Hi all, anybody been through this recently any tips? "As Filipinos going abroad as fiancé(e)s, spouses or other partners of foreign nationals, you are required to attend the CFO's guidance and counseling session in order to secure the Guidance and Counseling Certificate (GCC) and the CFO sticker. You will also need to present this certificate together with your spouse/partner visa, at the Immigration office at the international airport on your day of departure." As I understand it my fiancé can turn up attend the counselling then proceed to the counter for her CFO sticker? There are three addresses listed which one should she use? Regards, Steve
The earlier she queues up, the better, as there is no appointment system. The address, pick the one nearest to her home .... The seminar will go on for a few hours, and they will demand to see all, or near enough, the documentation used for the visa. So it is advisable to either bring a shedload of money to pay for xerox or make copies of everything at home... Make sure that she is well coached on your home address, employer, etc, as she may be asked about it... My wife was.... At the end of the day, the sticker will be placed in her passport and she will be free to leave the country at her leisure.. It is not an exam, only having to endure a couple of lectures about the evil western men, a couple of videos, etc.
Yes. I gave my wife a little quiz on the 2 or 3 nights before her CFO trip, on Skype. Just to make sure she new my key relevant details (that we could think of). It worked quite well. As for the photo of us together, they accepted one that was in her mobile phone. They are quite capable of turning people away to come back another day if they don't have the right info to hand on the day. So best to be swatted up etc. And have the hubby on standby on his mobile phone.
I looked at the website for a fiancée VISA it seems to require she attend guidance counselling to get the GCC certificate and then she can get the CFO sticker. Her friend told her she needs PDOS and she's worried they won't allow her to fly without it. I've emailed CFO but just wondered what you guys thought?
I was under the impression that Fiancees had to do the pre departure orientation seminar too. http://cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1392&Itemid=833 Like I said, once your fiancee has a valid visa she can get it all done, in theory, in a one day / visit.
Hi John, there seems to be a lot of confusion about this. It's my impression that the PDOS is covered as part of the guidence counselling day, seminar, PDOS, followed by one to one interview. I've emailed for confirmation I'll post their reply...ingat Steve
it's funny.i was able to leave without joining the seminar (so no cfo sticker in my passport). nobody stopped me when i showed my marriage visa. but now we are planning to go home to pinas. do you think they would require me to attend the seminar?
I recall, now, that my wife's friend came to the UK on a Fiancee visa. She had to go through the same CFO process as my wife, who came here on a Spouse visa.
Clarification... The PDOS or the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar is the seminar which is required under the law to be taken by Filipinos who are married, or plan to marry a foreigner before they are allowed to travel to the country of their spouse. The PDOS (seminar) is taken by the applicant at the office called the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Hence the certificate issued by the CFO is called the CFO Certificate... But actually, the seminar taken by the applicant is the PDOS. The PDOS, therefore, is merely the name of the seminar attended to by the applicant at the CFO. To answer your question, there is only one PDOS course, and there is no CFO course. The CFO Certificate is the certificate issued by the CFO to applicants who took the PDOS cours
i didn't skipped.i wasn't informed and nobody stopped me at the airport when i left the philippines.but still planning to go through the seminar when i get back.but thing is i already have my residence card and if it's still necessary to take the seminar...
Sorry, bisdak ako. I was just trying to discourage Istiban from bypassing the requirement. Apologies.
hi John, no worries she will take the seminar next week her flight is booked for the following week. She'll go armed with all the visa documents and a pile of photos. Assuming she can get there early enough, I'm not anticipating any problems on the day but will be on standby on the phone...
