New BI system: Tourist visa in one day [in Philippines BI offices]

[jonnijon]

Has anyone a web address for these new rules?Thanks in advance.

[A_flyer]

Has anyone a web address for these new rules?Thanks in advance.

Here are 2 newspaper articles with infos (Philstar archiving is not working):
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/...80114met4.html
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/new...icle_id=112420

And read the other post of Welsh_Italian in another thread (you have the link to the Philippines Immigration website on the MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. MCL--07--005 about VIMS): http://filipinaroses.com/showpost.ph...84&postcount=9

[jonnijon]

A Flyer thanks very much,cant belive things are getting more simple,but I expect there will be some Lets all hope it goes well.It will be very good for the Philippines to get rid of a lot of red tape.
My honey filed for anullment in December,wish they would make that quicker.

[A_flyer]

My honey filed for anullment in December,wish they would make that quicker.

Don't dream, it's a long and costly process...

[Pepe n Pilar]

A Flyer thanks very much,cant belive things are getting more simple,but I expect there will be some Lets all hope it goes well.It will be very good for the Philippines to get rid of a lot of red tape.
My honey filed for anullment in December,wish they would make that quicker.

If she avails of the package deal then it will only take her at least 3-5 months but if not then it takes a year...Be patient...

[Welsh_Italian]

I'm back from Manila now.

Todays procedure was simple and easy again. We entered the main building, chatted to security (I had to leave some ID - my old work card) at the main desk and we walked to the top floor where a happy guard took my details. We rested a little while and went to room 401 to tell them that we had arrived. They told us to go to another room and we entered though we were early. We gave our details and were interviewed right there and this took only 10-15 minutes.

The questions covered things like, "when did you get married?", "are you working?", "where did you work before?", "how did you meet", "do you have savings" with lots of interruptions from the rest of the office who had other matters they wanted the guy to deal with. The interview was in Taglish which didn't help as I'm not that fluent in it.

Of course, even if I was working (which I'm not), I would not have said that I was: I need the visa before I have permission to do so! The questions were fairly basic and general and we left quickly after we had arrived. I was given the phone number and name of a member of staff and asked to phone next week on the "tentative" date (next Friday) so it's just a case of sit and wait until then.

[Welsh_Italian]

I phoned up the BI yesterday using the number I was given and was told that my application had been approved! I also had to check with the legal dept upon the status of it and did so. They told me I could go in and collect my application next week. We will leave that until the week after because it's holy week next week (lots of civil servants taking time off), but it seems as though I've gone from application to approval in less that 2 weeks which isn't bad at all.

I will update with what happens when I go in next.

[ria]

Hi Welsh_Italian, thanks for posting all that useful info. I'm so happy to have found this thread through Google.

My husband and I are considering getting a 13g visa, which requires about the same documents as a 13a. Since you have gathered the docs yourself and even got your visa approved (congrats!), I hope you don't mind my asking the following questions:

1. What should the 'letter of application' contain?

2. Just to clarify: were you able to get your BI clearance certificate and apply for your 13a visa on the same day? So does this mean you don't have to get a BI clearance certificate days or weeks beforehand?

3. Did you have to have a photocopy of your passport authenticated at a Philippine embassy/consulate in your home country?

Would really appreciate any info you could give. Thanks.