CFO........... Commission on Filipinos Overseas...

Then I guess the nuns mix religion and government requirements and it's their goal in life to "save" the Filipinas. I don't really blame them, it is their belief and some women actually do get in trouble after marrying a foreigner.

I belief they also typecast certain ladies to give the run around as they feel they are the "mail order bride" type where they only met the guy once and they married or got engaged on the first meeting.

When I was in Manila, there were some women who had a longer interview than mine and they really did bring out documents like marriage contract, pictures, divorce papers, chat logs, etc. That got me worries as I didn't have anything with me but I was pretty confident that I knew my husband well and didn't have to check with him about little trivial things like his mum's maiden name.

I think they are a bit more tenacious where there is a larger age gap.

I have to admit, when I first met my wife over the internet and then came here back in July last year for a month to spend time with her and her family, I had no idea of what types of hurdles I would face.
Even when I was back in England, I studied and even though I used to work for UK immigration, I still had no idea of what depths the Filipino government would stipulate as requirements.

Since I came here back in January 2013, I have found out so much and the UKBA or the official PH government website is not that informative or helpful to say the least.
It was only during my lengthy trawling sessions and looking at forums for advice I found out about the CFO.
Yes is it one of the most important requirements anyone who is looking to take their Filipino spouse to another country.
The CFO works on a first come first served basis and when my wife and I arrived at the CFO which I thought was early at around 5.30am, I found that people were already there and had been since about 4am. Another interesting fact I found out about the people there, is that they are very ill-informed and most if not for a few Filipinos have no idea about the processes they would have to go through when inside the CFO.

01:Yes there is a seminar about living abroad and possible trials they may find in differences in culture.
02:Yes they are wanting to see items such as Photos of you together, proof that you have met and are in constant contact or a legitimate relationship.
03: Knowledge of each others parents and family, including things such as email addresses.
Proof of age and your partners age and the address of which you and your partner will be living.
04: An NSO marriage certificate and copies of your ability to marry and/or a divorce certificate.
05: You will be interviewed at some point also, at the end of this, you will receive a certificate with your bio data on, normally a photo only.
06: Both yours and your partners birth certificates and passports that are valid.

The amount of Filipino people, mainly girls and women I found at the CFO that thought all they had to do was turn up and do a seminar, without prior knowledge of each other and without having met in person or knowing anything real about their prospective partners was unbelievable and when speaking to them, they were cocky at first, but after entering the building, they soon had their heads in their hands as they had not done their homework properly and were sent home with their tails between their legs.
Filipino Immigration and Government agencies take every part of the processes very seriously and will scrutinise every little piece of paper you both have and if they have suspicion that something is not right, they will automatically refuse pending a further investigation, so make sure you cross the T's and dot the I's and things are not spelt wrongly!
Once you have any agency issuing you a certificate, ensure you read it and take your time, as once you accept it, it is a real pain to get it corrected again.

Thats a pretty good summary of my understanding of it. Probably one of the best I have seen. Its what they dont tell you that you need that catches many Filipinas out. My wife attended the CFO with 3 others. Only she got through first time without going back again and that was down to divorce papers. And that was because I told her to take them with her, not because the CFO stipulate so beforehand cos they dont, but because I had read about it on the forums.

I agree, they have to be taken seriously. If they spot somethings not right then they investigate further. My wife is from Cavite, so going back would have been a pain in the butt but if she lived further afield then much moreso - hotels and flights etc, then there is the potential for being bumped off your flight to your loved one in the UK.

ABS CBN report here :

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/focus/05/16/14/why-filipinas-marrying-foreigners-need-counseling

It's good that they are making it via online appointment. When it was on a walk-in basis only before, it was crazy because you have to be there hours before to assure yourself of a slot.

It is honestly a good idea but the execution is poor.

Does anybody think the CFO seminar serves a real purpose?, to me it seems a waste of time. As for the concern over human trafficking, wouldn't you think that the criminals involved in this would find an easier and less expensive way of obtaining young girls for prostitution and so on.

Not sure. I have mixed views. For younger, more naive, Filipinas who have never travelled outside of the Philippines, it can help to raise awareness.

At least they are trying to bring some sort of order to the chaos. Not sure why it has taken them so long, as the online passport appointment system has been up and running for a couple of years.
Just had a look at the CFO website and there is no details of where to make such appointments

I agree with all four of the above posts.

Sadly, my experience has been that most laws enacted since the fall of the Marcos regime have been well meant, but their execution has been poorly thought out and very often under funded. I am making a cut off point at the date of the EDSA revolution because, whilst I have absolutely no time for the Marcos "dynasty", Marcos himself had the wisdom to employ a number of capable technocrats, who often put together well thought out policies and ensured that they were implemented properly, by competent organisations which were appropriately funded.

My "poster boy" by way of an example would be the late Blas Ople. His POEA was years ahead of all other Asian states and even today, thirty years later, it still runs quite well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blas_Ople

With that proviso, most Philippines laws are well meant, not well drafted, and are passed without proper arrangements for their application.

The consequence is that they provide a means for very many people to enrich themselves through petty corruption, of the "tea money" variety, and they very seldom achieve their objectives.

That is NOT the CFO seminar, the pre-marriage seminar is something entirely different and only applies to marriages taking place in the Philippines - and even then, not for all of them.

Yes. The CFO.

I agree. The CFO malarky is well mean't but doesn't necessarily work in the way that might be intended.

The documents seen on screen are headed, "Commission on Filipinos Overseas", and the commentary in English speaks of "The CFO".

That caught my eye too.

Ah okay. Due to very poor internet today, I wasn't able to view the video. One has to wonder why the Commission is insisting on seminars for Filipinos who choose to marry a foreigner. I can, however, understand their reasoning for holding seminars for those about to emigrate, however, but I'm told that when the "Nazi Nuns" in Cebu held them, many Filipinas were interrogated to the point of them bursting into tears.

Very poor reading skills more like. Perhaps you should have reserved judgement till you were certain. Maybe NOT using capitals might have been appropriate....

For someone who gets a wrong a fair bit you sure can come across as being very self assured.

Having noted you put your foot in it I was going let it pass until you stepped right back in and started giving me the benefit of your thoughts on British Politics.

I remember when I got my CFO certificate I was shocked there's lots of people are on the line I arrived 4:45 am there,,,I'm worried if I'm not get the 15 slots which the requirements for every country,,,I heard other people there they arrived 1:00 am to get the slots,some said they end up off the cut off and they go back again,,,and I said WOW ' if I'm not belong of the 15 slots I will go back again,,,BUT I'm thankful coz we're only 12 belong in Europe country take the seminar,,and I found out CFO is under of DFA and it's not so well known agency here in philppines but the the most important agency for the Filipinos who want to go abroad for migrating coz if you don't have the CFO sticker they will not allowed you to go out in the Philippines,, when the seminar start,,they will explain every country the does and don't,,the seminar it will take 2 and half hours well it's not bad coz I learn much,and after that one on one interview from the one who conduct the seminar,I'm thankful coz she only ask the passport of my husband,and she signed the the paper and I go downstair to claim the certificate and I have it in my hand now but I will go back there soon to get my CFO sticker,,well the best thing on that I will not get up early 3 o'clock in the morning to get the CFO sticker which I did when I get my CFO certificate,,coz anytime I can get my CFO sticker office hour.

Thank you Jenifer. First hand experience is what we need here and that's what you just gave us.