Hello everyone,

I will be flying to the Phils very soon with my wife for a long-term stay. Because she is a Filipino citizen and we will arrive at NAIA together, we will apply for a Balikbayan visa for myself, but I have a question.

If I will be applying for a Balikbayan visa, will I need a return ticket? I've been doing some reading, and found conflicting information: some people say that having a return ticket is necessary, others that a return ticket within 21 days (ie, within the tourist visa limit) is needed, and others yet that a return ticket is not necessary because availing of the Balikbayan privilege will let me stay for one year.

We will be flying to HK and then from HK to Manila with Cebu-Pacific.