⌛ A couple of questions

buying a boat here will be infinately cheaper even with long nose tax.

If you have to pay duty, it will be at least double the value of your boat, and subject to arbitrary customs agents ripping you off. Your wife should ship everything in her name. She will always retain her Philippine citizenship. IF you can ship the boat in a container Balikbayan, maybe, but still if they open it see a boat, you are at the mercy of the customs agents with no recourse.

Always asume the worse case and plan accordingly.

 

No, you should be able to barter with the locals for a good price for a boat. Bringing a boat here is going to be a big pain in the arse!

You will only get a balikbayan stamp if you are accustomed with your wife and child when you enter the Philippines. If you leave the country and try to come back in by yourself, you will not get a balikbayan stamp. That is what I think the policy is. maybe some other members are more up to date than I am on this.

 

there are many ways to get a balikbayan stamp... and any other kind of visa. the worst way is to give the government money which they claim you can borrow back to buy a house etc. resident retirement visa I think it is called, I have heard that their are issues with that one... like actually getting the money!
Balikbayan is being extended to two years shortly.Starting February I have heard.

 

No I have decided not to go the retirement visa route even if I had the money, which I don't. I think they require $75000. With all the corruption there the money might disapear. I guess I'll leave the boat and car here. I have a buyer for the boat I think anyway. The 13a visa might be ok but it looks like a lot of bs to me. BTW anyone have any suggestion about a balikbayan shipping company that would ship the container?

 

currently it is 25k and 50k, depending on your age.

 

unless you have connections up high, just sell your boat and buy one here. let a local friend do the negotiating so that you can avoid the long nose tax. :D

 

Also I suggest that you sell your car. Remember, cars depreciate in value. Unless, it is an old car or antique car. Also, you will have to pay a high tariff for bringing in a car into the Philippines.

Sell the boat would be my suggestion too.

 

The 13a visa is exactly the point. @30% +12% of the value of your Household Goods, it is pretty expensive baloney.

I would NOT dismiss it too quickly!

 

Just put the household goods in your wife's name and you should be able to avoid the customs people. Otherwise, you will pay and be very frustrated with their "manana" attitude.

 

Sky6King,

My two cents....I have known foreign friends in America that had a green card and STILL had a problem getting back INTO America after visiting their families abroad. THis was BEFORE 911. I personally would want to make sure that your wife can easily get back to America if necessary. She can get a dual citizenship passport anyway so that you are both covered on the PHL side of it.

Anyway, good luck to you and your family on your move and I am interested to know how it goes. Keep us updated in the process so that others retiring here can learn from your mistakes and smart moves. Hopefully, the mistakes will be little since many on this forum have already made enough mistakes to steer you right.

Cyndi