My fiancée has her visa, and checked in at NAIA, but was stopped from departing for the UK as she had not attended the pre-departure seminar. Although I have visited the Philippines, I had not realised this requirement - not had she. Not sure how new this is. This is the website: http://balinkbayan.gov.ph/blog/government-services/for-filipinos-leaving-the-philippines-as-a-fiance-spouse-or-partner-of-a-foreign-national/ I pray there are no other omissions on our part, eg letters of undertaking or my financial status! Hope others are a little more aware of this issue than I!
Hindsight is a wonderful thing! Not sure how we became aware of this requirement - probably through THIS website/forum! - but it certainly isn't publicised well enough, either by UK or PI authorities. I can't believe the PI is the only nation that requires this of its expat citizens?! Good luck...
youve been a member on here for 6 months..did you not pick up on all the references to the CFO seminar and sticker ? what is the validaty time frame for departure on her visa ? there could be a waiting list for a seminar vacancy---so you may need to apply for an extension on her departure date.
Agreed! Nothing new for regular members. I'm not sure if this is the oldest reference on here but you get my drift. http://british-filipino.com/index.php?threads/cfo-commission-on-filipinos-overseas.4713/ I'm bigging the forum collective here and it certainly helps if one is using a country-specific forum when applying for visas. Good Luck Zealander
Two points: 1. The Phils govt. is scared to death that their citizens may be departing for the rich pickings of the west, without being thoroughly schooled in how to remit their new found funds back to the mother country. 2. There is the (genuine) human trafficking issue. This is nothing new. My first Filipina wife had to attend one of these seminars back in 1991. I accompanied her.
This link will help look at the transfer of conditions https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...port-ecb17/transferring-a-visa-ecb17#contents
One of my dad's friend has had the same issue. She supposedly has not attended the seminar and had no certificate to show the airport staff and she had to pay 18,000 Pesos so that she can fly to the UK the same day.
A German tried to take his young newly wed wife to Thailand he was stopped at the airport as she had not completed said requirements, also she was under 18 and did not have permission from the dswd (something to bear in mind those who are taking their children abroad) subsequently he was charged with human traficing (maybe wrong spelling) and sentenced to life. Met him at muntilupa a nice guy, still with the girl and they have a lovely newborn.... When you leave this country make sure you have all the requirements.. And expect the unexpected all the time.
Kevin.. If she was under 18,I doubt very much that they were married here unless she had her Birth cert. faked. Pretty sure that it`s against the law to marry a minor,even with both parents consent. Any interaction between a foreigner and a minor here is very serious here these days..Trying to get her to Thailand was a very bad move IMO.. They will throw the whole book at him.
Absolutely correct and as it should be, in my opinion. There's a very good reason why a certain American former Cebu-centric forum owner can never return to the Philippines from his bolt-hole in Cambodia
Ah yes, Paul Petrea died on 7th November of cancer and less than a month earlier, he posted a message in which he said "I am very sick at the moment. Diabetes, Jaundis, and a gastrointestinal infection." However he underwent a battery of tests including an MRI scan and he was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, stage 4 and was given a maximum of a week to live. Keith will, I am sure, be saddened by this news - as will the member sometimes known as Mr Whippy - but there are quite a few living in Cebu who won't be.
At 52 apparently in November. You are likely all the better off for not knowing, saying that it is almost impossible to separate the fiction from fact now as so much toxic disinformation was spread on the net, saying that there does appear to be genuine evidence of his original reason for fleeing the USA.
Yes mate they did throw the book at him, he got life for human trafficking, turned out they got married through the barangay kapitan..... The kapitan forged the papers (as they do here) which was also picked up.... The parents gave their consent. Would you believe it nothing happened to the barangay kapitan. Only in the Philippines eh.