Consular Interview - Is Petitioner required to provide a police clearance?

[Scorpio82 1]

Beneficiary is bringing a police clearance (NBI police clearance) to the interview.

 

The Petitioner does not also need to provide one, does he? 

 

Thank you. 

Edited July 7 by Scorpio82

[Edward and Jaycel 1,902]

26 minutes ago, Scorpio82 said:

Beneficiary is bringing a police clearance (NBI police clearance) to the interview.

 

The Petitioner does not also need to provide one, does he? 

 

Thank you. 

No… the government takes care of doing the background checks on the petitioner. However…. There have been lots of reports lately of the CFO counselors requiring an FBI records check from the petitioner at the CFO-GCP session. And just the other day, a counselor required a CENOMAR report on the US citizen petitioner at the counseling session

[Scorpio82 1]

18 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

No… the government takes care of doing the background checks on the petitioner. However…. There have been lots of reports lately of the CFO counselors requiring an FBI records check from the petitioner at the CFO-GCP session. And just the other day, a counselor required a CENOMAR report on the US citizen petitioner at the counseling session

Thank you so much for that information. Can you answer a few follow up questions, please?

 

-My fiancée is the in the Philippines, is that also where yours was?

-We are currently preparing for the interview in two weeks, I am not exactly sure what CFO counselors are and what the CFO-GCP session is, can you explain?

-In the event an FBI records check is required, is the petitioner required to get that, and how? 

-Same question for the CENOMAR.

 

Edited July 7 by Scorpio82

[TBoneTX 47,499]

Country-specific thread is moved from the K-1 Case Progress subforum to the Philippines regional forum.

[Edward and Jaycel 1,902]

11 hours ago, Scorpio82 said:

My fiancée is the in the Philippines, is that also where yours was?

Yes

 

11 hours ago, Scorpio82 said:

We are currently preparing for the interview in two weeks, I am not exactly sure what CFO counselors are and what the CFO-GCP session is, can you explain?

 

Commission on Filipinos Overseas - Guidance and Counseling Program. This is a counseling session that all Filipinos leaving the country on a Spousal or Fiancé(e) visa must complete before leaving the Philippines or they will not be allowed through Philippine Immigration exit inspection

 

11 hours ago, Scorpio82 said:

In the event an FBI records check is required, is the petitioner required to get that, and how?

 

Yes the CFO has been requiring FBI Records check quite often lately. You can start the process here. Once I filled out the application online and then went to a post office nearby that offered the electronic fingerprinting, I had the report back from the FBI in about 3 hours.

 

Go here:

https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/identity-history-summary-checks

 

11 hours ago, Scorpio82 said:

Same question for the CENOMAR.

 

Same way you got the CENOMAR that's required for your Filipino fiancé(e) for the embassy interview - You go on the PSA website and request one in your name and have it shipped to your fiancé(e) 

Edited July 7 by Edward and Jaycel

[Elitevaz 2]

The cenomar is funny, the Philippines will not even be the authority used to get married.

[RO_AH 1,684]

On 7/9/2025 at 10:46 AM, Elitevaz said:

The cenomar is funny, the Philippines will not even be the authority used to get married.

It has nothing to do with your marriage. CEMAR/CENOMAR shows if you are or have ever been married in the Philippines. Unlike America where the federal government has no records on all marriages (only state level) The PSA keeps record of all marriages.

[Elitevaz 2]

18 hours ago, RO_AH said:

It has nothing to do with your marriage. CEMAR/CENOMAR shows if you are or have ever been married in the Philippines. Unlike America where the federal government has no records on all marriages (only state level) The PSA keeps record of all marriages.

 

Yes and most likely an American would have been married in America not in the Philippines. There's no American CENOMAR, so it's a pretty pointless effort. If the American married a Filipino already in the Philippines, they could still go to America and get married without an issue. Is some American authority going to come and invalidate it because of a foreign marriage? Never heard of such a thing. It's 100% illegal in USA to be married to multiple at the same time, but someone would have to accuse you and bring evidence. It's just a very unlikely process that would have to occur with a low chance. Seems more like them giving a hard time than doing real protection.

[RO_AH 1,684]

On 7/11/2025 at 9:23 AM, Elitevaz said:

Yes and most likely an American would have been married in America not in the Philippines.

It's not the most likely they are doing it for. There are a lot of Americans that get married in the Philippines. If you pulled a CENOMAR on me you would get a CEMAR saying that I am married. Unless I get divorced or annulled and have it legally recognized in the Philippines (very long and expensive process), or am widowed, I cannot get a visa for another Filipina. Believe me there are people that try and that is the reason for the requirement.

[Scorpio82 1]

Going back to the basics, can I just confirm: this process, the CFO-GCP, happens after the interview, correct? 

[Edward and Jaycel 1,902]

38 minutes ago, Scorpio82 said:

Going back to the basics, can I just confirm: this process, the CFO-GCP, happens after the interview, correct? 

 

After the visa is issued

[RO_AH 1,684]

7 hours ago, Scorpio82 said:

Going back to the basics, can I just confirm: this process, the CFO-GCP, happens after the interview, correct? 

This is correct, you must have the visa to book CFO appointment. You cannot leave the Philippines without completing it it.

Edited July 13 by RO_AH

[top_secret 2,707]

On 7/13/2025 at 6:46 AM, Scorpio82 said:

Going back to the basics, can I just confirm: this process, the CFO-GCP, happens after the interview, correct? 

 

Also important to note that CFO is entirely a Philippine Government thing.  The US Embassy is not involved in any way other than CFO wont make an appointment until she has a visa.

 

https://cfo.gov.ph/CFO-FRONTLINE-SERVICES-FOR-GUIDANCE-AND-COUNSELING-PROGRAM-GCP

[Elitevaz 2]

On 7/12/2025 at 5:21 PM, RO_AH said:

It's not the most likely they are doing it for. There are a lot of Americans that get married in the Philippines. If you pulled a CENOMAR on me you would get a CEMAR saying that I am married. Unless I get divorced or annulled and have it legally recognized in the Philippines (very long and expensive process), or am widowed, I cannot get a visa for another Filipina. Believe me there are people that try and that is the reason for the requirement.

 

Very few Americans marry Filipinos. Most are marrying other Americans in America, so the vast majority of Americans will have no marriage record CENOMAR whether they are married or not. The US Government can't even properly track marriages of Americans, so the PSA has no chance.

[J.M. 314]

6 hours ago, Elitevaz said:

Very few Americans marry Filipinos. Most are marrying other Americans in America, so the vast majority of Americans will have no marriage record CENOMAR whether they are married or not. The US Government can't even properly track marriages of Americans, so the PSA has no chance.

What's the big deal?  If they ask for it, provide it, or abandon your plans.  Most Americans are not criminals, but they still do background checks.  Most Filipinos that are planning to marry a foreigner are not currently married, but they still ask for a CENOMAR from them.  Most people driving cars have licenses, but police still ask to see it when you get stopped.  For most cases, there will be no record.  For a few, there will be a record.  It's easy to get and cheap.  If you learn about the Philippines, you will soon figure out that a lot of things they do don't make sense.  There are a lot of things in the US that don't make sense too.  By the way, marriage is a state institution.  The US Government is not in the marriage tracking business.  The states maintain marriage records.