Commission on filipino overseas (registered)

[-sillybilly-]

My wife changed the name on her passport at the P.I. consulate in Madrid without that cert. So maybe the requirement is 'flexible.'

It only applies if you are in the Philippines to women applying for their passport using their foreign spouse names. And all are required before they leave the country.

[IainBusby]

If divorce you need to show them the copy..or atleast a copy from the british embassy of your local CNI.

If you've already managed to produce all of things required to get a marriage licence at the local courthouse or wherever and actually get married, ie birth certificate, CNI, divorce decree etc, then why the hell do they need you to produce them as well.

Thats all they will ask..no more other questions. They know its not their business to ask further than that. They know their limitations.

Wrong, we have heard from many on this forum who said that they were asked questions such as what is your husband or fiance's mothers maiden name etc etc.

[sars_notd_virus]

If we accept that the whole CFO process is to assist and protect Filipinos, then why, when the foreign spouse is in Phil are they are kept waiting outside? Surely, if the interviewer could meet the spouse they could be even more sure that the Filipino is not being exploited. However, I suspect that that would lead to the foreigners questioning why they or the partners should be obliged to answer questions which would probably be prohibited in many countries, including UK, under the various Data Protection Laws.

I am all for the highest level of protection being available for citizens but I strongly object to any form of coercion. Thus the attendance should be voluntary.

If the service was accepted as being useful and important the up-take would be high.

I suspect that at present almost no one would attend if given the choice.

Hummm ok. you know the data protection act is there to protect the criminals thats why the eu and the uk gov. love it so much as it protects their sleazy friends in the banks. if you dont like the cfo don't use them and don't leave the country,easy your problem solved,
The cfo cost 400php and I also gained good information from them, they also checked the paperwork to make sure that everything was in order for my benefit aswell, while the CNI cost 4500php and took them 5 secs to copy the uk one which cost £30 now thats a rip off they did no checks all the they do is copy the information and put a stamp on it and post it...as the question they ask are intrusive "have you been married before?" is surely against the data protection act and against your human rights, so that should be voluntary, now i am guessing that if people had a choice then they also wouldnt attend that ?
On the governments idea of citizen protection I am fairly happy that foreigners can not just pile in to our country and buy what ever property or business they want after all what government would allow that ? ? ? ?

[johncar54]

Sars, sorry did you intend to constructively comment on what I said or make a personal attack on me ?

If the former, ok if the latter, Why?

Quote Hummm ok. you know the data protection act is there to protect the criminals thats why the eu and the uk gov. love it so much as it protects their sleazy friends in the banks. if you dont like the cfo don't use them and don't

I am sorry but that seems to me to be offensive and totally out of place.

The data protection laws are there to protect the human rights of everyone living in their jurisdictions, that include visitors as well as citizens. They help to prevent people in 'authority' asking unnecessary intrusive questions which they have no right to ask. That would include details of ones family's antecedents.

[johncar54]

It only applies if you are in the Philippines to women applying for their passport using their foreign spouse names. And all are required before they leave the country.

That seems a little ambiguous.

My wife left the Philippines using her passport, in her maiden name, although we were married and travelling together. She of course had an exit stamp.

I suspect that if a person is travelling with a westerner they maybe less likely to attract problems.

[johncar54]

It only applies if you are in the Philippines to women applying for their passport using their foreign spouse names. And all are required before they leave the country.

That seems a little ambiguous.

My wife left the Philippines using her passport, in her maiden name, although we were married and travelling together. She of course had an exit stamp.

I suspect that if a person is travelling with a westerner they maybe less likely to attract problems.

[Notavirusalso]

This is the visa thread, as it is kinda factual then that is the information we passed on. I don't see how telling people to lie is helpfull, or moaning about if it is fair or not, I think that should be in the loose chat thread where I would happily discuss the merits of human rights.

