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 

 

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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. 328]

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. 328]

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.