I need some advices...

[Mr & Mrs Cintron]

Hello to everybody here..Im a newbie,just signed up last night Anyway,i have some questions i would like to ask especially to those who are married to a Filipina...I am maried to an american who is getting out of the military 2 weeks from now,he wants to stay here in the Philippines for good.And we're planning on getting him a permanent resident visa to live here with me.My question is, does he need to buy a round trip ticket to come here since he's not planning on leaving the country anymore? I called the Bureau of Immigration & they said that he need a return ticket still.We just think its a waste of money to do that.Please people,I need some advice before he buy his plane ticket to come here soon.

[jon1]

Originally Posted by Mr & Mrs Cintron

Hello to everybody here..Im a newbie,just signed up last night Anyway,i have some questions i would like to ask especially to those who are married to a Filipina...I am maried to an american who is getting out of the military 2 weeks from now,he wants to stay here in the Philippines for good.And we're planning on getting him a permanent resident visa to live here with me.My question is, does he need to buy a round trip ticket to come here since he's not planning on leaving the country anymore? I called the Bureau of Immigration & they said that he need a return ticket still.We just think its a waste of money to do that.Please people,I need some advice before he buy his plane ticket to come here soon.

Welcom to the forum!

I have known other Americans that have arrived with their wife and were able to get a 1 year 13A (filipino spouse) visa upon arrival in immigration. It shouldn't be an issue. But, I would have enough cash on hand to buy a forwarding on ticket (i.e. get a cheapo to Hong Kong or Bangkok 21 days after your arrival) upon your arrival. In case you run into a knucklehead in the immigration line. That way your husband is in country at least on a tourist visa and it gives you 21 days to sort it out.

Immigration 13A link

The Bureau of Immigration, Philippines Official Website - Permanent Resident Visa

Immigration fees

The Bureau of Immigration, Philippines Official Website - IMPLEMENTATION OF APPROVED VISA (13(a), 13(b), 13(d), 13(e), 13(g)

Make sure that you bring enough money to cover any associated fees that you will have to pay for immigration (not sure if you have to pay the 13A fees if they stamp his passport upon arrival). Also, he will need to get an ACR I-Card. This is a mandatory requirement for all foreigners staying in the Philippines on extended stays (past 60 days).

As you are most likely aware, you always need to have a backup plan for anything that you try to do here. Your husband being prior military will certainly understand this.

Best of luck!

[gavison]

I am an australian married to a filipina.

when we arrive in manila we show our marriage certificate and request to avail of a balikbyan visa for myself.

passport is just stamped accordingly and I get an automatic stay of 12 months

[Gene and Viol]

Originally Posted by Mr & Mrs Cintron

Hello to everybody here..Im a newbie,just signed up last night Anyway,i have some questions i would like to ask especially to those who are married to a Filipina...I am maried to an american who is getting out of the military 2 weeks from now,he wants to stay here in the Philippines for good.And we're planning on getting him a permanent resident visa to live here with me.My question is, does he need to buy a round trip ticket to come here since he's not planning on leaving the country anymore? I called the Bureau of Immigration & they said that he need a return ticket still.We just think its a waste of money to do that.Please people,I need some advice before he buy his plane ticket to come here soon.

Hi and welcome to the forum,

In some cases the people at the airport in Manila or Clark will not ask to see the ticket. But unless he already holds permanant residency here, the law requires that ticket. To make the cost less, have him just buy a ticket to Manila one way PLUS an onward ticket to Honk Kong. That satisfies the law and is less expensive than the round trip. That extra ticket is not worth enough to refund and can just be thrown away after arrival here.


Gene

[jon1]

Originally Posted by Gene and Viol

Hi and welcome to the forum,

In some cases the people at the airport in Manila or Clark will not ask to see the ticket. But unless he already holds permanant residency here, the law requires that ticket. To make the cost less, have him just buy a ticket to Manila one way PLUS an onward ticket to Honk Kong. That satisfies the law and is less expensive than the round trip. That extra ticket is not worth enough to refund and can just be thrown away after arrival here.


Gene

Gene brings up a good point. When you are leaving the states, upon checkin, the airline will look for a follow on ticket. They may or may not be convinced to let him depart on a one way ticket. So it may be better off just buying a ticket to Hong Kong via Manila with a 3 week layover in Manila..

Check with your travel agent and see which way makes the most money sense...

[Mr & Mrs Cintron]

Thank you all for the advices..I have question again if I may,if he buy a plain ticket coming here...lets say he leave the States on aug 9th...he will purchase an onward ticket to Hongkong from Manila...his stay here in manila will say 3 weeks b4 the onward flight to hongkong? This maybe out of topic question,but how long does a 13a visa take if we apply it?

[jon1]

Originally Posted by Mr & Mrs Cintron

Thank you all for the advices..I have question again if I may,if he buy a plain ticket coming here...lets say he leave the States on aug 9th...he will purchase an onward ticket to Hongkong from Manila...his stay here in manila will say 3 weeks b4 the onward flight to hongkong? This maybe out of topic question,but how long does a 13a visa take if we apply it?

I recommend purchasing his onward ticket at the same time that he purchases his ticket for Manila. I believe that he will be asked for that when he tries to check in for his flight from the states. I would make the HK ticket for the 21st day after his arrival from the states. So if he gets here on Aug 10, make his flight for Aug 31.

If you are not traveling with him from the states he may not be able to get his 13A automatically when he comes thru immigration (providing the marriage documentation too). He will just have to accept a 21 day tourist visa.

I can't speak to how long a 13A formally takes thru the process. Maybe someone else can chime in on that...

If it should take longer than 21 days, just go to the nearest Immigration office and extend his automatic Tourist visa for another 38 days.

Have him bring with him;

Copy of passport bio page
Copy of entry stamp page in passport
3030p for 38 day renewal

If it takes longer than the additional 38 days he can extend for 2 months with the above documentation plus 5600p for the additional 2 months. He will also have to apply for an ACR ICard at that time (another 3000p or so). The ICard will be ready for pickup in 2-3 weeks from the Immigration office that it was applied for at.

A tourist visa can be extended up until 1 year 51 weeks. At that time he would have to leave the country for a day and then he can restart the Tourist Visa.

Also, once your husband is here for 1 year, he has to renew is ICard (irregardless of which visa he is on 13A, 13G or Tourist). This has to be done by the first week of March. It costs about 300p for the annual national criminal check.

All of the Tourist extension, ICard Applications typically only take about 10 minutes. Try to go in the middle of the week vs first/last day. There will be less lines.

If your husband is looking to work here, he will need the 13G vs 13A visa.

Look thru this link in regards to that The Bureau of Immigration, Philippines Official Website - NON-IMMIGRANTS

Hope that this clears up most of your questions...

[Mr & Mrs Cintron]

Thank you mr jon1,its clear to me now..i will have him read my posts later on.and no,im not travelling with him,ive been in the philippines since we left korea..anyway,thank you so much! I in behalf of my husband,we thank you.

[jon1]

You are most welcome! I hope that you both have a smooth transition.

You should have him look thru some of the posts here. Lots of do's/don'ts and also some commiserating. Just so he understands some of the common pitfalls. Hopefully he can also make some Expat friends there in Cavite and that can be an outlet/source of knowledge/an ear to sound things off of...

[scott h]

From my understanding of the new rules, Balikbayan are exempt from the onward ticket, and that it is the airlines who inforce it. I plan on making arrangements with the airline at ticket purchace time to insure no complications at LAX. Once in Manila, my Asawas dual citizenship and our marrage certificate should ensure us getting the B Visa. If not,,,I have plastic in my wallet lolol.