Refused at manila airport

[Magnus]

Its my gf who was stopped at the airport.
She is 27 years old
She was so surpriced by beeing stopped from traveling that she left imigration before she call me and told me what hapend. I asked her to go back and hand over the phone to someone at imigration, but they all redused to pick the phone.

She tell me they say money not enough, and that she is undergraduated.

To be able to get her visa i have written an invitation letter where i take full responsibillity for her while she is here.

Nowhere i can find that the imigration need an invitation letter.

Looking their site you need: passport, ticket (return ticket) and visa if required. My girlfriend was carrying all this.

I call the embassy in Stockholm, and they sounds as surpriced as me, but then tell me to arrange an affidavit. I have never heard of that before. This document should be stamped by the notarius publicus, the department of forign affairs and the Phil embassy in Stockholm.
Then should the original be sent to my girlfriend. Then they said that she should visit any imigration office and show the document, to see if they considder it valid. I asked if any other requirements to be fullfilled, they did not know.

After this i call imigration in Manila, trying to find out, how much money they considder girlfriend should have, and if any other documents needed, not to be stopped again.
Enough, was the answere i got. i ask again: There should be a guideline, again reply is enough, when asking the third time they simply slammed the phone in my ear.
Girlfriend also called the imigration, and got same reply.

Money for the ticket most likely gone so when the AFFIDAVIT passed with all stamps, we have to buy new ticket, and just hope for the best

This is learning the hard way.

[johncar54]

It is such a pity that here we are in 2011, with most of the world considering that RP is a modern, civilised country yet they continue to treat their citizens with so little respect.

If many of us wanted to leave UK (and there was no court order preventing us) we would raise hell if we were stopped. RP seem to lie back and accepted being f........

Come on Filipinos start demanding to treated as free people who are grown ups

[KeithD]

Actually, it's about time all airports/countries started checking passengers before they board when they are on student, visit, etc visa's due to the massive immigration of illegals we have in the world today. The Philippines is not the only country to do this.

However, if you have all supporting documents with you, and you should do as you have a chance immigration at the other end can pull you up and refuse you entry, then their shouldn't be a problem.

[bruneicop]

truelly shocking.
we had a friend of ours join us in Brunei last year for a vacation, and they gave her grief when trying to leave, (I had passed her a letter saying i would cover all costs etc) but they told her it should have had the red stamp from the philippine embassy in Brunei, CRAZY.

even more so in your situation where you have been through all the grief to get the Shengzen Visa.

Call the airline and let them know what happened, they might be sympathetic and get you on another flight.

Good luck dude, hope it all works out.

[johncar54]

I accept that the airlines always try hard to ensure that a traveller who will not be allowed entry at the destination, does not fly, as they have an obligation to return people not allowed entry, by the NEXT FLIGHT, even if that means bumping another passenger.

So the airlines are very careful, but if one has a valid ticket and if necessary an entry visa, then they (the airlines) are not interested who will pay for the holiday expenses whilst the person is in that country.

But in the case I spoke off, and I believe the subject of this post, it was the RP Immigration service who stopped the passenger flying. And that is whole different ball game.

If they are going to stop people then they should publish the exact conditions which are required for a passenger to be permitted to embark. Making it up as they go along ain't nearly good enough !

[KeithD]

But they are not making it up, they are using the same criteria the immigration use at the other end. If she'd pulled up when she landed they'd still ask her why she only had 300 and was staying so lomg, regardless of the fact she already had a visa. The airlines don't check this sort of thing, it's always the immigration officer. It does say at the airport that you have to satisfy immigration officials.

Quickest thing the guy at the other end can do is speak with the immigration at his local airport, prove who is is and state he'll be supporting her and get them to Fax the information.

[johncar54]

But they are not making it up, they are using the same criteria the immigration use at the other end. If she'd pulled up when she landed they'd still ask her why she only had 300 and was staying so lomg, regardless of the fact she already had a visa. The airlines don't check this sort of thing, it's always the immigration officer. It does say at the airport that you have to satisfy immigration officials.

Quickest thing the guy at the other end can do is speak with the immigration at his local airport, prove who is is and state he'll be supporting her and get them to Fax the information.

In the case I quoted that was not so.

As I showed above, prior to the flight day, I had an email from Immigration saying all that was needed was a valid ticket and passport.

I she was refused I spoke on the phone to the airline (who were happy to let her travel) and the immigration and it was then that they (Immigration) agreed that if I faxed (the letter shown above) then they would allow her to travel. They did the following day, but at considerable expense and inconvenience to both the passenger and her bf who had travelled to the airport in BKK to met her.

As for immigration at the other end. That country in this case here, had issued a visa so of course they were satisfied that she could enter. I don't know about others but I have never been asked if I had enough money for my holiday when I have arrived in any country. The bigger concern is usually that one is not importing MORE money than allowed!

