Comments on: Balikbayan status versus 13a visa in the Philippines http://www.expatinthephilippines.com/balikbayan-status-versus-13a-visa-in-the-philippines/ a Dutch expat decided to spend the rest of his life in the Philippines Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:43:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John Jackson http://www.expatinthephilippines.com/balikbayan-status-versus-13a-visa-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-1014 John Jackson Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:42:01 +0000 http://expatinthephilippines.com/?p=1055#comment-1014 So you just buy a refundable ticket to someplace? Is it 100% refundable? When we came to the Philippines in May 2010, we had follow on tickets to Hong Kong, that we just tossed when we arrived here. That was $100 down the drain (I bought the tickets during a promo). In May 2011 we plan to travel to South Korea for a few days and return for our new Bilikbayan status. So are you saying I must get a follow on ticket, or are there airlines that won't check for such things, since it's kind of wrong anyway? So you just buy a refundable ticket to someplace? Is it 100% refundable? When we came to the Philippines in May 2010, we had follow on tickets to Hong Kong, that we just tossed when we arrived here. That was $100 down the drain (I bought the tickets during a promo). In May 2011 we plan to travel to South Korea for a few days and return for our new Bilikbayan status. So are you saying I must get a follow on ticket, or are there airlines that won’t check for such things, since it’s kind of wrong anyway?

]]> By: Fritz Reinders http://www.expatinthephilippines.com/balikbayan-status-versus-13a-visa-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-918 Fritz Reinders Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:45:26 +0000 http://expatinthephilippines.com/?p=1055#comment-918 That mystery fee was most likely the Travel Tax (P1620 per Philippine Resident or visitor who has stayed 1 year or more) If you are a Philippine citizen who is a Permanent Resident or resident citizen in a foreign country the tax is P200 (the cost of the Exempt certificate) Also be prepared for the Philippine airport fees you will pay on the way to your boarding gate. P200 domestic & P750 international per passenger. (US currency accepted) The Philippine Tourism Authority has a Travel Tax Primer with details of the Travel Tax. http://www.philtourism.com/ttax.html On the immigration board I usually visit I see a lot of questions from Filipinos who discover these at the airport :) On the onward travel requirement. The Honolulu and Chicago (USA) Philippine Consulates list this as a requirement for Balikbayan Privilege entry...other consulates say nothing about it. PAL enforces it & I have seen reports that Cebu Pacific and a few of the other carriers also enforce it. The POE document check in Philippines also requests this proof occasionally. The advice from the PAL ticket counter is to buy a cheap ticket to Singapore, HK or similar nearby country and get a refund on arrival in Philippines. That mystery fee was most likely the Travel Tax (P1620 per Philippine Resident or visitor who has stayed 1 year or more)

If you are a Philippine citizen who is a Permanent Resident or resident citizen in a foreign country the tax is P200 (the cost of the Exempt certificate)

Also be prepared for the Philippine airport fees you will pay on the way to your boarding gate. P200 domestic & P750 international per passenger. (US currency accepted)

The Philippine Tourism Authority has a Travel Tax Primer with details of the Travel Tax.
http://www.philtourism.com/ttax.html

On the immigration board I usually visit I see a lot of questions from Filipinos who discover these at the airport :)

On the onward travel requirement. The Honolulu and Chicago (USA) Philippine Consulates list this as a requirement for Balikbayan Privilege entry…other consulates say nothing about it. PAL enforces it & I have seen reports that Cebu Pacific and a few of the other carriers also enforce it. The POE document check in Philippines also requests this proof occasionally. The advice from the PAL ticket counter is to buy a cheap ticket to Singapore, HK or similar nearby country and get a refund on arrival in Philippines.

]]> By: Jan http://www.expatinthephilippines.com/balikbayan-status-versus-13a-visa-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-640 Jan Tue, 06 Jul 2010 06:53:56 +0000 http://expatinthephilippines.com/?p=1055#comment-640 Hi Ednalyn, Thanks for this presize explanation and overview of the costs. Many visitors will appreciate it, and so do I. Hi Ednalyn,
Thanks for this presize explanation and overview of the costs.
Many visitors will appreciate it, and so do I.

