ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
PhilippinesCFO - Need Advise

Back..as promised.

I went to CFO last tuesday, May 7, 2013. I presented the following: my passport, marriage contract (US based) original and photocopy, immigrant data sheet, visa.

They ask me to go straight to 3rd floor, the lady checked on their computer and told me that i dont need to attend their seminar anymore since ive been there last year. They put a note on my papers " for revalidation only".

They ask me to pay pHp 400.00, and put an updated sticker on my passport.

They didnt ask me to have my marriage contract on a blue ribbon or nso certified or recognition..

Thank god for a smooth CFO transaction..









 

FANTASTIC!!!


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-11 16:48:00
PhilippinesCFO - Need Advise

I just got a message from my wife.  She is at the CFO now.  She explained our story, but when the CFO staff checked they said there is no record that she got a certificate in 1995.  My wife kept telling them there had to be, because she was there and recieved a certificate then.  Eventually they found it.  It was issued in April 21, 1995.  They told here she could make an affidavit of loss, submit it and it would take 45 minutes to make a new certificate.  My wife said the CFO people were friendly through all this.  So it looks like we will soon be through with this barring any further surprises which is a possibility until she has the certificate in her hand and a stamp in her passport. 

 

 

 

 

Fantastic!
 


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-06 00:31:00
PhilippinesTraveling to Phillipines with Jewelry?

Joan has worn her engagement ring every day since we got engaged in October 2012..knock on wood no problems...get the jewelry insured though!


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-12 21:58:00
Philippines2GO and recieving the Visa?

Maraming Salamat Steve! yep, i might gonna be asking you about CFO soon and  the interview biggrin.png you know how I also worry that CFO thing.haha! btw There are now Jan filers who are getting their NOA2. God willing, we might get ours by next month. crossing my fingers.. unsure.png

 

:D


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-14 02:38:00
Philippines2GO and recieving the Visa?

yep Steve! you are right. as always Rob&I wish u all the best. sige sige. this will past soon!!! next time will be our turn unsure.png omg. 

 

Yes, and Joan and I will be here to support you the same way you have helped us!


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-14 02:02:00
Philippines2GO and recieving the Visa?

aww i hope she would feel better but i understand what she feels..i am hoping u guys will receive the passport even before Tuesday.. it means there's a chance that u can fly back to Hawaii together. enjoy Manila!

 

Outside chance but worth trying for!!! Salamat Ann!
 


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-14 01:54:00
Philippines2GO and recieving the Visa?

Update: Joan is understandably nervous about the interview so rather than spend 6 nervous nights in Cebu we changed the interview to June 6th rather than June 10. I was hoping for earlier, but 4 days is better than nothing...Cebu will have to wait...maybe we will get lucky and the visa will be printed and delivered by Tuesday :) In the meantime we have 14 days in Manila!!!


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-14 01:41:00
Philippines2GO and recieving the Visa?

yes Steve. you and Joan should relax.go to Harbor Square, MOA or stroll along Roxas blvd after getting the sticker and passport then fly on the next day. wink.png Traffic is the number 1 factor i am considering here Steve.. the travel time to the airport is different in the afternoon than at the dawn..even if u are already near the airport. Roxas blvd can be very traffic anytime of the day then the NAIA Rd... Sige Steve.. smile.png

 

Unfortunately I fly back to Hawaii on June 11th, the day after the interview so Joan will be picking up the visa, etc and getting to the airport...probably the next day! (after she gets the CFO sticker)

 


Edited by Stevephoto, 12 May 2013 - 07:43 PM.

StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-12 19:42:00
Philippines2GO and recieving the Visa?

Ah.... then you are good to go.

 

All the best.

 

:)



yes Steve. you would be like in Amazing Race catching up for the flight biggrin.png I think a day in the hotel is lesser cost than rebooking if incase u missed the flight. but again, the decision is on u. smile.png Good luck to both of u good.gif

 

I know that you are right Ann....ah...OK maybe one more night at the Lotus Garden for her.......


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-12 18:45:00
Philippines2GO and recieving the Visa?

What is the status of the visa, still at the embassy?  If in transit it will be going to your original choice.

 

There is also the stop at CFO for the sticker

 

Thanks Hank...Our interview is not until June 10! Jut planning ahead a little...


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-12 17:56:00
Philippines2GO and recieving the Visa?

