Best Posts in Thread: ‘Foreigners allowed to enter PH in Aug’

Please be careful when you make travel plans, and make sure you are eligible to enter the Philippines on arrival.
Newspaper articles may not be the best source for such information.
The Dutch embassy in Manila sent me an email yesterday detailing the new rules:

Quote
Op 16 juli heeft de overheid aangekondigd dat per 1 augustus de regels voor toegang tot de Filipijnen aangepast zullen worden. Vanaf 1 augustus mogen naast mensen met de Filipijnse nationaliteit, hun buitenlandse partners en kinderen en houders van een diplomatiek visum ook mensen met een lange termijn immigratievisum het land binnen.

Dit houdt in dat houders van een immigratievisum ook weer het land in mogen. Immigratievisums vallen onder sectie 13 van de Filipijnse visum code (en worden aangeduid als 13A t/m 13G). Ook mensen met een RA7919 en EO324 visum worden gezien als immigranten.

Helaas vallen non-immigrant visums niet onder de versoepeling die op 1 augustus in gaat. Non-immigrant visums vallen onder sectie 9 van de Filipijnse visum code (het gaat hier om visum types 9A t/m 9D, 9F en 9G; houders van een 9E visum mogen wel het land in). Ook vallen speciale visums zoals SVEG, SIRV, SNIV, SEVOBU, SRRV en 47a2 visums niet onder de versoepeling.

Voor reizigers die voor zaken in de Filipijnen moeten zijn of als non-immigrant in de Filipijnen verblijven, is het mogelijk om op basis van uitzondering toegang te krijgen tot de Filipijnen. Deze toegang moet worden aangevraagd via het voor de sector verantwoordelijke departement of overheidsorganisatie. Voor de meeste bedrijven is dit het Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). De aanvraag moet worden ingediend bij DTI, of voor de sector relevante overheidsinstelling, door de werkgever of het uitnodigende Filipijnse bedrijf of organisatie.

De ambassade blijft zich, gezamenlijk met de EU en andere ambassades, inzetten om de toegang tot de Filipijnen weer mogelijk te maken zodat ook houders van andere type visums weer het land in kunnen komen.

Nederlandse Ambassade Manilla
/UnQuote

Translation:

On July 16, the government announced that from August 1, rules for access to the Philippines will be adjusted. From August 1, aside from people with Philippine nationality, their foreign partners and children and holders of a diplomatic visa, others will also be allowed to enter the country with a long-term immigration visa.

This means that holders of an immigration visa can also return to the country. Immigration visas are subject to section 13 of the Philippine Visa Code (and are designated as 13A through 13G). People with a RA7919 and EO324 visa are also seen as immigrants.

Unfortunately, non-immigrant visas are not covered by the easing that will take effect on August 1. Non-immigrant visas are subject to section 9 of the Philippine Visa Code (this concerns visa types 9A to 9D, 9F and 9G; holders of a 9E visa are allowed to enter the country). Also, special visas such as SVEG, SIRV, SNIV, SEVOBU, SRRV and 47a2 visas are not covered by the relaxation.

For travelers who need to be in the Philippines on business or who reside in the Philippines as a non-immigrant, it is possible to access the Philippines on an exceptional basis. This access must be requested through the department or government organization responsible for the sector. For most companies, this is the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The application must be made to DTI, or industry relevant government agency, by the employer or the inviting Philippine company or organization.

The embassy remains committed, together with the EU and other embassies, to restore access to the Philippines so that holders of other visa types can also return to the country.

Dutch Embassy Manila

My take from this:
1. If married to a Filipina: better make sure you have your 13a visa before traveling out of the country. The "1 year balikbayan stamp" probably won't work.
2. SRRV: no
3. Any tourist type visa: no way

 

Going back to the original subject (and yes, I know I am as guilty for going off-piste as anyone else!), I have added a link to today's clarification update ("BI clarifies only foreigners with permanent visas could enter PH starting Aug 1"). I believe it concurs with my original posting but the new article does state that many foreigners think the Philippines is soon to fully open to ALL of them - and that is NOT the case.

https://philippineslifestyle.com/bi...ermanent-visas-could-enter-ph-starting-aug-1/

 

Could this be an 'outbreak' of common sense? The wife was not allowed to leave the Philippines so was not in the position to accompany her husband back in. I am assuming someone gave the man a BB visa (waiver) on that basis. If so, that immigration officer should be promoted - people who think are rare and valuable.

 

I know at least one reliable source who vlogs regularly from Bohol and the US. He was able to enter the Philippines unaccompanied last week by showing his marriage certificate and a copy of his wife's valid Philippines passport (she is a US green card holder but still only a citizen of the Philippines, and was already in the Philippines). He did not have a 13A visa.

 

The fellow who vlogs replied to my question, and said he only received a one month (presumably tourist) visa. Which I would assume can be extended as normally. No waiver on the Balikbayan stamp (he asked). But he's still very grateful for being allowed entrance without being accompanied by his wife.

 

My neighbor (in Dauin) quarantined at home. They had the whole house to themselves.
He needed authorization from the Dauin Health Dept which involved an inspection of his home prior to issuing permission.
The place to start would be having someone go to your local LGU and they can advise you. The LGU actually sent someone to the airport to pick them up.

 

Trumpistan? .. The pic is San Francisco. 11 city council members, all Democrat. Mayor Democrat. Governor Democrat. Congressman Democrat. Senator Democrat. The Dems own this and have for years. Many other US cities are very similar. Maybe you should call it Democratistan? Take a look at Omar's district. Probably shares a lot of similarities with your old workplace.

 

Unfortunately then, many (majority?) of foreigners here can not continue the “leave at tourist visa at expiration” and return! Seems too unreasonable. Hopefully, just a short term issue. Loss of much needed income for the country.