Welcome to the forum Mike and thank you for this information and please keep us updated on how this turns out.

What a hassle just to work here though is it worth the effort?

I could see some members going this route if their family members are here and they can afford the process.

 

I know of one more:
Get in to discus business with a government DEPARTMENT, but I suppouse thats for shorter visits.

There are a number of work/employment related visas that allow entry into PH, but those are very specific to the type of work you do. Here are a few options for non-work visas.

Yes. BI showed info a few months ago opening for foreign SPECIALISTS, but I didnt know if they had opened it or canceled it because of Delta.

1) SIRV Investor Visa. You have to invest USD $75k or more in PH public company. You can apply for this visa abroad through a PH consulate in your country. This is pretty pricy obviously.

This was openend novermber 2020, BUT got closed january 2021 because of a new covid version.
Have they reopened that?

Well. Much money, but NOT expensive if have something good to invest it in

 

Of course there's the really expensive route, marry a filipina abroad then come in as a spouse.

 

Or marry through internet without never met! 🤣

They seem both nice people, so I hope they get a happy marriage.

 

Hey Gary D

Holly cow. I thought you were a smart person. Now I know your are crazy. hahahahahahaha getting married is a real expensive way to come to the Philippines.

art

 

Just go to youtube & search for "Filipina Pea". She does post some very interesting vids about a lot of different subjects concerning foreigners in the philippines.

Fred

 

For those of you who do not qualify to enter PH under current covid restrictions I wanted to share that there are a few options, but they are not super easy or free. I'm not promoting these options, just pointing them out for those of you who are interested.

Here's a progress update for those interested...

I got all of my EED qualifications done in about a month. It took 3 weeks or so for the visa deposit to be recognized properly by PRA. The bank I wired the money too takes 2-3 weeks to issue an official "certificate of deposit" which PRA needs before they can proceed with EED. It also took 2 weeks for PRA to recognize the application fees I wired. In both cases my bank wired the money same business day.

After gently pestering PRA about status they finally said my EED request has been sent to Depart of Tourism (DOT) for endorsement. I was told it's currently taking "1.5 to 2 months" for that process. They apparently send the EED requests in "batches" instead of on a when ready basis. I think once a week they send a batch.

I also have now gotten my medical exam certificate (from my US doc) notorized and Apostiled. The police clearance from my state (CA) has also been Apostiled (did not require notary). The Apostiles where not needed for EED but they are required when I submit the docs in person in PH.

Once the EED arrives in late Nov I will have to apply for a 9a visa from the SF consulate using the EED. They only accept visa apps via mail - no walkins. I've sent a few questions to the SF consulate and gotten almost no responses. Not encouraging. I think that will be just a week, but who knows.

I'm also attaching the "Requirements for EED Endorsement" doc I got from the PRA. It answers many, but not all questions about the process. As always, do your own research and don't just accept what I say. I may be wrong or out-of-date.

 

Hi Mike, Thanks for your information. I have some specific questions.

How long start to finish will it be before you receive the visa and can travel to the Philippines? Were you in the trial or after? Hoping things will be faster now. I'm using a PRA marketer so maybe that will speed things up?

I'm also in CA. I've been told by Santa Monica Police to get the letter or report from LA Sheriff's office. How did you get it directly from the State of CA?

To get things Apostilled I go to an office of the State of CA I believe.

You mentioned that the medical form is notarized and apostilled. Is that necessary? To have it notarized wouldn't I need a notary there with the doctor to sign? How recent does the blood work he signs off on need to be? I had an annual not long ago. Need to get the X-ray.

Are there any other documents to get notarized or apostilled?

The SRRV Visa Application wants me to list a local Philippines which I don't have obviously. What did you do about that?

Thanks again,

Ken

 

Hi Mike, Thanks for your information. I have some specific questions.

How long start to finish will it be before you receive the visa and can travel to the Philippines? Were you in the trial or after? Hoping things will be faster now. I'm using a PRA marketer so maybe that will speed things up?

I'm also in CA. I've been told by Santa Monica Police to get the letter or report from LA Sheriff's office. How did you get it directly from the State of CA?

To get things Apostilled I go to an office of the State of CA I believe.

You mentioned that the medical form is notarized and apostilled. Is that necessary? To have it notarized wouldn't I need a notary there with the doctor to sign? How recent does the blood work he signs off on need to be? I had an annual not long ago. Need to get the X-ray.

Are there any other documents to get notarized or apostilled?

The SRRV Visa Application wants me to list a local Philippines which I don't have obviously. What did you do about that?

Thanks again,

Ken

Start to finish timing in my case is about 3 months to arrive in PH. I'm not in any official trial for the EED SRRV but it feels like they are still working things out (it just started Aug 1). Most of the time it takes is waiting for PRA to see the money you wire + waiting for DOT to endorse your EED. Marketer can't help with that but they might be better at answering your questions

For the CA police clearance start here: Visa/Immigration

The medical exam certificate required:

• Sign by doc in person with a notary present. I had to make all the arrangements, but the mobile notary was about $60
• Apostile medical exam certificate with notarization

The CA police clearance:
- After you get a SIGNED copy of the CA DOJ clearance you get that Apostiled. Do not notarize.

