Continuing My 13a Immigration Visa Woes

[Terpe]

If I couldn't laugh I'd cry.

Went to the Immigration Office again yesterday with my bundle of papers and my application forms for my 13a visa.

Security seemed a bit stricter than usual with a highly visible armed military presence. My wife began looking tense so had to do some 'stroking' much earlier than planned.

Once inside I was pleasantly surprised to see the place almost empty. Just a few miserable looking foreigners sitting around waiting for the call to their next window.

I handed over my forms for the first check. Fail.
One of my forms was a photocopy of the other and both identical forms must be orginal.
I asked for another application form so I could fill it out and was told BI no longer gives out forms.
They need to be downloaded and printed.
Thought I'd be clever and said I don't have a printer. Go to an internet cafe they said.
Point, set and match BI :wink:

They also told me the forms must be printed on 8.5" x 13" paper. Mine were on A4 size.
The forms also need to be fastened into a buff legal folder with size 8.5" x 14" . Mine was a yellow 'legal short', whatever that means.
Our petition letter must also be on presented on 8.5" x 13" paper and should be addressed to the Commissioner of Immigration by name and not just by title.

I remained calm and asked if there was anything else wrong with the application. They wouldn't look, just said read the General Instructions available on their websight.....goodbye.

So here I am trying to fully comply with regulations I can't find written anywhere.
I've managed to get some 8.5" x 13" paper and an 8.5" x 14" buff coloured folder together with some fasteners.
I've redone our petition letter accordingly.

Can't go back to the office tomorrow so it'll have to be on Monday.
More to come.

Always look on the bright side of life :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Michael Parnham]

They just like to make you think that they are really important people, :anerikke: it's all part of the 'showing off' culture. :biggrin:

[fred]

My Mrs always does that stuff for me..She actually seems to enjoy it!
Today we went to the D.T.I to kick off registering our business name..They said she need two govt ID's that include a picture. She only has one..Her passport.. Problem is to get another one like an SSS I.D you also need 2 ID's!! :doh
We thought we had cracked it by spending 2 hours renewing her driving licence..We get to the final window after doing the medical blah blah and pay the fee and late fines..Only to get a receipt and no new licence! They have no stock of materials to make her licence card..Not till April!
The official receipt is NOT a valid ID apparently. :mad:

We gave up today but will rejoin the battle ground tomorrow.

[Terpe]

My Mrs always does that stuff for me..She actually seems to enjoy it!
Today we went to the D.T.I to kick off registering our business name..They said she need two gov. ID's that includes a picture. She only has one..Her passport.. Problem is to get another one like an SSS ID you also need 2 ID's!! :doh
We thought we had cracked it by spending 2 hours renewing her driving licence..We get to the final window after doing the medical blah blah and pay the fee and late fines..Only to get a receipt and no new licence! They have no stock of materials to make her licence card..Not till April!
The official receipt is NOT a valid ID apparently. :mad:

We gave up today but will rejoin the battle ground tomorrow.

Hahaha, never say die eh? :icon_lol:

I daren't leave all this stuff to my missus, she isn't able to let things go and remain calm and smiling.

We'll get there in the end :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[raynaputi]

Fred, get your wife a postal ID. There's a thread here about that.

[fred]

OK thanks..

However, I just looked and it looks like we can do it all online..just need a pin number, pay 200+ via credit card and download the DTI registered business name!

I wonder if it's that easy?

[imagine]

Oh I'm really sorry Peter. Before - in another thread - I forgot about the paper size, and that both identical forms must be original.

But I can tell you that all your documents and forms in the folder must be in the correct order.

I am lucky, because Lita takes control of everything, and the woman at our immigration office was very helpful to us even though it was very busy.

Wish you better luck for Monday!

Stay calm, accept the palaver they create for you.
You will get there in the end. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Terpe]

Oh I'm really sorry Peter. Before - in another thread - I forgot about the paper size, and that both identical forms must be original.

But I can tell you that all your documents and forms in the folder must be in the correct order.

I am lucky, because Lita takes control of everything, and the woman at our immigration office was very helpful to us even though it was very busy.

Wish you better luck for Monday!

