visa in Phils

[Phil_expat]

Originally Posted by mogo51

forgot to ask Phil, what is the cost of the extension to the original tourist visa?

Thanks for the complement! Gene is the power house of knowledge at this site. Sometimes, not very often, I do come up with something he does not know. I have learned a lot from him. I never had a SRRV so I cannot give you specific information. I do know it is a special srrv account at a Philippine bank and there is a small yearly fee. Friends of mine that has it use an express lane at the airport immigration. There are taxes and fees they do not pay.¬

[mogo51]

Originally Posted by Phil_expat

If you are refeering to the 21 days allowered when you enter the country there is no charge. There is a small fee for other miscelaneious things but very small ammount.

No Phil, I was referring to the extension that you can get prior to the expiration of 21 days initial visa, I am told best to go to a facilitator in Angeles and get them to do it, do you know what they charge.

[jon1]

Originally Posted by mogo51

No Phil, I was referring to the extension that you can get prior to the expiration of 21 days initial visa, I am told best to go to a facilitator in Angeles and get them to do it, do you know what they charge.

Mogo,

I don't know about AC but in Subic there is no need for a facilitator. Just bring a copy of your passport bio page, copy of the the page with your entry stamp, and fill out the form, then pay 3000p and that gets you another 38 days. It rarely takes me more than 10 minutes whenever I do mine in Subic (I also tend to go mid-morning in the middle of the week to help avoid any crowds/long lines).

You can extend this anytime during your 21 day stay, you don't have to wait until the end of your time to get it extended.

Check out the below link for more info;

The Bureau of Immigration, Philippines Official Website - VISA EXTENSION FEES (Updated!)


Jon

[Gene and Viol]

Originally Posted by jon1

Mogo,

I don't know about AC but in Subic there is no need for a facilitator. Just bring a copy of your passport bio page, copy of the the page with your entry stamp, and fill out the form, then pay 3000p and that gets you another 38 days. It rarely takes me more than 10 minutes whenever I do mine in Subic (I also tend to go mid-morning in the middle of the week to help avoid any crowds/long lines).

You can extend this anytime during your 21 day stay, you don't have to wait until the end of your time to get it extended.

Check out the below link for more info;

The Bureau of Immigration, Philippines Official Website - VISA EXTENSION FEES (Updated!)


Jon

Jon is right. No need to get a "fixer". It is illegal for them to do the work and often times the stamp they get in your passport is not real or legal either. You can go direct to immigration on Clark Airbase in Angeles. Easiest way I found when I use to do that is to pay a small fee to a travel agency to do it for you. Saves the leg-work, time, and frustration.

Gene

[ecureilx]

Originally Posted by Phil_expat

There are 3 ways to go.
First: continues extensions. Entering the Philippines you can stay 21 days. Anytime during those 21 days you get a one month extension. From then on it is a two month extension up to 2 years. Then you must leave the country for a calendar day (not one day). Most my friends use tiger airways never leaving the airport in Singapore.
Second: there is a program where you can be a permeate resident by having $10,000 US dollars in a special bank account.
Third: 13a visa, get married 

How does 13a work?

I am from a country which is not on the visa-waiver program .. and married to a Filiipino ..

As of now, every time I want to head to Philippines, i need to do the whole she-bang of paperwork at the Embassy in Singapore ..

Thanks for any input ..

[richardsinger]

Originally Posted by mogo51

hi Phl
thanks for the heads up Phil, like Gene, I seem to be continually saying thank you for your kind assistance. the SRRV is attractive as I can easily qualify for that. Is there no reporting conditions for that visa after initial application, I assume you need to satisfy the monetary obligations each year when renewing?
regards, Ron

Hi. I am new to the forum, but I have been living in Philippines for 2 years under SRRV, so maybe I can contribute something to the discussion here. For the SRRV, I had to deposit US$20K into a Manila bank acceptable to PRA (Philippines Retirement Authority). This money can be drawn out for certain purposes, but the withdrawal is tightly controlled by PRA. If you just leave the time deposit money in the bank, the interest is lousy, but the annual renewal charge for the SRRV is much less.

For me, I have purchased a condo in Makati, and when construction is completed I should be able to take out the time deposit and use it for partial payment towards that. In return, PRA will have an annotation added to the title deed which makes it impossible for me to sell the condo without making another time deposit. So basically this money will always be tied up as long as you are an SRRV scheme member.

Regarding the SRRV itself, it makes it a bit more convenient to stay long term, compared with other options. You have to renew the SRRV once a year, but you do not have any other reporting requirements to worry about. You can exit and enter Philippines unlimited times and do not need to pay travel tax at the airport. The PRA staff also helped me convert my overseas driving license to a local license which meant not having to fight my way through the line of fixers at LTO.

Richard

[Phil_expat]

I do know one thing about the amount required in the account has been reduced several times over the years and it is lower if one is older. A friend of mine got his a very long time ago and the requirement then was $50,000 now it is $10,000.

[ecureilx]

Philexpat: the lower amount is for those who are above 60 I think .. the younger you are, the more you are expected to fork out .. even though logic says older guys in theory atleast - have more spare cash

[Phil_expat]

Originally Posted by ecureilx

Philexpat: the lower amount is for those who are above 60 I think .. the younger you are, the more you are expected to fork out .. even though logic says older guys in theory atleast - have more spare cash

It is age 50 and above not 60. $10,000 required bank deposit and proof of a pension of $1,500 monthly. The money can be used to purchase a condominium or long term lease of a house and lot.
SRRV CLASSIC
PRA: Philippine Retirement Authority

[richardsinger]

Originally Posted by Phil_expat

It is age 50 and above not 60. $10,000 required bank deposit and proof of a pension of $1,500 monthly. The money can be used to purchase a condominium or long term lease of a house and lot.
SRRV CLASSIC
PRA: Philippine Retirement Authority

Yes the age is above 50 for deposit of $10k. I had to pay $20k because I was not eligible for any pension.

Richard