police clearances.    This time she was specifically told fbi criminal background check - which I got done in about 2 hours once I found a post office with a working finger printing machine (went to 4 locations).    My concern there is the fbi document states something to the effect of "document doesn't include state/local police charges"....but I'm hoping this doesn't get caught.   
 

My Fiance is 45 - but she's fairly innocent and I think she might not speak with great confidence....and that might be causing us an issue.   We've been together for 3 years and my record is 100% without incident except for traffic tickets.   This whole thing is a bit much.

 

 

 

[J.M. 334]

18 minutes ago, Croz said:

This time she was specifically told fbi criminal background check - which I got done in about 2 hours once I found a post office with a working finger printing machine (went to 4 locations).    My concern there is the fbi document states something to the effect of "document doesn't include state/local police charges"....but I'm hoping this doesn't get caught.

This is exactly what others have used.  I understand this is the 3rd attempt at CFO, but the first and 2nd denials were both for lack of the FBI background report.  The 3rd time is a charm.  CFO can be the most annoying part of the process, but at least it's the last hurdle.  Good luck!

[Croz 0]

8 minutes ago, J.M. said:

This is exactly what others have used.  I understand this is the 3rd attempt at CFO, but the first and 2nd denials were both for lack of the FBI background report.  The 3rd time is a charm.  CFO can be the most annoying part of the process, but at least it's the last hurdle.  Good luck!

 

so just following up on my post.

 

The international authentication apparatus is "Apostille"

 

And where I got a lot of what I saw about needing authentication for criminal background checks is from the Travel.State.Gov website.....search for "authenticate your document"....then "preparing your document for authentication certificate"....then click on "federal document".

 

it specifically mentions the criminal background check being one that needed authentication.

 

id like to stop searching now - but if someone needs me to prove that I saw the "dual Philippines authentication process" mentioned - I'll do the work to find it.   It was also on a legitimate us govt website....and talked about the Philippines being a special case because 1.) they don't use Apostille and 2.) that their authentication process is 2 parts - specifically as I stated above.

 

im not going to panic anymore about it unless she gets denied again and were told it has to be authenticated.     I'm over this whole thing - but I really wish I found this site earlier - you all are VERY helpful.  Very Sincerely / my thanks 

[J.M. 334]

No need to prove apostilled FBI background checks are a thing in the Philippines.  They definitely are.  They love things with stamps, stickers, and ribbons.  It's just not needed for CFO.

[USCharles 7]

Hi everyone! I’m a U.S. citizen currently in the Philippines with my fiancée while we wait on the K-1 process. We just got I-129F approval and are waiting for the case number.

 

I’ve requested an expedite with good reasons, so hoping that goes through. I recently found out the CFO might ask for an FBI clearance for the petitioner. Being in the Philippines, getting one would be really tough—and I’m not sure there’s enough time before the interview.

 

Seems like whether it’s requested is kind of random. Anyone have tips or more recent experience with this? Thanks!

[USCharles 7]

On 10/14/2025 at 8:14 AM, Croz said:

I stopped looking for it - but in my late night search I had found some websites (state dept??  FBI??) that mentioned the Philippines not being on some "internation network" for Authentication.....and the only way the FBI criminal background check could be authenticated - was (Philippines only) a 2-step process.

 

1.  Once you had the fbi document - you had to fill out the state dept form.    You could fill out the form online and A) mail the form in for a 5+ week turnaround.....B) walk the document in - for a 7 day turnaround if you also would go pick it up (in DC)....or C).  If you got fingerprints elsewhere and mailed it all in - the turnaround was I think a few months.

 

2.   Once you received the authenticated document - you would have to schedule an appointment with a US based Philippine embassy to have them perform their authentication.   This had to happen after you got the stamped?/certified? Document from the state dept.

 

3.  Then next-day the letter to your Fiance - who would then upload the document to the cfo and schedule her interview 

 

-------

reading all of that greatly concerned me - because my Fiance has already been to the Cebu cfo twice.   First time we weren't told about a police clearance.   2nd time - I assumed "background check" was what they wanted because we don't have "police clearances.    This time she was specifically told fbi criminal background check - which I got done in about 2 hours once I found a post office with a working finger printing machine (went to 4 locations).    My concern there is the fbi document states something to the effect of "document doesn't include state/local police charges"....but I'm hoping this doesn't get caught.   
 

