HOW TO REGISTER & REQUEST FOR CFO COUNSELING PROGRAM CERTIFICATE FOR FILIPINOS WITH FOREIGN PARTNERS
Table of Contents
Introduction
These days, online services have become the new normal. Industries have turned to web apps and sites to reach out to their clientelle and offer their products and services. Government agencies have too, and one of them is the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO).
In this guide, I will walk you through the way to register for a CFO online account, so you may avail of the programs and services by the commission in this era of Internet-based services.
What is CFO- GCP
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) – Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP) is a distinct program of the Philippine government which aims to protect the welfare of Filipino fiancé(e)s and spouses of foreign nationals who plan to migrate overseas. It is a definite deterrent to mail-order bride scheme and trafficking in the guise of marriage.
Established by virtue of the Batas Pambansa 79, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), which is managed by the Office of the President, is an agency that promotes and upholds interest, rights and welfare of overseas Filipinos.
Who Needs to Register for CFO Online
As the primary clients of the commission, fiance, spouse, and partner of a foreign national, former Filipino, or a dual citizen are required to register for the CFO Online System.
The program aims to provide Filipino fiancé(e)s, spouses and other partners of foreign nationals with adequate information and advice on the realities of intermarriage and migration, rights and obligations overseas, available support network for migrants in distress, and cultural and social realities overseas.
Requirements for CFO-Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP)
A. MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:
1. Clear copy of valid passport. It must be valid at least 3 months calculating from the date of intended departure. Not older than 10 years (extended passports are not accepted).
2. Clear copy of valid visa. You should provide a clear copy of the approved visa as soon as it has been released or as soon as you receive it.
3. Petitioner’s passport. This should also be provided to ensure the legal identity of your petitioner/ partner who invites you in his/her home country within the Schengen area.
4. If married, marriage certificate and/or Report of Marriage (ROM) in Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) security paper.
B. SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS:
Important notice: Additional documents may be required in the event that the counselor determines it to be essential to complete the guidance and counseling process. It is advised for all the GCP applicants to prepare the following documents (if applicable to them) in advance and send them to the counselor/facilitator assigned if requested:
1. Divorce decree/certificate (of Filipino spouse or foreign spouse, if previously married)
2. Annulment paper (of Filipino spouse or foreign spouse, if previously married)
3. Proof of residency/Alien Registration Card-ARC (of foreign spouse)
4. Proof of relationship (picture together, e-mails, among others)
5. Death certificate (of Filipino spouse or foreign spouse, if widow/widower)
6. Certificate of Family relations / registration (of foreign spouse)
7. Declaration of undertaking of travel in letter format to include the following activities to prepare for travel, Itinerary of Travel and How to ensure safe travel and stay ( if will be required by counselor/facilitator)
8. Affidavit of invitation and support (financial support/safety/medical insurance) notarized and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate which has jurisdiction over the destination or host country (if will be required by counselor/facilitator)
9. Explanation on why the foreign partner cannot travel to the Philippines in letter format ( if will be required by counselor/facilitator)
10. Valid no criminal records certification/clearance or any equivalent document to indicate lack of criminal derogatory record or medical/psychological condition ( if will be required by counselor/facilitator)
Step-By-Step Guide On Getting A CFO Guidance And Counseling Program Certificate
Attendance to the GCP is conducted online through the Overseas Filipinos – CFO Online Registration System (OF-CORS) or on-site in Manila main office, Cebu and Davao satellite offices through the Reserve and Registration (R&R). It specifically provides a venue where they can express and discuss their particular concerns about migration and various areas in their relationships such as communication barrier, financial management, personality and cultural differences, sexual relationship, among others.
OPTION (1) : ON-SITE or WITH FACE TO FACE TRANSACTION (R&R)
Client who registered using R&R (face to face transaction) are expected to make a reservation and registration online to receive a barcoded form which will indicate her appointment time, date, location of the office and other necessary information about her visit to CFO.
1. Barcoded Confirmation form of GCP appointment
2. Two valid identification cards with photo
3. Marriage Certificate (PSA) or if married overseas original Report of Marriage duly registered by the Philippine Embassy/ Consulate or the Department of Foreign Affairs
Registration Requirements (for those with visa):
1.Two valid identification cards
2. Original Valid Passport
3. Original Valid Visa
4. CFO Guidance and Counseling Certificate
Additional documents may be required in the event that the counselor determines it to be essential to complete the guidance and counseling process. It is advised for all the GCP applicants to prepare the following documents (if applicable to them) in advance and send them to the counselor/facilitator assigned if requested:
1. Divorce decree/certificate (of Filipino spouse or foreign spouse, if previously married)
2. Annulment paper (of Filipino spouse or foreign spouse, if previously married)
3. Proof of residency/Alien Registration Card-ARC (of foreign spouse)
4. Proof of relationship (picture together, e-mails, among others)
5. Death certificate (of Filipino spouse or foreign spouse, if widow/widower)
6. Certificate of Family relations / registration (of foreign spouse)
7. Declaration of undertaking of travel in letter format to include the following activities to prepare for travel, Itinerary of Travel and How to ensure safe travel and stay ( if will be required by counselor/facilitator)
8. Affidavit of invitation and support (financial support/safety/medical insurance) notarized and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate which has jurisdiction over the destination or host country (if will be required by counselor/facilitator)
9. Explanation on why the foreign partner cannot travel to the Philippines in letter format ( if will be required by counselor/facilitator)
10. Valid no criminal records certification/clearance or any equivalent document to indicate lack of criminal derogatory record or medical/psychological condition ( if will be required by counselor/facilitator)
1. Reserve and register online to attend the Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP) personally.
2. Answer the preliminary questions and provide your e-mail address.
3. Choose the date of appointment and provide your own and your Fiancé (e)/Spouse/ Partner’s personal information.
4. Open email (including SPAM folder) and look for confirmation message from CFO. Click on “Confirm Email“, and provide information as specified in the “PERSONAL INFORMATION” page.
