one year Philipppines VISA on arrival?

[blackcat22]

Something weird happened when I arrived in Phils on 3rd or march 2013.

Normally on arrival in phils I get 21 days visitor's VISA but when I arrived on 3rd of March 2013, after I arrived at my hotel and checked my phils VISA stamp on my passport. It it reads 3rd of march until 23rd March 2014 (1yr Phils VISA!!!)

I'm planning to stay for 2 months and was hoping they'd give me the normal 21 days VISA on arrival then I plan to go and renew/extend around 19 march 2013.

Could this one year they appeared to have given on arrival be a mistake from the filipino immigration officer part?

How can I check what they have on record against my stay?

[stevewool]

if its stamped in the passport for the year i would not bother at all, just enjoy your holiday:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[blackcat22]

In fairness, I've visited phils 3 times in the last 6 months alone so maybe 1yr VISA on arrival this time in phils is a reward for frequent visitor?

just wondering if anyone else been given 1yr at entry in phils to calm my nerves that it wasn't a mistake. :biggrin:

[sars_notd_virus]

Something weird happened when I arrived in Phils on 3rd or march 2013.

Normaly on arrival in phils I get 21 days visitor's VISA but when I arrived on 3rd of March 2013, after I arrived at my hotel and checked my phils VISA stamp on my passport. It it reads 3rd of march until 23rd March 2014 (1yr Phils VISA!!!)

I'm planning to stay for 2 months and was hoping they'd give me the normal 21 days VISA on arrival then I plan to go and renew/extend around 19 march 2013.

Could this one year they appeared to have given on arrival be a mistake from the filipino immigration officer part?

How can I check what they have on record against my stay?

If you are a spouse of a Philippine Citizen you are eligible for a one year stay (balikbayan visa) and it is free so dont worry about it.

[blackcat22]

If you are a spouse of a Philippine Citizen you are eligible for a one year stay (balikbayan visa) and it is free so dont worry about it.

Thank you sir for calming my nerves :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[fred]

Blackcat.. No such thing as a one year visa here.. Check the B.I website to see if you can find one.
If I were you,I would go in on day 20 as you usually would and ask them about it.
BTW.. Sars gave you WRONG info..
Balikbayan is not a visa and you only get one if traveling in with wifey.
You would know if you had one because the stamp says BALIKBAYAN on it.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQu270wUf1K9sxWh3cDTlQVdRnEWU8zYw8Sl3ZPHP19Bpxq5oOcZA&t=1

[joebloggs]

sounds to me someone had accidentally changed the last digit of the year on the stamp from 2013 to 2014 :Erm:

[sars_notd_virus]

Blackcat.. No such thing as a one year visa here.. Check the B.I website to see if you can find one.
If I were you,I would go in on day 20 as you usually would and ask them about it.
BTW.. Sars gave you WRONG info..
Balikbayan is not a visa and you only get one if traveling in with wifey.
You would know if you had one because the stamp says BALIKBAYAN on it.



I'm sorry fred, its not a wrong info i provided ...there is actually a what you called '' Balikbayan one year visa free stay''

http://www.philippineconsulate.com.au/balikbayan-one-year-visa-free-stay.html

[joebloggs]

its not valid for 1yr anyway, his visa is valid for 1yr and 3 wks, so it looks like they've stamped the wrong year :doh

[fred]

I'm sorry fred, its not a wrong info i provided ...there is actually a what you called '' Balikbayan one year visa free stay''

http://www.philippineconsulate.com.au/balikbayan-one-year-visa-free-stay.html


The link you provided Sars does not work.
Again... It is NOT a visa!!
If it were you could apply for one at the British embassy!!
Please try to post factual info only as it could cause members problems in the future.
Thanks.

[raynaputi]

Here is the link of Philippine Embassy in London.. http://philembassy-uk.org/consular-matters/balikbayan-privilege

It's Balikbayan Privilege, not a visa..it is extended to foreign spouses provided they travel with the Filipino spouse.

[imagine]

its not valid for 1yr anyway, his visa is valid for 1yr and 3 wks, so it looks like they've stamped the wrong year :doh

i wonder how many he stamped that day :doh

[joebloggs]

your right its not a visa, its an entry stamp :doh

[grahamw48]

Blackcat.. No such thing as a one year visa here.. Check the B.I website to see if you can find one.
If I were you,I would go in on day 20 as you usually would and ask them about it.
BTW.. Sars gave you WRONG info..
Balikbayan is not a visa and you only get one if traveling in with wifey.
You would know if you had one because the stamp says BALIKBAYAN on it.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQu270wUf1K9sxWh3cDTlQVdRnEWU8zYw8Sl3ZPHP19Bpxq5oOcZA&t=1

CORRECT !

..and good advice about going in at the correct time for 'extension of stay' (THAT being the time when you'll be issued a VISA).

Don't take chances with immigration or you may find yourself locked up in one of the world's worst jails. :NoNo:

[sars_notd_virus]

The link you provided Sars does not work.
Again... It is NOT a visa!!


Apologies fred, i mistaken it as a visa:doh ...this is whats written in the link i provided
http://www.philippineconsulate.com.au/balikbayan-one-year-visa-free-stay.html

Balikbayan one-year visa-free stay


Balikbayans – any overseas Filipino returning to the Philippines, including former Filipinos who have acquired foreign citizenship – can stay in the Philippines without a visa for a period of one year. The balikbayan visa-free stay privilege is extended to the balikbayan’s non-Filipino spouse and children, provided they enter the Philippines with the balikbayan.

..........

Anyway, I think blackcat will not be in trouble , it wasnt his fault that they stamped the wrong date/year ..he can actually, pay his extension fee before he exits the Philippines in one of the airports .
http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128&Itemid=72
http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=118&Itemid=51

[Terpe]

Something weird happened when I arrived in Phils on 3rd or march 2013.

Normally on arrival in phils I get 21 days visitor's VISA but when I arrived on 3rd of March 2013, after I arrived at my hotel and checked my phils VISA stamp on my passport. It it reads 3rd of march until 23rd March 2014 (1yr Phils VISA!!!)

I'm planning to stay for 2 months and was hoping they'd give me the normal 21 days VISA on arrival then I plan to go and renew/extend around 19 march 2013.

Could this one year they appeared to have given on arrival be a mistake from the filipino immigration officer part?

How can I check what they have on record against my stay?

If it was me, I would visit an Immigration Office and get my stay 'regularised'. Personally speaking I would not want any 'issues' upon departure.
Plenty of 'issues' that can cost plenty of money.

My own opinion on how I would proceed :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[imagine]

obviously a mistake , honesty the best policy, if not you will pay on leaving and perhaps fines for late payment and overstaying