Hi all I am a disgruntled young Brit IT consultant new to this forum and seeking comments on the SRRV process. Looked at PRA web site and PH embassy web site and came to the conclusion that as you have to visit PH to pick up the visa what is the point of an online application process.

Specific questions are -

How complex or painless is the application process once you are landed in PH?
Your experiences of the process would be welcome


Where is the cheapest place to complete the medical PH or UK? (I assume PH)
recommendations of clinics and cost would be appreciated

Remittance of USD deposit to PRA an explanation of the process would be appreciated as PRA website offers none. Is it possible to use money transfer specialists to send USD deposit direct to PRA? Does a local bank account have to be set up? advice on the procedures for opening peso and or multi currency accounts appreciated preferably those with online access and offices in UK (HSBC, Citibank etc)

I will just be using SRRV as a cheap way into Asia and will only be parking funds in PH so may not be living there long term as the objective is to work in SG or HK. The SRRV is a cheaper alternative than M2H (Malaysia) and PH provides a useful base to country hop for work.

I can't really help on the SRRV - I understand from some specialist Philippine forums that the current scheme is under review and may be modified.

But I wonder why you are looking for somewhere "as a cheap way into Asia" - why not just look direct for jobs in HK or SG? You may not find the Philippines such a cheap option for this purpose. The scheme is really intended for retirees.

SRRV is available to anyone over 35 and unlike Malaysia does not prohibit working. I am seeking roles in SG, HK and others and while doing so require a cheap country in which to stay while I do so. PH may not be cheap but it is cheaper than SK or HK for what I want.

We used the SRRV as our permanent visas for staying in the Philippines. My wife has a Brit passport so she is the primary entrant as "Returning Filipina" and I am the spouse. Very cheap that way $300....5 years ago.
I believe the office in Makati has a streamlined system now for the medical and NBI clearance but even then they were very helpful and whisked us the front of queues in the Manila NBI building
We now can have a 3 year card instead of renewing every year and its not expensive.
Arriving early to beat the rush in Makati have a "Breakfast tray" in "Deli France" coffee shop across the way from the office block of the SRRV department and watch the commuters come to work.
The Dollar deposit must come in from abroad to the bank that the SRRV stipulate (they get commission) and then it buys a Bond. If you draw on it then you pay the SRRV a percentage as a management fee. We leave the $300 in the bank and pay no fees We first visited the office with the $300 cash but they wouldn't take it and so we found that the dollars must be sent in via banking methods for the process to work. We opened an account with a nearby bank and with the new account details and swift codes etc organized the input of funds from the UK.
Cannot fault the SRRV against other types of visa and we are always invited to the office events by personal invitation.

sounds good.

I've considered this option but so long as the Balikbayan stamp is still available to accompanying spouses and we travel regularly (or at least once a year) then the BB stamp is certainly preferable if you're married to a Filipina who has retained her citizenship, and don't want to work or run a business in the Philippines.

The latest SRRV options available are described on the link below:

http://www.pra.gov.ph/main/srrv_program

....odd thing is during our process we learnt that one Korean guy was refused a visa because they discovered he had TB from an Xray. He was advised to get treated back in his home country and retry afterwards ???

Considering that the Philippines is a reasonably economical place for medical treatment, why not give him clearance for treatment here and then reprocess him when TB is cleared? ..."a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush"
He may change his mind when back in his home country and then its revenue lost to the PI

... or he could pop his cloggs here I suppose ...