What happens if you over stay your 21 day RP Visa for a long time?

[robert angel]

I am curious about the peculiar (money generating?) way in which the Philippine govt. makes even native born Filipinos who have gained US Citizenship (which voids their RP citizenship) go through the trouble and expense of doing paper work and paying more if they're staying more than 21 days.

My wife says we would have to travel (we're east coast USA) up  to Washington DC, in order for her to regain Filipino citizenship, to in effect, have dual citizenship for the USA and RP.

What if we overstayed there w/ just our USA citizenships? We're thinking of spending a month or so there next summer, but the '21 day limit' is a minor irritant/concern. I'd rather pay for a 30 or 40 day visa on landing in Manila, instead of the standard 21 day max, but I suppose that'd be too easy...

What if a single, US citizen does the same?

Or if he or she just moves to the RP for years and wires their money from the USA to live on and doesn't bother with the 21 day limit extension on a visa at all? Does the fine increase exponentially or even worse--do they kick you out and ban you forever?

I think that if it's a few days over 21 days, there's a $60 to $70 dollar fee/penalty to extend your visa to stay legally another 21 days.

I recall some vague info about single US citizen retirees in the RP even having to leave the RP to visit a different nearby nation like Hong Kong after a not so long period of time, just so they can return and start the clock on their RP retiree visa with a new Pass Port stamp all over again. It sounds like an expensive PITA--but classic Filipino practice.

The idea of flying to the Hong Kong airport, buying a box of rice candy and getting back on the next returning plane, just for a new passport stamp really sucks, especially if I was old and or sick.

Well, obviously we're not sure about a lot of this. I would think that if American citizens were coming in and staying indefinitely, while being law abiding, the govt would be more than happy to let them spend their money there and stay as long as they want.

I guess I'm breaking this down into married and single US citizens queries and also to people who want to retire full there pretty much full time, for which I think they want something like $50,000 USA, put in one of their banks, as some kind of 'good faith measure'. As if I would want to trust that kind of money in a Philippine bank to start with....

Ray--Dave, anyone---do you have any insight on this rigmarole?

[Ray]

I am curious about the peculiar (money generating?) way in which the Philippine govt. makes even native born Filipinos who have gained US Citizenship (which voids their RP citizenship) go through the trouble and expense of doing paper work and paying more if they're staying more than 21 days.

My wife says we would have to travel (we're east coast USA) up  to Washington DC, in order for her to regain Filipino citizenship, to in effect, have dual citizenship for the USA and RP.

What if we overstayed there w/ just our USA citizenships? We're thinking of spending a month or so there next summer, but the '21 day limit' is a minor irritant/concern. I'd rather pay for a 30 or 40 day visa on landing in Manila, instead of the standard 21 day max, but I suppose that'd be too easy...

What if a single, US citizen does the same?

Or if he or she just moves to the RP for years and wires their money from the USA to live on and doesn't bother with the 21 day limit extension on a visa at all? Does the fine increase exponentially or even worse--do they kick you out and ban you forever?


I think that if it's a few days over 21 days, there's a $60 to $70 dollar fee/penalty to extend your visa to stay legally another 21 days.

I recall some vague info about single US citizen retirees in the RP even having to leave the RP to visit a different nearby nation like Hong Kong after a not so long period of time, just so they can return and start the clock on their RP retiree visa with a new Pass Port stamp all over again. It sounds like an expensive PITA--but classic Filipino practice.

The idea of flying to the Hong Kong airport, buying a box of rice candy and getting back on the next returning plane, just for a new passport stamp really sucks, especially if I was old and or sick.

Well, obviously we're not sure about a lot of this. I would think that if American citizens were coming in and staying indefinitely, while being law abiding, the govt would be more than happy to let them spend their money there and stay as long as they want.

I guess I'm breaking this down into married and single US citizens queries and also to people who want to retire full there pretty much full time, for which I think they want something like $50,000 USA, put in one of their banks, as some kind of 'good faith measure'. As if I would want to trust that kind of money in a Philippine bank to start with....

Ray--Dave, anyone---do you have any insight on this rigmarole?

As a former Filipino citizen, your wife, and you also if you are traveling with her, can stay in the Philippines for up to a year with no visa under the Balikbayan program, so you can relax.

Any other foreigner visiting the Philippines can extend the 21-day visa while in the country up to one year total. Then they would have to exit the country and return and start over again for another year. Retiree visas are a whole different matter.

The 21-day visa is not extended for another 21 days, but for a combined total of 59 days on the first extension. Subsequent extensions vary in length but are mostly for 59 days at a time.

There is also the option to obtain a 59-day visitor visa from a Philippine Consulate before leaving the U.S.

I find the visa requirements for visitors much more lenient in the Philippines than here in the U.S. But unlike this land of spineless political hacks and raving leftist lunatics, the Philippine government actually enforces their immigration laws in case you are contemplating ignoring them.  


Ray

[Dave H]

My wife says we would have to travel (we're east coast USA) up  to Washington DC, in order for her to regain Filipino citizenship, to in effect, have dual citizenship for the USA and RP.

Hey Rob,

Check on the Tampa PhilFest on Friday to Sunday, April 8, 9 and 10, 2011. http://www.pcfitampa.org/projects-and-events/philfest/philfest2011  The Philippine Consulate on wheels usually goes there. I posted about it in the archives.


