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

Manila does a morning and afternoon slot, why the difference? Thinking Tina could do the morning slot then get the late flight home, about 18:30 I think, anyone know if that will work? Seems not enough time with Manila traffic

I had to stay for the night in Cebu because I need to be there before 8 am and that's because the flight time is not helpful as you said. On the day of the seminar I have a flight for 6 pm (I was hoping the seminar would finish early) I thought wrong so I ended up sleeping in the airport coz I missed my flight. So book for 2 nights for her, that's a good decision.

Yeah Manila does morning and afternoon and Monday to Friday, perhaps because of the large number of people attending seminar there compared to Cebu.

And for her accommodation there's a Sampaguita Suites near the CFO building it's only at the back of the suites so she doesn't have to walk and she won't be late.

There are two Sampaguite Suites, I booked with the other one which is far from the CFO building (I didn't realise there's 2 suites of the same name there). The other one doesn't have online booking though so she will just have to show up and pay for the room when she's there.

That arrangement is mental, sorry for your hassle.

Thanks, it truly is ridiculous having to go get a door to door parcel, poor Tina that has to sit on the bus, weather is bad there as well at the moment, so not going to be a pleasant journey

Thanks for that. We stayed close to there last time we were in Cebu.

Fingers crossed we have a positive result when opening the passport! Waiting to book the flights, worry there is thunderstorms for next couple of days.

Tina got the CFO today, last hurdle jumped and flight ticket booked for weekend after next!!

She has a previous CFO certificate for NZ dating back to 2009, she showed it to them and they immediately asked for the passport with the original sticker!! Lost many years ago so she had to find a solicitor to swear an affidavit saying she was no longer in possession of it. No idea what that will prove but no affidavit no sticker.

She said a quite a few were sent away as they didn't know partners mother maiden name. She was the only one there coming the UK.

People sent away for not knowing their partners mothers maiden name, that is absolutely ridiculous, I bet there are very few girls on the forum that know their husbands mothers maiden name, I know my wife wouldn't know.

Well over the top in my opinion, it really is, how is the mothers maiden name relevant to anything?

This is a favourite question or seems to be my wife was asked it back in 2015 when her daughter went to hand in the papers for her successful application she was asked how many children I had and if yhey were Boys or girls. In her CFO she was asked about my job county I lived in and did I have children living with me and her mum

I thought to myself after posting earlier, why not just make up a maiden name for your mum in law if you don't know it, not like they're likely to know what it is

Thought of this also. But good thing, I was prepared and noted it.
The thing is there is no way to verify on some info in the form if you have correctly stated it or not.

My fiancée Kris attended her CFO seminar earlier today in Manila. Completed 3 page questionnaire - only question that momentarily stumped her was my late parents' details - she didn't have their details so just put "deceased".

She actually found the seminar very informative - a mixture of presentation / group discussion and some 1-2-1.

No issues arose for her and she now has her certificate --- sticker to follow when visa issued.

Another thing off the list!

Well done. Has she applied for the visa already? Did you go for priority?

Yja

Thanks @Brom27 - the online applications for her and her son were submitted about 2 weeks ago. Their VFS appointments are in Manila next Thursday.

We didn't opt for the premium priority service as our plans can comfortably accommodate the up-to 60 days the standard route can take.

Yeah there's no rush too anyway plus with 2 applications it's too much to go for priority. Anyway best of luck to you and your partner @inaroiles

Exactly! Thank you.

Hi guys, hope everyone is well and just a brief update for you - Jasmin sent for her CFO seminar this morning and received the sticker in her passport as well even though the visa start date isn't until next month

That's an interesting one getting the sticker before the validity of the visa, good piece of information young man

Hey my guru! Yep surprised and pleased, one less thing, just checked the sticker matched the image posted here on the forum and it does, phew.

It's getting nearer