I found this forum searching for info on CFO and whether a "police background check and freedom to marry certificate" were required.
There was some conflicting info and I said once my Fiance' went through the CFO in Manila I would start a thread and explain her experience.
Especially regarding the FBI background check
In a nutshell. It is now a requirement to provide a criminal background check.
I also made an affidavit that I was free to marry but that was not asked for by the interviewer.
This was her experience:
She was notified she could pick up her visa & passport 09/15/2025
She went into Manila early the next day and picked it up.
Once she had it she could go online and sign up for the CFO.
There were many spots open and she was able to sign up for the very next day
She arrived at 0640 and only 1 other person was there ahead of her.
At 0700 there were only 3 people including her
Registration was 0700-0830
Seminar was 0900-1030
Interviews went from 1100-1300
She was told they would be taken in the order they registered that morning but for some reason she was literally the last person interviewed.
The interviewer was a woman.
The conversation was in Tagalog and some English.
After exchanging pleasantries her first question was literally about the FBI background check.
She even used the term FBI
She asked " Can you give me the documents of FBI"
That's how she phrased it.
I had a DUI in 1999 and the interviewer then asked for my court documents on that
She then asked for a copy of my Passport Bio page.
Then my fiance's Cenomar (Certificate of No Marriage Record)
Then she asked for my fiance's passport
Then she asked to see proof of relationship which my Fiance had a great deal of in photos and receipts etc
The interviewer gave these a cursory look only.
Spent less time on it than reading my FBI report.
Then she started asking more basic questions
" How did you meet?
" How many weeks did he vacation here?"
" What is his job"
" What did he study in college?"
The interviewer at some point asked for my " 1040"
My fiance couldn't find it in her records because I had given her The IRS transcripts and she was being literal searching for the 1040 in her document files.
The interviewer than asked other questions and ignored my financial info which surprised me
Other questions asked:
" What would you do if you need help?"
" What to do in the US incase of an emergency and have problems?
" Who would you contact to ask for help?"
She answered that she would call 911 and go to the nearest Philippine Embassy if need be.
In the seminar they told her that and to contact the CFO but she forgot to say the CFO part and the interviewer was okay with her answer
"What are your future plans together?"
After that, the interviewer told my fiance " Congratulations"
'That was it and she was emailed her CFO immediately and is now free to travel here.
As stated earlier the main reason for this thread was to discuss if an FBI background check is required now and since it was literally the first question asked I'd say it is required
In earlier threads it has been discussed how to get it but I will just give the basics for anyone reading this thread in the future and wanting to know.
The FBI calls them Identity History Summary Checks.
I'm not going to be too specific because things can change but here are the basics:
Google for FBI background checks and make sure you click on an actual FBI website NOT some private google sponsored ad.
Here's a link to the FBI FAQ on background checks.
If you do the electronic method you will get it much faster. For me it was within an hour of the fingerprints.
I got fingerprints scanned at the Post office.
The FBI website has a link to search for Post offices near you that supply this service.
Good Luck to all!
Saltydog
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8:38 pm September 19, 2025
