CFO Experience

[tiger@tigress]

what does CFO means? and what's that for? thanks.

Hmm i cant remember whats CFO means all i know they will not allow u to go out of the country w/o it

[empott]

CFO is Commission on Filipinos Overseas
check this for more info: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/counseling.htm

Ooops am i allowed to post that Boss Keith? delete it if im wrong. thanks

[mach]

i would just like to know if i need to attend the cfo seminar??? I don't have plans of amending my passport or using my hubby's last name.

[aposhark]

Hello everyone.

Just a little warning about the travel agency right next to the Cebu CFO office......

Today my wife and I went to the CFO office and she had the sticker put in and also a small certificate stapled into her passport.
I asked the CFO people was everything now complete for her to travel and they said "Yes".

Next minute she was next door in what I thought was a part of the CFO.
A lady there said we needed to pay an extra PHP 3,800 to have her NSO marriage certificate authenticated by the DFA with a ribbon attached.
She said the UK required this.
I told her we were already married and my wife has the settlement visa.
I was puzzled and let them talk in Cebuano whilst I thought a bit.
I was looking around this office and started to smell a rat.
I asked her what office it was and she said it was a travel agency........
To cut a long story short, we did NOT pay any extra money and I went back to the CFO and told them what had happened.

The CFO lady once again said as long as my wife has the visa then the CFO sticker/certificate, nothing further is required.
You have to have eyes open all the time

[IainBusby]

Hello everyone.

Just a little warning about the travel agency right next to the Cebu CFO office......

Today my wife and I went to the CFO office and she had the sticker put in and also a small certificate stapled into her passport.
I asked the CFO people was everything now complete for her to travel and they said "Yes".

Next minute she was next door in what I thought was a part of the CFO.
A lady there said we needed to pay an extra PHP 3,800 to have her NSO marriage certificate authenticated by the DFA with a ribbon attached.
She said the UK required this.
I told her we were already married and my wife has the settlement visa.
I was puzzled and let them talk in Cebuano whilst I thought a bit.
I was looking around this office and started to smell a rat.
I asked her what office it was and she said it was a travel agency........
To cut a long story short, we did NOT pay any extra money and I went back to the CFO and told them what had happened.

The CFO lady once again said as long as my wife has the visa, nothing further is required.
You have to have eyes open all the time

I wonder how many times they've managed to pull that on off when the wife is there on her own without her husbands support. P3,800 for a fake stamp and a bit of ribbon...... nice work if you can get it.
Iain.

[aposhark]

I wonder how many times they've managed to pull that on off when the wife is there on her own without her husbands support. P3,800 for a fake stamp and a bit of ribbon...... nice work if you can get it.
Iain.

Yeah, I asked Rochelyn if the woman approached her whilst she was making a photocopy and she said "Yes".
I always find it a little delicate when my wife is talking about documents in "official" places as I don't want to jump in and take control, but PHP3,800 tipped the balance

[Mrs.JMajor]

I wonder how many times they've managed to pull that on off when the wife is there on her own without her husbands support. P3,800 for a fake stamp and a bit of ribbon...... nice work if you can get it.
Iain.

Besides those scammers cheated those people that they know they can.....while I am processing all document never encountered those....maybe they know I am "old" enough

[filipina_owl]

did anyone have an approved spouse visa for 2009? when did you attend the seminar? Before or after u get your visa?

[Arthur Little]

did anyone have an approved spouse visa for 2009? when did you attend the seminar? Before or after u get your visa?

Yes, WE [Myrna and I] did! And Myrna attended the seminar ... and received HER "sticker" ... AFTER she got her visa.

[Mrs.Hope]

why do the british embassey not tell you anything about the cfo,i am waiting my visa i hope it will be here in about 4 to 5 weeks as i have a job waiting for me in the uk,so i need my passport with visa then i want to get the first plane to the uk,thank for any help..........

[IainBusby]

why do the british embassey not tell you anything about the cfo,i am waiting my visa i hope it will be here in about 4 to 5 weeks as i have a job waiting for me in the uk,so i need my passport with visa then i want to get the first plane to the uk,thank for any help..........

Because it's nothing to do with the British embassy, it's a Filipino regulation. If you didn't attend a CFO seminar, it would be the Philipinnes emmigration people at the airport who would refuse to let you board the plane if you didn't have a CFO sticker in your passport. If you did manage to board the plane, British immigration wouldn't refuse to let you enter the UK because you didn't have a CFO sticker in your passport.

[Arthur Little]

Because it's nothing to do with the British embassy, it's a Filipino regulation. If you didn't attend a CFO seminar, it would be the Philipinnes emmigration people at the airport who would refuse to let you board the plane if you didn't have a CFO sticker in your passport.

Yes, I know. But the British Embassy MUST be WELL-AWARE of this regulation. And consequently, it would save a good deal of hassle later on for unsuspecting potential travellers if VFS were to point out the Philippine Government's requirement to people at the time of lodging their visa applications.

[cebu_401]

what does CFO means? and what's that for? thanks.

Commission on Filipinos Overseas (

[fred]

We took one of our tenants to the airport today to catch her flight to Tokyo..
We were on our way back when she phoned to say that she couldn`t travel because the lack of a "CFO seminar cert" run by the thieves in black,as I like to think of them..
How was she supposed to know about this red tape BS as she got her passport before she married??
The agency that sorted her ticket and visa told her nothing of this CFO horse **** ,money extortion exercise.
The irony is that she now has to go back to the same place that she was imprisoned as a child (orphan) by the "holy mothers" for another round of patronizing muttering ..
I really wish that the Muslim extremists would place their bombs with a little more thought!!
Really winds me up.

