Retirement Visa Best Posts in Thread: COURTESY SRRV FOR VETERANS (US VETS AND OTHERS)

...one other caveat regarding the Consulate in New York. Each Consulate has oversight of a number of US states. For the NY Consulate to approve a notarized doctor's report, the notary seal must be from a state over which the NY Consulate has purview. So, if you get your physical in Texas, the Consulate in NY will probably reject it as "out of their area."

That is spelled out in the Consulate's website. Again, another Consulate may have other ideas.


Let me expand a bit on why I said that the Consulate didn't seem to care much about what I presented:

My FBI report came in a sealed envelope. I left it sealed when I brought it to the Consulate and the clerk looked puzzled. I said the FBI report is inside the sealed envelope for them to open and review. When I got everything returned, they had placed the Consular seal (a brass rivet, actually) through the still-sealed envelope. No one at the Consulate had even bothered to look at the report (since it was still in the unopened envelope.)

When I got to the PRA in Manila, they gave me the same puzzled look. I told them that normally a record in a sealed envelope should remain there until the person needing the information opens it. I had an extra copy of the FBI report with me, and handed it to them and said "this is what is in the envelope." They said they were not allowed to open it, either, but went ahead and carefully cut the edge and peeked inside to compare it to the copy I had given them. But they left the main envelope seal intact. I suppose the BOI finally opened it. Or, maybe it's still sealed awaiting the appropriate bureaucrat with proper authority to look at it.

 

This is a follow-up on my experience with the Consulate in New York and the PRA in Manila. Your mileage may vary if you go to other offices.

I did not get a local police background report, but simply used one of the FBI-approved services to pull an FBI background check. The Consulate was fine with that. (I really don't think the Consulate cared much, but who knows...it might depend on who is working that day.) The Consulate also accepted the copy of my DD-214 which looked like a 5th generation photocopy. It did have a barely discernable raised seal. They accepted the Social Security report you can download from the internet. The only glitch was the doctor's report which had to be notarized locally, then I had to take that report to the county clerk and have the County Clerk's Office authenticate the notary signature and seal.

I brought nothing at all to the Dept. of State.

The Philippines is not a signatory to the Apostille Treaty anyway. I had nothing "apostilled."

Somewhere in the process there is verbiage that talks about presenting the actual x-ray negative with the health form. That is not necessary. The doctor's certification with the radiologist report is all they are look for as far as the chest x-ray is concerned. I brought the actual x-ray with me, but ended up trashing it.

It all worked, though. I received my Courtesy SRRV today at the PRA office in Manila. I submitted the completed application with all of the paperwork sealed by the Consulate in Manhattan on Sept 1. I was told to expect 15 - 20 WORKING days to get the visa. The PRA send the whole thing to the Bureau of Immigration for review. The Bureau of Immigration approved the application on Sept 14 (which is the date on my SRRV,) and their letter makes it clear that my temporary visitor visa was thereby converted to an SRRV (which kept me from going "illegal" on my 30-day visitor visa.) I called the PRA as they suggested on Sept 22 to check the status and was told the BOI had approved it, but there was more processing to be done and to call back on Sept 30. So I called on Sept 30 and was told it was ready for me to pick up, but I was traveling around the Visayas and Mindanao, so I didn't get to the Manila PRA office until today.

They gave me a copy of the POI approval, an "Affirmation of Membership" with the PRA, a SRRV identification card that (thankfully) has it printed on it that I am exempt from needing an ACR-I (whatever that is...everyone wants to see it from expats to get anything done) and finally they returned my US passport with the actual visa attached to one of the pages.

 

This is why I set up a Wells Fargo (US) account and a PNB account before coming to PI. These two banks can "talk" to each other as I now have both an account in the PI (PNB Duma branch) and a W/F account in the States. W/F does a lot of remittance transactions with/between PI citizens working in the US who send money back home.

V/R,
nwlivewire

 

I've corresponded at length with Ms. Elma Anora-Corbeta at the Cebu PRA office for the past few months. This is repetitive from what has been posted, but concise:

--------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. .........,
Greetings from the Philippine Retirement Authority Cebu!