You do not need any Apostile or notarization when you ask PRA for the EED. You just need the un-Apostiled medical exam + police clearance. Later when you travel to PH to complete the SRRV you must have the Apostiled docs.

No other docs for SRRV require notary/Apostiled. I believe later when I apply for 9a visa with the SF consulate I have to notarize my application.

For the SRRV application "local" address just put whatever quarantine hotel you think you will stay at. That's what PRA told me to do.

In general if you email your questions to EED_srrvapplication@pra.gov.ph you will usually get an answer within 1 business day. They are pretty good about that.

 

I am trying to understand the contradictory information I'm seeing on whether notary is needed in addition to apostille. To have the medical form notarized your notary would have to be in the doctors office. To have the police letter notarized would be even harder. And the clerk might not cooperate after paying the notary to wait in line for hours. Who has been through this and exactly what was or wasn't needed in terms of notary? How was it accomplished if needed?

 

Kevin, I hope you get a good and clear response from someone who recently went through all this and HAS their SRRV.

If not, always get direct information from the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, use their Offical Facebook page, they will answer the phone and they also will answer a message. If you get a vague message then contact the PRA and if still vague (it happens and welcome to the Philippines) contact in your country the Philippine Consulate and see if they can clear your certified original documents, if possible go into their office.

Overkill, redundancy, red tape and Buracracy get ready it's still a developing 3rd world...oh and don't lose your receipts for anything, it'll be costly. In fact I recommend you buy a brief case (cheap plastic one sold at a school supply store for $5 or 250 pesos) for all your Immigration interactions.

 

This is very helpful.Another hurdle the x-ray company gives you a CD but nobody deals in film anymore here. Were there any issues related to that?

 

Yes I love that requirement on the SRRV form!

My xray also came on CD. I copied the actual images from the CD and included them in all the medical test results I sent to PRA for the EED. When it comes time to hand in the "film" at PRA in person I will hand them the CD and hope they can deal with it. If not I'll probably have to get an xray in manila.

Yes I included all the medical tests along with the medical certificate in the docs I gave PRA for the EED. I create a single giant PDF with the medical exam cert + all test results + xray images. They seemed to like that. They asked for the test results specifically so that's why i included them.

 

Related to the medical form, do any recorded need to be included or just the form?

 

I should have been more clear. The form says it needs the lab results. Does a medical history need to be included or is the doc notarized signature enough. Seems it probably is but don’t want to mess up.

 

For the purposes of the EED, no notarization/Apostiled required.

For the final submission just the medical exam cert needs notarization/Apostiled. You can attach the test results but those don't need notarization/Apostile. At least that's my interpretation. That would be a true nightmare since the test results aren't signed and thus you can't norarize/Apostile.

 

I hear that the PRA are about to release new guidelines. Basically you loose your $1400 if you pull out. Apparently too many people have been playing games. They will start the process to get their EED and 9a then once they get to the Philippines change their minds and stop the process getting their money back, you will get your $20,000 but not the $1400 fee anymore.

 

I wonder if they would have trouble extending the 9a visas in that case.

 

There's very little joined up government in the Philippines so I doubt the local BI will know not to renew.

 

What are the banking details for sending the deposit?

I have the details for sending the fees as

 

What are the banking details for sending the deposit?

Only some banks are approved to put such deposites in. I suppouse someone else have a fresh list of which.

 

 

I am at the point of having my PRA agent file the EED application.

It’ turns out the police clearance does need to be notarized before it can be apostilled.

Once the EED is sent I’ll need to go to the embassy. I’m not clear on all of this. For those who have been through this process, do these instructions still apply: Tourist Visa (Pleasure or Business) — 9(a) Visa – Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles California
I’ve heard there are ways to expedite processing but I don’t see this option on the form.
Given that it’s an a9 visa for the purpose of getting the SRRV what duration do you select and are the requirements to prove income/bank accounts Etc. still in place?
Do you sign your name on the photo you attach?
It would be great to hear from those who have been through the process what happens next and in particular how to access the embassy stage of this.

Thanks,

Ken

 

I am at the point of having my PRA agent file the EED application.

It’ turns out the police clearance does need to be notarized before it can be apostilled.

Once the EED is sent I’ll need to go to the embassy. I’m not clear on all of this. For those who have been through this process, do these instructions still apply: Tourist Visa (Pleasure or Business) — 9(a) Visa – Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles California
I’ve heard there are ways to expedite processing but I don’t see this option on the form.
Given that it’s an a9 visa for the purpose of getting the SRRV what duration do you select and are the requirements to prove income/bank accounts Etc. still in place?
Do you sign your name on the photo you attach?
It would be great to hear from those who have been through the process what happens next and in particular how to access the embassy stage of this.

Thanks,

Ken

When I requested my Police Record they asked me what it was for and I told the Officer it was for Immigration. My Police Record was given to me with a signature and at the time I also had to provide finger prints and this same office provided that function.