 

Thanks everyone...I want to toss out a scenario for your opinions: We chose a 2GO station in Bulacan because it is close to Joan's  home. Would I be able to change that to the Mall of Asia?

you may try to change it now if there is no problem,by following this instruction http://blogs.usembas...ippines/?p=1533

or wait til it's interview day then tell the officer that you want to pick up Joan's passport in MOA but they will hand u that paper with the steps, so try to change it now if it won't cause any problems.

 

Once Joan gets the text that the visa is at MOA I will book her a flight on the next possible Hawaiian Airlines flight to Honolulu. It is a 7:50PM flight. Would it be possible for Joan to travel from Bulacan to Manila to the MOA (I will hire a car for the day) to get her CFO sticker and then get to the airport for her flight to her new home?

in my opinion, It depends on when and what time the Embassy forwards the visa to 2GO then

depends on what time 2GO will text Joan..

 

Though It is possible that Joan can take a flight on the same day if 2GO text her the night/day before she picks up the passport then book for a flight (and everything is packed and ready to go) then picks up the passport  in the morning when the mall opens at 10am  then everything goes well with CFO..It is possible but really depends how much time it will consume her

 

So it is up to you if you wanna give it a try. or Just book for the next day after getting everything to be sure.

 

 

 

Thanks Ann! I changed the 2GO to Mall of Asia--I could not print another confirmation page, but printed the page with the change...Yes we would wait until we hear from 2GO before I book the fight...I was trying to avoid another night stay at the hotel, but I'll have to think about it...it might be worth it to avoid the stress...
 


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-12 14:07:00
Philippines2GO and recieving the Visa?

Thanks everyone...I want to toss out a scenario for your opinions: We chose a 2GO station in Bulacan because it is close to Joan's  home. Would I be able to change that to the Mall of Asia? Once Joan gets the text that the visa is at MOA I will book her a flight on the next possible Hawaiian Airlines flight to Honolulu. It is a 7:50PM flight. Would it be possible for Joan to travel from Bulacan to Manila to the MOA (I will hire a car for the day) to get her CFO sticker and then get to the airport for her flight to her new home?


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-11 16:36:00
PhilippinesPlease help me.. scheduling an interview for K-1

Steve...It's good that you're going to the interview.  It should be a slam dunk.  You and Joan will be toasting on the 10th.

 

Cheers!

 

Mahalo---Salamat---Thanks!!!


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-13 12:55:00
PhilippinesPlease help me.. scheduling an interview for K-1

^^^  Yes, you should proceed.  Your fiancé can schedule an interview and complete the medical without having received the "eligibility" letter from the USEM.  

 

 

^^^  You do not need the USEM's "eligibility" letter.  

 

However, it wouldn't hurt anything if you read the USEM's "eligibility" letter:  http://photos.state....on_rtf2_005.pdf

 

Thanks! I've read the letter many times and have used it to create my own checklist for what we need! For those interested, I broke the process down into a CFO list, a medical list and and embassy list broken down further to what I needed to get and what Joan needed. A simple note of "NEED" or "HAVE" next to each entry has helped keep us on track...the only thing that threw me for a loop was the embassy "letter!" I think we are good to go! I arrive in PI on May 28th and we will spend the 29th going through the ream of paperwork making sure that EVERYTHING is there and in order (the Lotus Garden Hotel has a business center for last minute printouts, etc.). We are planning on doing the CFO on Thursday the 30th (I've read that there are 30 spots available on Tuesday and Thursday morning in Manila--but we will stick around for the afternoon session if need be---actually I am relegated to the hotel room while Joan takes care of the CFO. On June 1st we will celebrate Joan's birthday and fly down to Cebu on the 2nd for 6 nights on Malapascua Island. We come back to Manila on the 8th, visit her (our) family on the 9th, interview on the 10th (hoping for a champagne filled dinner!), and I return to Hawaii on the 11th to wait out the final few days of this part of the Journey!...then the wonderful trip to the airport to pick up my bride-to-be!


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-13 11:55:00
PhilippinesPlease help me.. scheduling an interview for K-1

Really???????????????????????????   Well that sucks, I was just getting so I knew the attendants by name for that flight. 

 

Can't figure why as the flights were always full that I was on.

 

**   I just read their news report, I guess I just happened to be on one of the few "full" flights....

 

I think you and I are on the same flights!!! Always packed...I cannot imagine that the Hawaii--PI flights were "under-performing!"


