SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) is urging Antiqueños to undergo guidance and counseling with their office to make a well-informed decision when applying for permanent migrant or permanent resident visas.
“We encourage those applying for a permanent visa to attend the CFO’s guidance and counseling program because it is not just a seminar per se, but we also assist, especially those who will be marrying foreign nationals, to make a well-informed decision,” Mila Bisa, CFO Emigrant Services Officer II said during a press conference Monday.
The CFO is in Antique for its annual Community Education Program (CEP), starting with the municipality of San Jose de Buenavista on Tuesday and Libertad town on Wednesday.
They can assist those seeking a permanent visa through the so-called marriage for convenience with a foreigner or even a Filipino in knowing better their petitioning fiancé or spouse through an assessment after the activity.
Participants will also receive a CFO certification as proof that they attended the pre-departure orientation seminar.
Those promised “too good to be true” job offers abroad can avoid falling victim to trafficking because the CFO chairs the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Advocacy Committee.
CFO Emigrant Services Officer II Judy Oaing, in the same media conference, said as of 2022, they have recorded 1,816 registered immigrants from Antique, with 409 coming from San Jose de Buenavista and 62 from Libertad.
“(The) United States of America is still the number one in terms of destination,” she said.
She also said that the number one reason for leaving the country is through a family petition. (PNA)