Tourist Visa new rules for visa extensions

On the contrary, I went to see Peter yesterday, July 11th, to clarify the OPs' question and he was his usual pleasant and helpful self, with no mention of checking with Cebu.

Back to the subject matter and the OPs' original question. There has been no change to the rules but, surprise surprise, the right to ask for an onward ticket, even when renewing or extending a visa, has always been there. It is entirely at the discretion of the Immigration Officer concerned, but has not been enforced because it is impractical. If Cebu are now asking for one, then the OP would be wise to be guided by whoever is helping him. If the person helping is endorsed and recommended by Larry (Shadow), then you can take it as read that he is good and straight. Cebu seems to have a reputation of nit-picking and being bloody-minded, and while the Tourism Board is going out of its way to encourage people to be here and spend, Cebu seems to work against their mission and make it as difficult as possible.

When extending your visa at the Dumaguete office, Peter Bueno takes a far more sensible, practical and rational approach. He is well aware that some tickets may only be valid for one month, and no airline will issue a ticket valid for more than one year. His attitude is that as you have already been allowed in to the country, and you do not appear on any watch list, that is good enough. When you renew at Dumaguete, you will not be asked to show an outbound ticket.

 

Things are different depending on circumstance of individual

Yes, as you know, one person may not encounter the same "rules" as the next person in this country. I talked with a man i know in cebu who also helps with visa extensions and he contacted his "contact" in the consolate and he said that she never heard of that rule. But for me, i like to be prepared and on the safe side. so if Paul tells me to buy an outbound tic, i did so. And getting one so cheap, 37 us dollars with taxes that is changeable for a year (tiger air out of singapore) i decided to stay on the safe side. Also, i would actually like to visit singapore one day, well actually, penang, but you have to get to spot one before you can reach spot two, lol Good luck to all of you who have to go through the visa extension process in any event. And hopefully next year i will be permanent resident here myself and have less headaches with govt agencies.

 

I extended last Thursday and no mention of that at all either.

 

do i need a return ticket back to Australia or anywhere? how do i get a cheap throwaway ticket to Australia

 

If you think getting a throw away ticket and renewing a tourist visa is a headache.. wait till you apply for permanent residence. deforestation in this country is a big problem and you will most probably cause the cutting down of at least 20 large tree's. The paperwork is unbelievable and repetitious and it will take at least 6 trips to Cebu to get the visa and I-card done.O-|

 

I have lived here for over 30 yrs and know all about how to reduce the trips.. a fellow there offered to help me out as he knew i was from Dumaguete but when i pointed to the sign that said "Report Fixers" he disappeared.. last week when i was there, he wasn't and i found out he is under investigation by the "Ombudsman" for his help... Keep your head down because by doing it you may also be involved in the investigation...

 

Philippine Immigration requires from all non permanent residents a return ticket or an onward ticket upon arrival.
If you are intended to return to your home country within one year of arrival, you better buy a roundtrip ticket.
If you will stay longer or don't know when you will go back, the cheapest solution is to buy a "trow away ticket"
In this case you will not use the ticket and you may look for the cheapest possible solution.
Cheap tickets from the Philippines are one-way tickets to some regional airports (Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore etc.)
A ticket with Air Asia from Clark(Philippines) to Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) is perhaps the cheapest solution.
A ticket on February 21 cost 540 pesos right now on the website of Air Asia.
If you don't want to throw away a ticket, you may also buy a refundable ticket that you get refunded after arriving in the Philippines, but airlines will charge you with an administrative fine, so a throw away ticket is cheaper.
You may also look for other airlines, but i wonder if you can find cheaper than 540 pesos for a ticket.
Make sure that you don't add extras like luggage or seat allocation.