CFO Seminar no longer needed for tourist visa holders
CFO News! No longer needed for tourist visas!
Do you need to attend the CFO for a tourist visa?
Not anymore!
For those who don't know, the CFO aka Commission for Filipinos Overseas, was set up in the 1980's to provide guidance seminars for Filipinos going overseas, whether for work (OFW) purposes or for those fiancees and spouses of foreign nationals who have Partner Visas or Fiancee Visas (aka Prospective Marriage Visas).
These seminars are to ensure that the visa holders know their rights in the new country to protect them from being abused and taken advantage of. A really great scheme, which has no doubt helped a lot of vulnerable Filipinos over the years.
The CFO issued an advisory a few days ago. They never tell us! Fortunately I stumbled upon this bit of news.
"Filipino fiancees, 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."
Partner visa holders (including Prospective Marriage Visa holders) and other permanent resident visa holders ARE still required to attend! Don't forget that!
And we strongly advise those who gained their permanent resident visas inside Australia (ie Subclass 820 Onshore Partner Visa AND Subclass 801 Onshore Partner Visa permanent) should make sure they attend whenever they return to the Philippines after being in Australia, or you may get stopped from boarding at the airport! Don't give yourselves a headache by forgetting!
Passport Stickers from CFO
It used to be a requirement to get a sticker in your passport when your visa is granted. USED to be! Since earlier this year they removed that requirement, and we removed that instruction from our client notes.
Do you have to inform them that your partner visa has been granted? No idea! Probably not, as I don't see how the Bureau of Immigration staff at the airport would know whether you told them or not.
They only need to see:
- Your visa grant
- Your CFO certificate
But would appreciate if someone with a visa grant CAN tell the CFO and see if they say "Oh, you don't need to tell us anymore!" And let us know?
Happy travels!
Who are Down Under Visa? Who is Jeff Harvie?
Jeff Harvie and the Down Under Visa team have been doing this for a lot of years! Down Under Visa have brought thousands of couples to Australia from South East Asia over the years. Mostly from the Philippines, but we help increasing numbers of couples where the visa applicant is from China, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia. And what this means is we see a lot of success....and we also see failures when people go it alone after talking to their mate, or their relative, or that minimal-care-no-responsibility Facebook group run by Steve and Maribeth based on their own visa application! One application, and they feel qualified to advise others! It's not even LEGAL to do that!
Want to bring your sweetheart to Australia from The Philippines, China, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia? Get a FREE VISA ASSESSMENT today! It will take you five minutes.
