⌛ Just curious. Maybe an answer?

I'm hoping someone here can answer.
I went and got my visa extension the other day. The charge was 5589 pesos for a 2 month extension.
But, when I look at the page it shows a breakdown total of 4089 pesos and nowhere does it say what the other 1500 pesos is for.
Then, I looked at the last extension and the same thing. The breakdown is 1500 pesos less than I actually paid.
Some kind of processing fee maybe? But why isn't it listed in the breakdown?
I told my wife that would ask them and she said not to because they would make it hard for me the next time I go there.
Anyone have any ideas?

 

Foreign-Added-Tax

 

Well, my wife found the receipts for this extension and the one before that.
On a seperate receipt, it says "Express lane fee" 1000 pesos and "Express lane fee" of 500 pesos.
What the hell is that?
There was no "Express lane" and/or no "Non-express lane". In fact there was only one other guy in there when I was there. It's not like it was crowded and I asked for "fast service"
and, they are collecting this every time I go in there.
Of course, my wife said it's a "white tax".

 

lol welcome to the phillipines

 

Express fee has to be paid for everything, If your fees are above those:

The Bureau of Immigration, Philippines Official Website - VISA EXTENSION FEES (Updated!)

you got ripped off

 

Hi Rhoody, thanks for the link, its worth printing this and next time anyone has to renew a visa take it with you,then any arguments just show them.

 

But, do we really want to argue with the person that can have us deported and/or make our life miserable here?

And, another curious thing, sort of related..... When we were standing at the counter (only two females work there behind the counter), one lady said to the other "picture time" and took a picture of Rudy and I on her personal cell phone. I wonder why? It's not like she doesn't see "foreigners" all day long every day. Hummmmm

 

You will pay the express lane charges every where you go for the extensions. I'm surprised you weren't asked to pay the for the new ACR-I card. Any extension over 59 days now require this new card which cost $50.00 U.S. I just went through this process the other day. You will be required to have 3 passport photos, fill out the form pay the money and then wait 3 weeks for the card, which is good for 1 year.

 

Put it in prospective

When I was there last August I overstayed my 21 day standard visa. They caught me at the Manila airport on my way out. It cost me 4000 pesos for a one-week, after-the-fact, extension. I always carry around a calculator so I can get a perspective on what I'm spending in US dollars. Once I put it in US dollars it doesn't look all that bad. What really bothered me when they caught me last year was the fact that I almost missing my flight. No one to blame but myself and my ignorance.
At today exchange rate;
4000 PHP = $88.47 USD
2260 PHP = $50.00 USD
1500 PHP = $33.17 USD

Now take this into consideration if you wanted a room in a hotel on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu Hawaii, they wouldn't even let you in the front door for $88.47. Our flight on the Fourth of July takes us from Anchorage to Honolulu. On July 6 we catch the PAL flight from Honolulu to Manila. I think we, as foreigners, really need to carry around a small calculator so every time we see those big peso numbers we can put them in perspective and understand what it really costs.

 

actually, yes I do, and still here after 9 years ..