Here are the requirements for E-Courtesy SRRVisa:
1) Visa Deposit - $1,500.00 - to be Inwardly Remitted to the PH to Accredited Banks
2) Processing Fee - $1,400.00 - to be paid at LANDBANK OF THE PH
3) Original Passport with Valid Tourist Visa
4) Medical Certificate - Authenticated by PH embassy if done abroad
5) US Police Certificate - Authenticated by PH Embassy in US or US Emb/Consulate in PH
6) Pension Certificate of at least $1,000.00 per month - Authenticated by PH Embassy in US or US Emb/Consulate in PH
7) DD FORM 214 - Authenticated by PH Embassy in US or US Emb/Consulate in PH
8) Photos 12 pcs 2X2
9) SRRV application form

Should you have further inquiries, please don't hesitate to ask.
Thanks!

Sincerely,

Elma Añora-Corbeta
Officer-In-Charge
PRA Cebu Satellite Office
Tel/Fax. No. (032)2388001
202 Club Ultima Tower II
Crown Regency Hotel & Towers

--------------------------------------

I'm going through the process of preparing the paperwork to present to the Consulate in Manhattan for authetication. The Consulate website does not say anything about these documents being apostilled (in fact, the Philippines is not a signatory to the Hague Convention regarding Apostille.) With plenty of lead time before I head to Manila from NY, I will bring to the Consulate the FOUR DOCUMENTS that need authentication and see what they say. I will bring my Social Security benefits letter, my FBI background check letter, my medical exam notarized (then the notarization certified by the New York County Clerk...this appears to be sufficient according to the Consulate website...no need for going to Dept of State in NY), my DD-214 with the raised seal.

I will see what happens and report back. I have two months to jump through any hoops the Consulate places in front of me, and I only have to make them happy with only four documents. I'm glad I live close enough that I can go back easily, if needed.

 

I think you will do really well in the Philippines as your prep work is extensive. The same attention to detail used in the Philippines will probably yield a high 80% to 90% success rate whatever you do. Sometimes things will go off the rails no matter how much you do though. I like following your progress, although I usually settle for a 80% success rate and a more free flowing lifestyle.

 

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

RECEIVED OFFICIAL RECEIPT FROM PNB LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA RE: ACCOUNT OPENING ON 17 FEB 2016

Rec'd official receipt for USD deposited into a PHP account - PHP account and USD deposit made 17 FEB 2016.
(I rec'd a hand-written receipt at time of opening and USD deposit)

The exchange rate I was given for this transaction from USD:PHP was 1:46.95. This PNB exchange rate was based on the date I submitted USD for deposit to PHP account on 17 FEB 2016.

The Dumaguete Branch of PBN wil be my local branch.

Special Instructions to Dumaguete Branch from PBN LA Branch: Please forward ATM & PIN mailer to PNBLA.

On this Official Receipt was a HAND PRINTED account number of my PHP account with PNB.

I have NOT yet rec'd the ATM & PIN mailer, but hopefully, this is in process.

Just to make sure all is good, I WILL WAIT until I receive ATM & PIN mailer AND receive my FIRST monthly statement BEFORE I make another deposit to this account.

That way, I can confirm that the hand-written account number and the printed monthly statement with my account number are identical.

Once I receive these THREE items and all is correct and "good to go", I will then have to go to the original Wells Fargo Bank location where I established my original account with them, and make my first, in-person transfer of USD from that specific Wells Fargo Branch to PNB. This FIRST TRANSFER step MUST be done (IAW US Fed Banking Law) PRIOR to departure to the Philippines so that I can utilize internet transfers and so on AFTER this first step is successfully completed.

V/R,
nwlivewire

 

It would be easier if all your paperwork is in order before you come here especially the Police Clearance (done by FBI). you also need your DD-214, proof of your pension etc. you can open a bank account here with letter from the PRA (Philippine Retirement Authority) and deposit the required amount etc. check the website, blog and online application then ask specific questions please if you need more info. It is all pretty well spelled out.
You can fill out the paperwork online at: Website: http://www.pra.gov.ph/ and Online application: http://www.pra.gov.ph/main/srrv_form.

Also this blog has some decent info: A Precise Guide to the Philippines SRRV Retirement Visa (2015-2016) - Philippines Lifestyle

I hope this helps!

 

I would suggest two things. Go back and read through nwlivewire posts as she is the only one I know currently going through the process and contact the PRA (Philippine Retirement Authority) who's mission is to assist people with retiring in the Phils. Their website is: PRA: Philippine Retirement Authority

You want to read up on the Expanded Courtesy SRRV.

 

PS..... I was left with the impression that a non-retiree Veteran will also pay a higher annual fee.
A military RETIREE will pay the lower annual fee.