My Fiance is 45 - but she's fairly innocent and I think she might not speak with great confidence....and that might be causing us an issue.   We've been together for 3 years and my record is 100% without incident except for traffic tickets.   This whole thing is a bit much.

 

 

 

How did everything work out?

 

Did the FBI background check work out?

 

Did you have the FBI background check apostille?

[Edward and Jaycel 2,309]

5 hours ago, USCharles said:

 

Hi everyone! I’m a U.S. citizen currently in the Philippines with my fiancée while we wait on the K-1 process. We just got I-129F approval and are waiting for the case number.

 

I’ve requested an expedite with good reasons, so hoping that goes through. I recently found out the CFO might ask for an FBI clearance for the petitioner. Being in the Philippines, getting one would be really tough—and I’m not sure there’s enough time before the interview.

 

Seems like whether it’s requested is kind of random. Anyone have tips or more recent experience with this? Thanks!

 

How long have you been living in the Philippines? Your best bet, if you've been living there for more than 6 months is to get an NBI clearance for yourself and have your fiancée bring it with her to the CFO.

[Broke Government 13]

K-1 CFO appointment coming up next week for my fiance. I just got the FBI fingerprint check done on myself and emailed it to her. My FBI check was completely clean. No records of any arrests or any charge or anything within my FBI check results.

 

However, I was arrested twice about 20 years ago for speeding tickets, and then for possession of controlled substance. Will my fiance be required to show additional documents at the CFO regarding these 2 arrests or will the FBI fingerprint results be enough?

 

The controlled substance arrest was completely and actually expunged, which is why it can't even be found on the FBI check. I provided a document to my fiance from the county court where this arrest occured which states there are no records of any arrest for me there. This document is dated year 2022 which is when I requested the document. Do I need to order another document since the year says 2022 on it? If I order another document it will take a couple weeks to get it because they only postal mail this document.

 

The speeding ticket arrest has documentation which I gave to my fiance.

 

 

[Edward and Jaycel 2,309]

13 hours ago, Broke Government said:

K-1 CFO appointment coming up next week for my fiance. I just got the FBI fingerprint check done on myself and emailed it to her. My FBI check was completely clean. No records of any arrests or any charge or anything within my FBI check results.

 

However, I was arrested twice about 20 years ago for speeding tickets, and then for possession of controlled substance. Will my fiance be required to show additional documents at the CFO regarding these 2 arrests or will the FBI fingerprint results be enough?

 

The controlled substance arrest was completely and actually expunged, which is why it can't even be found on the FBI check. I provided a document to my fiance from the county court where this arrest occured which states there are no records of any arrest for me there. This document is dated year 2022 which is when I requested the document. Do I need to order another document since the year says 2022 on it? If I order another document it will take a couple weeks to get it because they only postal mail this document.

 

The speeding ticket arrest has documentation which I gave to my fiance.

 

 

 

All she will need to give CFO is the FBI History Check

[Edward and Jaycel 2,309]

On 10/22/2025 at 12:34 AM, USCharles said:

 

Hi everyone! I’m a U.S. citizen currently in the Philippines with my fiancée while we wait on the K-1 process. We just got I-129F approval and are waiting for the case number.

 

I’ve requested an expedite with good reasons, so hoping that goes through. I recently found out the CFO might ask for an FBI clearance for the petitioner. Being in the Philippines, getting one would be really tough—and I’m not sure there’s enough time before the interview.

 

Seems like whether it’s requested is kind of random. Anyone have tips or more recent experience with this? Thanks!

 

If you have been living in the Philippines more than 6 months, you should have an ACR-I card. I would have her take that, plus a photo copy and get an NBI clearance done there on yourself and have her bring that.

[USCharles 7]

On 10/22/2025 at 8:30 PM, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

How long have you been living in the Philippines? Your best bet, if you've been living there for more than 6 months is to get an NBI clearance for yourself and have your fiancée bring it with her to the CFO.

I've been in the Philippines since April 2nd, 2025. I'm working on getting the FBI background check through a channeler.