Stokkevn

As I said my potential wife picked up the certificate but she was not asked for identification for who she was, just for the details of the cert she was picking up. I am sure I could have asked them to send it to me by post/email as they seemed quite relaxed about the process. Always worth checking as things may have changed as this was in 2001/2.

mikek1

Leaving the Philippines every year to renew the balikbayan visa is a hassle.Apart from the cost the traveling is tiring, especially if your away for only a couple of days.
I would suggest that you apply for a 13a visa, which allows you indefinite stay here. We are applying for ours now that we have had our marriage certificate authenticated.Will update members when we have applied.

mikemike

oddly, i regret getting my 13a. i wish i had gone the balikbayan route.

getting the annual clearance for the 13 a is a pain if you are not in one of the few chosen places that allows the process, so this means travel and for some an overnight stop.

We like to get away once a year so it is not an issue for us to go the balikbayan route.

Your 13A ACR card also gets renewed each five years and it takes weeks, no postal service, this means two trips.

I think the convenience factor varies from the distance that you have to travel be it to the BID or the airport.

For those looking to get a cheap getaway and are prepared to make arrangements months in advance, then kota kinabalu, is a good value choice, 2 hours from Manila or 1.5 hours from Cebu. Perhaps one day it will be less than an hour fro Mindanao.

For those who like to live on the wild side then a quick flight to Zamboanga and a ferry to Sandakan, may prove interesting

Bealinehx

If I remember correctly a Letter of No Impediment is a must from the Embassy, as the form of words must conform to Philippine Law. I may be wrong but you need establish this with the Consular Office at the Embassy. Also the British Embassy posts the Bans of Marriage for 21 days just like in good old Blighty. The Consul in Cebu is worth following up on. Plenty on flight connections from there for a visa run. Cebu is far more pleasant in all respects to Manila

As an aside Kota Kinabalu is well worth a visit in what was British North Borneo, and the Oruangutan sanctuary is well worth a visit.

mikek1

For us the annual 13a clearance will be no problem as we are within a few kilometres from the BI office.The main reason for obtaining the 13a is the need to obtain a Filipino driving licence. The subject of driving licences has been mentioned on many threads, but my experience of applying for one is that I do need a permanent visa, and a tourist or balikbayan visa is not acceptable.
In years past it may have been easy to bypass the system and obtain a driving licence, but this is certainly not the case now.
I have also noted that some foreigners have told me that they have encountered problems opening bank accounts when they don’t hold a permanent visa. We have a BDO bank account, and credit cards, however when we wanted to purchase a Filipine treasury bond the bank would not accept my name on the bond. They were also very diligent in checking my wife’s Filipino credentials.

mikemike

Yes being a permanent resident can open doors that may be needed.

I have never invested in Philippine based investments unless my closed SRRV bank account deposit was included. IHT is brutal here and takes for ever. All my investments are offshore and do not attract any local taxes.

As for obtaining driving licenses......there are ways and once obtained the renewal process is easy. Same with bank accounts if the foreigner just adds the name to the spouses account, we did that. Also have a CRedit card as an add on to my wife's credit card.

We live in a land of opportunity)

RedApe

Kota Kinabalu is in the State of Sabah which is in East Malaysia (the island of Borneo). It's a great little town for a short stay. Not much architecturally (historically) as it was heavily bombed during WW2. KK has some nice islands directly off shore, and there are day trips to see Proboscis monkeys/fireflies, a bird sanctuary inside the city, a nice waterfront, etc.). There is lots of natural splendour a few days further afield (Mt. Kinabalu, SE Asias' highest mountain with lots of cooler hill retreats; the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sandakan, the Kinabtangan river where there are orangutans, pigmy elephants, flocks of hornbills, crocs) and then way south the diving areas near Semporna. You can dive and snorkel off KK too, but not as spectacular.

3 month "tourist pass" for most nationalities is issued as the airport.

Philosophical 11

Seasons Greetings!

Many thanks for your replies which has posed further questions.

Can an Exit Clearance be obtained same day in BI Manila? The 10 hr return bus journey not including the ferry trip is a bit arduous especially as I will have to return to pick up the Exit Clearance.

Is the Passport retained by BI whilst processing the Exit Clearance?

I believe the British Consul in Cebu has been closed for about one year now.

