⌛ Greetings from Alaska

My name is Gene Adams, I now live in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental for the past two years. I am in a sort of a dilemma, I have been given notice from the Immigration office that I must ask Manila for an extension?.
I have not had any experience in this area, any help will be very beneficial.
Other than that we, my wife and I, are very happily married and my plans are to remain here in the Philippines as I am now retired and living on a fixed pension.
I look forward to any help that can be given.

 

Chigeno, there are many recent threads on DI regarding visas and visas extension. As a suggestion you can use the search function for the particular visa you need help in or my suggestion is to have a look at Posts by Shadow where he shares a wealth of knowledge in this area. Also, if you can come to Dumaguete there is an Immigration Office here.
Why don't you post more on your exact dilemma and what you need to happen and you will be surprised at the help you will get. Good luck.

 

Hi Gene,
I just went through a similar experience. I couldn't make up my mind whether to take the wife to HK for a vacation and come back as a balik bayan or to apply for permanent residence. I was 23 months into the maximum 24 month tourist visa extensions when I applied for permanent residence. The extensions past 24 months need to be approved in Manila but if you have a permanent residence application being processed it will be approved.

 

Welcome!

Hi gene welcome, Jack P. here saying hello, Pats suggestion about Shadow is very correct, you could try Dgte BOI for the extension BUT on the form you need a Contact/Domicile address, this happened to me some years ago, I was living outside the area as you are and they told me, I must apply at the area office I resided in. This I had done already, as with you I had to apply to manila. What I did, was put The mother-in-laws address on the form and we moved home for a little time. The extension was granted. Just a thought ! You are a tourist? so you could easily be travelling about a lot just happens you are in Dgte when you need an extention!! Hotels are where tourist stay, so you have an address, REASON! Preparing a marriage. Hope you can solve the problem but please just drop shadow a PM and see if he can suggest an Alternative.


Jack P.

 

flight Clark-Kota Kinabalu 2000 peso (return-ticket)- guesthouse 1 night in KK 20$, problem solved. stay the next 24 month and or apply for the appropriate visa

 

You obviously have been here on a tourist visa and have used up your 16 months. In order to extend, you must ask permission from Manila BI. A letter to them will do explaining your situation and intentions. Few are denied.

To continue to stay here on a tourist visa you are going to have to take a trip outside the country, you can return immediately. If you take the trip with your wife, and enter the country with her, you are eligible for balikbayan status, which will give you one year free stay, extendable for another year (with fees). Cebu Pacific and Tiger Airways have very affordable flights to several Asian destinations.

If you intend to live here full time, I would recommend you file ASAP for the 13A resident visa. This will eliminate the need to return to BI every two months to renew, and once it is made permanent in one year it will only cost you P310 per year to stay here. When you apply it will at first be for a temporary resident visa. It will entail about P10,000 in fees and several trips to either Cebu or Manila. Once completed it will be good for one year, at which time you must apply for the permanent resident visa. Same drill, roughly P10,000 in fees and several trips to either Cebu or Manila. THEN it will be issued as permanent, and from that point your fees will be P310 per year, plus every 5 years you must renew your Icard.

You could also choose to use an agent, which will put the cost to P20,000 to P40,000 each application.

The Bureau of Immigration, Philippines Official Website - IMMIGRANTS (Click on the "A")

Larry

 

Hi Gene, my name is Phil, if you need assistance obtaining a permanent visa contact, cisnerosaurea@yahoo.com
Aurea has relatives in the BI in Manila, and she will not rip you off, and she can probably advise you what to do.

 

Hay guys thanks for all your help. I have e mailed Aurea and if needed Shadow can you send me a name of an agent. Thank you all.

 

I recommend Paul Whiteway at Cebu Expat Services;

Expat Services for Cebu Visa Extensions and Storage

Larry

 

Thank you Shadow