Stay calm, accept the palaver they create for you.
You will get there in the end. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Thanks Stewart, yes it's a bit of a palava but I'm OK with all so far.
I'm still smiling.
I guess I should have consulted the immigration specialist next door, but these days I'll put up just to save a few peso :icon_lol:
If the jeepney driver shorts me by a single piso I soon get on his case. My wife says I've become a kuripot, think on balance I have :wink:

[imagine]

Thanks Stewart, yes it's a bit of a palava but I'm OK with all so far.
I'm still smiling.
I guess I should have consulted the immigration specialist next door, but these days I'll put up just to save a few peso :icon_lol:
If the jeepney driver shorts me by a single piso I soon get on his case. My wife says I've become a kuripot, think on balance I have :wink:

:icon_lol:

[grahamw48]

This is the downside of living in a country where corruption and fraud are rampant...meaning that no citizen (nor anyone else) can be trusted, documents taken at face value etc.

The UK is heading down the same slippery slope now that we've admitted so many immigrants from societies even more corrupt than the Phils.

[mikek1]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a 13A Visa? I intend to semi-retire to the Philippines.

My wife is Filipino but has a Dutch passport. We always get a yearly balikbayan (1 year stamp) when we go through passport control.

I have read somewhere that if we were to lodge US$ 10,000 (or more) we would not need a visa for a permanent stay. Could someone clarify my asumption.

[jonnijon]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a 13A Visa? I intend to semi-retire to the Philippines.

My wife is Filipino but has a Dutch passport. We always get a yearly balikbayan (1 year stamp) when we go through passport control.

I have read somewhere that if we were to lodge US$ 10,000 (or more) we would not need a visa for a permanent stay. Could someone clarify my asumption.
13a is permanent resident visa, what you are talking about is retirement visa thats expensive.

[Terpe]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a 13A Visa?


If you are legally married to a Filipino citizen, you may apply for the Permanent Resident Visa (13A) as stated in the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, Section 13.

Here's a link

Non-quota immigrant visa by marriage 13a (http://www.immigration.gov.ph/index.php/visa-requirements/immigrant-visa/non-quota-visa/conversion-to-non-quota-immigrant-visa-by-marriage )

[Terpe]

.....I have read somewhere that if we were to lodge US$ 10,000 (or more) we would not need a visa for a permanent stay. Could someone clarify my asumption.

As Jonnijon has said, that would be the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV). The SRRV is a special non- immigrant visa which entitles foreign nationals and former Filipino citizens to reside in the Philippines indefinitely with multiple-entry privileges.

Here's a link

Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (http://www.pra.gov.ph/As_in_detailed_SRRV_Explanation_090613_2.pdf )

If you have a budget that might well be your best option since it's multiple entry.

[Terpe]

......My wife is Filipino but has a Dutch passport. We always get a yearly balikbayan (1 year stamp) when we go through passport control.....


That's another option too. Just continue to enter together under the Balikbayan programme for as long as immigration allows. The Philippines Immigration have been known to get very crusty about that when it continues for a few years.
Just be aware.

Also, as I've mentioned to you before, do please carefully understand the implications of leaving the UK for periods longer than 3 months. Especially when it comes to the NHS and the eligibility for medical treatments/prescriptions etc.

Food for thought.

[Terpe]

Went back to immigration on Tuesday with a new set of papers including those I was told to include.
Since I checked, double checked and triple checked everything that BI stated I was feeling optimistic.

Sir, you forgot your NBI clearance.
Sir, you forgot to include 3 sets of photocopy

Eventually they agreed the NBI clearance was not a mandatory requirement in my case, but they would require it under discretionary powers.
Good news was they would pop next door to secure the clearance certificate.
Of course I would need to pay

I also popped to the other next door to Immigration Advisors to get all needed photocopies. Of course I had to pay

Now with my application bundle complete I was told to sit and wait.

Me: how long will I sit and wait? May I go out for lunch break?
They: the immigration officer will call you for payment when your application is processed.
If you're not here when called you will go to the bottom of the pile.
By the way Collections closes at 4pm

So we sat there virtually the whole day waiting and waiting on hard hard very hard plastic chairs without lunch.

The Collections Window closed promptly at 4pm
One of the few things to actually happen on time.
I asked if I should come back on Wednesday and was told to sit and wait.
At 5pm they called my name .........Mr Peter
Who is Mr Peter?
Yes me
I went to the closed collections window and paid the amount showing on the computer screen indicated by the expert finger pointing of the officer.

