Balikbayan Visa Balikbayan Program

Even with a BB privilege and a note stating you don't need a forwarding ticket?

 

Never been denied a BB privilege at immigration line, must have used that about 12 times since coming here since 2002. Now I'm permanent residence, Not bother about it.

 

The Bureau of Immigration announced an end of restrictions on the entry of foreigners and minor children who are immediate family members of Filipinos.

PRESS RELEASE: 01 December 2020

BI reminds: Alien family members (spouse and children born outside of the Philippines) of a Filipino, can’t come to Philippines, if they are not traveling with or joining the principal in the Philippines, because if they attempt to enter when the principal is outside the Philippines, they will be refused entry upon their arrival at the airport in the Philippines.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the advisory after the bureau received a clarification from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) explaining the rationale behind the recent decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to lift the restrictions on the entry of foreigners who are immediate family members of Filipinos.

“The intent of the IATF resolution was to enable foreigners to reunite with their families in the Philippines. Thus, such intention is not served if the alien comes here when their spouse is not in the country,” Morente said.

The BI chief said they received queries from foreigners who complained they were not allowed by the airlines to board their flights to Manila because their Filipino spouses were not in the Philippines.

"The intent of the relaxed restriction for Balikbayans is to allow families to reunite this holiday season," said Morente. "Apart from those exempted by the IATF, others who will be entering under a tourist status will still not be allowed," he clarified.

On Saturday, the BI announced that they will resume granting visa-free entry privileges to tourists falling under the Balikbayan Program starting December 7.

Balikbayans (Former Filipinos and their spouse and children are allowed visa-free entry under Executive Order No. 408, series of 1960. They are eligible for a 1-year stay in the country, without the need to apply for an entry visa but must be traveling with the Filipino or former Filipino principal.

Inbound Balikbayans are required to: (i) be from visa-free countries under Executive Order No. 408, s.1960; (ii) have a pre-booked quarantine facility; (iii) have a pre-booked COVID-19 testing at a laboratory operating at the airport; and (iv) be subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry.

Morente clarified that if dependents of a Filipino are not traveling with the principal, but are joining them in the country, they will be allowed entry if the principal is still a Filipino citizen, and if the dependent child is still a minor, but minor dependents must secure an entry visa from the Philippine Post abroad.

Morente said “the Balikbayan privilege will not be extended to any other family members, only to spouses and children of Filipinos."

Other travel restrictions for inbound passengers, according to the BI, remain in effect.

 

Just to clarify: This quote comes from within the midst of a section on the Balikbayan Visa Waiver - but I am assuming (as stated earlier in the section) that the usual rule will apply that the foreigner's Filipino spouse MUST be physically present at the immigration desk. I query this so that no one flies here on a misunderstanding and is refused a BB Visa Waiver, as no other route would then be opened to them (i.e. to enter via Tourist Visa).

 

This needs a clarification.

BI reminds: Alien family members (spouse and children born outside of the Philippines) of a Filipino, can’t come to Philippines, if they are not traveling with or joining the principal in the Philippines,...

How would the principal meet them at the immigration desk if the principal is already here?

 

Just seen this, why are you quoting me on this?
Don't worry about it, I'm having a bad day.
Cheers.

 

The way I read it, is the Filipino spouse only needs to be in the country, not at the immigration desk. My guess is the alien spouse upon arrival in the Philippines, must have in their possession at the immigration desk, documentation that proves the Filipino spouse is currently in the Philippines (perhaps a signed letter of guarantee from the local BI office or something like that.