I'm not familiar with obtaining an SRRV but I do remember one of our member's got their SRRV in California and they had to clear their documents through the Philippine Consulate and then bring the package from the Consulate to the Philippines and finish up the process.

When I applied for my 13a Visa, I had to mail all my original certified documents to the Consulate that handles my state and they made an Immigration package for me.

Have you discussed and cleared your documents with the Consulate and if not what are the telling you. If I missed it I apologize in advance.

I hope we get some feed back from other Expats that went through the SRRV process.

 

You will travel to the Philippines on the 9a temporary visa, you must have the EED before the embassy will issue the 9a. The 9a is normally 59 days.

 

The consulate is no longer clearing documents because of Covid. Now they have to be Apostilled instead.

 

I had to look that up, apositilled documents.

Office of Consular Affairs

Office of Consular Affairs

consular.dfa.gov.ph

What a hassle, and could you imagine what a nightmare that would be for an Expat attempting to get his documents apositilled from the Philippines. This is one area where I wish the Red Tape could be cut, but then again you still need to keep a receipt of your LTO issued Driver's License, upon registration your vehicles bin numbers have to be copied and Immigration receipts must be kept.

I do remember donating $20 to the Consulate Christmas party in hopes of expediting my Visa.

 

Also, the embassy website says a round trip air ticket is required for the A9 visa. Can anyone confirm if this is waived In the case of coming for the SRRV visa?

 

Here's an update for those interested...

My EED has been approved and I am applying for my 9a visa today.

Here was the timing:

PRA Processes docs including waiting for Fee/Deposit to Clear: ~ 3 weeks
PRA Sends EED Request to DOT for Endorsement: 21 calendar days
DFA Receives EED Request and Issues EED: 18 calendar days

Once DFA Receives the EED Request there is a website you can track your status with. PRA should give you the details including your request tracking ID.

Interesting to note... The EED is transmitted directly to my local consulate. I haven't seen a copy of it yet. Supposedly the consulate will provide a copy when they issue the 9a visa.

 

what was the process for making the appointment at the embassy? How long did that take? What proof of income or other documents did you need?Please let us know how long until you’ll get your visa.

Some follow-up questions related to these instructions Tourist Visa (Pleasure or Business) — 9(a) Visa – Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles California

Did you sign on top of your photo?

Did you have to show round-trip ticket or was a throwaway forwarding ticket acceptable?

thanks.

 

Thanks. Did your travel itinerary have a return flight or a forwarding flight? There's some contradictory information on what will be acceptable. Thanks, Ken

 

Yes my itinerary was SFO-MNL and then 89 days later MNL-SFO.

 

My 9a visa has been processed and I will pick it up tomorrow. The SF consulate processed it in 1 business day. No problems and no questions. It took UPS 2.5 business days to deliver the application + passport when I purchased "Next Day" service. It's only 75mi from home to consulate! The consulate is letting me come by in person to pickup so I don't have to wait 3 days for UPS to deliver.

 

Regarding: Proof of financial capacity (e.g.latest print-out of credit card account(s), latest print-out of bank statements, ownership of real estate properties, and other documents showing the applicant’s capacity to financially support himself/herself during his/her stay in the Philippines. You will need more than type of proof of financial capacity)
Source: Tourist Visa (Pleasure or Business) — 9(a) Visa – Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles California

Recall in past news articles it was stated they were going to start asking for proof that one has capacity to financially support himself/herself during his/her stay in the Philippines. One of the intents was to prevent entry of those who's only source of income was from YT Blogger, E-Begger, & similar type activities.

It's now a requirement. It was also reported PI wanted reciprocity with countries like the US regarding requirement to apply for a tourist Visa prior to entry. That is now a requirement.

It will be interesting if these policies become "permanent" in the years ahead, post-Covid travel restrictions.

 

The email I got from the consulate in response to the 9a for EED/SRRV did not mention providing any proof of financial capacity. I did send my last paystub and bank statement just in case. Of course I covered the sensitive account/SSN numbers. So not sure if it was required or not in this case.

 

It's listed as a requirement on their website.

Perhaps they didn't ask because you submitted it already.

 

I successfully picked up my 9a visa from the SF consulate today. They processed the 9a in basically 1 day. They were by far the fastest part of the whole process.

By default they didn't give me a copy of the EED. I asked and they made a copy for me. According to what I read on some of the BI facebook page and on PAL's website you need to present both the 9a visa and the EED. So be sure to ask the consulate for a copy of the EED. Better to have it than be sorry later.

In total it was about 8 months from when I first sent the paperwork online to PRA until I got the 9a.

Next step after arriving in PH is to complete the SRRV.

 

Max you should get a medal just for going through all this Red Tape and if we don't hear from you once you get here I understand.

Good thing you got that EED copy (Ducks-in-a-row) you'll need it and anything else that you think will help you get through the gaunlet of procedures. I use an application called Cam Scanner and also make sure I have all my ID's and important documents scanned but if you can use an actual scanner it would be better but this application sure works well. Cam Scanner Google Play