]]> By: Edna Salva http://www.expatinthephilippines.com/balikbayan-status-versus-13a-visa-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-633 Edna Salva Mon, 05 Jul 2010 02:42:40 +0000 http://expatinthephilippines.com/?p=1055#comment-633 Hi, My husband and I were just done with his 13a permanent visa. But before that, you have to go through first with the one year 13a probationary status. Two months before the expiration of your probationary status you could proceed on processing your application to permanent. We processed his permanent on May 21, 2010 and it was approved on June 17, 2010. But we just know that it has approved on that date because you can't seem to contact the number that they have given to us. It just keeps on ringing and no one is answering. So what I did it to wake up early in the morning for thats the best time to call time. Sometimes it was a success but it works. After it has been approved we went to the Immigration Office in Intramuros to process the implementation. We paid P3,690 for the double express and after that we proceed to the ICR-Card window. We paid P2,829 for the card and waited until 4:30 pm for the release of his ICR- Card. But you should also be aware that upon leaving the Philippines you have to pay I think P3,500 plus. I am not so sure what kind of fee is that. My husband thinks that it is better if we proceed with our Singapore trip to get that Balikbayan visa but if you are planning to stay here for a long time, I think you will benefir form the 13a visa. If you have more questions, just email me and I am willing to help you as much as I can. Hi,

My husband and I were just done with his 13a permanent visa. But before that, you have to go through first with the one year 13a probationary status. Two months before the expiration of your probationary status you could proceed on processing your application to permanent.

We processed his permanent on May 21, 2010 and it was approved on June 17, 2010. But we just know that it has approved on that date because you can’t seem to contact the number that they have given to us. It just keeps on ringing and no one is answering. So what I did it to wake up early in the morning for thats the best time to call time. Sometimes it was a success but it works. After it has been approved we went to the Immigration Office in Intramuros to process the implementation. We paid P3,690 for the double express and after that we proceed to the ICR-Card window. We paid P2,829 for the card and waited until 4:30 pm for the release of his ICR- Card.

But you should also be aware that upon leaving the Philippines you have to pay I think P3,500 plus. I am not so sure what kind of fee is that. My husband thinks that it is better if we proceed with our Singapore trip to get that Balikbayan visa but if you are planning to stay here for a long time, I think you will benefir form the 13a visa.

If you have more questions, just email me and I am willing to help you as much as I can.

]]> By: Jan http://www.expatinthephilippines.com/balikbayan-status-versus-13a-visa-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-182 Jan Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:48:08 +0000 http://expatinthephilippines.com/?p=1055#comment-182 Hi Stephen, The more information one gets the better. I know from experience that not everything you read on the internet is correct. Also the Government of the PI is changing their laws on small points and even their civil servants do not always know the law exactly. It is always better to inform yourself at the Philippine embassy in your country. You can get a 13a visa there too. Best wishes to you and your family ! Hi Stephen,
The more information one gets the better. I know from experience that not everything you read on the internet is correct. Also the Government of the PI is changing their laws on small points and even their civil servants do not always know the law exactly.
It is always better to inform yourself at the Philippine embassy in your country. You can get a 13a visa there too.

Best wishes to you and your family !

]]> By: stephen dickinson http://www.expatinthephilippines.com/balikbayan-status-versus-13a-visa-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-179 stephen dickinson Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:00:56 +0000 http://expatinthephilippines.com/?p=1055#comment-179 HI thanks for that had a look and it seems the same info I got from the agency but good to have lots of contacts. Best wishes Stephen HI thanks for that had a look and it seems the same info I got from the agency but good to have lots of contacts.

Best wishes Stephen

]]> By: Jan http://www.expatinthephilippines.com/balikbayan-status-versus-13a-visa-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Jan Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:36:36 +0000 http://expatinthephilippines.com/?p=1055#comment-177 Hi Stephen, Thanks for stopping by at my website. There are a lot of forums on the web handling this question. I suggest to become a member of such forum where you can ask your specific questions. For example: <a href="http://www.bjruth.com/forum/index.php" rel="nofollow">THIS ONE</a>. The owner of this forum has a SRRV visa and can tell you all about it. Check it out. Hi Stephen,
Thanks for stopping by at my website.
There are a lot of forums on the web handling this question. I suggest to become a member of such forum where you can ask your specific questions.
For example: THIS ONE. The owner of this forum has a SRRV visa and can tell you all about it. Check it out.