[bornatbirth]

cant see the point of the cfo myself or the questions you need to answer, my wife phoned me and asked what my mothers maiden name was, why!, how will that help her?

its funny that if you get asked something and dont know the answer that you can just make it up and nobody is the wiser must be a philipino thing

[Notavirusalso]

its 400php just do it the best you can and humour them, not worth getting upset about as there are worse things that seem pointless and cost more

[-sillybilly-]

cant see the point of the cfo myself or the questions you need to answer, my wife phoned me and asked what my mothers maiden name was, why!, how will that help her?

its funny that if you get asked something and dont know the answer that you can just make it up and nobody is the wiser must be a philipino thing

I remember now why they ask for your mother's maiden name. Its because english names have almost the same names and they can only recognize the exactly you from your mom's maiden name. Ex; john davies but they actually have different mother's maiden name.
And the reason why they ask so many questions to other applicants is because of the age gap. This is what we were told why they ask questions as such and such.
And if they could not provide any information about their fiance/husband they will ask you to ring them and ask.
Otherwise they will schedule you for another session. this is just based on my experience!
But they did not question me any further as i have all the details.

[sars_notd_virus]

my wife phoned me and asked what my mothers maiden name was, why!, how will that help her?

i believe your wife got a copy of your birth certificate before the 2 of you got married???( your mums maiden name is in your birth certificate)..its good checking all your documents before lodging it saves time and hassle and will not cost much trouble saying 'i dont know'

[-sillybilly-]

If you've already managed to produce all of things required to get a marriage licence at the local courthouse or wherever and actually get married, ie birth certificate, CNI, divorce decree etc, then why the hell do they need you to produce them as well.



Wrong, we have heard from many on this forum who said that they were asked questions such as what is your husband or fiance's mothers maiden name etc etc.

O well, Sorry! i just probably forgot to put it on my thread. YES INDEED. They will ask what is your husband's mother's maiden name...and further questions if they have a serious age gap. The reason why they asked is because english names have almost the same names ex: John Hayes. They can only identify whos who and which one's which with their mother's maiden name. You must understand that Philippines are really good in doing such fake documents and applications thats why they are just being tight and strict.

If applicants listened very well to the seminar then they would understand why there were being questioned and be able to explain to their husband properly so husbands wouldnt misunderstand what we have to go through before getting or applying for the visa. Why do we need to provide these details. Its not for them its for us. They just wonna protect and maybe can help you one day. You never know.

It doesnt really matter if they questions such and such. Then prove to the CFO you have a serious and genuine relationship with your fiance/husband.

There has been lots of complains ive heard but still these people went through it. Even myself kept moaning why do i have to do this....but if i dont then they wont let me change my passport's name.
Ive just done it first week of june so i guess nothing has changed with the policy. And all these are based from my experiences.

[-sillybilly-]

That seems a little ambiguous.

My wife left the Philippines using her passport, in her maiden name, although we were married and travelling together. She of course had an exit stamp.

I suspect that if a person is travelling with a westerner they maybe less likely to attract problems.

Your wife is using her old passport and did not go through the new system and policy law of the DFA.

[IainBusby]

Hummm ok. you know the data protection act is there to protect the criminals thats why the eu and the uk gov. love it so much as it protects their sleazy friends in the banks. if you dont like the cfo don't use them and don't leave the country,easy your problem solved,
The cfo cost 400php and I also gained good information from them, they also checked the paperwork to make sure that everything was in order for my benefit aswell, while the CNI cost 4500php and took them 5 secs to copy the uk one which cost £30 now thats a rip off they did no checks all the they do is copy the information and put a stamp on it and post it...as the question they ask are intrusive "have you been married before?" is surely against the data protection act and against your human rights, so that should be voluntary, now i am guessing that if people had a choice then they also wouldnt attend that ?
On the governments idea of citizen protection I am fairly happy that foreigners can not just pile in to our country and buy what ever property or business they want after all what government would allow that ? ? ? ?

