Balikbayan Visa Best Posts in Thread: Balikbayan Program

I've know there is as I remember reading it, but do not feel like finding it and who knows if and when it ever got rescinded. Here is the law if you want to search through it
R.A. 9174
What I noted is that there is no requirement in the law to have an onward ticket if you arrive on the balikbayan program. So my question would not be to show me the law that says you do NOT need the onward ticket, I would want to see the law that amends R.A. 9174 and insists you DO need it. I know there are amendments because I saw a letter to say the rule about balikbayans staying out of the country for one year has been relaxed so you can leave with your wife and come right back and get a BB.

And that's the problem. There are so many amendments and letters floating around that it would take a panel of Supreme Court judges to answer these kinds of questions. Seems to me an exit ticket is cheap insurance.

 

Not if normal BB rules apply - where the Filipino spouse has to be physically standing next to the foreign spouse AND has to ask for the BB waiver; the foreigner is not permitted to ask for it. The question is: 'Will they change the rules temporarily?'

 

That is NOT the normal BB process - so either they are temporarily changing the rules OR it allows foreigners to enter on a BB if already abroad with their Filipino spouse OR if the Filipino spouse leaves the Philippines (with all the potential problems that may cause in entering another country) and meets the foreign spouse outside the country and both re-enter together. It does need to be clarified to save wasted trips.

 

The Bureau of Immigration announced an end of restrictions on the entry of foreigners and minor children who are immediate family members of Filipinos.

PRESS RELEASE: 01 December 2020

BI reminds: Alien family members (spouse and children born outside of the Philippines) of a Filipino, can’t come to Philippines, if they are not traveling with or joining the principal in the Philippines, because if they attempt to enter when the principal is outside the Philippines, they will be refused entry upon their arrival at the airport in the Philippines.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the advisory after the bureau received a clarification from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) explaining the rationale behind the recent decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to lift the restrictions on the entry of foreigners who are immediate family members of Filipinos.

“The intent of the IATF resolution was to enable foreigners to reunite with their families in the Philippines. Thus, such intention is not served if the alien comes here when their spouse is not in the country,” Morente said.

The BI chief said they received queries from foreigners who complained they were not allowed by the airlines to board their flights to Manila because their Filipino spouses were not in the Philippines.

"The intent of the relaxed restriction for Balikbayans is to allow families to reunite this holiday season," said Morente. "Apart from those exempted by the IATF, others who will be entering under a tourist status will still not be allowed," he clarified.

On Saturday, the BI announced that they will resume granting visa-free entry privileges to tourists falling under the Balikbayan Program starting December 7.

Balikbayans (Former Filipinos and their spouse and children are allowed visa-free entry under Executive Order No. 408, series of 1960. They are eligible for a 1-year stay in the country, without the need to apply for an entry visa but must be traveling with the Filipino or former Filipino principal.

Inbound Balikbayans are required to: (i) be from visa-free countries under Executive Order No. 408, s.1960; (ii) have a pre-booked quarantine facility; (iii) have a pre-booked COVID-19 testing at a laboratory operating at the airport; and (iv) be subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry.

Morente clarified that if dependents of a Filipino are not traveling with the principal, but are joining them in the country, they will be allowed entry if the principal is still a Filipino citizen, and if the dependent child is still a minor, but minor dependents must secure an entry visa from the Philippine Post abroad.

Morente said “the Balikbayan privilege will not be extended to any other family members, only to spouses and children of Filipinos."

Other travel restrictions for inbound passengers, according to the BI, remain in effect.

 

I think you will receive different answers from the Forum.

Many have entered using BB (remembering that your Filipino citizen wife must be the one to ask for it) and had no return ticket. But my view is that, as you have no 100% guarantee of being given it (although it is rare not to be granted one if you meet all the conditions) then you may have to accept a tourist visa and theoretically immigration is then entitled to ask to see your onward ticket.

Because I am cautious by nature, I always buy a return ticket. It does not have to be back to where you came from - it just has to be to another country. There are companies selling very cheap 'throwaway tickets' but many are scammers - I tried one once and never received my ticket (reviews showed this to be very 'hit and miss'). There is also the possibility of buying a ticket you can cancel soon after getting through immigration here.

Others may write here not to bother - so it is your choice. The problem now is the virus and how that might affect immigration rules - they may not be as logical as you will expect.

 

Only need to enter with their spouse, just have a the marriage papers ready, he can leave inside the 12 months without her. Done it myself.

 

I got a return ticket cheaper than a one-way ticket from the Uk. Don't know how that worked out with Etihad airways and saved £100 too