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-12 21:04:00
PhilippinesPlease help me.. scheduling an interview for K-1

 

Found it!!  Mine says 'ready' too.  It feels so good to update my timeline now.  I've updated it 3 or 4 times in the last 2 weeks after nothing for 7 months.  We're almost there!!!

 

Good for you! Here is the information for others (thanks to Gregory on FB!): Go to mnl embassy website and search for case status. When you get to it you select immigrant and type in your NVC case #



 

Found it!!  Mine says 'ready' too.  It feels so good to update my timeline now.  I've updated it 3 or 4 times in the last 2 weeks after nothing for 7 months.  We're almost there!!!

 

Yes....very close now!


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-12 21:02:00
PhilippinesPlease help me.. scheduling an interview for K-1

I always fly Hawaiian airlines as there is only the stop in Honolulu then its onward to Phoenix.

 

Sadly Hawaiian is stopping its service to Manila on August 1st! :(


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-12 19:45:00
PhilippinesPlease help me.. scheduling an interview for K-1

Well St. Luke's is the only one (besides CFO of course) that is being a bit of a PITA lately and you are past that so it just sit back and enjoy the ride.

 

 

 

Yes, thankfully we are passed that now---clear Xray! Now it is CFO (ugh!), interview (I assume that the appointment confirmation that I printed is what we need?), Visa, CFO sticker and a Hawaiian Airlines flight for Joan to Honolulu!


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-12 18:58:00
PhilippinesPlease help me.. scheduling an interview for K-1

That was to  MaryRyan. 

 

Has Joan done her medical?  If not shoot her a copy of the NVC letter notifying you of the MNL #, SLEC seems to be asking more and more for a letter from NVC or USEM with the MNL # on it.

 

Yes the medical is finished and SLEC did ask for the MNL letter but accepted her explanation that we got the case number by phone. We have the Embassy appointment confirmation from the website, the NVC MNL letter, both NOA notices. Do we need a letter from the embassy or just the printed confirmation of our date and time (again we are scheduled for June 10).

 

For about the 100th time...thanks Hank!


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-12 18:40:00
PhilippinesPlease help me.. scheduling an interview for K-1

No I would not wait, no need.  If your case was sent to Manila on the 1st, you should have the letter from NVC stating your case number and his info, send a copy of that to your fiancé then print a copy copies for St. Luke's.  Waiting for the letter from the embassy can have interesting results...

 

Cobwebs.png

 

Follow the link in my signature.   

 

Sorry...I thought I had this down but now I am confused again...do we need the embassy letter or just the documents listed? Our case is listed as "ready" on the embassy website. I have the letter from NVC with the MNL number...our interview is scheduled for June 10.
 


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-12 18:06:00
PhilippinesPlease help me.. scheduling an interview for K-1

The number that you need is the nine digit BPI receipt number. We just did it last week and it worked fine.


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-12 14:10:00
PhilippinesChanging Interview Dates?

Salamat!


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-14 11:46:00
PhilippinesChanging Interview Dates?

We moved the date to June 6th.. 4 days earlier!

 


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-14 00:33:00
PhilippinesChanging Interview Dates?
Joan and I are considering changing our interview date to an earlier date. You have to cancel the current appointment to see the dates available to reschedule. Is there a way to see the available dates without canceling first? I don't want to risk being there for her by canceling only to find no dates available! I know that you are allowed two changes, but are there any possible repercussions to changing dates?

 


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-14 00:07:00
PhilippinesInterview Passed

FANTASTIC!!!


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-16 00:30:00
PhilippinesDetailed Medical Results

nope, the packet is sent to USCIS. you will not be receiving any detailed results of the medical exam.

 

Now THAT makes no sense! I mean at least a copy would be nice to give her a head start with physicians here! No need to waste time responding...thanks for the info

 

;)


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-16 23:36:00
PhilippinesDetailed Medical Results

That makes sense...do we get the packet once she is through immigration?


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-16 11:41:00
PhilippinesDetailed Medical Results

I did a search but did not find an answer. Does St. Luke's give a detailed report of the results of Joan's medical? It would be good information to give her new doctor in Hawaii.


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-16 00:35:00
PhilippinesFlights from US to Philippines

I have flown Hawaiian Air from Honolulu to Manila with wildly different rates (4th time next week). This trip is by far the most expensive. Hawaiian is non-stop but they are cancelling that route in August...


