Marriage Visa Benefits of Marriage for Expat Women

Very difficult if not down right impossible for your situation as you need to have the child live with you for 3 years before they will process your application and I don't believe they will allow a single foreigner adopt a child. Of course money talks here and if you were to grease the right pocket anything is possible. But, legal adoption here is a nightmare just like everything to do with the legal system here. Now an informal adoption happens everyday here you take care of a child that was given to you by someone desperately poor and unable to feed another mouth... That is a very real possibility but, when you decide to move to another country the child would not be allowed to go with you as they are not legally related to you.

 

I suppose that depends on your age and how long you expect to live and whether you qualify for Military Courtesy SRRV or not. I don't know your sitiation but for many the SRRV is cheaper in long run.

 

Many people change their minds and leave after a couple of years. Or before. NO REFUNDS! I suppose I qualify for the Courtesy SRRV but I'm still not in love with it. I would be happier with something like paying $500 every three years for a retirement visa. If I stay 7 years at that point they would have made more money but I would still have my flexibility. Of course if I should marry a Filipina it will be BB. Until then it will be 9A. Actually I think the $1,400 application fee is just to get you accustomed to being screwed if you are brand new.

 

BB visa is nice as long as they honor it but it is at their discretion as legally you need to be out of country for one year to reapply for a new one if memory serves. I would rather get it out of the way either with 13a if married (as I used to be) or SRRV (courtesy) as I plan on getting after losing my 13a status when my now ex-wife and I separated. I have made my decision to live here, as I've been here 20 odd years or so now.

P.S. for those with 13a sposal visa it is only valid for as long as you stay together under the same roof with your spouse as a married couple. Officially if you separate or divorce the 13a is null and void. Just so you know!

 

I could BB until they decide to disallow it then I could decide whether it was worth registering my marriage and persuing a 13A at that time. maximum flexibility to me, least to do with the government, things to be treasured.

 

Good luck with that. Hopefully you don't get a customs agent in a bad mood and things go smoothly. I did that for a couple of years many moons ago until they started giving me and the ex-misses a hard time then went 13a. Of course that marriage didn't work out and we divorced so I lost my 13a now going for SRRV as I don't plan on getting married again just for a visa.

 

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I'm ok with getting right back on the plane and trying it again if necessary. The most dependable thing in the country is laxity. It's not the money savings but the lack of having to deal with the government I like. If I save a few dollars, that is an added bonus. If I got married it would be outside the country for HER benefit and just not report it to the authorities beyond immigration. 9A isn't so bad anyway with the 6 month long stay visa. For me this is just a ring to grab if you can reach it.