Passport requirememts if married to a 'foreigner'

[briancol]

MY WIFE WAS TRYING TO RENEW HER P/PORT IN BUTUAN CITY,AFTER FILLING OUT ALL THE FORMS SHE WAS TOLD BECAUSE SHES MARRIED TO A FOREIGNER SHE HAS TO ATTEND A 'SEMINAR' EITHER IN CEBU OR MANILA BEFORE THEY CAN ISSUE A NEW P/PORT,SHES JUST FOUND OUT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS SEMINAR,THAY ARE AS FOLLOWS,.

requirements (for COF ) seminar
1) 2 valid IDs with picture.
2) birth certificate from NSO authenticated.
3) marriage cert from NSO.
original and xerox copy.
4) wedding pix (3-5pcs).
5) photocopy of husband's passport with departure and arrival stamp.
6) divorce documents.
7) photocopy of legal capacity.
birth certificate of husband.
family name of husband's, mother
fee, P4,000.
monday to friday the schedule of seminar, first come first served.
AFTER ALL THE HOOPS WE HAD TO JUMP THROUGH TO GET MARRIED IN THE FIRST PLACE WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS RUBBISH AGAIN,? THEY ALREADY HAVE MOST OF THIS STUFF ANYWAY.IM GETTING REALLY FED UP WITH IT ALL.
BUT I SUPPOSE ITS JUST ANOTHER WAY OF SCREWING FOREIGNERS FOR MORE MONEY.
HAS ANYONE HEARD OF THESE REQUIREMENTS BEFORE,COZ THEY ARE NEW TO ME.thanks.

[lastlid]

WOW. Yes, sounds like the dreaded CFO. When I first heard about them I thought the same as you. Is it COF or CFO?
Many Filipina folk have to go through the CFO, attend the seminar and get their stickers in their passports before they can leave the Philippines but in your wifes case you are simply renewing a passport and no more?

[aronbabev]

CFO= I think I spent just P600.00 more or less.4000.00 is too much..

[daff 'O dill]

Dear Brian

Could it be they need all these requirements you've listed because you are married, and that maybe she's renewing her passport with your Surname?

[febmary]

I've done my CFO seminar in Cebu to change my maiden name into my married name. If you can see the application form of DFA (Passport) is listed at the back for your requirements. esp a Filipina married to a foreigner. I spend 600 pesos. after I got my CFO certificate, I presented to DFA along with my old passport, after 1 month, I got my passport bearing my married name.

[grahamw48]

I take it she hasn't been to the UK yet ?

Sounds to me like she may be wanting to use her married name.

It always complicates things when wives want to change their passport family name, that's why people on here normally recommend waiting until visas are sorted out, and preferably wife has joined you in this country before doing so.

I know my ex never had such issues, but then again she never did change her name until years later.

Compared with getting a visa for UK settlement, surely it really is a minor detail.

[juvyjones28]

4,000 pesos , I believe she will only need 600 pesos for the CFO seminar, though I haven't done it. I got my new passport with my husband's surname on it in 7 days (priority service) for 1,200 pesos. The requirements they asked from me are: original marriage certificate(NSO) and my old passport, I was surprised they didn't ask the CFO seminar certificate . l Although I know I will need to get through that seminar after I got my visa.

[briancol]

thanks everyone for the replies.yes shes changing her p/port coz its out of date this month(Feb 2012) and yes she going to use my surname,but whats the 'seminar' for,whats the 4000P for? its not just 4000P theres also a return plane ticket to Cebu,and a hotel overnigh i believe,plus all the taxi fares,money,money money.thats all the Phills are about as far as i can see.
all they need to know at the p/port office is that shes now married and has a marriage certificate to prove it,which proves we've already supplied all the info they are asking for.but of course that would be too easy and there'd be no money in it for the government if they did it the 'easy' way.im sure you can tell by the way im speaking that i really am brassed off, there seems to be no end to it,its just one thing after another.

[CAT]

http://dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php/renewal-of-passport

[briancol]

hi CAT. thanks for that,looking at it there doesnt appear to be so many requirements.

[briancol]

Can anyone give me the address in cebu for the p/port seminar please?

[carmela]

my sister experience the same last 2010, i believe you will not spend more than 1000 for the seminar, her application for uk visa only lasted for 2 months and immediately approved.

this is my first time here so i have a question, i'm applying for a british passport for my nephew, he is not really the son of my brother in law, but he is the indicated father in his birth certificate,

do anyone know the documentary required for the application, and how to set an appointment in british embassy in mckinley. thank you

[rusty]

do anyone know the documentary required for the application, and how to set an appointment in british embassy in mckinley. thank you

For passport details see http://ukinthephilippines.fco.gov.uk...als/passports/

To book an appointment at the Embassy, email them at Manila.ConsAppointment@fco.gov.uk

[briancol]

i got the address in Cebu already thanks,and yes the seminar cost is 650 P not 4000 as we where told.tho by the time she gets a flight to cebu & back,plus hotel,taxis,and whatever,its gona cost a right few thousand anyway.thanks everyone for the replies.

[briancol]

ON READING THE LIST OF REQUIREMENTS FOR MY WIFES VISA APPLICATION SHE SAYS SHE THINKS SHE NEEDS a T B CERTIFICATE,I SAY NO SHE DOESNT,CAN ANYONE ENLIGHTEN ME/US PLEASE?

