2nd trip for 2 months

[Sailor Jerry]

8 hours ago, usa32 said:

@Ram1957 Doesn't the returning leg of the round trip have to be departing within 30 days of arrival? My roundtrip will be coming back like 57 or 58 days after arrival. 

Hi @usa32 your round trip ticket is fine, if you can’t get the 59 day Visa prior to departure you will only need your passport when going to immigration to get extension. 

Although you won’t need, for those thinking about getting a throwaway ticket I recommend using Onwardtravel.com, bloody great for 14 bucks. Totally legit, have used now 3 times & no more $50 or $60 flights to Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia, closest international port) anymore for me.

Safe travels!

[russellmania]

22 hours ago, usa32 said:

@Ram1957 Doesn't the returning leg of the round trip have to be departing within 30 days of arrival? My roundtrip will be coming back like 57 or 58 days after arrival. 

I was in the Philippines for 58 days this past summer and I had a "rent a ticket" for 9 bucks that they never asked for. Not in my departing airport or at Mactan airport. At Mactan the immigration officer asked me how long a was staying and I told her 28days and she stamped my passport and waved me through. When I went to extend they never asked me why Im staying pass 30 day free visa. Im returning to Cebu on Thursday and I guess I will do the  "rent a ticket" again just to be on the safe side.

[usa32]

On 11/27/2022 at 3:05 PM, Gator said:

You might want to send the Philippines Consulate in Chicago an email to verify that they are issuing 59 day visas and what the process for obtaining one is (that’s of course if they are issuing them). 
 

The easiest way is at the airport in Manila. All you need is your passport and the fee (back in January it was 2,850 pesos). You do need to pay it in pesos. One time in Cebu a few years ago I was asked for a 2x2 passport photo; so it might be a good idea to have a few of them with you. No application / form was needed and the process was done in about 15-20 minutes. Each time I’ve done it I was then escorted to the front of the line. 
 

At a BOI office you will need your passport, the fee (approx 3,250 pesos, but bring more), two 2”x2” passport photos and the visa application form filled out. You can fill it out there or download one and fill it out in advance, which, depending on how busy the office is, might save you some time. 
 

Unless you go the consulate route and get the 59 day visa in advance (technically it’s a 29 day extension) you will need a throwaway ticket as the gate agent in the USA will not let you board without one. 

@Gator Contacted consulate in chicago. They said I can get a 59 day visa. But it sounds like they want me to "mail" my original passport to them with the fee and a few other things. Then they send the visa back within 7 days. My concern is mailing my original passport. Would you trust the consulate not to lose it? My trip is 2.5 months away. Would hate for them to screw it up, and not be able to travel period. 

[BrettGC]

6 hours ago, usa32 said:

@Gator Contacted consulate in chicago. They said I can get a 59 day visa. But it sounds like they want me to "mail" my original passport to them with the fee and a few other things. Then they send the visa back within 7 days. My concern is mailing my original passport. Would you trust the consulate not to lose it? My trip is 2.5 months away. Would hate for them to screw it up, and not be able to travel period. 

It sounds like what they're offering you is a 9a tourist visa rather than the visa on arrival (VOA).  It's the visa I had to obtain prior to entry due to no tourism being allowed at the time and I was granted it based on the fact I'm married to a Filipino national, so on compassionate grounds, for want of a better term. 

The major difference is that you can only extend the 9a visa for 2 years rather than 3 with the VOA. 

I could be wrong on the 9a issuance though and they may simply be stamping your passport for 59 days; I'd clarify that if I was you.  

As for trusting them with your passport?  I had no issues other than it was slower than expected coming back to me due mainly to the christmas mail rush.  Having said that, if I had my time again I'd use something like FedEx or DHL to make sure of it.  

[Gator]

32 minutes ago, BrettGC said:

Having said that, if I had my time again I'd use something like FedEx or DHL to make sure of it.  

I’ve always used FedEx when sending documents to the embassy and when I had to send them to the consulate in San Francisco for Report of Marriage. For some unknown reason they only allow the return of your documents via the US Postal System.  Perhaps it’s a security measure.  So I send via FedEx and enclose a prepaid USPS overnight or priority envelope (both have tracking numbers). As a side note, each time I’ve submitted documents I received a text msg from the Embassy / Consulate confirming their receipt. 
 

6 hours ago, usa32 said:

@GatorThen they send the visa back within 7 days. My concern is mailing my original passport. Would you trust the consulate not to lose it? My trip is 2.5 months away. Would hate for them to screw it up, and not be able to travel period. 

Depending on how busy they are, you can probably add +/- 2 business days to their 7 days. If you choose to go that route then you really don’t have any other choice but to trust them. Although I’ve  never dealt with the consulate in Chicago, the few times I’ve sent mine to the DC Embassy, and once to the Consulate in San Francisco, I’ve never had any issues. Just be sure to follow their instructions precisely. 
 

Worse case scenario that something does go awry, then you’d still have over two months to get an emergency replacement of your passport. 

[BrettGC]

14 minutes ago, Gator said:

For some unknown reason they only allow the return of your documents via the US Postal System.

Same in Australia, like you, no clue why. 

I received a text as well.  I only mention it as it seems to be one of the few things with any consistancy with regards to PI. 

[Gator]

2 hours ago, BrettGC said:

Same in Australia, like you, no clue why. 

I thought Oz had its own postal system, didn’t know they used the US Postal service! Is it as inefficient as in the USA? 🤣🤣🤣

Sorry mate, I couldn’t resist yanking your chain. Lol. 

[BrettGC]

9 minutes ago, Gator said:

Sorry mate, I couldn’t resist yanking your chain. Lol. 

Oh not at all, I sometimes think the Aussies system is modeled on the US!

[usa32]

15 hours ago, BrettGC said:

It sounds like what they're offering you is a 9a tourist visa rather than the visa on arrival (VOA).  It's the visa I had to obtain prior to entry due to no tourism being allowed at the time and I was granted it based on the fact I'm married to a Filipino national, so on compassionate grounds, for want of a better term. 

The major difference is that you can only extend the 9a visa for 2 years rather than 3 with the VOA. 

I could be wrong on the 9a issuance though and they may simply be stamping your passport for 59 days; I'd clarify that if I was you.  

As for trusting them with your passport?  I had no issues other than it was slower than expected coming back to me due mainly to the christmas mail rush.  Having said that, if I had my time again I'd use something like FedEx or DHL to make sure of it.  

Yes. It sounds like they are just stamping the passport with the 59 day visa. Cost is 30 dollars.

They specifically said this is a 59 day visa. My stay is 56. So that works.

Thank you for the confirmation on your experiencing on getting your passport back. And yes I will send it via a carrier such as UPS

[russellmania]

Update: I departed IAH on Dec 1st and the EVA Air check in clerk never asked for my onward ticket. She did ask for my e-arrival QR code. I have a RT ticket for 45 days. All else went smooth.