Now, having paid and been given a receipt I had to bo the the 13a visa conversion desk to organise an 'official receipt'.
So I hand over the receipt I'd just been given and was told to wait.
My bundle went off to the Alien Control Officer.
I waited.
The immigration office closes at 5:30pm
It did.
We were still sitting there waiting. The place was empty apart from us.

At 6:30 I was called to the visa desk and told to get 3 more copies of everything in my ever growing bundle.
I rushed next door to secure more copies and noticed the receipt had been stamped as official, and that I had a certificate of NBI clearance. Clear.

Back to the BI who collated the papers and gave me a set of copies and told my wife she'd get a text informing about her hearing.......good bye
That was it.

We went home exhausted and wondering what that was all about.

Anyway my papers processed and and hearing will be conducted with my wife..........eventually

Looking at the detailed receipt I noticed that a total of P2500 had been charged for various 'Express Lanes'
There is no express lane that I saw :doh

Ah well that's all for now.

Just waiting for the text.

By the by, the official receipt States that a hearing will be made on Friday 13th at PEZA building Roxas Boulevard at 9am with fingerprinting at10am
Problem is that address is in Manila:yikes:
We both must attend and failure to do so will mean dismissal of my application.

We're going to ignore that. Nobody mentioned anything to us about that at all.

If it gets denied fine.

It's more fun in the Philippines :biggrin:

[Michael Parnham]

Went back to immigration on Tuesday with a new set of papers including those I was told to include.
Since I checked, double checked and triple checked everything that BI stated I was feeling optimistic.

Sir, you forgot your NBI clearance.
Sir, you forgot to include 3 sets of photocopy

Eventually they agreed the NBI clearance was not a mandatory requirement in my case, but they would require it under discretionary powers.
Good news was they would pop next door to secure the clearance certificate.
Of course I would need to pay

I also popped to the other next door to Immigration Advisors to get all needed photocopies. Of course I had to pay

Now with my application bundle complete I was told to sit and wait.

Me: how long will I sit and wait? May I go out for lunch break?
They: the immigration officer will call you for payment when your application is processed.
If you're not here when called you will go to the bottom of the pile.
By the way Collections closes at 4pm

So we sat there virtually the whole day waiting and waiting on hard hard very hard plastic chairs without lunch.

The Collections Window closed promptly at 4pm
One of the few things to actually happen on time.
I asked if I should come back on Wednesday and was told to sit and wait.
At 5pm they called my name .........Mr Peter
Who is Mr Peter?
Yes me
I went to the closed collections window and paid the amount showing on the computer screen indicated by the expert finger pointing of the officer.

Now, having paid and been given a receipt I had to bo the the 13a visa conversion desk to organise an 'official receipt'.
So I hand over the receipt I'd just been given and was told to wait.
My bundle went off to the Alien Control Officer.
I waited.
The immigration office closes at 5:30pm
It did.
We were still sitting there waiting. The place was empty apart from us.

At 6:30 I was called to the visa desk and told to get 3 more copies of everything in my ever growing bundle.
I rushed next door to secure more copies and noticed the receipt had been stamped as official, and that I had a certificate of NBI clearance. Clear.

Back to the BI who collated the papers and gave me a set of copies and told my wife she'd get a text informing about her hearing.......good bye
That was it.

We went home exhausted and wondering what that was all about.

Anyway my papers processed and and hearing will be conducted with my wife..........eventually

Looking at the detailed receipt I noticed that a total of P2500 had been charged for various 'Express Lanes'
There is no express lane that I saw :doh

Ah well that's all for now.

Just waiting for the text.

By the by, the official receipt States that a hearing will be made on Friday 13th at PEZA building Roxas Boulevard at 9am with fingerprinting at10am
Problem is that address is in Manila:yikes:
We both must attend and failure to do so will mean dismissal of my application.

We're going to ignore that. Nobody mentioned anything to us about that at all.

If it gets denied fine.

It's more fun in the Philippines :biggrin:

I can imagine just how you were feeling during your eventful day Peter, at last it's over now! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Terpe]

I can imagine just how you were feeling during your eventful day Peter, at last it's over now! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Not over yet Michael.
There's more fun yet to had :Cuckoo:

[fred]

What a palava!! :NoNo:

[Michael Parnham]

Not over yet Michael.
There's more fun yet to had :Cuckoo:

:omg: Will it ever end? Good luck whatever way it goes. :anerikke:

[imagine]

Just waiting for the text.