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-17 00:00:00
PhilippinesAcitivity suggestions in/around Ermita area

Beware of the horse & buggy rides--they will quote you a low price, and then casually tell you about a palace or structure worth seeing, and you won't realize they are adding it to your itinerary.  Eventually your 200 peso ride becomes 1500 each or something ridiculous.  Just say no.

 

However, all the other things sound great!  I would also visit some places nearby so your fiancee  can easily get meals and sundry items close to the hotel, since she will be there alone for the interview (I'm assuming it's the interview portion?).  Good luck, and hope to read about smooth things went!dancin5hr.gif

 

We actually took a horse and buggy ride (price established upfront) through downtown Manila and Chinatown...it was fascinating, eye-opening and a  just scary enough to make it interesting!!!


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-14 00:04:00
PhilippinesAcitivity suggestions in/around Ermita area

I second the recommendation for Corregidor Island.  If you have any interest in history at all, it is highly worthwhile.  From the same location, you can do a Manila Bay Dinner Cruise, which is also nice.  A short distance away is Intramuros, where you can visit Fort Santiago and see some interesting artifacts related to the very fascinating Jose Rizal while you take in the pleasant aroma of the Pasig River.  

 

:)


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-14 00:01:00
PhilippinesToday is the day

Today is the lucky day!  My wife has boarded the plane in japan and will be heading to Detroit for POE around 1:40pm EST today.  Cant tell you how excited I am, now if only delta will allow me to meet her at the gate.  I know we are far from being to the end of this journey but at least the most stressful part(being long-distance) will be completed.  Just wanted to say thanks for all the advise I've gotten in my post(or from the posts of others).  It made this process a lot more bearable knowing things should go smoothly(well minus the AoS issue).  I'm sure I'll be checking in often anyways to help others or when the next process will begin.

 

Fantastic!!!! Good luck and CONGRATS!


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-22 01:13:00
PhilippinesMalate or Ermita

We love the Lotus Garden Hotel in Ermita...walking distance from SLEC. We were there together in October and December. Joan return a few weeks ago for her medical and they all remembered her and asked where I was? We will be there for 2 weeks starting this Tuesday....


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-24 00:57:00
PhilippinesFor Filipinos getting NBI clearance

Hi everyone!

 

Joan's NBI is going to be released today. She is planning to go to Manila to pick it up (from Bulacan). I am arriving in Manila tomorrow night so she has to return to Bulacan only to go back to Manila tomorrow. Does she have to pick up her NBI the day it is released or can she go on Wednesday to save a travel day?

 

Never mind! Joan is going to go today. Thanks anyway!
 


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-26 14:35:00
PhilippinesFor Filipinos getting NBI clearance

Hi everyone!

 

Joan's NBI is going to be released today. She is planning to go to Manila to pick it up (from Bulacan). I am arriving in Manila tomorrow night so she has to return to Bulacan only to go back to Manila tomorrow. Does she have to pick up her NBI the day it is released or can she go on Wednesday to save a travel day?


StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-26 12:24:00
PhilippinesCFO requirement-Parental advice
Joan had the form notarized. After all that she ways not asked for it at CFO! As always: "your experiences may differ!" Good luck!
StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-30 05:02:00
PhilippinesThank you Lord. Medical and CFO passed...now for the interview...
Looking forward to meeting Bert tomorrow! Good luck to you...and us!
StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-06-04 19:41:00
PhilippinesGetting Organized for CFO and Interview
The CFO form that you download has a space on it for a 1x1 photo...they just have to be different!
StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-06-04 21:39:00
PhilippinesGetting Organized for CFO and Interview

 
Hi Steve!
 
Thanks so much for posting this. Big help for us still processing and completing requirements. Could you please tell me where you got the forms DS-156, DS-156-K, DS-157, and DS-160 Part 1? I was going to download it from here but then after the link it said: " This is only needed and SHOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE US EMBASSY issuing the Visa."
 
I'm kind of lost right now, and your help would be greatly appreciated : )





Hi! I know the feeling! Find any post by Hank and follow the outstanding guide in his signature. Look for the embassy letter in his guide and follow the links to the forms!

StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-30 21:46:00
PhilippinesGetting Organized for CFO and Interview

Have a safe flight, and good luck with the CFO seminar and interview!!! :)

Salamat! CFO is done!
StevephotoMalePhilippines2013-05-30 21:43:00