[jmlbp]

ask bout CFO....

if going to have it,do it need for appointment first?or just go for a days schedule?

[kimmi]

u dont need to make an appointment, just go for a the scheduled day but i guess UK schedule are almost everyday now..

[jmlbp]

hi kimmi!

thank you..is it for one day?

am planning to have flight on 30th this month,its ok if have the CFO on 29th?

[andypaul]

hi kimmi!

thank you..is it for one day?

am planning to have flight on 30th this month,its ok if have the CFO on 29th?

Check on the website if they are open and probably a good idea to check via phone i guess as well. Considering the time of year.

Many people have got all the CFO done in one day but its a long old day so make sure your future hubby to be ensures you have somewhere near to stay so your at the cfo nice and early. Also once you have finished you dont have too long a journey afterwards as you have a long filght the next day.
Some people have had no other phills going to the UK, others quite a few the day they go and if to many people you could in theory be turned away never heard about this for brits, but im sure i have read this happening for phills going to the US in the past.

Take all the evidence, paperwork you had for the visa and lots of photos of you both together. Make sure you know your hubby to be middle name/s, his mums maiden name, where he lives and a little about him and what he does. Many people said the CFO ask more questions than the Brit embassy do but nothing hard if you know and really love your Mahal

[jmlbp]

thanks andypaul!!!


KIMMI--- may i ask an exact address the CFO in manila?

thanks!!!

[kimmi]

sis eto po ung website nila..

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/emig_manila.htm

u can find all the details u need there..goodluck po..

[asiaticgirl]

Thanks guys for all info...i just save it..really help for me..

[menchkin]

hi,

can someone tell me where in manila i can attend the cfo seminar? appreciate if you could give me the complete address and contact number so I can call for inquiry. Thanks!


mench

[IainBusby]

http://www.smef-cow-phil.org/cms3/in...N_position=2:2
St. Mary Euphrasia Foundation - Center for Overseas Workers
1043 Aurora Blvd., Quezon City, 1108 Philippines
3rd Floor, Ayaay Arcade, 60 Mango Ave., Cebu City 6000 Philippines
Tel. No.: (632) 913-6439
Fax No.: (632) 913-6438
E-mail address: ofw@edsamail.com.ph

People’s Reform Initiative for Social Mobilization Inc.(PRISM)
2nd Floor Equitable-PCI Bank Building, 2422 Taft Avenue, Manila
(632) 525-3114, (632) 525-3783, (632) 525-4314

Check out the link below and it will give you the schedules for each destination country.
http://www.cfo.gov.ph/fs_manila.htm

Cheers,
Iain.

[A_flyer]

can someone tell me where in manila i can attend the cfo seminar? appreciate if you could give me the complete address and contact number so I can call for inquiry. Thanks!

A simple Google search with "cfo philippines" gives you the CFO site: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/
Then on the left part of their front page, under "Fil. Spouses and Other Partners of Foreign National" clicking on "Manila" will give you all informations: address, phone numbers, maps to locate it (they are on the left side), requirements and days/hours to visit there.

[menchkin]

A simple Google search with "cfo philippines" gives you the CFO site: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/
Then on the left part of their front page, under "Fil. Spouses and Other Partners of Foreign National" clicking on "Manila" will give you all informations: address, phone numbers, maps to locate it (they are on the left side), requirements and days/hours to visit there.

Thanks for the info! I already checked the said website last week.

[Dee31]

I just wondered if it's really necessary to attend cfo seminar to change the status of your passport from single to married. I thought i can just show my certified NSO copy of my MC to the DFA office. I was on DFA website, and there was no information about CFO if i want my status change... I haven't even applied for my spouse visa yet. I also went to the DFA office today, and they just said, yes "I THINK its one of the requirement". I am like, "you think? so, you aint sure?" And this guy said,"it all depend on the person who evaluate your application." Huh? I can't get a straight answer... well, i guess I will take that seminar, just to be safe. *sighs*

[Jay&Zobel]

I just wondered if it's really necessary to attend cfo seminar to change the status of your passport from single to married. I thought i can just show my certified NSO copy of my MC to the DFA office. I was on DFA website, and there was no information about CFO if i want my status change... I haven't even applied for my spouse visa yet. I also went to the DFA office today, and they just said, yes "I THINK its one of the requirement". I am like, "you think? so, you aint sure?" And this guy said,"it all depend on the person who evaluate your application." Huh? I can't get a straight answer... well, i guess I will take that seminar, just to be safe. *sighs*

IT'S A REQUIREMENT

You can secure CFO sticker when you have your Marriage Visa.

[Dee31]

Thank you Jay&Zobel. I see this is not just a regulation but a law imposed to filipinos that are married to foreign nationals.

I will be attending the seminar tomorrow in Manila. This thread is really helpful. Kudos to the person who posted this. xx

[Jay&Zobel]

Thank you Jay&Zobel. I see this is not just a regulation but a law imposed to filipinos that are married to foreign nationals. I will be attending the seminar tomorrow in Manila.

You are welcome Dee!
Enjoy your seminar lol (well' it wasn't that enjoyable at all, so you have been warned )

This thread is really helpful. Kudos to the person who posted this. xx

Stuart&donalyn - haven't seen them here for a while... Wonder how they are now?

[MarBell379]

Thanks for this - really helpful