5. Complete the online registration procedure, and print the barcoded confirmation form or save a digital copy (PDF format) in your mobile, phone or tablet
6. Go to CFO (chosen office -Manila, Cebu, or Davao) on the confirmed date at least one hour before your appointment, and bring the complete GCP requirements.
CFO does not collect registration fees from clients – Filipino emigrants, spouses and other partners of foreign nationals and au pair program participants. Clients who will be processing their CFO documents through the Overseas Filipinos-CFO Online Registration System (OFCORS) will only be charged the courier and convenience fees that are required by our partner service providers.
• Important Reminders for Reserve and Registration (R&R) for CFO Guidance and Counseling Program:
1. Please be advised that securing an appointment for R&R is FREE. The CFO discourages applicants from securing online appointment through fixers or businesses offering such services for a fee. Do not deal with fixers.
2. Please arrive at CFO at least 1 hour before your GCP session or refer to the table of schedule of activities in this article.
3. DO NOT purchase outbound airline tickets until your CFO travel documents are issued. The Commission will not be responsible for any rebooking charges, loss of income, and other financial compensation and/ or personal losses arising from the applicant’s travel arrangements in view of non-attendance or non-completion.
4. Clients are restricted from registering into multiple system. Multiple records will have to be deleted in order to proceed with the program
5. Only the qualified clients or authorized relatives representatives may access the CFO online frontline services
OPTION (2) : ONLINE or NO NEED FOR PERSONAL APPEARANCE AT ANY CFO OFFICES (OFCORS)
Overseas Filipinos CFO Online Registration System – OFCORS (online) is a venue for the CFO clients to access all CFO’s frontline services online. These clients include first time registrants for the Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP) or those who previously attended the GCP (with On-Hold Status). Thru online registration, clients need not go to any CFO office to avail of pre-departure services for the marriage migrants and those in bi –national relationships. They could just print their own OF-CORS digital certificate, which will be presented to the Bureau of Immigration on the day of their departure from the Philippines.
1. Clear copy of valid passport;
2. Clear copy of valid visa;
3. Petitioner’s passport; and
4. Marriage certificate and/ or Report of Marriage (ROM) in Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) security paper. (If married).
Important notice: Additional documents may be required in the event that the counselor determines it to be essential to complete the guidance and counseling process. It is advised for all the GCP applicants to prepare the following documents (if applicable to them) in advance and send them to the counselor/facilitator assigned if requested:
1. Divorce decree/certificate (of Filipino spouse or foreign spouse, if previously married)
2. Annulment paper (of Filipino spouse or foreign spouse, if previously married)
3. Proof of residency/Alien Registration Card-ARC (of foreign spouse)
4. Proof of relationship (picture together, e-mails, among others)
5. Death certificate (of Filipino spouse or foreign spouse, if widow/widower)
6. Certificate of Family relations / registration (of foreign spouse)
7. Declaration of undertaking of travel in letter format to include the following activities to prepare for travel, Itinerary of Travel and How to ensure safe travel and stay ( if will be required by counselor/facilitator)
8. Affidavit of invitation and support (financial support/safety/medical insurance) notarized and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate which has jurisdiction over the destination or host country (if will be required by counselor/facilitator)
9. Explanation on why the foreign partner cannot travel to the Philippines in letter format ( if will be required by counselor/facilitator)
10. Valid no criminal records certification/clearance or any equivalent document to indicate lack of criminal derogatory record or medical/psychological condition ( if will be required by counselor/facilitator)
counselor/facilitator)
Client may register thorough OFCORS to participate in the tele counseling/tele-conferencing by registering at the link below:
CFO does not collect registration fees from our clients- Filipino emigrants, spouses and other partners of foreign nationals and au pair program participants. Clients who will be processing their CFO documents through the Overseas Filipinos-CFO Online Registration System (OFCORS) will only be charged the courier and convenience fees that are required by our partner service providers.
• Important Reminders for OFCORS for Guidance and Counseling Program:
1. Please be advised that registration online using OF-CORS is FREE. The CFO discourages our clients from securing online appointment through fixers or businesses offering such services for a fee. Do not deal with fixers.
2. Please enter the Zoom link or Google link for the webinar at CFO at least 1 hour before your GCP session or refer to the table of schedule of activities here.
3. DO NOT purchase outbound airline tickets until your CFO travel documents are issued. The Commission will not be responsible for any rebooking charges, loss of income, and other financial compensation and/ or personal losses arising from the applicant’s travel arrangements in view of non-attendance or non-completion to CFO pre-departure program
4. After satisfactory compliance with the Guidance and Counseling Program process, a digital certificate is issued through the e-mail address of the CFO clients. Original CFO Guidance and Counseling Certificate (GCC) will be issued to the clients may be mailed via courier service provider. Clients may also opt to pick up their original travel documents at the nearest CFO office by securing an appointment using OFCORS.
5. The digital certificate may be presented at the port of exit in the Philippines (Bureau of Immigration) in the absence of the original documents.
6. Clients are restricted from registering into multiple system. Multiple records will have to be deleted in order to proceed with the program.
That’s how to get a CFO Sticker with Guidance and Counseling Program Certificate For Filipinos with Foreign Fiancés, Spouses, and Partners within the Schengen Area. It’s a requirement, especially if you are traveling to meet your foreign partner for the first time or plan to live abroad with them.
This is rediculous i tried many times for an appointment but no luck. Whats the problem of your system always having an error