Samar.Expat2Phils.Com

We just returned from a trip to Manila, to file my annual report with the Bureau Of Immigration. You can read more about that in my Annual Report post in the Forum.

While we were in Manila, we stayed at the Swagman Hotel in Ermita. Their location is easy walking distance from the U.S. Embassy, and a short taxi ride from Intermurals. The Swagman will pick you up at the airport for free, and bring you back there for your return flight. I find the workers to be very friendly and helpful, but the building is rather old. Sometimes, when taking a shower, the water keeps changing tempurature, and the towels are rather old and dingy looking. My favorite part of staying at the Swagman is their Outback Bar/Restaurant. They have good Australian and Philipino foods, ranging from real steaks to crispy pata. What I like the least about this location are the many street hawkers outside the door! It seems like everytime I walk outside, someone is trying to sell me a cheap immitation rolex,  belt made in Italy (street in Marikina), or expired viagra. Also watch out for the guys with regular cars, claiming to be taxi drivers. Their prices are much higher than what you will pay with a meter.

One day I went out to Pizza Hut, and I saw this child bathing in a tub along the sidewalk. While I wouldn’t find this surprising in Samar, I was surprised to see that in a major city. Here is a picture:

We have just added a forum section to this website! This is something I have wanted to do for a long time, but was never sure which software to use. I finally decided on the SimplePress Forum software.

I hope that our users will take advantage of this opportunity to share with each other. This is your chance to ask questions and share experiences.

As per request, we have added a Google News page about Samar.

With all the storms we have been having, I thought it would be appropriate to add a weather page. You can click on the link above, or click here.

Cebu Pacific Airlines will soon be increasing it’s flights to two Samar Island cities. Starting August 16, 2009, flights to Calbayog City (Western Samar) and Catarman (Northern Samar) will become daily flights. Currently there are 4 flights per week to Catarman, and 3 flights per week to Calbayog. According to a Cebu Pacific Press Release, ”The lowest Go Lite fare for both destinations is P888.”  All of these flights will be between Samar and Terminal 3 of Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

I’m still wondering why there is no service between Samar and Cebu?

On our way to Calbayog, we landed in Tacloban and stayed over night till we met up with family in Cebu who arrived in the Philippines a week earlier. We went stayed in Cebu for one night before we headed to Hagnaya for a ferry to Bantayan Island. Had a great time on this island relaxing and enjoying the sun.

Kota Beach Resort on Baytayan Island

If you are living in the Philippines, married to a Filipina, and want to make the move permanent, you may want to change your admission status from temporary visitor (tourist) to non-quota immigrant visa under Section 13(a). In the past, this was not very easy to do. When I first considered changing my status, in 2006, there was a long list of requirements. By 2008, the process had been streamlined, so I applied.

Once you complete the change in status, you can apply for an Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) I-Card.

The information you will find in this article applies to acquiring a Philippines Permanent Resident Visa (13A) for non-restricted nationals who are legally married to Filipino citizens. Here is the Bureau of Immigration’s page on this topic: http://immigration.gov.ph//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=35.

The first time you apply it will be for a one year probationary period. A year later you will repeat the process to convert the probationary period to a permanent resident visa. In other words, pay attention the first time, so you know what you are doing the next time. It also helps to talk to other foreigners, to learn from their experiences.

For my probationary visa, I applied in Cebu. I thought it would be cheaper and easier for travel than going to Manila. Turned out I had to pay a lawyer there, so it wasn’t any cheaper, plus it took a lot longer. I also got phone calls from the Manila BI office, and had to send fresh photocopies of some of the papers. Apparently they could not read the photocopies from Cebu. The lawyer worked at the BI office, but charged an extra fee. I have heard of these fees being as high as 30,000 php. 

Last October, a friend of mine applied to renew his permanent resident visa in Tacloban, Leyte. He is still not finished. When he started calling Manila they said the papers weren’t there. When he called Tacloban, they said the papers were already in Manila. Fortunatly, He had photocopies of everything. After a few more phone calls, he finally went to Manila himself. Last I heard, his papers should be finished soon.

Once your visa is approved, you will still need to return to the issuing office to have your passport stamped, and get the ACR I-Card. After that, you only have to make annual reports, until the I-Card expires. My permanent I-Card is good for 5 years.

From now on, I will only go to Manila for renewing my permanent visa, but will use other offices for such tasks as the Annual Report.

