You can stay up to 3 years renewing your tourist visa every 2 to 6 months, if you wish to stay permanently there is a SRRV visa offered by the Philippine Retirement Authority and because of your military service it would be easy to procure... when you are here you can investigate with other expats...
Speaking of the Devil: Just got the final reimbursement check for a calm for medical expenses back in April 2019. Shows you how fast the FMP is in geting you paid back. In my experience; this is typical of how long it takes for the FMP to get you your money back.
The wife and I are both Americans. No Filipina. I guess the whole Visa process is confusing to me. I have been assuming I'd visit on a tourist Visa, explore the Ex-pat possibility, then apply for the next higher level to begin residency. What is that "next higher" Visa? And how/where would I apply for it? Through the U.S.? Through the P.I.? VA OPC is a concern mostly because of my medication. I'm on heart medicine, blood thinners, and take monthly arthritis injections, all provided by VA. These medicines are VERY expensive but I pay nothing due to my disability rating. I can't help but wonder if all my medical needs will transfer seamlessly so I may continue taking the same medicines. I wouldn't think I'd need to use FMP as there has never been a cost for any of my medicine thus far. Thanks for the help.
You and all the others ARE helping and I appreciate all of it. The format of this thread is a little confusing to me, so I'm answering all as individual messages.
Wow. So the Veteran has to be his own admin clerk, eh? Constantly keeping track of what was paid, when it was paid, how much was paid, and what's left to be paid? Sounds a lot like Tri-Care here in the U.S.
PatO, GrandpaInak, Happy Camper, Next topic: money exchange: Once I get there how/where should I exchange money? Or is US currency common? I hear there are ATMs. Do they disburse Pesos or Dollars? How do I inform my bank of withdrawals or purchases that may involve a foreign currency? Or is it best to just get the PI pesos here in the states and carry cash for the duration?