By doing this they discourage tourism and inward investment in the Philippines which is to the detriment of the Filipino people and the politicians there don't support these laws for the benefit of the average Filipino, but for vested interests and their own benefit because all of the politicians in Phils belong (directly or indirectly) to one another of the 2 or 3 very powerful dynastic families who control everything in the Philippines.

[IainBusby]

There has been lots of complains ive heard but still these people went through it. Even myself kept moaning why do i have to do this.

I think the thing that bugs most people about it is there seems to be no set framework for the interview part of the CFO seminar. This gives the impression that the women who work there make up the rules themselves about what they expect a wife or fiancee to know about their husband or fiance or what they are expected to know about their husband or fiance's family members and there also seems to be no absolute list of documents etc that the wife or fiancee may be asked to produce.

[-sillybilly-]

I think the thing that bugs most people about it is there seems to be no set framework for the interview part of the CFO seminar. This gives the impression that the women who work there make up the rules themselves about what they expect a wife or fiancee to know about their husband or fiance or what they are expected to know about their husband or fiance's family members and there also seems to be no absolute list of documents etc that the wife or fiancee may be asked to produce.

Thats why everybody must be prepared aswell as with the documents from every single details of fiance or husband.
So incase these people doubts a relationship...atleast you got it all with you and thell them..."here you are, anymore questions?"

[malditako]

My wife changed the name on her passport at the P.I. consulate in Madrid without that cert. So maybe the requirement is 'flexible.'

same with me john..change my name last 2008...they never ask for cfo certificate what i just submitted is our marriage contract and old passport...well of course i have attended that cfo thing before i left the country...what i can say is..they never met my expectations on what to get from training. I must say they need to hire more qualify individual to do the counselling...and goodness sake can they offer more than just watching a very old video film...haisss

not worth a penny and time....they only bring more stress and paper works

[-sillybilly-]

same with me john..change my name last 2008...they never ask for cfo certificate what i just submitted is our marriage contract and old passport...well of course i have attended that cfo thing before i left the country...what i can say is..they never met my expectations on what to get from training. I must say they need to hire more qualify individual to do the counselling...and goodness sake can they offer more than just watching a very old video film...haisss

not worth a penny and time....they only bring more stress and paper works

and scare the pinays of meeting foreign guys!
Mind you there was once who quited going abroad to join her fiance because of watching those films....
trying to discourage filipino women...? huh!

[johncar54]

Quite apart from the reason (to in theory protect Filipinos when they are in another country) if a western country had a similar process they would be taken to the court of human rights. If my country did anything to stop me marrying the person I choose or anything to prevent me from leaving my country to live with her I would raise the roof.

The problem here seems to be that many Filipinos have not have sufficient experience of being a democracy, i.e. living in a place where they have basic human rights and can demand to know where any person in authority, who wants to ask them anything, get the right, in law, to do so.

I am not criticising how things are done in Phil just that I do not believe any other government in the civilised world would even try to
get away with what they do get away with.

[malditako]

Quite apart from the reason (to in theory protect Filipinos when they are in another country) if a western country had a similar process they would be taken to the court of human rights. If my country did anything to stop me marrying the person I choose or anything to prevent me from leaving my country to live with her I would raise the roof.

The problem here seems to be that many Filipinos have not have sufficient experience of being a democracy, i.e. living in a place where they have basic human rights and can demand to know where any person in authority, who wants to ask them anything, get the right, in law, to do so.

I am not criticising how things are done in Phil just that I do not believe any other government in the civilised world would even try to
get away with what they do get away with.

got ur point ...indeed a useless law and time wasting counselling...for those who will be getting their CFO sticker dont forget to give ur comments and suggestions...as i did ( told them they need a lot of improvements, on people who give the counseling, with the materials and topics)....i remember during my one on one counseling...she supposed to give me some tips and advice but she end up listening and amaze to my story...