Hello, i am leaving on 27 Nov for 85 days. Last time i travelled 200 miles to get a 30 day extention on 30 day regular visa allowance - i believe they would not give 60 days - from memory. Is there much cost or other difference in going for 30 days and then seeking a 60 day visa when i arrive i.e. a 2 month visa. The inital 30 days expires 27 December so may need to get an extention on the 23rd.
At NAIA Terminal 1 you can ask for a 59 day visa (additional 29 days on top of your 30 day waiver) when you arrive at the Immigration desk. Possibly also at T3, but I would check on that first. Cost is p2130 You will need the correct cash in hand. ... dollars or pesos. After that, you will need to extend again, as and when needed... but at least it will save you one journey, and get Xmas hols out of the way. Refer to the BI website for latest info, and details of local offices, one of which may hopefully be closer to your destination.
Great you could respond so quickly Graham. Apparently, they only do extentions in 2 month blocks. So possibly best near the 30 day tourist visa expiring i.e. 23 Dec. i get a 2 month extention. Hope this is clear.
Regardless of where you obtain it, your first extension will be for an additional 29 days as Graham says. Having obtained that extension, you can then apply for further extensions in units of one, two and six months.
One more question! If I purchase a visa at T1 or T3 presumably i will need a passport size photo? I can download the application form before arrival.
You are NOT buying a Visa. You will be entering the country on a Visa Waiver and you can pay for an extension (of 29 days) before passing through Immigration at Manila airport. You only need your Passport and the extension fee in cash (Philippine Pesos or US Dollars).
I entered Philippines with my wife recently and they gave me a year as a spouse, even though I was only there for two weeks. How that worked, I've no idea. There's no paperwork and, as far as I can tell, nothing on the passport stamps to indicate it, but that's what the border guard told me when I entered.
Your wife must have asked for a Balikbayan Privilege in respect of yourself. You should see the letters "BB" written next to the entry stamp.
Did she show the immigration officer your wedding certificate? I believe that this is required to avail of the BB Privilege.
It was a while ago now but I got a Balikbayan like that too ... only thing was my wife wasn't with me and I had only asked for the 59 day extension... cost me P5,000 but well worth it
it definitely helps, but a certificate is not strictly required. If the name on her passport is the same as the name on yours they may well pass you as a BB, however they may not. There is no consistency. It depends on the official or it might even be the same official, but on a different day, whether they want to see a certificate or not. It is definitely best to bring a certificate if you want a BB stamp.
Quite correct. When we arrived at Manila airport last month, the immigration officer didn't ask to see our wedding certificate, it was adequate that my wife name in her passport was same as mine.
if you're Spanish, and want to stay in the Philippines a long time, and you have a common Spanish name like Roxas, Aquino, Gonzales, or Rodriguez, it might be worth asking around on the plane to see if there is a Filipina on it with the same last name as yours. With her co-operation, you might be able to blag a BB visa on arrival.