By the by, the official receipt States that a hearing will be made on Friday 13th at PEZA building Roxas Boulevard at 9am with fingerprinting at10am
Problem is that address is in Manila:yikes:
We both must attend and failure to do so will mean dismissal of my application.

We're going to ignore that. Nobody mentioned anything to us about that at all.

If it gets denied fine.

It's more fun in the Philippines :biggrin:

Maybe you could check that they have given you the correct attendance address. If it is correct, why is it not at The Bureau of Immigration, Intramuros, Manila? (I'm sure I've spelt that wrongly! :Erm:)

Perhaps with hindsight, it would have been better applying in Manila. At least there are places to eat, and attorneys to help you get your documents sorted.

Yes, it's certainly more fun in the Philippines. :doh

[andy222]

They just like to make you think that they are really important people, :anerikke: it's all part of the 'showing off' culture. :biggrin:

It's just the same as our HMRC and Department of Work and Pensions. :doh

[Arthur Little]

Maybe you could check that they have given you the correct attendance address. If it is correct, why is it not at The Bureau of Immigration, *Intramuros, Manila? (I'm sure I've spelt that wrongly, :Erm:)

No, Stewart ... you've spelt *it correctly! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[jonnijon]

When I was getting my 13a, once the paperwork was finished we were told to check the website and look for my name. So after about four weeks our name appeared online, and off we went to Davao.

"Oh just because your name is online does not mean your card is ready, sir :Erm: go home and wait for our text." That was about another four weeks :cwm23:

[Terpe]

When I was getting my 13a, once the paperwork was finished we were told to check the website and look for my name. So after about four weeks our name appeared online, and off we went to Davao.

"Oh just because your name is online does not mean your card is ready, sir :Erm: go home and wait for our text." That was about another four weeks :cwm23:

Where did you have the interviews?
Davao or Manila?

[jonnijon]

Where did you have the interviews?
Davao or Manila?

Davao, ground floor.

[imagine]

No, Stewart ... you've spelt *it correctly! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

:68711_thanx: :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Terpe]

Davao, ground floor.

Thanks Jonnijon, I complained to City Hall about my experience. I got an apology and an interview date for next Thursday afternoon.

Hopefully I'll get no more nonsense.

[jonnijon]

That's good Peter, you should not get any more problems. People here do not complain enough and that's why some services here are so bad.

We had problems with BIR, all wanting backhanders to make tax bills go away, so we closed the business and said, "now you get nothing!" :icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol:

[Terpe]

Thanks Jonnijon, I complained to City Hall about my experience. I got an apology and an interview date for next Thursday afternoon.

Hopefully I'll get no more nonsense.

Well, the 'hearing' went well. Much better than we expected. Lasted about 15 minutes max.
He asked my wife all the usual questions such as when and where did we first meet, where and when did we get married why does she want me to live in the Philippines and was I a good husband.

I got asked only one question, was she a good wife and why......
I was told to be kind to her as my visa is in her hands :Cuckoo:

He then signed-off the needed certificates asked us both to sign the documentation again and informed us to wait for the processing to be completed.
Now, this means waiting 3-4months since our bundle will go to Manila first for processing.
When it's return we'll be invited back to his office for implementation of the visa and the biometrics and issue of my ACR card.

So at last some good news :Jump:
Step by step we're getting there.

[imagine]

Well done, Peter! :xxgrinning--00xx3::xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Terpe]

Well done, Peter! :xxgrinning--00xx3::xxgrinning--00xx3:

Thanks Stewart, and thanks for your help and support as I follow in your footsteps.

I'm happy to be making progress, no matter how slow. My treatment at BI has improved dramatically and I'm now getting smiles and help without asking.

Even so, based on my experience, I'd definitely consider one of the SRRV routes.

The attorney asked my wife if she had employment to which she replied no. He asked about her income to which she said none.
So you live off your husbands pension then.
Yes. She said.
He didn't ask me how much income I had.
He asked my wife do you own a house here in the Philippines or are you renting. She told him we have a house in Manila a house in Davao and another house in Mindanao that is being rented out.
He seemed satisfied.

We didn't mention anything about the houses being on market for sale

Onwards and upwards

[imagine]

Thanks Stewart, and thanks for your help and support as I follow in your footsteps.


