Best Posts in Forum: Passports and Visas

Some recent experience (went to Cebu to get my ECC clearance yesterday)

I went to the Dumaguete BI office first, to make sure I would bring the correct documents to Cebu.
That was a bad idea. The list of "requirements" they have at the Dumaguete office is completely wrong.
It mentions copies of this, that and the kitchensink, none of which turned out to be needed.
It also mentions five 2x2 pictures, you need only three.
It does not mention to bring a printed copy of your flight ticket, but I was asked for one.
I was told at the Duma office that it would take 5 days, which turned out to be not true.

So here are my tips to increase your chances of getting your ECC in one day.
1. Bring your passport, three 2x2 pictures, and a copy of your plane ticket out of the country.
2. Be at the Cebu BI office as early as you can; it gets a lot busier in the afternoon, plus there is a 2 p.m. cut off time for accepting ECC applications. We took the 6 am fastcraft boat from sibulan, were at JCenter Mall just before noon, it wasn't really busy yet at the BI office. I would probably have walked out with my ECC within an hour or so, but because of the missing copy of the flight ticket we needed more time. When I returned to the BI around 1:30 p.m. it was already a lot busier.
3. Be polite and kind, but explain that you travelled from quite far to get to Cebu and that it would be very awkward if you need to return there just to pick up the ECC.
4. The fee has been increased to 700 Php (plus 10 peso for legal costs or something); don't offer to pay more to hurry things up, you may insult the person you are making such offer to. No other fees.
5. Note: I'm on a tourist visum, longer than 12 months in the country, no problems with previous visum extensions whatsoever and I have a valid ACR-card. My experience may be of some help to you, but possibly not if your situation is different.

 

Jo

Jolo Island, the home base, should be turned into a cinder as a "warning" to other militant groups!

 

There is an agent in the same hallway as BI about halfway down the hall to the BI on the left. They will handle your visa extension at the BI for you. They charge 1000 but it is very convenient. They also do exit clearances. 4000 for that and you only have to see them, no Cebu trip.

 

I was checking out for kin the latest BOI Advisory after PH reimposed a temporary ban against foreigner entry beginning March 22 until April 21 and the IATF ordered reduction in number of inbound international travelers to 1,500 a day at each international airport.

There is no lifting amendment but there is a reiteration in today's Press Release, posted at https://immigration.gov.ph/images/News/2021_Yr/04_Apr/2021Apr07_Press.pdf, clarifying that the Balikbayan privilege allowing visa-free entry of foreign immediate kin remains suspended, so that the foreign parent, the foreign spouse, and the foreign childen of Filipinos each must secure a valid visa from a PH foreign post abroad to be able to enter the Philippines.

It is further clarified that, even with a valid Philippine visa, the foreign parent, the foreign spouse, and the foreign children of Filipino citizens still cannot enter the Philippines if they are traveling unaccompanied by the Filipino immediate kin.

It was confirmed that, a Filipino's foreign child who is a minor (below 18 years old) and who is travelling unaccompanied by his adult Filipino immediate kin or alone with airline assistance, can enter Philippines if he is holding a valid Philippine passport. At this time, pre-arranged airline assistance for the minor all the way to the arrival greeters' area is very important because MIAA issuance of a Meet & Assist Access Pass ID, that allows a non-passenger kin airport entry up to the arrival baggage claim or immigration clearance area, continues to be suspended due to the CoViD-19 situation.

It was also confirmed that a foreign parent or a foreign spouse travelling with a Filipino's foreign child, even though both are unaccompanied by the Filipino immediate kin, can be considered to enter the Philippines if his accompanying foreign child holds a valid Philippine passport.

 

You said you are just kidding but perhaps not a kind reply to a sincere question asked by a member on behalf of a friend who obviously has concerns. Clearly the father is a UK citizen and it seems the mother would be a Filipina - the title was clear to me. Unrelated to this thread, BUT whether or not any person is gay is no more relevant than if their eyes are blue, brown or whatever.

 

You seem to be a person who likes to be organized - and that is a good thing - but you need to lose that trait in The Philippines or you will become very frustrated.

 

I do not see a recent update to this so I am sharing my experience:

U.S. Passport expires in July this year and have travel plans so need new passport to comply with the 6 months remaining requirement the Philippines and other countries have.

I filled out the application using the wizard on the embassy website and printed it out. On the application you can request the larger passport which has twice the pages as 'normal'. The cost of the regular and extra page passport is the same, the State Department no longer issues extra pages to add to your passport so if you think you will need them get them on renewal.

Per the instructions on the website, I went to BPI and got a bank draft for $110, had to put my wife's name and account number on the BPI request but they put my name on the draft. Not sure, but sounded like you need an account to get the draft. The exchange rate they used was better than xe.com (over p50.00 to $1 on a P49.xx to $1 day) and charged p250 (best I can remember) service fee.

Since the Air21 phone number at the Embassy does not work (per the instruction sheet, I believe it is finally working now) I just went to Air21 in Duma. Instead of p240 round trip door-to-door, it was p300 to send from their office and I will have to pay the Air21 return fee COD to the driver.

2 weeks since I was at Air21 I checked the Embassy Passport Status website, it said my new passport has been printed in the US and sent to the Manila Embassy.

Final result, I recieved my old and new Passport (with extra pages) via Air21 COD to my door today. COD fee was p120. That makes it mailed to Embassy via Air21 in Dumaguete on Friday 27 January and received via Air21 in Valencia on Wednesday 1 March, 2 days short of 5 weeks.

 

Good Morning All, I am putting this here so that it does not muddy another Thread on a similar issue. After speaking to my Lawyer Last night (A Filipino BI Lawyer) she tells me that many Foreigners fall down on this issue.
PROBATIONARY.
Once you have been approved for a 13a This is not the End of it, We ( or our Agent if used) Must revisit the BI to have our Passports Stamped (Time limit is usually 6/8 weeks) the Stamp will say Converted from 9a Tourist to Section 13a Probationary Resident and will give a date of it's expiry If, this is not done they can dismiss this 13a and you will be left at the mercy of the last entitlement of Stay which will be your last extension and as thus you will be an Over stayer.
CONVERSION TO PERMANENT.
1 Year or 9 months they say, we have to do it all again, then a new Stamp will be put in the Passport to State you are now a Permanent Resident on section 13a. The Word Permanent means No expiry date. Although some members may have a date on theirs.( ie: 5 years)
As to the ACR Cards the First one will be for 1 year the next will be for 5 years ( Although I believe this is to Change) they can take 8/10 weeks as we know already Some times longer, that's OK as it is what is in the Passport that is important.
Just a Heads up on this as it is Important we all Understand

I just thought that it would be prudent at this time to write and say we Must be aware of these things as What it says in our Passports, is what the Authorities will be looking For.

Sorry if it seems I am Preaching to the Choir but just Lately it seems that some are overlooking the Obligations we need to be Doing to stay Legal.