Methods For A Foreigner To Enter The Philippines, Effective December 7th, 2020

[OnMyWay]

1 hour ago, Heeb said:

I wonder though if you need to get a visa first before you leave since travel without a visa is suspended, the Balikbayan is only issued at immigration upon arrival. Since he already has a 9a it's moot but what if you don't have one.

I can't think of why you would need a visa to leave.  The 9A is about entering.  Maybe an ECC to leave, but otherwise everything is driven by the destination country rules.  Unless I am missing something.

[DaveB]

On 12/5/2020 at 12:37 PM, OnMyWay said:

Dave, I think when you come back, as long as you are traveling with your wife, you will now be able to avail of the Balikbayan privilege, and stay for one year without worrying about 9A renewals, etc.  By that time you will probably get your 13a.

Where did you end up finding a house ?

I'm still working the 13A.  Finally got my NBI background certificate and went right to BI...and the person who does the review/interview was gone.  That was last Monday.  Come back Wednesday.  Went back Wednesday and got the review - was told that my wifes' Certificate of Identification" (issued by the San Fran Consulate) needed a certified true copy - available only from the office in Intramuros.  What tweaked me was a month prior, on our first attempt to submit, there was a discussion about that certificate (kinda snowed the initial package reviewer) and he wanted us to go to Intramuros to get it approved - but an immigration officer came out and looked at it and said it was fine.  So...option B...and the plot thickened.  My wife's PSA birth certificate has the wrong birth year on it - I think I told this story once before.  Only way to change a birth year is to go through a court hearing - which we did a month ago after three reschedules.  So her original birth certificate says 1966 - and everything she has for last 40 years has used that.  The PSA birth certificate says 1967.  The 13A requires her to provide EITHER a birth certificate or government issued ID (for some reason, her passport doesn't qualify as such - need both passport and one of the others).  Solution: go to her lawyer who plead the birth change case and get a sworn affidavit that the person on both certificates is one and the same person.  Since that was local, seemed better to do that than go to Intramuros.  This was on Wednesday, and we're leaving next Monday for Christmas in the US, so getting constrained on time.  Lawyer jumped right on it, got us the affidavit yesterday...and the damned BI is closed today - it's a holiday (Pampanga Day).  So...gonna try one more time Monday morning to get this thing launched before we head to Manila for the plane Monday evening.

Is there any tale more typical Filipino than that?  I've been working various iterations of 13A submission since clear back in August starting in the US.  Every time I think "Got it now", up pops another problem.  So wish me luck for Monday.  I just keep reiterating my mantra "You're not in Kansas any more, Toto".

As for the house...ended up in a near-mansion in Carmenville subdivision in Angeles City.  Way, way out of my league, normally.  Blundered into a reduced rent and got a one year lease on a place the guy has been trying to rent for 5 months, so lucked out.  When we get back in January, we'll now have a stable base to work out of while we continue to ponder where we want to set up shop permanently...and I have an address to ship my balikbayan boxes to.

I had two main goals for this trip: get a place locked in for the general future, and get my 13A visa submitted.  One down, and one to go.

My plan in the future is to post a general overview of cultural adjustment issues for the new guys coming along behind me.  You old timers won't hear anything you don't know.  But I had told some folks I'd be the guinea pig and try to help set expectations.  I'm not in Kansas anymore.

[DaveB]

By the way...there's some mention earlier in this thread that the Balikbayan stamp might be available again.  If so, I have an option: continue to enter via my multiple re-entry 9A, or get the Balikbayan stamp.  If the 13A gets submitted, I'm a few months away from ever getting it finalized.  So if I'm on the 9A visa, I have to go through an $80 renewal fiasco before day 59 - each "entry" is only good for 60 days.  If I understand the Balikbayan stamp, I'm good for a year.  Seems like that is the better way to go.  Any comments?

[Clermont]

11 minutes ago, DaveB said:

Any comments?

