CFO Update September 2023

Philippines Immigration has issued the following release, regarding the CFO requirements.

CFO Update September 2023

As part of the CFO’s commitment to enhance the delivery of frontline services, Filipino fiancés, spouses, and other partners of foreign nationals holding TOURIST VISAS are no longer required to undergo the CFO Guidance and Counseling Program starting 3 September 2023.

Filipino fiancés, spouses, and partners of foreign nationals traveling as tourists can proceed directly to the airport and present to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) their proof of sponsorship or other documents showing that their travel is for a limited period of time.

Please be advised that the following international-bound travelers are still required to undergo the mandatory pre- departure registration of the Commission:

(1) immigrant, long-term or permanent residence visas;
(2) fiancé, spouse, or partner visas;
(3) J1 visa holders bound for the USA; and
(4) Au Pair visa holders bound for Europe.

31 August 2023

Office of the President of the Philippines.
COMMISSION ON FILIPINOS OVERSEAS

www.cfo.gov.ph

CFO clearance in Pampanga

The​ CFO-Clark Extension Desk at the “One-Stop Processing Center in Clark (OSPC)” opened in September 2016 and is located at the Clark Polytechnic Compound at Jose Abad Santos Ave. Clark Freeport Zone.

The CFO clearance is now available in Clarke, Pampanga.

The​ CFO-Clark Extension Desk at the “One-Stop Processing Center in Clark (OSPC)” opened in September 2016 and is located at the Clark Polytechnic Compound at Jose Abad Santos Ave. Clark Freeport Zone and minutes away from the Clark International Airport.

The CFO-Clark Extension Desk is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

Schedules for each country of destination can be seen at http://www.cfo.gov.ph/~comfil/news/cfo-news-and-events/3445-cfo-opens-extension-desk-in-clark-pampanga.html

 

Filipinos Offloaded at Manila, Cebu, Clark Airports

Many Filipinos are being reported as being offloaded at airports for often unknown reasons. The word "offloaded" is technically incorrect, as they never get to board the plane in the first place.

Filipinos offloaded at airports are not allowed to travel

Many Filipinos are being reported as being offloaded at airports for often unknown reasons. The word “offloaded” is technically incorrect, as they never get to board the plane in the first place.

What happens is that the Immigration Officer checking their papers on leaving, may request an interview for one of many possible reasons.

This interview may show probable cause for the Immigration Officer to decide that the passenger should not be allowed to travel.

BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison said the Bureau and Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT) has come up with a set of clear-cut rules under the Guidelines on Departure Formalities for International Bound Passengers approved by the Department of Justice.

The said Guidelines were formulated by a technical working group pursuant to RA 9208 or the Anti Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 and is in effect since January 2012.

BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison said: “Offloading is not a policy but a consequence of the implementation of the Guidelines.”

How do people travelling, especially alone, get past this possible problem of being offloaded?

Passengers heading for Dubai, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, are considered transit points accounting for high incidents of human trafficking, and therefore will be more closely targetted.  Maybe choose a different holiday destination?

I was reading a BoI notice to All Philippine Airports etc, and one part said this:

Partners and spouses of foreign nationals intending to depart to meet and/or marry his/her fiance without the CFO Guidance and Counseling Certificate, will be subjected to secondary inspection.

This has caused problems in that past when a BoI officer relied on the wording exactly.
The young lady was going overseas to meet her boyfriend, and therefore came under the above section. However, the CFO did not apply to her as he was not emigrating.

The Young lady did the right thing.
The CFO did the right thing in not giving a CFO stamp to a Tourist
The BoI officer followed the rule correctly, as printed.

No-one was wrong, other than the rules not being specific enough and overlapping in the wrong way.

So… What chance do you have ?

  • Know were you are going, know everything about who and where you are visiting, have ALL the right paperwork. Avoid giving the BoI officer cause for concern about your safety.
  • Have enough funds to support your stay.
  • If you travel with your boyfriend/partner etc., you have a better chance of leaving, even without own funds in a bank account. Even without having a bank account.
  • But nothing is guaranteed.

