Because you extended your tourist visa. If you are coming up on 3 years with a tourist visa you are running out of time. Maybe immigration will be understanding of your situation and can extend past 3 years but I wouldn't rely on that since they are under no obligation to do that. You need to be prepared to leave the country. Yeah, they "may" be able to give that to you. They may decide not to then you are out. Disabled and sick people get through the airports all the time. That really isn't an excuse. It might be a hassle and involve some extra expenses but that's nothing anyone should be surprised or caught off guard by in the Philippines. This is where I think you have set yourself up for failure. You shouldn't be here asking about transferring to a different type of visa a month or two before your 3 years is up, especially since you are in poor health. You have put yourself at the mercy of the Philippines government instead of being proactive and finding a solution months or years ago. There isn't much anyone here can do for you. The PRA has suspended taking applications the retirement visas, you aren't married, you aren't a student, you aren't working here, you don't employee 15 (or 50, can't remember which it is) Filipinos, you don't own a business, you aren't a diplomat, you haven't invested $70k USD in the PSEi or government approved project, you don't have time for the quota visas, you are coming up on the maximum 3 years on a tourist visa and you are in poor health. You have nothing going in your favor here. The only thing you can do is hope that immigration will have (or continue to have) a bit of compassion for your situation.
This thread continues a discussion begun this past August, "My Three Years Stay is Almost Over". https://dumagueteinfo.com/board/threads/my-3-yrs-stay-is-almost-over.55898/page-2 At that time, Mr. Liverpool Fan anticipated an extension of 3 months, renewable, because unfit to travel on medical grounds. Apparently, that has not worked out as expected? There was another poster in the same situation, the partner of (filipina) VonMark; she has not been heard from since. Worthy of note, if medically unfit to travel, airlines should refuse to board.
I wanna share my experience with getting permission to stay longer than the time visa allowed you. I had an accident on a motorbike was first at the hospital (broke my hips) couldn't work for 5-6 months, that time it was allowed 16 months on a tourist visa without leaving the Philippines, it's around 3 years ago. Immigration was helpful advice me on how to make a letter for Manila. 2 times I got an extension/permission to stay longer than 16 months, (it was that time 16 months). I know rules change all the time and who you talk to can have an influence on the result. A practical tip, when you leave the country you can get permission to enter the plane before anyone else, of course for a fee, easier come around and no one to push you, not all people care about others and get a seat with more space for your legs. The Travel agency next to immigration in Dumaguete took care of my ticket, and permission to enter the plane before others together with more space for the legs, wish you good luck with all. P.S Important with a good doctor to explain on paper, that you can't travel
Just to be clear, did you depart Philippines and return since August this year? Ability to return, as a tourist, is the question.
I assume the question is for me, as I write it's around 3 years ago, so I did not arrive in the Philippines after August 2020. My point is that it can be possible to get permission to stay in the country longer than your visa allowed you, but only in special circumstances. I always try to find open doors instead of closed ones. There are situations where people can't travel, in case of illness or accidents, the problem is to explain to authorities so you get permission to stay in the country until you have another solution, it opens up again or married so you can return with right visa, which you can get issued at the Philippine Ambassade in your home country
I see. In your post of May 14, 2020 you were describing the process you went through three years previously. Thanks for the clarification.
You are out of luck. Have a friend that applied for an SRRV back in January. Sadly, he’s an arrogant sort and slow rolled PRA in providing a background check. Here for only 2 years, BI wanted a USA background check. He refused. He finally got things back on track about Oct 15th, but PRA sent him an email that all processing of SRRVs was halted Oct 12th with no date provided for restarting. He’s gotta leave in April and can’t return till the travel restrictions are removed.
Rye83 Do you have any ideal when the PRA office is going to open again or gets any information on when they will let tourist back in I'm hoping they will let people that show they have a covid-19 vaccination will be allowed to travel to the Philippines my fiance and I have been waiting I currently work for Pfizer and we are no in production of the MRNA vaccine.