Is CFO required for travel? (for Filipinos)

For the H-1B, no. The CFO (Commission on Filipinos Overseas) is a Philippine government program, not a requirement of the U.S. visa or a step in the H-1B process with U.S. authorities.

It helps to understand what the CFO does. It is a Philippine agency that handles matters related to emigration and guidance for citizens who are going to live abroad. Its role tends to be most relevant in situations involving permanent emigration or cases that call for specific oversight, not in the typical case of someone traveling as a temporary professional on an H-1B.

In other words, the CFO requirement, when it applies, comes from the Philippine side and depends on the traveler’s category under Philippine rules, not on the fact that you hold a U.S. H-1B visa. They are two separate spheres.

Since the rules on both sides can change, the safest approach is to confirm directly at the source: with the CFO and Philippine authorities regarding their requirement, and with U.S. authorities regarding what the H-1B entails. When in doubt, a specialist can help you organize the documentation.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.