A Trip to CFO

To the beautiful people of BF, here’s my side of story at the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Cebu Branch. For the sake of the successful applicants who just read this post, we are required to obtain the CFO Guidance and Counselling Seminar certificate and the ‘sticker’ attached to the passport upon leaving the Philippines. To save time, you can actually make only one trip on the day the visa will take effect to get both the certificate and the sticker. However, in my case, since my visa's effectivity will take more than a month, I decided to make 2 trips- take the seminar and certificate and go back to get the sticker on the visa validity date. Besides, the effective date of my visa falls on a Wednesday, the seminar for Europe applicants is only Tuesdays and Fridays.

Unlike CFO Manila, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas Cebu does not use the online appointment system, in other words, they are still in First Come, First Serve basis. I heard and read horrible stories about how ridiculous this CFO is to applicants. Anyhow, as advised by a friend, one should go before six in the morning so I went there on a Friday at 5:45AM to be able to be included in one of the 12 available slots (daily for Manila applicants, 15 slots). Though I live in Cebu for quite some time now, I still rely on Google map

When taking a taxi, you may want to tell the driver to take you to Osmeña Boulevard corner MJ Cuenco Avenue near Plaza Independencia. Jeepneys coming from Lahug and Banawa pass by the other corner of the building if you are coming from those routes to save up from cab fares. The signage is not that big (and clear) so you might want to look for a two-story building.

I was a bit worried because when I got to the site, there were several people falling in line outside the closed office but was relieved when I approached the ladies at the end of the line telling me that I am on the 12th and last spot. A guy, whom we thought was the security guard opened the office at 6:15AM and started to give out priority numbers, checked our IDs and have us, put our names on their log book. I noticed that the lady 1st in line also placed the time of her arrival at 3:30AM! The office was not that spacious. So, if you are planning to bring your partner or companion with you, please be informed that they are not allowed inside. I saw a few foreigner husbands sitting on the stairs outside the office.

At 7AM, another guy, dressed in a security guard uniform this time re-checked our IDs, passports and birth certificates, all with photocopies of each (2 photocopies for passport). Married applicants must also bring their marriage licenses and certificates. After the seminar, there will be a one-on-one interview with the counsellors and they will be asking for a copy of your partner’s passport (previous or current) with stamped pages and your photo together.

A couple of employees arrived before 8AM, called out the numbers one by one, checked the IDs again and gave 2 sets of forms to be filled out. As far as I can remember, I wrote my fiancé’s contact numbers 3-4 times on the forms. After which, I returned the forms to the lady employee behind the counter and had my picture taken and was told to go back at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon.

I went 30 minutes before the said time, paid Php 400 and was instructed to go inside a room. The seminar starts at 2PM. A video documentary about human trafficking was played while we were made to wait. Applicants kept on entering until we reached 18. There was a woman who introduced herself as a counselor and started to explain about CFO. I was expecting someone wearing a habit and looking very strict and ,boy, was I wrong. She really knows what she’s doing and the talk lasted for 3 hours without feeling any boredom because she also let us participate in the seminar. Then, we proceeded with the one-on-one interview. I would recommend to keep on talking about how you have known your partner in a comfortable manner just to avoid the counselor from asking further questions The certificate was stapled into the last page of my passport and was informed that I can get the sticker on the valid date of the visa in any CFO branch and NAIA terminals. As stated by @Timmers , it would be better to call NAIA first before you decide to leave the country and get the sticker there.

In general, my day at CFO went on smoothly. The only downside is one has to wake up really early to fall in line outside the office.

Wow that sounds like a real finale Anne ... i can vividly picture out what was happening . Worth the wait!Thank you for posting, i may be coming over to Cebu then when it's my time, that would be more convenient since i am from the other island across, and for sure i will be staying in a hotel.Am i right, is it near the Fuente Osmena Triangle vicinity ?Do you have any idea or suggestion which hotel is near it?That would be great to stay nearby so as not to be bustled about.
Thank God you are done now...wish you all the best Anne and to your fiance .May we all be as blessed as you are to have your visa is just a short time .

Thanks dear.

Being 'near' is relative here in Cebu Nickel. There are quite a number of hotels that are only walking distance but I'm not sure if its safe ( You know, hotels for one night stands ). You might want to go within Fuente Osmeña, Mango/Gen. Maxilom Ave. or Ramos Street area which seem to be more secured. Only one jeepney ride from those areas but you have to pass a longer way along a public market before reaching the corner near CFO (Only Php 8). If you take a cab, you should be charged not more than a hundred pesos.

Good luck and keep safe!

Don't forget to pop to Larsian too

Good post Anne, very informative, glad it all went to plan, UK here you come

My dad is from Cebu, and it is also a place where i am frequent on business trips, sadly among the cities i traveled often in the past Cebu is the the only place i had experienced a "hold up " in a jeepney.That is why i am making sure i am near the area.Yes Fuente Osmena is where i am very familiar with..no not passing a market Anne, you know the reason why agghh.Anyway, i think i needed to asked a help from a relative then, Thank you so much Anne, i will check out what is the nearest hotel near VFS.Cebu is a nice province, but i feel so unsafe on jeepneys.Goodluck on your Married life( i giggle here).

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with jeepneys. I feel you.

If VFS is the point of reference we are talking about, you should go to Marriott Hotel which is a stone throw away from Ayala Center too.

My wife was saying that after almost 3 years here she feels so much safer here than in the Philippines. Having said that it is particularly so here, where we live.

Thanks Anne, now i know where exactly i should be billeted, i am familiar with Quest Hotel been there and much more cheaper than Marriot , and it's just across Ayala Center.Thanks for providing the direction.
Jeepney in Bacolod yes, but not in Cebu especially if i am alone and not so acquainted , not anymore!Better be safe , than sorry.

In so far, Philippines is not a dangerous country as a whole, but there are just areas that you have to be extra careful, especially that we Filipinos speak different dialects, so it would l be very obvious if you are new in the area .Of course such incidents don't happen most times, but could happen and you may not be aware.As i said, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Great that she likes it in UK so much..i am also looking forward to it

[QUOTE="Nickel, post: 59680,
Great that she likes it in UK so much..i am also looking forward to it [/QUOTE]

And so you should be young lady

And so you should be young lady [/QUOTE]
Aye , sure that would be the most wonderful times of my life, with "hubby" around all the time

I was able to leave the Philippines without the sticker.Nobody stopped me and asked for it and that was more than 3 years ago.I already have my dependent visa. Do I still have to join the seminar and get the sticker when I go back?Does this apply with same sex marriage since it's not even recognized in the Philippines?

Rules in immigration are pretty much changing. According to CFO, this is mandatory when leaving the country.

You were lucky.

It would be better to speak the dialect. It's true that people would take advantage of you.

Was born and raised with Tagalog dialect but chose to use Cebuano and sometimes Hiligaynon/Ilonggo

Only just noticed this post, Anne. Thanks for posting it btw

Just a question about the copy of the sponsor's passport. Does this have to be notarised? Or just a scanned copy of it that I can email him to print? He gave the notarised one in today at VFS, and I've realised he didn't take a copy of it so I guess we won't get it back :/

My wife took an unnotarised photocopy to the CFO. You may recall I never sent her a notarised copy.

Ah ok, so I can just email him a scan then (if we get that far ) Thanks John.

Didnt you send them your original birth certificate though John as your form od ID?