Thanks for the post/info. I agree, it would be justice if other countries did the same to the OFW's. BTW, does an exit clearance expire? I would most likely make a trip to Cebu long before I reach the 16 month mark. ( I've been here 7 months on a tourist visa, with proper extensions).
Balikan Stamp for married couples If you have the one year Balikan stamp on your passport, do you still have to go to cebu and do an exit clearance?
Yes they do, they are not infinite. Immigration advise that an Exit Clearance Certificate is applied for no more than 10 days before your intended departure. It will be asked for at the departure airport. You will also pay 550 peso departure tax. I have just returned from Hong Kong. An onward ticket was not asked for on arrival in Manila, but it had to be produced on check-in with Cebu Pacific in Hong Kong.
so we need to pay for the exit clearance +...p550 departure tax..and a throwaway ticket as well...just keeps getting better O-|
Should we only have to pay for the ECC I could live with it, but to get an ECC now the BI in Dumaguete cannot longer provide. the cost is a bit more than the 500 peso standard fee for that.
Yeah, and that's why I prefer to just pay it at the airport now. Even at about double the price (I think I paid around 1200-1500 last time at the airport) I still save money. Travel and lodging to Cebu or an overnight stay in Manila will cost me more than that. The mean little woman at the airport window gives me a little talk then sends me on my way.
2 years ago, I went to Hong Kong for 1 day after having stayed in the phils for 2 years. I paid around 2600 pesos plus 1600 plus 500 pesos. I had no exit clearance. f I have had one, I would have saved the 2600 pesos. The 1600 plus the 500 has to paid anyway. I'll be leaving again in early Oct. and, this time I went to Cebu and got one the same day. All in all, it cost me almost 2000 pesos for the bus, ferry, meals, and exit clearance costs at Cebu. Before leaving for Cebu, I met the lawyer from the immigration, who informed me that an exit clearance is only valid for 1 month. Hope this info is of some help
If you are flying back to the Phils, be sure to have a ticket back out. Recently, a friend was returning from Taiwan and, they refused to let him on the plane 'cause he had no exit ticket. He had to buy a new return ticket from Taiwan plus a new ticket from Manila to Dumaguete. It cost him almost 20,000 pesos because he had no exit ticket.
What is the easiest way to get an emigration clearance certificate while living in Bohol? Does the office is Cebu do that? If so, any advise traveling there, and how long it would take?