Yeah mate, spot on, 12 months to get all your paperwork in order and as I've been reading, DO NOT use a photocopy of any of your paperwork without getting it notarized, the signature from the original paperwork is not good enough on a photocopy. They will give you the run around if your paperwork is not spot on. Contrary to what people write, they aren't mugs, just follow what is written concerning the application. Enjoy 

[DaveB]

Yeah...I never berate the people.  They are locked in with their guidance and directions.  Also, I've never understood why people come in wanting service and think the way to get it is to be snotty and demanding with the very people they want service from.  When we were there Wednesday, there was a wound up guy raising hell with the window clerk, and then with an immigration officer who came out to talk to him, and with all the other processors who do screening.  Ranting at the top of his voice and it went on for 20 minutes.  Definition of a JERK.

My main gripe is that the details that get you are unknown to you until you engage the process.  You can't get consistency across websites or even among processors...and you never seem to get all the details you need in one visit.  Something always pops up that you'd think they would have told you about in the first place.  I've found no way to deal with it except to take the last guidance, hope I asked the right questions, and try again - and then see what happens.  I learned all that a long time ago (been traveling here back and forth since 1987), and I just go into and roll with it.  Nothing else to do.  What I find ironic, is my Filipina wife has become very Americanized in her 30 years living in the states.  SHE'S the one who gets pissed and wants to argue.  

[hk blues]

All of the pedantry and issues mentioned above, and in another poster's wedding woes, underline again the point - if you can do it anywhere else it's preferable to doing it here. Much of the philosophy here is based on the kick the can down the road principle. 

[Shol]

20 hours ago, DaveB said:

I'm still working the 13A.  Finally got my NBI background certificate and went right to BI...and the person who does the review/interview was gone.  That was last Monday.  Come back Wednesday.  Went back Wednesday and got tht issues for the new guys coming along behind me.  You old timers won't hear anything you don't know.  But I had told some folks I'd be the guinea pig and try to help set expectations.  I'm not in Kansas anymore.

Good luck hope it works for you. I have waited now just over a month and no approval for implementation just yet.   I agree though it's a toss up on who you talk too and what you will be told as you can tell by my post in October.

Keep checking that darn BI approval website and it's either down or rarely updated.

Oh well take care.

[graham59]

(I am just waiting for my NBI Clearance Cert for my 13A processing too...and on 9As, following the expiry of my last Balikbayan.)

Just a thought:

When you return from the U.S. ...presumably within 6 months of departing from the Phils, won't you go back to needing 'police clearance' from your own country, rather than the NBI clearance...the need for which doesn't supposedly kick in until you've been in the Phils for 6 months ? 

Oh, and when you do return to the Phils (with your wife), I'd definitely ask for a Balikbayan stamp...regardless of any other tourist visas you may hold. Remember to have your original marriage cert to hand though.

Edited December 12, 2020 by graham59

[DaveB]

11 minutes ago, graham59 said:

(I am just waiting for my NBI Clearance Cert for my 13A processing too...and on 9As, following the expiry of my last Balikbayan.)

Just a thought:

When you return from the U.S. ...presumably within 6 months of departing from the Phils, won't you go back to needing 'police clearance' from your own country, rather than the NBI clearance...the need for which doesn't supposedly kick in until you've been in the Phils for 6 months ? 

Oh, and when you do return to the Phils (with your wife), I'd definitely ask for a Balikbayan stamp...regardless of any other tourist visas you may hold. Remember to have your original marriage cert to hand though.

Well, you do bring up something...but I may be OK.  Originally I was reading their requirement for the BI and noting that it says "6 months from first entry" into the country.  Since I entered (this time) on Oct 5, and was working this the first time on Oct 28th, didn't think I needed a BI.  But it turned out, "first entry" means the first time you were ever here.  For me that meant, February, 1987.  So I had to get the BI.  One of those little details that don't jump out at you the way things are written.  

With that in mind, I think my BI will still be good if I'm not successful in submitting my 13a application on Monday...but you bring up a good point: perhaps reentering triggers a new BI.  If I still have some problem, and have to plan on submitting when I get back in January, I'll thank you for setting me up to ask a question that would not have occurred to me.  And if I need a new BI...oh well.  Why not?

[graham59]

6 minutes ago, DaveB said:

perhaps reentering triggers a new BI. 

Yes, this is what I was wondering...and find confusing. 

Perhaps others who have been through the (Phils applied-for process) can comment.

Anyway, good luck, and happy Stateside Christmas to you both.