Onwards and upwards

It sure is more fun in the Philippines. :icon_lol:

Walay sapayan :xxgrinning--00xx3::xxgrinning--00xx3:

and thanks for the rep. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Michael Parnham]

Well, the 'hearing' went well. Much better than we expected. Lasted about 15 minutes max.
He asked my wife all the usual questions such as when and where did we first meet, where and when did we get married why does she want me to live in the Philippines and was I a good husband.

I got asked only one question, was she a good wife and why......
I was told to be kind to her as my visa is in her hands :Cuckoo:

He then signed-off the needed certificates asked us both to sign the documentation again and informed us to wait for the processing to be completed.
Now, this means waiting 3-4months since our bundle will go to Manila first for processing.
When it's return we'll be invited back to his office for implementation of the visa and the biometrics and issue of my ACR card.

So at last some good news :Jump:
Step by step we're getting there.

Great news! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[grahamw48]

Good news Peter. Good luck to you both. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Terpe]

Great news! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Thanks Michael. As always I'm hoping for the best and planning for the worst :icon_lol:

[Terpe]

Good news Peter. Good luck to you both. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Thanks Graham :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[jonnijon]

The Mayor is a good man, Peter. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[mickmyrna]

If I couldn't laugh I'd cry.

Went to the Immigration Office again yesterday with my bundle of papers and my application forms for my 13a visa.

Security seemed a bit stricter than usual with a highly visible armed military presence. My wife began looking tense so had to do some 'stroking' much earlier than planned.

Once inside I was pleasantly surprised to see the place almost empty. Just a few miserable looking foreigners sitting around waiting for the call to their next window.

I handed over my forms for the first check. Fail.
One of my forms was a photocopy of the other and both identical forms must be orginal.
I asked for another application form so I could fill it out and was told BI no longer gives out forms.
They need to be downloaded and printed.
Thought I'd be clever and said I don't have a printer. Go to an internet cafe they said.
Point, set and match BI :wink:

They also told me the forms must be printed on 8.5" x 13" paper. Mine were on A4 size.
The forms also need to be fastened into a buff legal folder with size 8.5" x 14" . Mine was a yellow 'legal short', whatever that means.
Our petition letter must also be on presented on 8.5" x 13" paper and should be addressed to the Commissioner of Immigration by name and not just by title.

I remained calm and asked if there was anything else wrong with the application. They wouldn't look, just said read the General Instructions available on their websight.....goodbye.

So here I am trying to fully comply with regulations I can't find written anywhere.
I've managed to get some 8.5" x 13" paper and an 8.5" x 14" buff coloured folder together with some fasteners.
I've redone our petition letter accordingly.

Can't go back to the office tomorrow so it'll have to be on Monday.
More to come.

Always look on the bright side of life :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Hi Terpe! Just thought id share the fact that i applied for section 13A non-quota immigrant status today........
We live on Cebu, so we travelled to the immigration office situated within J Centre Mall, Mandaue; having read about your exploits in Davao, we didnt really know what to expect, but to be honest (and thanks to your related information regarding paper size, file colour etc) it went really smoothly and quickly! I forgot to bring photo copies of the application, and my passport! Doh! so we did have to leave the office and find a photocopy (i mean xerox) shop outside, then when we had the copies we returned to the office to be told we needed to photocopy the receipts the lady behind the counter just gave us, along with BI certification. When we returned we paid (the fee included fast track which we didnt ask for - i guess they do it automatically.......) all in all, it wasnt too bad at all , and it was busy in there all the time that we were there! Time-wise, from leaving the house this morning to getting home totalled about 7 hours - not bad as we live about 60 Km north of Mandaue! We just have to wait 3 days before returning to Mandaue for the interview! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Michael Parnham]

Hi Terpe! Just thought id share the fact that i applied for section 13A non-quota immigrant status today........
We live on Cebu, so we travelled to the immigration office situated within J Centre Mall, Mandaue; having read about your exploits in Davao, we didnt really know what to expect, but to be honest (and thanks to your related information regarding paper size, file colour etc) it went really smoothly and quickly! I forgot to bring photo copies of the application, and my passport! Doh! so we did have to leave the office and find a photocopy (i mean xerox) shop outside, then when we had the copies we returned to the office to be told we needed to photocopy the receipts the lady behind the counter just gave us, along with BI certification. When we returned we paid (the fee included fast track which we didnt ask for - i guess they do it automatically.......) all in all, it wasnt too bad at all , and it was busy in there all the time that we were there! Time-wise, from leaving the house this morning to getting home totalled about 7 hours - not bad as we live about 60 Km north of Mandaue! We just have to wait 3 days before returning to Mandaue for the interview! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Congratulations Mick & Myrna, good luck for the future!:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[mickmyrna]

Thank you Michael :smile:

[Arthur Little]

Just thought id share the fact that i applied for section 13A non-quota immigrant status today........

