Exit Clearance ECC Exit Clearance

On a travel visa over 6 months but under 12 months on this entry. Is what AlwaysRT said.

Section 1. Issuance of ECC at the International Port of Exit. – An Emigration Clearance Certificate may be issued to a foreign national at the international port of exit who:

a) Is leaving the country within twenty-four (24) hours and with Boarding Pass;
b) Stayed in the Philippines for six (6) months but not more than one (1) year;
c) Is a holder of a valid Temporary Visitor’s Visa (TVV);
d) Has no pending obligation with the Government, its instrumentalities, agencies and subdivisions, and has no pending criminal civil or administrative action which by law requires his presence in the Philippines; and
e) Is registered under the Alien registration Program (ARP) and was issued a Special security Registration Number (SSRN).

 

I have read the many warnings but am amazed that apparently there has been only one member who has asked at NAIA who was in the 6-12 month range and was successful but that was over a year ago. Has no one else been successful, failed, or went to Cebu but asked at NAIA if they really had to?

 

Pre-flight update.

I printed the BI Operations Order and took it to the BI in Duma. None of the girls knew what I was talking about until they read it and then said they still don't know, do I want to talk to the supervisor? Yes please. He said the order has been rescinded and I should go to Cebu and get an ECC which is valid for 30 days.

I then called the BI at NAIA Terminal 3 (We are flying Cebu Pacific to Hong Kong) since that is the terminal we are flying from. In the middle of asking the question about being in Country 9 months and needing an ECC I was stopped and they said as long as I have a SSRN number I can pay at the airport - just make sure I have the number.

No problem, I have the number on the sliver of paper BI Duma stapled into my passport and I folded it over into the page my current Visa stamp is. It is also the same number on the back of my ACR card. Under the theory of no one's opinion matters but the office actually doing the work (letting me leave), I am going to try and get my ECC at NAIA. Will update with the result. (not an arrogant prick, just want to avoid an unnecessary day of extra pain. I accept the pain I deal with every day but have no desire to volunteer for extra, unneeded pain. Plus it would be helpful to others if indeed the trip to Cebu is not necessary.)

 

Best of luck to you. I always go the other way. A day of pain in the arse at Cebu Immigration gets me a for sure ECC rather than days of stress worrying about whether the official at the airport is going to give me an ECC or make me miss my flight. Sure looking forward to how it goes.

 

So if AlwaysRt comes back and says he got one at the airport will he be "one of those guys" or will it be reliable information, well researched and implemented?

 

I am generally a better safe than sorry type guy also, however I am not talking about the figurative, pain in the *ss of making the trip to Cebu. I am trying to avoid a much greater level of physical pain I have to deal with every day since spring 1991 that I go to the VA every 6 months to get meds to help control.

Only one person said they asked about getting an ECC at the airport in the 6-12 month window and he got it there. I was resigned to go to Cebu but called the BI at Terminal 3 NAIA direct since they are "the horses mouth" I will deal with. I said I am on a tourist Visa, been here 9 months and know I need an ECC, I found an Operations Order.... Was cut of being told as long as I have a SSRN number I can pay at the airport. I repeated, so I have a tourist Visa and as long as I have the SSRN and under 12 months I can get it there. They repeated 3 times they would issue it there as long as I had a SSRN. (It is the number on the slip of paper they staple in your passport and is also on your ACR card.)

If they don't do it when I get there, well sh*t happens and I will deal with it. To avoid pain I am deciding to believe the BI on the phone at terminal 3 knows what the BI at terminal 3 will do.

 

For what it is worth;
FOREIGN NATIONALS SHOULD SECURE ECC BEFORE LEAVING – BI

 

We can wish. Story time: I remember going to Cebu a couple years back and talking to that big dude called Rey something (he is at Dumaguete BI from time to time also so you may have seen him). I asked him if I could get my ECC in advance, (which was going to be a month from the time I asked him), to avoid making a special trip for it. He told me face to face: "Sure, no problem." When I showed up the next month to get it he said "Sorry, we could have done it for you last month but this month the boss is very strict and the ECC is only valid for 30 days so you will have to come back again within the 30 days." I was civil with him and I have dealt with him more times than I can count over the years and have always found what he says to be golden . . But . . not that time. So as I said: Best of luck to ya.