Some Numbers to put it Offloading in perspective:

According to the Bureau of Immigration, about 40 Filipinos get offloaded at the Manila NAIA Terminal 1 every day for various reasons. That is almost 15,000 each year.

However, over 1 million Filipinos travel overseas each year. That means at least 985,000 of them do NOT get offloaded.

2,700+ are OK to leave each day
40 are offloaded each day

Commission on Filipinos Overseas Program

An emigrating Filipino, or one who has been granted an immigrant-class visa, is required to register with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas before leaving the country to settle in a foreign land. They need to attend a seminar to help in understanding what their new life may be like.

Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) or the Peer Counseling Seminar

  • CFO = Commission on Filipinos Overseas
  • The Guidance And Counselling Certificate of Attendance = Seminar Attendance Certificate needed for the CFO Certificate.
  • The CFO Certificate = The Stamp in the Passport, needed to leave Philippines as an Emigrant.

Why do you need a CFO clearance ?

Who needs the CFO Seminar Stamp?

An emigrating Filipino, or one who has been granted an immigrant-class visa, is required to register with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas before leaving the country to settle in a foreign land. They need to attend a seminar to help in understanding what their new life may be like.
Note: Emigrants attending the PDOS or Peer Counseling Session must be at the CFO office at least 1 hour before their schedule to complete the registration requirements.

Starting 30 January 2017, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) will be strictly implementing the ONLINE RESERVATION AND REGISTRATION requirement for J1 visa holders or Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) participants attending the mandatory pre-departure orientation seminar.

Does a Tourist Visa holder need to attend the CFO Seminar?

No. Only those who are leaving the country to settle in a foreign land will need to attend this seminar.

The CFO website now shows this statement:

If you are fiancé (e)/ spouse/partner of a foreign national or a former Filipino and you hold a visitor/ tourist visa, you only need a guidance and counseling certificate from our office. Kindly present the CFO Guidance and Counseling Certificate (GCC) to the port of exit and show them your temporary/ visit visa and other requirements asked by your host country.

What is the CFO Seminar?

The Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) or the Peer Counseling Seminar, is a brief, two-hour seminar on settlement issues and concerns such as finding employment, rights and obligations of immigrants as well as policies and procedures on how to secure foreign citizenship.

Exemptions from attending the PDOS include: Those who are 60 years old and above

One of the requirements for the CFO is to show proof of the relevant of Visa Grant. However, they seem to be not very strict on this, as I know of at least one person who went there with a Tourist Visa grant.  She got the CFO stamp but didn’t actually need it.  Another, also on a Tourist Visa, went for the seminar, but was turned away saying it wasn’t needed for her.

How long is the CFO stamp valid

The CFO Guidance and Counselling Certificate is a lifetime copy and has no validity dates. (see image below [click for larger picture])
However, if you change your partner, you do need to re-attend.

CFO Stamp Lifetime Validity

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/

CFO – MANILA
Citigold Center, 1345 Pres. Quirino Ave.
corner Osmena Highway (South Superhighway)
Manila, Philippines 1007
Telephone: (+632) 552-4700
Email: info@cfo.gov.ph

CFO – CEBU
4th Floor, K&J Building
#4 Don Julio Llorente St.,
Capitol Site, Cebu City 6000
Telephone: (032) 255-5253
Email: cfocebu@cfo.gov.ph

CFO – CLARK EXTENSION DESK
One-Stop Processing Center in Clark (OSPC)
Clark Polytechnic Compound,
Jose Abad Santos Ave., Clark Freeport Zone
Telephone: (045) 499-8119
Email: info@cfo.gov.ph

CFO – DAVAO SATELLITE OFFICE
5th floor, AMQ Building, Lakandula St.
corner, Dacudao Ave., Agdao, Davao City
Telephone: (+6382) 228-2432
Email: info@cfo.gov.ph