Getting off the subject but as its been mentioned, I am in 2 minds about my lovely lady applying for a 13a. I believe it would be more difficult to obtain NHS treatment if the need arises with a permanent visa. But this has been covered elsewhere.

Not sure about the Philippine driving licence issue. I have a friend here who has a tourist visa and has taken the Philippine Driving test. (Albeit failed). He has to return in 30 days time. He unfortunately allowed his US driving licence to expire.


Thanks again!

Bealinehx

It is my understanding that the Exit Clearance Cert takes a minimum of three days so sadly two visits are necessary. The your nearest BI office should be able to issue the ECC.
One additional item I omitted from my earlier post is that as a Balik Bayan no ECC is required and if your are like me,who likes an annual holiday it incurs no cost.

mikemike

I am off next week to do my annual 13a review, cost of 310 pesos? Will cost me 4 X that amount to just get there and back again.

i wonder if I should ask them why my last exit clearance of 2380 pesos only had Official receipts issued for only part of that figure?

Philosophical 11

Greetings!


Arrived back last night after 20 hrs going to Iloio trying to get Exit Clearance from the Philippines. It didnt go well.

Immigration official: You have the application form? Check. You have 5 photos? Check. You have a copy of your passport? Check. You have a copy of your Alien Card? Check. You have a copy of your receipt for last extension? Check. You have a copy of your flight ticket? WHAT?

This is not stipulated on the requirements from the Main Immigration Office in Manila. I very nearly uttered Anglo Saxon but remembered where I was. I even had a haircut and a shave. It seems as in all Govt offices they make up their own rules. A copy of a flight ticket is required for Philippine citizens only. I checked my passport a couple of times to make sure....and sure enough....I am not a Philippine citizen. I am British. Oh well....I better nip back later with a flight ticket. Its much more fun living in the Philippines....

Regards

Bealinehx

DO NOT FORGET to take the Kitchen Sink LOL

David Mashael

An update We flew from Dubai to Manila on 13th Jan and happy to report that no onward or return ticket was requested at check in. It was even easier at Manila than expected for requesting the BB visa. The immigration didn't need to see a copy of our marriage certificate, it was sufficient that my wife had her passport name the same as mine. All done in less than 5 minutes.

Philosophical 11

Greetings!

Another ruse I discovered by BI. This happened on my ill-fated trip to Iloilo to apply for my Exit Clearance.

Before I checked into Iloilo BI, I collected my passport from Bacolod BI where it had been sitting for two months. Because its a 10 hr return journey to renew my visa, I wasn't inclined to just "pop" back in 3 days to collect my extended visa passport. I would wait until I was in the area and collect at my leisure. Which I did.

After Iloilo. I checked back to Bacolod BI to further extend for one month. I declined the kind invitation by the lady behind the desk with a smiley face of using the Express Lane for a mere 1000 peso. But I would collect later at my leisure (when I went back to Iloilo to try again for my Exit Clearance) The lady with the smiley face smiled sweetly at me. After all, I did had a haircut and shave and I was dressed in a dapper fashion.

Completed the forms, and the lady with an even now bigger smiley face said I needed to come back in 3 days and pay. I said, cant do that but I will be back later during the month.....en route to Iloilo. The smiley face then transformed into that of a WW2 Japanese soldier telling POW's that they will work on the railway.

My simple question of why can't I pay now.....or when I pick up the passport was met by a voice that reminded me of an SS Gestapo interrogating a POW...."Zey are the rules."

I completed an another application for Express Lane Fee. I am sure I could hear her hands rubbing together.

Immigration 2 - Me 0

Regards

Philosophical 11

Greetings All!

Returned last night from Koto Kinabalu and what a wonderful place it is!

We stayed at the Chaya Hotel with its rooftop pool not far from the airport and not an expensive ride into town.

We visited various places including the Mari Mari Village, floating Mosque and the Chinese Temple. Took in the Chocolate Factory (waste of time), had a tour around the city by taxi and spent time at the Waterfront. Went to the Wild life park also. Packed a lot in for the few days we were there.

My fiancée being a Filipina meant it was just typical she wanted to see the Filipina Market!

In all....a great place to visit. Friendly people and beautiful weather. Very clean city and very modern. Compared to the Philippines that is!

So....many thanks for those who offered advice. Will certainly go again!

Obtained a cheap throwaway ticket to KK.....cost 1700 peso!

Regards