[KeithD]

That's all you need to travel. However the immigration in every country has the right to decline your right to travel and that is the one of the purposes of the immigration at airports and always has been. If you watch the customs programs on TV, you'll see in most cases further proof is required to travel/get in although it's not stated on the ticket, but it is stated by the immigration website if your care to read it, and is part of the conditions of travelling abroad. It has nothing to do with the visa or airline.

[johncar54]

That's all you need to travel. However the immigration in every country has the right to decline your right to travel and that is the one of the purposes of the immigration at airports and always has been. If you watch the customs programs on TV, you'll see in most cases further proof is required to travel/get in although it's not stated on the ticket, but it is stated by the immigration website if your care to read it, and is part of the conditions of travelling abroad. It has nothing to do with the visa or airline.

Sorry but you off on a tangent.

In this case (as it was in the case where I was involved) the refusal to depart was nothing to do with the destination country, it was RP Immigration Service. The same service which had said ALL THEY NEEDED to allow departure was a valid ticket and passport.

PS NB The Emigration Service are the same as the RP Immigration Service. Can be misleading terminology.

[Magnus]

I got the message from my travel agency that the ticket is not refoundable due to lack of proper documentation from the passenger.
I was very upset when i heard this so i let the lady at the travel agency know.
I fully understand this is not the fault of the airline and they are not responible for what has hapend.
However, 2 hours later the travel agency lady call me again. She has been on hold for the two hours and talking to KLM to explain the situation.
KLM accepted to let my girlfriend change the date of departure against regular fee for changes.
I am very happy that the airline helped us.
Thanks a lot KLM

[bruneicop]

great news Magnus, one small hurdle down.

Hears to good news soon on her departure

[Scottie1875]

I got the message from my travel agency that the ticket is not refoundable due to lack of proper documentation from the passenger.
I was very upset when i heard this so i let the lady at the travel agency know.
I fully understand this is not the fault of the airline and they are not responible for what has hapend.
However, 2 hours later the travel agency lady call me again. She has been on hold for the two hours and talking to KLM to explain the situation.
KLM accepted to let my girlfriend change the date of departure against regular fee for changes.
I am very happy that the airline helped us.
Thanks a lot KLM

Great news Magnus, hope she can fly again very soon.

[Terpe]

That is fantastic news Magnus. Well done to you.

And well done bruneicop for the original suggestion

What a forum.

[KeithD]

Sorry but you off on a tangent.

In this case (as it was in the case where I was involved) the refusal to depart was nothing to do with the destination country, it was RP Immigration Service. The same service which had said ALL THEY NEEDED to allow departure was a valid ticket and passport.

PS NB The Emigration Service are the same as the RP Immigration Service. Can be misleading terminology.

... and the RP immigration Service do it on behalf of the destination country .... and many other countries do and have for a long time. And you do only need a ticket and passport, are you not reading anything I write?? ..... except you'll find immigration sites also go into detail about why you may be refused to leave, and what additional documents may be worth carrying.

When I print my air ticket it doesn't say I can't take petrol, drugs, etc, but it does on the website if you read it.

[johncar54]

... and the RP immigration Service do it on behalf of the destination country .... and many other countries do and have for a long time. And you do only need a ticket and passport, are you not reading anything I write?? ..... except you'll find immigration sites also go into detail about why you may be refused to leave, and what additional documents may be worth carrying.

When I print my air ticket it doesn't say I can't take petrol, drugs, etc, but it does on the website if you read it.

I don't want to go off into the realms of mights be and maybes, I was trying to help Scottie with the original problem. The same problem which I successfully negotiated for my friend's gf a couple of years ago, by faxing a letter (copied at post No.6) that I would be responsible for all expenses.

[Englishman2010]

Great news Magnus, I hope your girlfriend has no more trouble with immigration and is with you soon

[madmitch537]

i would suggest that a sufficient of money is available in the girls account prior to departure it can remove doubt of the girls intention to not seek work or other things
good luck mark

[scott&ligaya]

hmmmmmm got me thinking, my wife and babies are coming home after nearly a year away in the Phils, I wonder if a her travelling on her own with two small mix children will prompt any questions. I hope not. the little ones have both Phil and UK passports and have my surname, my wife still has her Phil passport in her family name... seems like an opportunity just for some grief...

[grahamw48]

My ex travelled out with the kids like that several times, both to Hong Kong and UK (she and the 2 stepchildren still on Filipino passports...but with appropriate visas of course).

She should be fine.

They can't really stop kids with UK passports travelling out anyway.

My boy travelled Phils to UK 'alone' when he was 9 years old, on UK passport.

The others had to travel with their mother though....people trafficking laws.

[scott&ligaya]

Well I guess ligaya should be okay she has several proprely observed visas , her spouse visa and her ILR all in there so i hope no grief is possible. I will make sure she has full load on her phone and that I am availabe when she is close to check in time

[grahamw48]

It's always a worry though. I understand that.

Always nice to get them safely back to blighty.

[fred]

This type of treatment by R.P immigration officials is all about Filipino jealousy and crab mentality ..
The have nots are 3rd class citizens and can be controlled and manipulated at will.
That`s all there is to it IMO.

