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[Steph C]

yes, it's disgusting how little information is provided and updated leaving people lost in limbo. They really need to hire more people and reduce this bottleneck in the process. Appl sent in september, approved, forwarded to manila and received on Nov.9/12.... and that's all i know... no letter... no update... nothing...

It should be soon for you, I think you should receive news within the next month judging by the other applicants timelines.

 

[doljan]

Okay, maybe I will do what I am best at and organize some documents for him to print and bring

I did a really good relationship history picture story word document. haha. Maybe he can print that out and we don't have a lot of letters or postcards, but maybe the letters of support would do, and some phone bills or chat logs? ??? I know he can make it happen.. he's such a charismatic person, people and animals love him :-*

Thanks for your help Doljan! I hope you are warming up a bit.

yep, i'm starting to like the cold weather, keeping myself busy... he will make it i'm sure,
when is he planning to go there?

 

[Steph C]

yep, i'm starting to like the cold weather, keeping myself busy... he will make it i'm sure,
when is he planning to go there?

Next week, Wed-Fri. He wants to get it over with before election time ;D Whatever that has to do with it ;D

 

[doljan]

Next week, Wed-Fri. He wants to get it over with before election time ;D Whatever that has to do with it ;D

from what i know, he can get the sticker when he has the visa at the airport when he is about to depart phil., he dont need to go back to cfo office when he recieve his visa. good luck for your hubby.

 

[Steph C]

from what i know, he can get the sticker when he has the visa at the airport when he is about to depart phil., he dont need to go back to cfo office when he recieve his visa. good luck for your hubby.

I really hope so! Another trip to Cebu :-X :-X well I did see some 1P seat sales on Zest.. but still! Well, I should stop micromanaging him and let him deal with it.. I know he will get it done nicely

 

[scos]

I really don't think the address change means anything. My wife's address changed to mine months ago (beginning of the year) and yet no notifications have been received in email, postal mail, telephone or ECas. And of course still no re-medical.

 

[scos]

Doljan, I'm a bit scared now! We don't even have a marriage certificate. I think this could go badly :-[
Maybe if they deny it he can try Manila

You know, I don't see this as a real impediment anyway. The Canadian side certainly doesn't care about the sticker, and you can always fly out of the Phils without one as well. So if they really did refuse to issue one, you could still jump on a plane to HK, then fly here and land. I can't see Canadian immigration sending you back because you didn't have a seminar.

I wonder how many people left without the seminar because they didn't know about it?

 

[Dan_from_Surrey]

So not to get off topic about the CFO and stickers and such, but....

When getting plane tickets for our better halves to come back to Canada, how are most people doing that? Simply buying them on expedia or such, and let your partner print up back home, going through a travel agent?? I really don't travel much, and what I do for my union stuff, someone else books the ticket, I get a package from the union office, with dates and times, and I just show up and give my printed ticket to whom ever is watching over the boarding passengers and hope for the best (I gave up on those automated ticket scanning machines at the airport, I have yet to have one work for me).

I just don't want to buy a ticket online, and find out it is no good on the other end to board the flight (yes this is extreme paranoia of the unknown I know) but I thought what the hay, doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[doljan]

You know, I don't see this as a real impediment anyway. The Canadian side certainly doesn't care about the sticker, and you can always fly out of the Phils without one as well. So if they really did refuse to issue one, you could still jump on a plane to HK, then fly here and land. I can't see Canadian immigration sending you back because you didn't have a seminar.

I wonder how many people left without the seminar because they didn't know about it?

the problem is immigration manila will not let you fly out of the country if you dont have the cfo sticker and certificate., there is definitely no problem on canada side as cbsa dont even ask for it.

 

[scos]

the problem is immigration manila will not let you fly out of the country if you dont have the cfo sticker and certificate., there is definitely no problem on canada side as cbsa dont even ask for it.

Only if you tell them you are emigrating. Many people fly to HK, Thailand, SG, etc all the time. And you can get a plane from there to Canada.

I'm not recommending it for everybody, but if for some reason CFO absolutely refused to issue a sticker yet you had a valid visa it is a consideration.

 

[doljan]

So not to get off topic about the CFO and stickers and such, but....

When getting plane tickets for our better halves to come back to Canada, how are most people doing that? Simply buying them on expedia or such, and let your partner print up back home, going through a travel agent?? I really don't travel much, and what I do for my union stuff, someone else books the ticket, I get a package from the union office, with dates and times, and I just show up and give my printed ticket to whom ever is watching over the boarding passengers and hope for the best (I gave up on those automated ticket scanning machines at the airport, I have yet to have one work for me).

I just don't want to buy a ticket online, and find out it is no good on the other end to board the flight (yes this is extreme paranoia of the unknown I know) but I thought what the hay, doesn't hurt to ask.

just book a flight thru any travel agency like expedia or cheapoair, then forward the confirmation mail to your partner and he/she can print it out.

 

[doljan]

Only if you tell them you are emigrating. Many people fly to HK, Thailand, SG, etc all the time. And you can get a plane from there to Canada.

but if you were requested by a booking certificate from CEM before they issue your visa? then there is no way for you to escape this CFO madness...
and also, the philippine government will document and record your file as immigrant otherwise, it is condsidered human trafficking.
and besides, you dont want to ruin your hardwork and patience of obtaining the visa and it might jeopardize it.
better be safe than sorry...

 

[scos]

but if you were requested by a booking certificate from CEM before they issue your visa? then there is no way for you to escape this CFO madness...

Ok, so on the super-rare instance where you get a nasty CFO person who steadfastly refuses to give you a CFO sticker (even though they have no right to refuse it) AND CEM decides to fast track you by requiring a booking certificate you could book a 2 part flight (not connecting) through another country. Show CEM both parts of the itinerary. But as far as the Phil. Airport is concerned you are taking a single flight to the first destination. You could also just tell CEM you can't leave right away and get a re-medical and not have to provide a booking.

The real facts are that they have no right to refuse you the sticker since the whole point is to make sure you attend a seminar which you did. Further, while it would make it more of a hassle to leave without the sticker, there are in fact ways to do so.

Actually the best solution would be to complain and get the sticker and leave the proper way, but I can imagine how long that would take. And by best I mean that it will stop these people from pulling this stuff in the long run, not that your case would go faster or better.

 

[doljan]

Ok, so on the super-rare instance where you get a nasty CFO person who steadfastly refuses to give you a CFO sticker (even though they have no right to refuse it) AND CEM decides to fast track you by requiring a booking certificate you could book a 2 part flight (not connecting) through another country. Show CEM both parts of the itinerary. But as far as the Phil. Airport is concerned you are taking a single flight to the first destination.

The real facts are that they have no right to refuse you the sticker since the whole point is to make sure you attend a seminar which you did. Further, while it would make it more of a hassle to leave without the sticker, there are in fact ways to do so.

you are right, they dont have any right to refuse, i think they are just power tripping.... supposedly it is guidance and counselling seminar, as the name implies, it will guide and give info for filipinos to help settle abroad. but sadly, it is not what's happening, its more like interrogation, again i'm speaking only for my experience...

 

[scos]

Looks like you have to go back to CFO for the sticker:

You may avail of the Guidance and Counseling Session even while you are still processing or waiting for your visa. If such is the case, you will only be issued the GCC. Once your visa is released, you will return to CFO to continue with your registration. The CFO sticker will then be affixed on your passport.

http://cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1348:fiancee-spouses-and-other-partners-of-foreign-nationals&catid=140