Filipinas who have acquired American citizenship can apply for Retention and Reacquisition of  Philippine Citizenship and take the Dual Citizenship Oath-Taking at the Philippine Consolate on Wheels at the Tampa Phil-Fest. It should be announced in the next few months at the Philippine Embassy website. My wife applied through the Consolate in Washington and took her oath at Consolate on Wheels at the Phil-Fest in Tampa. Many people applied and took the oath in Tampa. One would have to check if they can still turn their applications into the Consolate on Wheels in Tampa.

Dave


This is the website for Tampa’s Philippine Cultural Foundation which holds the Tampa PhilFest. http://www.pcfitampa.org/.

As Ray said, "As a former Filipino citizen, your wife, and you also if you are traveling with her, can stay in the Philippines for up to a year with no visa under the Balikbayan program, so you can relax."

Just travel with your wife to the Philippines and tell the immigration officer that you want to avail the Balikbayan program (FREE). I have done it in the past when I stayed more than 21 days. I have traveled alone on my last trips to the Philippines, so have been unable to use the Balikbayan program. My original Visa is good for 21 days, then I renew my Visa every few months. It takes me about 10 minutes and is not very expensive. I always renew my Philippine Visa before it expires to follow the law and avoid penalty fees. Here is the webpage. http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=118&Itemid=43

Dave

[thekfc]

What about someone like me or piglett?
Married to a Filipina, our wives is a PI citizen & we want to spend 90+ days in the PI.

So, we would get the 59 day visa before leaving the US (or in Phil) & then renew?

[thekfc]

Thanks Dave H for that link. I was typing when you posted. 

[thekfc]

Hey Rob,

Check on the Tampa PhilFest on Friday to Sunday, April 8, 9 and 10, 2011. http://www.pcfitampa.org/projects-and-events/philfest/philfest2011 
Dave

We just had the Philippines Fiesta last week nearby in NJ. I couldn't make it but a few people who went told me that it was great & they will bring their entire family next year.

http://www.philippinefiesta.com/_PF2k10/Home.html

[Dave H]

Hey thekfc,

You just go to the Philippines Department of Immigration Office in your wife's area. They give you a short form to complete. I let my wife complete it and I just sign it...lazy me!   The immigration officer calculates the length of the Visa and renewal date and I pay the fee. Then I go to the office of the lawyer in charge of the Immigration Office (Alien Control Officer). He reviews and approves the info, stamps and signs (notarizes) my passport with the new Visa.

Dave

[Dave H]

We just had the Philippines Fiesta last week nearby in NJ. I couldn't make it but a few people who went told me that it was great & they will bring their entire family next year.

http://www.philippinefiesta.com/_PF2k10/Home.html

I have been to the Tampa PhilFest twice. Great fun, lots of talented singers and dancers, great food! Some were famous, but I didn't really know of them, names sounded familiar. About the only famous Filipinos that I know of are FPJ, Erap, Eddie Garcia, and Philip Salvador. I don't even know most famous American or Latin stars.  I suppose there were many pretty ladies at the PhilFest...but being married, I didn't really notice!  

Dave

[Jeff S]

I suppose there were many pretty ladies at the PhilFest...but being married, I didn't really notice!

Yeah Dave - we're buying that. Hey.. I just acquired title to this great piece of real estate and can make you an exceptional deal!

[Dave H]

Yeah Dave - we're buying that. Hey.. I just acquired title to this great piece of real estate and can make you an exceptional deal!

Hey Jeff,

Thanks! I already have a nice piece of land that I am interested in purchasing a bridge for.

Dave

[Ray]

Hey Jeff!

Don't you dare sell that bridge to Dave! That's MY bridge! I just bought it off of a guy last week. It was cheap...

Ray

[Ray]

What about someone like me or piglett?
Married to a Filipina, our wives is a PI citizen & we want to spend 90+ days in the PI.

So, we would get the 59 day visa before leaving the US (or in Phil) & then renew?

Colonel kfc,

You don’t have to get the 59-day visa before you leave. You can go with no visa and extend the automatic 21-day visa for 38 days while you are there.

If you get a visa in advance, you have to either travel in person to a Philippine consulate or have an authorized agent take your passport and application stuff to the consulate. They may accept application by registered mail or courier(?).

When I got a 59-day visa here in the States, I had to fill out a bunch of paperwork, submit bank statements, passport photos, copies of my itinerary for a round-trip plane fare, and pay a fee for a local travel agent to take everything to LA. It took around 2-3 days and I think cost about $25 for the agent’s processing fee.

In the Philippines, you can also pay an authorized travel agent to take your passport, paperwork, and fees to the Immigration office for you for the extension.

Ray

[Dave H]

Colonel kfc,

You don’t have to get the 59-day visa before you leave. You can go with no visa and extend the automatic 21-day visa for 38 days while you are there.


In the Philippines, you can also pay an authorized travel agent to take your passport, paperwork, and fees to the Immigration office for you for the extension.

Ray

RIGHT!!! Do it in the Philippines! It is easy!

You got a bargain on that bridge Ray! I had a spot in the desert all picked out for it. 

Dave