[gerrychina]

Hi everybody,my girlfriend,who lives on the Philippines,was also refused at Manila Airport by Immigration,for the same stupid reason,not enough money on her,she showed the letter of guarantee,official invitation,health/liabilityinsurance policy etc.But because it was written in Dutch she was send away.Immigration has nothing to do with these papers!They are meant for Dutch Customs,they want to know if she has a sponsor who pay all her costs.Now i wonder if she can use the same ticket after i sent her an English translation of these papers,otherwise i'll lose over 1000 Euro,its really a banana republic!

[tboy555]

you have my sympathies. It would be nice if the Immigration dept could categorically say what is required for exit. I had similar problem when I tried to fly my girlfriend to meet me in Thailand. All websites say no visa needed. She was stopped at the airport saying I needed to send her a certified letter of support. I was furious. I then wasted a day in the filipino embassy in Bangkok where the nice guy did me a favour giving me the documentation same day (and rinsed me a bit in the process). She had to rebook the following day, stay with her aunt overnight and pay $100 for the privelege. It's a pathetic system. Just hope with her visa/cfo sticker etc she can board the flight to UK in a few weeks.

[gerrychina]

Hi everyone,it seems that my girlfriend is going to fly afterall,the Letter of Guarantee has to be legalized by the Ph.Embassy,why?I don't know,its legal piracy.I went to the Embassy and kindly persuaded one of the employees to fix it right away because i was very pissed!!Well,it costed me some money,but you get something!Wow,a declaration of an employee,very official,with a red ribbon and a gold self-adhesive seal.And then send by Fedex to the Philippines.
Another 100 Euro gone,but she's got the document and if all goes well she'll fly to Holland coming Tuesday,if not,well,better not say what i'll do,hehe.If she fly's,i considder myself an expert now on inviting someone from the Philippines.Btw,Dutch Embassy does nothing!Just enjoying the weather over there and wait for their retirement.

[grahamw48]

Because the Phils govt and a lot of their employees are a bunch of crooks, they assume everyone else is the same.

Then add into the mix the opportunity to fleece you for cash at every turn.

Well, you can afford to leave the country, so you may as well PAY into the coffers.

[johncar54]

Well, you can afford to leave the country, so you may as well PAY into the coffers.

My father in law was in a private hosp last week. We had a problem transferring money to pay the bill, They would not let him leave until he paid. By the time we had the transfer fixed up he had stayed passed a certain time which meant he was charged for another 24 hours. I wonder what would have happened if we not sent any money, maybe he could spend the rest of his live there, 'detained until he paid .!!! '

Back on the thread.

I did say above that when I sent a letter of guarantee that I would pay all expenses for my friend's fiancee when she was meeting up with her fiancee in Thailand for a 14 day holiday, they let her travel. I did not get it countersigned etc by anyone, it was just an email or a fax letter.

[grahamw48]

Well, you know how it is over there.

Rules are open to interpretation, dependant on one's perceived ability to pay.

When I got married at Pasay City Hall the 'official' marriage ceremony fee was about 200 pesos.

The Judge asked me for 2,500.

All I can say is that the note he was handed by my best man, he would have been unable to spend, and my hand remained in my pocket.

[tone]

Hi Guys
Ive read this thread just now and have to offer my sympathies to those concerned. For me its not the costs but the heartache and pure messing around to achieve a simple emotional need...

Me and Rina have been through some of these issues too.
I think the main point here is "Visitor Visa" so this issue should not arise for Settlement migrants should it?

The first time I asked Rina to come to Kuala Lumpur to stay with me I had no idea what was needed! I booked her a single flight over to KL at immigration they declined to let her out because she didnt have a return ticket. They then said a letter of invitation, a copy of my passport, copy statement showing I had the means to support her and then pay the Malasian Airlines fees to allow her to travel the next day. She was told to cough up or not fly - she didnt fly.
The next day she was allowed to travel but immigration didnt ask for any of the documents I had faxed the day before. All very stressful.
Thereafter Rina flew out one more time alone - and was given hassle so I used to fly from KL or Singapore (dependant on meetings) out to Manila and bring her back to KL with me.
On one occassion we finally got to the Immigration counter and the woman asked why she didnt work! She said isnt your boyfriend a bit old for you - she happily said sorry he is fiance and flashed a carat at the B***h and said he doesnt need me to work in Tagalog - she was very peed off but there wasnt much she could do as I was with her.

Rina always asks me will there be problems for her leaving - and I have maintained after getting the visa (which isnt exactly easy) she should be able to travel - this whole thread has made me think not - but on a settlement visa (Fiancee) surely she would be ok?

I was going to fly to Manila spend a few days with her family and bring her back with me - decided with costs of wedding/new house/car and all the furniture and other things I have had to buy oin my return to the UK from KL I needed to save a bit of money!
But now I wonder! - Any advice on that bit chaps??


Cheers
Tone

[grahamw48]

My ex had no problem flying out of Manila with me, once we were wed and she had the spouse visa in her passport.

Lots of subsequent trips, both with me and on her own, and never any hassle inbound or out.