Cfo

[andy222]

Ok guys help needed please. I just asked my wife about changing her name in her passport. She brought up the subject on CFO. She says she has been to the DFA and they told her she needs this sticker. Can she take the english test without the cfo sticker? Does it matter if the english test certificate is in her maiden name? Thanks guys. She says she will have to go to CEBU or Manila to get the CFO sticker. Thanks in advance.

[rusty]

The CFO sticker is usually the last piece required after you have your visa.

The CFO is a Philippines requirement and is not needed for the english test or visa application.

You can do the CFO before the visa application but you will have to go back once you have the visa. NOTE: the CFO will not give you the sticker until the visa is valid.

Here are the CFO locations in Manila and Cebu http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?opti...345&Itemid=843

[Sim11UK]

Rusty has summed it up nicely. Just do the test, then apply for the visa and finally the CFO.
All can be done in her maiden name, including her passport.

It's all expense, but it has to be done.

[sim&lil]

http://www.smef-cow-phil.org/index.p...d=62&Itemid=68

This is the place my Mrs used, very helpful over the phone if your good lady has questions.

[andy222]

Sorry just got back from work guys. Its a bit confusing as I wanted her to get her name changed on her passport first.

[lykayu01]

seminar at SMEF-COW in Quezon City is great they were all nice and very accommodating plus the fact that spouses like me learned a lot in there...great help and it is very much needed....

[Sim11UK]

Its a bit confusing as I wanted her to get her name changed on her passport first.

Why? Don't complicate the matter more. You'll have enough stress, sorting out all the other requirements.
If her passport is still valid, leave it as it is.

[LeoLady]

yes andy she needs cfo for the renewal or changes of her passport. as of english test my suggestion is she must get the new passport first before she take the english test.

[grahamw48]

Why? Don't complicate the matter more. You'll have enough stress, sorting out all the other requirements.
If her passport is still valid, leave it as it is.

I agree !

Make sure ALL names and spellings are consistent across all documents.

There are bored clerks just waiting to justify their existence by picking holes in your application.
Don't make it easy for them.

[andy222]

ok guys thanks for your answers. Her passport expires in 2014 so i think we will leave it as it is. Much appreciated..

[Terpe]

ok guys thanks for your answers. Her passport expires in 2014 so i think we will leave it as it is. Much appreciated..

That's much the easiest option.

[andy222]

Ok thanks Peter. Your a star.

[Arthur Little]

Her passport expires in 2014 so i think we will leave it as it is.

... very wise!

[RickyR]

We were eager to change the passport and did the CFO seminar to facilitate this, it doesn't really make much difference, just an extra bit of work to do. But at least she becomes the Mrs Andy222 for official documents.

[andy222]

I had a word with her and her friend is in scotland. SHE came here last year. Her friend did not change her passport till she came here. So I suppose it will be ok. I would like her too but I think its too much hassle to do it over in phil. It means her going to cebu or manila. Staying overnight and so on. Just to get the cfo. We might as well wait till she gets the visa then get the cfo in manila. Thanks guys I knew I could rely on you. Superb info as always much appreciated.

[lastlid]

On balance it seems easier to leave the passport in the maiden name.

My wife used SMEF COW in Manila also. She said it was okay. There have been lots of horror stories about the CFO but on reflection it worked out okay for her. The only thing is that she needed to memorise as much info about me as possible as they tend to want to know such things as spouses address, spouses work address, copies of divorce papers, spouse phone number, photo of the two of us together etc etc so we did a couple of run through's a day or 2 before her first visit to check to see if she could remember the info.

If they dont get what they want from you then it can mean a return visit e.g. a friend of hers didnt take divorce papers for her spouse so she had to go back again for another visit......

And my wife had to text me for my street name....which I texted back to her so she could complete the process.

[andy222]

Great info Lastlid thanks for that. I would never of thought of that..

[lastlid]

Great info Lastlid thanks for that. I would never of thought of that..

If you havent done so already, have a trawl through some of the threads on here on the CFO. Makes interesting reading. Notably the CFO don't really give you much of a clue about the extra bits of info that they ask from your wife when she attends. And the last thing you want if you have flown from another island to attend the CFO is to have to go back again. My wife's friend was lucky as they lived within an hour or two of Manila by car / jeepney etc.
BTW my wife showed them a pic of us together on her mobile phone - that seemed to keep them happy.