Gina Bennett flies to Cebu - for Pre-Arrival Cross Cultural Seminar
Ok having had a long discussion today witth the si Misis, she is winging her way out to Cebu as we speak to attend for the Comission on Filipino's Overseas, pre-registration, Cross Cultural Seminar.
From the Conversations that she has had with the CFO in Cebu, it now appears that the procedures and requirements for Spouses of Foreign Nationals, and once again I repeat, SPOUSES and not fiancee's etc, is slightly different in that their appears to be more of a evidence of relationship and marriage required.
So it appears that this is the following procedure now at the St Mary's Euphrasia Foundation, who actually conducts the counselling on behalf of the CFO.
Monday Morning 9.30am - Pre-Registration for the Counselling Seminar which takes place at the St Mary's Euphraisa Foundation.
Requirements.
2 Valid Forms of ID
1 Passport Size Photo
NSO Marriage Certificate (not local municipal marriage contract)
Passport
Evidence of Husbands Divorce Decree Absolute (If married before)
Wedding Album Pictures
Other Album of Pictures showing long relationship
Photocopy of the UK Clearance Visa obtained at British Embassy.
This is for the pre-registration session, where it will be determined if the applicant has all the relevant documetation.
If so, a P250.00 fee is then charged.
Applicants will then be sent away to come back for the Afternoon counselling session which starts at 1.30pm.
The Counselling Session
The Conselling Session is now deemed a "Cross Cultural orientation Seminar aimed at orientating the Filipina spouse of the foreign national into the pitfalls of such an alliance, there willbe a series of lectures, videos, about UK Life, and the Filipina Spouse is expected to be knowledeable about the information imparted, at the end, they will now tested as to their retention of such knowledge.
The Final Interview
At the end of this 3 hour session, the Emigrant Applicant will then be personally interviewed by a counsellor who will then ask the applicant questions about her knowledge of the UK, her husbands family, and where she will live.
if the counsellor is satisfied that the Emigrant is familiar with her new life abroad, she will be approved and told to return on the Tuesday to collect her Counselling and Orientation Certificate, then an Emigrant number and stamp will be placed in her passport, at that time she is free to fly.
I will of course keep you informed on this thread at what actually happens, but this is the procedure explained to Gina today by the CFO Counsellors, the actual Certificate is to be collected from the CFO in Osmena Boulevard Cebu, and not from the St Mary's Euprasia Foundation, they are just the conductees of the seminars and counselling, not the issuers of the paperwork.
You may also wish to note the following:
To enable those spouses who are coming from other Islands such as Mindanao, Sulo, Jolo, Mindoro, Leyte, Bohol, Negros, and other smaller islands it may be neccessary for them to fly the night before to be there in time for the Monday Morning Pre-Registration document check.
This is at the CFO at Osemena Boulevard, thsi is at 9.30am every morning, now that the United Kingdom Seminar is every day at 1.30pm.
This may involve a 2 night hotel stay, the Midtown Hotel Cebu is ideal for this, rooms are around P1500.00 to P1700.00 including a buffet breakfast, its ok, folks, i have been there.
So when comtemplating the CFO Cebu experience, it may involve a 2 night stay and return flights to Cebu Mactan International, remembering that you cannot collect your Counselling Certificate until Tuesday Morning.
Will keep you all posted as more information tlows my way, lets see what really happens on the day.