... :yeahthat:'s welcome news, Mick. Congratulations, well done and best wishes to Myrna and yourself. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Terpe]

Hi Terpe! Just thought id share the fact that i applied for section 13A non-quota immigrant status today........
We live on Cebu, so we travelled to the immigration office situated within J Centre Mall, Mandaue; having read about your exploits in Davao, we didnt really know what to expect, but to be honest (and thanks to your related information regarding paper size, file colour etc) it went really smoothly and quickly! I forgot to bring photo copies of the application, and my passport! Doh! so we did have to leave the office and find a photocopy (i mean xerox) shop outside, then when we had the copies we returned to the office to be told we needed to photocopy the receipts the lady behind the counter just gave us, along with BI certification. When we returned we paid (the fee included fast track which we didnt ask for - i guess they do it automatically.......) all in all, it wasnt too bad at all , and it was busy in there all the time that we were there! Time-wise, from leaving the house this morning to getting home totalled about 7 hours - not bad as we live about 60 Km north of Mandaue! We just have to wait 3 days before returning to Mandaue for the interview! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Hi mickmyrna,
Glad to know you had a successful day.
Also pleased my failings actually helped :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Based on my experience the 'interview/hearing' is nothing to be concerned about.

I'm now still waiting for my next appearance and ACR card.

It's great fun here in the Philippines

[mickmyrna]

... :yeahthat:'s welcome news, Mick. Congratulations, well done and best wishes to Myrna and yourself. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Thank you Arthur! Its definitely more fun in the Philippines lol! :icon_lol:

[mickmyrna]

Hi mickmyrna,
Glad to know you had a successful day.
Also pleased my failings actually helped :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Based on my experience the 'interview/hearing' is nothing to be concerned about.

I'm now still waiting for my next appearance and ACR card.

It's great fun here in the Philippines

Thanks for that Terpe! Hoping i get my ACR card soon so we can make my wifes Land Bank of Philippines a joint account - keep having problems sending ourselves money from our UK bank......:NoNo:

[Terpe]

Thanks for that Terpe! Hoping i get my ACR card soon so we can make my wifes Land Bank of Philippines a joint account - keep having problems sending ourselves money from our UK bank......:NoNo:

They told me after the interview it would be 3 - 4 months processing as the 'application bundle' will be sent to Manila then back to Davao.
The Attorny who did our interview was new in the post and was very surprised to learn it would take so long.

I actually enquired whether I could get one faster if I made a seperate application as a tourist and was told no, it wouldn't be any faster. :NoNo:

Anyway, lets enjoy our life here to the max, relax and have fun.

Just an idea Mick, but if you have time have a word with your local PNB branch about the Global Filipino Card.
It's a pre-paid reloadable ATM card. You can load it up from UK in Peso and it works in real time. Access your funds (in Peso) at most ATM's

You should find that both you and you wife can get one each without needing the ACR card. Just need 1 ID
Believe or not but it's free :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[mickmyrna]

They told me after the interview it would be 3 - 4 months processing as the 'application bundle' will be sent to Manila then back to Davao.
The Attorny who did our interview was new in the post and was very surprised to learn it would take so long.

I actually enquired whether I could get one faster if I made a seperate application as a tourist and was told no, it wouldn't be any faster. :NoNo:

Anyway, lets enjoy our life here to the max, relax and have fun.

Just an idea Mick, but if you have time have a word with your local PNB branch about the Global Filipino Card.
It's a pre-paid reloadable ATM card. You can load it up from UK in Peso and it works in real time. Access your funds (in Peso) at most ATM's

You should find that both you and you wife can get one each without needing the ACR card. Just need 1 ID
Believe or not but it's free :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Thank you for that useful bit of info Terpe! I will look into that..... cheers! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Terpe]

Thank you for that useful bit of info Terpe! I will look into that..... cheers! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

You'll know by now that banks here are still run by the bank manager.
That's why it always best to see what the individual branch can do.:xxgrinning--00xx3:

If I had the time I'd research every bank near to me just to see what I could get from them.

