Marriage - Tourist Visa and 29 day waiver extension.

[Northern Lights]

This may be simple questions with simple answers.

This is my second time to the Phillipines. My fiance and I are getting married in January. What does this fall under for reason of travel there. Business, pleasure or other? Also after entry I will be immediately requesting an extension at a BI in Manila. How detailed does one need to be on paperwork?

Thanks

[Old55]

Clearly pleasure. Well done and good luck to you both.

[Northern Lights]

Thank you.

[OnMyWay]

9 hours ago, Old55 said:

Clearly pleasure. Well done and good luck to you both.

You can get the form here:

http://www.immigration.gov.ph/images/FORMS/TouristVisaSection/TVS-CGAF-VE-2016.pdf

For the extension, fill it in 100%.  There is not much there anymore so it is easy.  It used to be legal sized and required more info.

[bigpearl]

13 hours ago, Northern Lights said:

This may be simple questions with simple answers.

This is my second time to the Phillipines. My fiance and I are getting married in January. What does this fall under for reason of travel there. Business, pleasure or other? Also after entry I will be immediately requesting an extension at a BI in Manila. How detailed does one need to be on paperwork?

Thanks

Welcome to this forum Northern Lights, plenty of info and input from members as well as the BI sites. Congratulations on your marriage and I am sure we all wish you well and that you both prosper.

Cheers, Steve.

[Gator]

22 hours ago, Northern Lights said:

This may be simple questions with simple answers.

This is my second time to the Phillipines. My fiance and I are getting married in January. What does this fall under for reason of travel there. Business, pleasure or other? Also after entry I will be immediately requesting an extension at a BI in Manila. How detailed does one need to be on paperwork?

Thanks

Congrats and welcome to the forum. 

Get you extension right at the airport. As you enter the immigration area ask for the officer of the day or where the BI office is at (been a while since I entered via MNL - office used to be to the right of the immigration counters/booths).

Tell them you’d like a 59 day tourist visa extension and, if asked, that you’ll be traveling around a bit so not easy to get to a regular BI office. They will do a computer check right there and they will also collect the fee (no express fee so save about 500-750 pesos). The whole process only takes about 20 minutes and there’s no form to fill out. They may or may not require one or two 2x2 passport sized photos; best to have a couple of them with you. 

You’ll then be escorted directly to the front of the line and passed thru immigration. 

Note: you will need to have pesos to pay the fee. Last time I did it in Manila (about 2 years ago) it was 2,745 pesos. Best to bring a bit more and if possible to have some smaller bills to give them as close to the exact amount as possible. Keep he receipt they give you, you may be asked for it when you depart the Phils (I never was, but have heard of others being asked for it - no receipt then pay again, lol). 

[Northern Lights]

I like the idea of doing extension at the airport and would prefer to do so.

Some say they have done so successfully and others not so much. Plus, I will be flying in at night and not sure if this service is available at that time. Another thing to is if the process is slow your luggage is waiting to be claimed after immigration.  That makes me a bit uncomfortable. 

Some say that they asked at customs where to go and where guided to an office. Others asked right ato the immigration booths. 

So, I'm not clear on this process?

Last time I had pesos before I went although the exchange rates and fees are high to do it here in the states by mail. There is no exchange booths prior to passing immigration that I remember? So, I would have to decide soon if I had some pesos sent to me prior to trip. 

I know some have discussed airport visa  extensions here if I remember correctly. Anyone else recently do this?

Thanks for info.

[Northern Lights]

Oh yes. Speaking of 2×2 photos. After reading much here and other places it sounds like they no longer require that. Don't know if I get some photos done if it's just a waste?

[Jack Peterson]

15 minutes ago, Northern Lights said:

Don't know if I get some photos done if it's just a waste?

OH! I would, untill all places have Bio Equipment they may still need hard Copy Photos, Remember where you are coming to 

[Northern Lights]

Lol. Yeah, I would hate to kick  myself for not having something as simple as that if needed.