[ConfusedMe]

I went through all this CFO seminar as well. Before my flight to the UK, I first had my seminar, then they interviewed me about the relationship, where will I reside and etc. After that they issue my certificate, went to DFA to get my CFO sticker and another certificate, which they placed in the passport.

Everything was done only for a day though. I just went to the venue as early as 7:30 am coz everyone have to queue up. But I don't remember paying P4,000. I think that's a lot

[ConfusedMe]

Better to have her xray and TB certificate before she comes to the UK. I was stopped in the Immigration asking for my TB certificate, but eventually they let me pass through and had my check here in the UK.

I would suggest, it would be much easier if she done everything in Pinas before flying here.

[briancol]

thanks for the reply Confusedme, but really, r u sure a tb certificate is required?

[rusty]

A TB certificate is not a requirement for the settlement visa application.

Depending on which airport you arrive into the UK, it may be requested by immigration upon arrival.

[ConfusedMe]

thanks for the reply Confusedme, but really, r u sure a tb certificate is required?

In my case, I traveled without it but they sent me a letter for TB test / exam schedule. I wasn't working that time yet so that doesn't bother me. If you get the Xray / TB test done before she comes here, she doesn't need to undergo this anymore and will just have to focus more on other things like Life in the UK test, or looking for a job.

Donah

[briancol]

ok confusedme & rusty,she hasnt got a tb test cert but from what i read its NOT requirement,& i'd like to think when she gets to the UK border they wouldnt have to cheek to refuse her entry.
ive been browsing the forum just now & discovered something that DOES really worry me,. thats she has done her english test using her married name but has just renewed her p/port in her maiden name,at MY suggestion OTHERWISE she would have had to go to CEBU for the CFO seminar, and i told her there was no point doing that since she hasnt got her visa yet so would have to make a second trip to Cebu. but its the maiden/married name issue thats bothering me right now,.her visa appointment is on 22 Feb,,so no time to change anything.(her new p/port will be ready to collect on 17th Feb.)

[lastlid]

A TB certificate isn't a requirement for the Philippines. My wife didn't have one and wasn't asked for one and wasnt checked for TB in Manchester. But some people have them done on a "just in case" basis as some folk have been asked for the TB certificate erroneously.

[lastlid]

ok confusedme & rusty,she hasnt got a tb test cert but from what i read its NOT requirement,& i'd like to think when she gets to the UK border they wouldnt have to cheek to refuse her entry.
ive been browsing the forum just now & discovered something that DOES really worry me,. thats she has done her english test using her married name but has just renewed her p/port in her maiden name,at MY suggestion OTHERWISE she would have had to go to CEBU for the CFO seminar, and i told her there was no point doing that since she hasnt got her visa yet so would have to make a second trip to Cebu. but its the maiden/married name issue thats bothering me right now,.her visa appointment is on 22 Feb,,so no time to change anything.(her new p/port will be ready to collect on 17th Feb.)

Brian, not wishing to worry you but I was advised that the name on the English test certificate and in the passport needs to be the same.

Check with VFS......

MariaE@vfsglobal.com This lady is the manager there and is very helpful.

[steve monty]

ok confusedme & rusty,she hasnt got a tb test cert but from what i read its NOT requirement,& i'd like to think when she gets to the UK border they wouldnt have to cheek to refuse her entry.
ive been browsing the forum just now & discovered something that DOES really worry me,. thats she has done her english test using her married name but has just renewed her p/port in her maiden name,at MY suggestion OTHERWISE she would have had to go to CEBU for the CFO seminar, and i told her there was no point doing that since she hasnt got her visa yet so would have to make a second trip to Cebu. but its the maiden/married name issue thats bothering me right now,.her visa appointment is on 22 Feb,,so no time to change anything.(her new p/port will be ready to collect on 17th Feb.)

Hi there,

I just had a look at my wife's English test certificate and that was in her maiden name and she arrived here with a passport in her married name. Either way she could prove it by photocopying the identification she used to sit the English test. They would not let my wife sit the test without proper identification, thats why she had to use her maiden name as her passport had not arrived by then. They were able to see that it was her from her previous passport which you have to hand in which was in her maiden name. As long as you are able to prove you are that person you will be fine.

On the TB question don't worry about that, that is not needed for the visa application. Although they may ask her for it at the airport as they did my wife. All they do is send you an appointment to see the doctors, have an x ray and they will contact you if there is anything wrong. In our case they never got in contact which sounds the same as what confused me said.

[lastlid]

Yes, TB certificate definitely wasn't a requirement for the visa application.

[ynwa]

hi Briancol

If your wife is looking for an affordable place to stay in Cebu which is very close to CFO office try
http://www.cebuguesthouse.com/roomrates.html
or
http://www.mangoparkhotel.com/

[briancol]

ok YNWA ive taken a note of that link,thanks.

[briancol]

hi stevemonty, the problem is that she did her english test using her married name. but has just renewed her p/port in her maiden name.coz of the hoops she has to jump through to get it changed to her married name,i thought it would be easier just to keep it in her maiden name, not realising that the test & p/port had to be in the same name.

[briancol]

ok lastlid, i will email that woman in VFS,.thanks for the link.

[Smurfette07]

hi briancol,

I moved here last August and I didnt need to show any TB certificate. Not a requirement if living in the Philippines.