]]> By: stephen dickinson http://www.expatinthephilippines.com/balikbayan-status-versus-13a-visa-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-176 stephen dickinson Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:54:44 +0000 http://expatinthephilippines.com/?p=1055#comment-176 Hi I'm a British national living in England and planing to retire to Cebu in a few years with my Filipino wife I read your exchanges with interest as the Visa/Permanent stay and return to the Phils issue is one that worries me. Do you guys know or have experience of the Retiree Visa on offer for various rates of investment known as SRRV? It would seem that to avail (see picking up the lingo) the least level of investment if your pension's less than $1000 US a month is to get your wife to become a foreign national, in my case to become a British Citizen, so we then need only invest $1500 US and the husband of a returning Filipino national I can stay permanently and have muliple entry status as her dependant. I got this info from the Phipinnes Retirement Authority by emailing their office in Cebu so hopefully it's correct. Any comments or additional info would be most welcome as would on going conversation about general life in the Phils like buying property etc. Regards Stephen Hi I’m a British national living in England and planing to retire to Cebu in a few years with my Filipino wife I read your exchanges with interest as the Visa/Permanent stay and return to the Phils issue is one that worries me.

Do you guys know or have experience of the Retiree Visa on offer for various rates of investment known as SRRV? It would seem that to avail (see picking up the lingo) the least level of investment if your pension’s less than $1000 US a month is to get your wife to become a foreign national, in my case to become a British Citizen, so we then need only invest $1500 US and the husband of a returning Filipino national I can stay permanently and have muliple entry status as her dependant. I got this info from the Phipinnes Retirement Authority by emailing their office in Cebu so hopefully it’s correct.

Any comments or additional info would be most welcome as would on going conversation about general life in the Phils like buying property etc.

Regards Stephen

]]> By: Jan http://www.expatinthephilippines.com/balikbayan-status-versus-13a-visa-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-175 Jan Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:29:55 +0000 http://expatinthephilippines.com/?p=1055#comment-175 Dave, I suppose you are right, but we were a little in a hurry and I couldn't find good deals on the internet. That was the reason for going to this travel agency. I didn't understand why they were asking for a return ticket. I was even trying to convince them that I was married to a Filipina and was entitled to receive a new BB status upon arrival in the PI. Anyway, I will keep it it mind for the next time. Thanks for your support. Dave,
I suppose you are right, but we were a little in a hurry and I couldn’t find good deals on the internet. That was the reason for going to this travel agency.
I didn’t understand why they were asking for a return ticket. I was even trying to convince them that I was married to a Filipina and was entitled to receive a new BB status upon arrival in the PI.
Anyway, I will keep it it mind for the next time. Thanks for your support.

]]> By: Dave Starr http://www.expatinthephilippines.com/balikbayan-status-versus-13a-visa-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-174 Dave Starr Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:15:39 +0000 http://expatinthephilippines.com/?p=1055#comment-174 Jan, It is _never_ a requirement for a foreigner to have an onward ticket to his or her homeland. This is a frequent myth, apparently perpetuated by people who sell tickets. What the law requires is proof of 'onward travel' within the period of stay allowed. 21 days for no visa (visa waiver program), 59 days for regular travel visa holder and one year for persons eligible for the balikbayan privilege. The onward travel may be anywhere outside of the Philippines, it does not have to be a ticket to a persons homeland. PAL, in particular, seems to refuse to allow what their own country's law allows. When my wife and I came here in 2006, they refused to sell me a one way ticket, even after if specifically showed them the rules, on paper. Because we were jammed up by time ... we had to get here by a certain date, I ended up buying a follow-on ticket to Hong Kong. Cost about $90 extra ... a little "Immigratiion Tax" imposed by PAL. Welcome to the Philippines Jan,

It is _never_ a requirement for a foreigner to have an onward ticket to his or her homeland. This is a frequent myth, apparently perpetuated by people who sell tickets.

What the law requires is proof of ‘onward travel’ within the period of stay allowed. 21 days for no visa (visa waiver program), 59 days for regular travel visa holder and one year for persons eligible for the balikbayan privilege.

The onward travel may be anywhere outside of the Philippines, it does not have to be a ticket to a persons homeland.

PAL, in particular, seems to refuse to allow what their own country’s law allows. When my wife and I came here in 2006, they refused to sell me a one way ticket, even after if specifically showed them the rules, on paper.

Because we were jammed up by time … we had to get here by a certain date, I ended up buying a follow-on ticket to Hong Kong. Cost about $90 extra … a little “Immigratiion Tax” imposed by PAL. Welcome to the Philippines

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