Seriously considering moving to the Philippines - Need More Info

[hk blues]

4 hours ago, Arizona Kid said:

Got tired of the rat race at the pest control place I worked...

I see what you did there! 

[Dave Hounddriver]

4 hours ago, Arizona Kid said:

Got tired of the rat race at the pest control place I worked at and made the move.

Sounds like the pest control worked.  And now you are here.

[Tukaram (Tim)]

If you are married the easiest visa is probably the balikbayan stamp (not really a visa). You enter with your wife and get a 1 year stamp for free.  The 13a visa is easy (spouse visa). It cost about p11,000 and you pay p300 a year during an annual report.  Very cheap, very easy (just like me).

How much money?  Completely up to you. $2,500 would be great for me.  I lived my first 6 years here on under $1,000 a month.  I was ok with that, many would not be.  I now have about $1,500 a month and do not spend it all. Our budget is still under $1,000 (Iloilo is cheaper than Manila or Cebu). 

Some of the biggest expenses will be rent, food, and electricity.  Rent is easy for you to decide your comfort level v your budget. We paid p6,500 for a 2 bedroom apartment in Iloilo city. Later we built a small house outside of town because I like not having rent.   Food & electricity can also be big, and again up to you.  If you want to run a window unit 24 hours a day, it is about p8,000 a month (again - Iloilo). Run it just at night, and fans during the day, about p4k-p5k.  Fans only, p3k.   Eating dried fish and rice is pretty cheap, daily beef is expensive.  My wife & I spend p10,000 a month on food and most of that is my food (she loves canned fish & rice).  

We could easily spend less, but I know guys that spend much more.  I know 2 guys that get $4,000 a month and spend every penny... I honestly don't know what they spend it on.  This is a pretty easy country, if you have a little money.  A terrible place to be broke!   

[jimeve]

12 hours ago, Tukaram (Tim) said:

The 13a visa is easy (spouse visa)

It is easier to get the 13a in your own country, before going to the Philippines,  It is in the UK anyhow. No need for a probationary 13a.  

[Clermont]

14 hours ago, Tukaram (Tim) said:

This is a pretty easy country, if you have a little money.  A terrible place to be broke!

Hi Tim, we visit just up the road a bit each year. We'll be there again in November, this year we're having a good look around and will be staying in Iloilo for a night or two, if you like we might be able to catch up with each other. 

[Arizona Kid]

18 hours ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

Sounds like the pest control worked.  And now you are here.

That's harsh dude!!

[Arizona Kid]

19 hours ago, hk blues said:

I see what you did there! 

Ouch.

[Gary D]

5 hours ago, jimeve said:

It is easier to get the 13a in your own country, before going to the Philippines,  It is in the UK anyhow. No need for a probationary 13a.  

Not sure that is now the case. The London embassy information now differs, can't link it as their site is down. 

[jimeve]

32 minutes ago, Gary D said:

Not sure that is now the case. The London embassy information now differs, can't link it as their site is down. 

It was before, has it changed and when?

[Gary D]

16 minutes ago, jimeve said:

It was before, has it changed and when?

As I said their site is down but the jist of it is that even out of country is now temporarily. Don't know exactly when it changed but months to a year. Of course the site could be giving BS.