by: Shanaz Well, February 2009
These are some things to consider before going to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for your passport application. In my case, I am married to a foreign national so I need to produce some documents in relation to my change of name in my passport.
I need to go first to the Commission on Filipino Overseas Office (CFO) for three reasons:
1. To undergo a guidance and counseling program/session
2. To secure guidance and counseling certificate
3. To secure CFO sticker
What to Do or Bring?
1. Two valid identification cards with photograph. In my case, I brought with me my driver's license issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), professional license issued by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance.
2. Filled-up CFO Guidance and Counseling Form. Just an additional information, you need to have the following data:
a. Address and contact number of the person of the country of destination
b. If you don't have a passport yet or visa number, leave it blank
c. Data of your nearest family member in the Philippines inclusive of address, email address, telephone number, and fullname (with full middle name)
d. Petitioner's Data. My petitioner was my husband. Since some spelling of names, of addresses, or words in Germany are a little complicated for me because of the German umlauts, I was very careful in filling up the details. There is a portion in the form where you need to fill up Year of Migration (only the year). My husband is a German national so he did not migrate to Germany for any reason because he was born there. I just wrote the year when he was born because it was on that year that he first stepped in Germany. Logically yes!
e. Don't forget to affix your signature over your printed name.
3. NSO Marriage Contract
4. Other documents. Since CFO office is far from my hometown, I brought with me all necessary documents which I can bring. It is sometimes better to over produce documents than exact. It will help.
Where is CFO Office?
St. Mary Euphrasia Foundation-Center For Overseas Workers
(SMEF-COW) Manila
Good Shepherd Convent, 1043 Aurora Boulevard
Quezon City, Philippines 1108
Tel. No.: (632) 913-6439
Fax No.: (632) 913-6438
St. Mary Euphrasia Foundation-Center For Overseas Workers
(SMEF-COW) Cebu
Tel. Nos.: (032) 235-3745, (032) 235-3746,
Fax No.: (032) 232-1039
People's Reform Initiative for Social Mobilization Inc. (PRISM)
2nd Floor BDO Building, 2422 Taft Avenue
Tel. Nos.: (632) 525-3114, (632) 525-3783, (632) 525-4314
Fax No.: (632) 5253114
Notice that SMEF-COW has two offices, one in Manila and one in Cebu. PRISM, however, is only in Manila. Each office has their own Guidance and Counseling session schedules. Schedules are depending on which country you want to apply for a visa. Schedules are subdivided in the following areas: 1) North America, 2) Asia Pacific, 3) Europe, and 4) Other countries which includes Middle East, African, and South/Latin American countries. You do not need an appointment before you go to CFO. All you will need is to know which office you chose to undergo the said seminar, know which country you would apply for a visa later on, check the schedule of the seminar for that designated country, bring your documents, and be at least two hours ahead your scheduled time. I advise you to check their schedules over their website, www.cfo.gov.ph. Needless to say, you can go to the offices nearest to you.