Below I have included some additional advises to help you prepare. You can find the official list of requirements on the BI page. Make sure you look at their list, as I’m not repeating it here.

One very important requirement, that is not listed on the BI page, is your spouse. Technically, she is the one who is applying, on your behalf, so she needs to be there. Don’t forget that both of you need ID’s to enter the BI office.

Plan on spending a few days near the BI office of your choice. Once the application is complete, and fees paid, there will be a hearing scheduled. If you, and your spouse, are not at that hearing, you will have to start over.

If you go to the Intramurals or Cebu BI offices, you can make photocopies there. Some of the other BI offices, like Tacloban, do not have photocopiers available, so plan ahead.

You will also need a couple of 2×2 photos. In Cebu, or Manila, I usually go to the “rush ID” places, as they can do them on the spot.

One of the requirements is a duly notorized letter of application by the Filipino spouse. This letter has certain requirements. If you are at the Intermurals office, the help desk can notorize the letter for free, but they can’t help you write it. Most people end up having a lawyer prepare it, but you can also prepare it yourself. The BI website provides a sample letter here: http://immigration.gov.ph//index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=24&Itemid=99

After my hearing at Intermurals, I was told to call back in one month. At that time they advised me my visa was ready for “implementation.” Last week, I returned to Manila. When I went to the implementation window, they asked me if I wanted Express Lane, or Double Express. The double express cost an extra PHP 500, but probably saved me a day. Considering hotel costs, it was worth it. Implementation involves paying a fee, and getting a stamp in your passport. Make sure you have space, otherwise they will send you to your countries Embassy first. At the US Embassy, it takes about 1 day to get more pages added to your passport.

When I first applied, I was told to bring proof of the ability to support myself. I used a Letter of Certification from a joint bank account with a balance over PHP 100,000. Proof of owning a business or property in the Philippines will also help, as will proof of having a pension. This last time they did not ask for any of these, but I figure it is always better to be prepared.

Many foreigners who visit the Philippines stay here on a tourist visa. The initial stamp, that you get at the airport, is good for 21 days. If you want to stay longer, you can get an extension for another 38 days, bringing you up to 59 days. After that you can renew up to 2 months at a time for a total of 1 year. If you wish to stay longer, and still want to keep tourist status, you have to leave the country, and start over. You can find the fee structure for tourist visa’s at the Bureau of Immigration’s website.

I’ve met foreigners who went to Malaysia or Hong Kong, then returned the next day, to keep their tourist status. Some foreigners live like this for many years. If you visit your home country at least once a year, and you live near an immigration office, this is not a bad option. I did it this way for my first two years. Now I have an “Alien Certificate of Registration” (ACR) I-Card.

Whenever you renew your tourist visa, make sure you get official reciepts! If you should ever loose your passport, those reciepts will serve as proof of your being in the country legally. Keep those receipts in a seperate place from your passport. Doing this could save you a lot of money and hassles. 

There are still small, mostly provincial immigration offices, who cannot issue official reciepts. These places may be more convenient, if they are close to where you live. But you go there at your own risk. They will be the ones to go to a larger office to get the actual visa issued. Sometimes they will also charge you “extra fees” for their services. Personally, I prefer to be the one to go to the larger office. I have been told Catbalogan has the ability to issue official reciepts for Samar Province, though I have not been there yet.

Some foreigners will tell you to always go to the same Bureau of Immigration office. I think this is because they did not get official reciepts. I have been to offices in Manila, Cebu, and Tacloban, and never had any problems. Just take your papers with you.

Tomorrow I go back to Manila, to complete the processing of my ACR I-Card renewal. When I return, I will write a report about that option.

If you are married to a Filipina and she is out of the country with you, you are supposed to be able to get “Balikbayan” visa, upon your return, which is good for 1 year. I tried that in 2008, when my wife and I attended the wedding of my daughter in California. Unfortunately, the immigration officer I talked to said that was only if the Filipino spouse was returning from living overseas. That is when I decided to try again for a residence visa.

When I first moved here, in 2005, it was difficult to get a residence visa. There were a lot of requirements and hassles, even though I was already married to a Filipina. At some point, I think 2007, the government of the Philippines realized it didn’t need to make it that difficult. After all, most of us foreigners bring a lot of money into the local economy. Now, for those of us foriegners married to Filipina’s, it is fairly easy to get an “Alien Certificate of Registration” (ACR) I-Card.

Satellite picture of Almagro Island

Satlellite picture of Almagro Island.