[Terpe]

Went back to immigration last Tuesday for my 08:00 appointment.
Finished my biometrics and left the building at 12:30
:NoNo:

Another experience I could have done without.
Details later but importantly have my first year visa and done everything needed for my ACR card.
Have to wait another month for that :wink:

Onwards and upwards :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Terpe]

Went back to immigration last Tuesday for my 08:00 appointment.
Finished my biometrics and left the building at 12:30
:NoNo:

Another experience I could have done without.
Details later but importantly have my first year visa and done everything needed for my ACR card.
Have to wait another month for that :wink:

Onwards and upwards :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Still waiting to hear some news about my ACR card :doh

I'll give it another couple of weeks before making a nuisance of myself.......again

[Dabawenyo]

I am sorry to hear that you've had so much trouble in getting your 13a, Peter. I obtained mine four or five years ago in Davao and I have to say that compared to your experience, mine was 'a walk in the park'. Just the original and one copy of everything and assembled in a pair of foolscap sized manila folders.

I am aware that there's a new Alien Control Officer in Davao whom I hear was redeployed from Cebu - reputedly a hotbed of corruption. Maybe he's trying it on here.

Well done for reporting your bad experiences with BI to the Mayor's Office. As you may know, Mayor Duterte has quite recently warned the Bureau of Immigration not to make life difficult nor seek to profit from foreign visitors/residents, with the threat of prosecution for those who do. He is one of a very few key politicians who is pro-foreigner.

[Terpe]

It's been sometime since I was thinking to making a fuss.
We been quite busy making visits here there and everywhere.

So we decided to vist the BI office yesterday to enquire. Looks like many changes happened since our last visit.......I wouldn't say for the better from a 'customer' perspective.
Definite lack of visible immigration staff. Definite significant increase in the number of 'customers' waiting for support. The 'back-room' is now off-limits and empty.

Cutting a long story short, after a cursory look at my passport I was given a number and told I'd be called.
Eventually my wife couldn't hold back any longer, she joined the long queue and questioned again what's going on. Answer please wait.:doh

After a couple of hours my number was called. I was again asked why was I here.
I repeated for the nth time that I was told if I had not received notification that my ACR card was available for claiming that I should attend the office in person with my wife and document bundle to report it.

The officer asked for my claim stub and exchanged it for my ACR card...........ahhh, at last.

The only problem being it shows my old address instead of my new one. I've decided better to do nothing about that for now as I need this card to secure a Philippine Drivers licence, a decent bank account, a cell phone contract and a BIR Tax Identification Number.

If you could see my photo on this card you'd laugh. It's a side-on mug shot that has been squeezed down vertically to fit the card space. Only in the Philippines :icon_lol:

At last I got it.

[fred]

At last indeed!!

My address is still in Manila..I doubt that I will ever change it...Cost well over 1k to do that I was told.:NoNo:

[Terpe]

At last indeed!!

My address is still in Manila..I doubt that I will ever change it...Cost well over 1k to do that I was told.:NoNo:

Since this is my first year of 13a it means I'm on probation and also my ACR card expires next year too.
Looks like I'll be waiting to renew it next year so seems it's no problem to wait until then.
Thanks for the tip fred, appreciated.

[raynaputi]

Congrats Peter! :Jump::xxgrinning--00xx3: Seems like you've conquered the world after all that..well for now. Hahaha..:icon_lol:

[Terpe]

Congrats Peter! :Jump::xxgrinning--00xx3: Seems like you've conquered the world after all that..well for now. Hahaha..:icon_lol:

Thank you Rayna :xxgrinning--00xx3:
It feels like that for both of us. We're very happy.
After getting the card we went to our favourite Vietnamese restaurant for a late lunch/ early dinner.

Tonight we roamed around the city centre then ended up at MTS for a live band, local foods, a bucket of San Mig Pils and a pitcher of blue margarita.

Life is very good. Now we have to strive onwards and upwards.

I'm so happy to have that card :Jump:

[stevewool]

Well done Peter

[Terpe]

Well done Peter

Thanks Steve, it's a big thing for me, despite being 'run of the mill' for many.
We'll be using this as a reason to celebrate for a few days yet :Jump:

[Arthur Little]

CONGRATULATIONS, Peter and Carina ... from Myrna and myself. :xxgrinning--00xx3: