Marriage Visa 13A Visa/ Visa Question

Hi, I think I have hit a bit of a snag? (Partially due to short term memory retention problems and the inability to absorb written instructions)

I am planning on returning to Negros at the end of November this year (2104) and was in the process of emailing Philippines Airlines regards Direct Flights from Brisbane to Dumaguete via Manila with no overnight stays, then I began thinking about my Visa...

I understand I get 30 Days on my Visa going from Australia to the Philippines...
From memory of my last trip, I am sure when I arrived, I had to produce a Return Ticket to gain entry to the Philippines...
But; I am moving there to live, not return back to Australia for at least 18 months or more...

I asked PAL if I am able to gain a refund on my Return Ticket (still waiting for a reply) when I am in the Country as I have no plans of returning.

I assume when I am there, I may need to initially gain an extension on my Visa for the first bout while I apply for the 13A Visa.
I do not want to do the Balikbayan Husband thing, I just wish to live there and apply for my 13A Visa ASAP.

I assume I will need to travel to Cebu with my Wife to lodge the Letter of Petition for me to reside with my Wife in the Philippines as well as lodge my application for the 13A Visa.

Am I on track or am on a bum steer here going about it the wrong way, and do ALL foreigners need to do exactly the same thing to gain the 13A Visa? I am sure I read something n one page about having to have something like $20,000.00 in the Bank to prove I am able to support myself and my Family there, or do I simply gain copies of my Bank Statements to prove I will have a steady Monthly Income by way of my Australian Pension and show to them my Monthly Income...

Any tips would be greatly appreciated as the time is drawing closer for me to go and I am afraid I may be in over my head before I am ready... d*mn Anxiety!

 

Brian, I'm on my 6th year as a 13a perm. resident so my experience may differ, also once I was approved I had no reason to keep up with any new requirements, but here goes. As far as I know you will be placed on a one year probationary visa before it is final. When I was granted my probationary visa I was told not to leave the country for that year unless it was an emergency and I notified them far in advance and that it would cause problems. If this is still their practice, I would think it would be much easier and cheaper to enter the country as a Balikbayan assuming your wife will be traveling beside you.

As far as the income requirements, I'm not sure, My wife had 2 pieces of property with me as her husband and I verbally told them I had an income from back home. There web page should give you the rules.

Either way as a tourist or Balikbayan, you will need an onward ticket but doesn't have to be Australia, it can be hong Kong or some cheaper place like that.

I hope this has been some help....Ron

 

DavyL is correct, expect at least 2 trips to Cebu. First to submit your application, then start the wait, It took me 3 months for approval then off to Cebu again to complete everything for my 1 year probation.

When I started the process I was on a Balikbayan visa and that seemed to actually help...Ron

 

Guys be very careful on this one They actually say, after six months you should have your own police Clearance no Older that 6 months and the NBI Clearance. I am having a problem finding the requirement page on BI Web but this is what I do Remember it Saying.


JP.

 

Thank you, my Wife will not be travelling with me.

I am still trying to book my Tickets with PAL to fly direct from Brisbane Australia to Dumaguete (I assume with a change over at Manila to another Terminal/Plane for the 45 minute trip to Dumaguete) I am trying to Book my Flight so I do not need to stop overnight in Manila...

I will contact the Police today regards the Police Clearance.

I have my Valid Passport, Birth Certificate, a Copy of my Marriage Certificate, my QLD Open Driver's Licence

I will be printing out my Bank Statements, I assume I would need 6 Months worth to satisfy regards my Monthly Income? Centrelink will be processing my Payments Direct to my Nominated Philippines Bank Account (yet to open) and they will pay all Transfer and Currency Conversion Costs so no need to use Pinay First as I was originally going to do to transfer money from my Account here to my Account in the Philippines (when I open as Centrelink [Social Security] need an Account with my name on...

I have also asked PAL regards my Return Ticket. From memory they asked me for my Return Ticket at the Counter at Manila Airport and told me "No Return Ticket no entry" or something to that effect... I am trying to arrange a Return Ticket that I can Refund once I am in the Philippines.

Anything regardless how small it might be is a great help to me Guys, in writing I can absorb it, over the phone I almost instantly forget what I have been told due to my head injury.

 

I still think that Item 7 is very Ambiguous on the check list, I have it on Good Authority from a long Standing member here that the Police Clearance from Home will not be needed after we have been here more than 6 months but I have a friend that was told in Cebu it was still Needed. Reason being they said. After 6 months the NBI can do a Clearance. But up to those 6 months they still need a Home Police Clearance attached to the NBI Clearance. Mileage always seems to vary and it seems not all BI personnel work along the same lines. For me BRIAN get that Clearance before you come. They are damned Hard to get and can get expensive after you are here. just a heads Up, not all the BOI and it's staff it seems are singing from the same Hymn page. anyway, Check list for those that want/need to read.


http://www.immigration.gov.ph/image...ersion to Non-Quota Immigrant by Marriage.pdf


JP

 

Thank you Jack I am phoning my local Station here later to try and arrange a a meeting with them so I may obtain a Full Clearance as there seems to be several available, and seeing as I have had a clean slate for the past 53 years I may as well go for the full monty seeing as I have the option to do so, should dot all the i's and cross all the t's at the same time that way

QLD Criminal and History Checks
https://www.qld.gov.au/law/crime-an...s-and-history-checks/criminal-history-checks/

 

While I had the Website up for the BOI I thought it might be useful to put the whole of the piece on the forum for those that are interested and/or intend to Apply for a 13 a Visa.

http://www.immigration.gov.ph/index...rsion-to-non-quota-immigrant-visa-by-marriage

JP:worried:

 

I first got my 13A (13 years ago) when I lived in Los Angeles. It took me 3 working days there. Unfortunately I thought it was ok to just have the stamp in my passport, so I packed my approved application in the container I shipped down. When I arrived they let me in as tourist and voided my 13A so I had to apply again in Cebu. It took 6 months and many trips to Cebu.
Check with your nearest Philippine Embassy if they still issue 13A abroad. In that case I recommend you do it before you get here, as it's much simpler. Make sure to keep ALL documents you use and receive in your hand luggage though.

A friend who got 13A last year said they changed the rules for getting it permanent. When I got mine it became permanent after one year. Now you extend your probationary after 1 year for an additional 5 years, and then after that for an additional 10 years. To all in all 16 years to get permanent.