Going to Cebu tomorrow (Monday) to start my 13A spouse visa, hopefully there aren't any holidays. What time dose it open please

 

7.30 Jim but you have to go up the Stairs on the Right of the main Entrance, go along the corridor and there is a sign The mall is not open til 10

 

Both times I went there, we went in where they drop you off in the Taxi in the drive through, asked the Guard on the ground level where to go, he directed us through to the ground level Car park, we walked to the end, turned right, went to where the lifts are, and caught the lift to the 1st floor then walked to the Boi... *I was wondering WHY we could not just go through the same front doors we exited from to catch a taxi back to the Hotel...

 

I received my 13A visa in San Francisco last week. It was really quick and easy. The embassy sent me a list of requirements in advance, and I had copies of everything with me. We got in immediately, sat down with the visa officer, he arranged all of my documents in to the order he wanted according to a checklist he had (including chest x-ray CD, medical test reports, birth certificates, marriage license, police clearance). We were just there for about 15 minutes, and he took everything and said come back tomorrow at 2PM. We went back the next day and picked it up, my passport has a 13A visa stamp in it, and there is a sealed envelope to turn in to the Phil. BI office when we arrive. I was told that it is a six months probationary visa and during that time I am not allowed to leave the country, after six months report to the BI office in Cebu and upgrade to permanent status and obtain ACR card. The whole process was very easy, my medicare even paid for all of my medical tests.

 

We went through the front entrance, then took the elevator first floor, walked around on the veranda to the BoI office, did all the red tape, told to came back in 2 days time for interview,finger prints and photo, so we stayed in Cebu till then . We have to go back in 3 months to collect my 13A

 

I am sure that is the reason but many diseases have short incubation periods so those on a tourist visa pose an almost equal risk. Someone could enter the country with Ebola (incubation period 2 to 21 days) and have spread it within a few weeks, especially as tourists tend to travel to many different places in a short time period. But, as you say, rules are rules.

 

I was not aware of that level of sophistication. I realise that there are not many very contagious diseases (such as Ebola and SARS) being spread or else there would be major problems already worldwide; however, many sexually-transmitted diseases are undoubtedly being passed from and to tourists. The big one will be the next major flu pandemic.