staying longer than the 21 days

[stevewool]

hi all i am told that now i am married to emma, i do not have to pay to extend my stay in the phils when we go , its free, is this right :)

[subseastu]

Steve

If I remember rightly you now have balikbayan privileges so you can stay for an indefinate period I think, though I may be wrong on that bit, but its certainly longer than 21 days. At immigration in manila I just make sure that I go up to the booth with the wife so there is no confusion. Also I take our marriage cert just in case.

[scott&ligaya]

well you should be ok Steve as I have done this several times going through with Joy however once or twice an officer has said that the Balikbayan privelege had been suspended or withdrawn and it seems it may be at the discretion of the guy/lady on the desk that day, worst case you just extend to 59 days at 3000 pesos (can be done easily in Puerto if you do go over to Palawan).

[grahamw48]

Yes Steve, you're now a 'Balikbayan' and entitled to stay for up to 1 year without any kind of visa. :D

However, to get the magic stamp in your passport (on entry), you must be accompanied by your wife, and coming in on the same flight...from your HOME country too, I believe.

Make sure you ASK for the Balikbayan stamp at passport control, and be prepared to show your marriage certificate. :)

[Steve.r]

Seems a bit crazy that you have to be accompanied by your wife incoming to Phils to get that stamp. My wife is in Phils where I meet her outside the airport, I guess I can get a copy of the cert, but I expect they wont accept it without a bung!! :cwm23:

[grahamw48]

No Steve...dodgy one that.

Must have the correct stamp from the correct guy at the airport (they have individual stamps), and yes, Mrs. MUST be with you, daft a rule as that is.

Anything else will be recognised as fake by a sharp-eyed immigration officer when you eventually leave the country.

I know people who thought they'd 'bought' a retrospective Balikbayon stamp, and then came unstuck with it. :NoNo:

[Steve.r]

Yes crazy :crazy: It is not a problem for my September trip, but I am staying for longer in December for the birth, maybe I should wheel in my 9 month and bursting pregnant wife to back me up :icon_lol:

[timbo]

Hi Steve just come back from Ph with my wife - And they stamped 1yr on the way in.

[stevewool]

but I expect they wont accept it without a bung!! :cwm23:

is that the bung that keith should have used for his bottom :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Steve.r]

is that the bung that keith should have used for his bottom :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Nah!! the one that Keith had to use was FAR BIGGER :icon_lol::icon_lol::cwm3:

[Terpe]

Yes Steve, you're now a 'Balikbayan' and entitled to stay for up to 1 year without any kind of visa. :D

However, to get the magic stamp in your passport (on entry), you must be accompanied by your wife, and coming in on the same flight...from your HOME country too, I believe.

Make sure you ASK for the Balikbayan stamp at passport control, and be prepared to show your marriage certificate. :)

Spot on.
You both must approach the immigration officer together and request the Balikbayan stamp. You should present all passports and relevent documention together.
No problems at all.

[stevewool]

thanks all and thankyou emma for being my wife and saving me some money too:icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol: