DISCLAIMER: I LOVE THE Bureau of Immigration, in the PHILIPPINES there are no better people on planet Earth!
Monday morning 6 Jan. 2014:
Off to Globe this morning to check out my Globe Tattoo Dongle Super stick thing-a-ma-bob. Ren the Tech-Rep checked mine out and told me to keep it as it was the newest obsolete one on the market.” But Ren, it doesn’t work all the time?” I pleaded. Kuya he explained; “They (The smart ones at Globe HQ) are upgrading the system and they must be working in your area at this time. Turn it off and on and live with it until the work (Said in a polite way) is done, and then you’ll be back to normal.” Oh well. We’ll see what happens.
Dash off to the Philippines Immigration office (My most favorite place to go) to pay my PNP 310.00 yearly head tax. You know pop through the door, show your I-card (ACR) pays the money and be on your way. Oh no Paul that’s how it’s been done for over 20 years, but now they have made it simpler. You fill out this new four page form, go and get three passport photo’s then leave and go to City Hall to get all the new paperworks notarized as explained to me by the BI employee, so much more streamlined than the old ten minute system where you just paid the money got the receipt and went for a cold beer.
I’m not even whining about the cost of photos and the notary. I’m grousing that you now have to go to three locations to accomplish what used to be a one stop, simple as ABC procedure. But if it will employ more people, than I am all for it, for what could be better than that? Then I saw there was in fact a photographer right there one room over from the guy that sent me to the market. Did I mention how much I like the Bureau of Immigration?
As my frustration rate was pegging out on my personal scale, I wisely took all my paperworks with me and left the immigration office as the noise level from the room full of complaining people was getting on my nerves. And very few were Kano. I figured I’d take it all home and fill it out at my leisure, stop at city hall to get it notarized, then drop by later in the week and pay the Head Tax, then reward myself with a nice lunch and a cold SMB or three. Government employees, take your best shot, you’ll not alter my good mood. The final joke was they used to have their office on Rizal (I’ll bet if you live in the Philippines your town has a road named Rizal) but moved it down to Gordon Ave and failed to tell anyone about the move, but the bank guard next to where it was knows where it is now. (See Sugar you were right about guards being helpful)
To improve my mood I took Mayang, our daughter Ymir Thea and of course my grandson Jayden (AKA Little Dude) to the California Café at the mall, because they have a wonderful Cheese Steak Sandwich and unpeeled French Fries smothered in fresh Parmesan Cheese. Sir; not in stock as I ordered my mood enhancing sandwich, now was the perfect time to lash out and vent my frustration on someone, but instead I smiled and said; “Then I definitely don’t want the sandwich.” But there was an Italian style pizza with five cheeses and fresh sliced tomatoes that would be just fine, and BTW it was wonderful, just like the ones I was used to eating in Italy, including the big stone oven. Mood vastly improved, time to take this caravan home.
Tuesday Morning 7 January 2014
Does anyone remember the article I wrote a few weeks back about the outrageously high property tax letter we received? (Just When You thought it was Safe…) Well today is the day we travel down to beautiful downtown Dinalupihan and pay the real one. You can’t pay it early, but if you pay it on time you avail of a ten percent discount. I have no idea what happens if you’re late because under Mayang’s rein that would never happen. So it should be a fun morning never the less and plenty of opportunities for me to break wise with the employees and spread a little mirth and merriment Maybe I’ll get to chat with the genus; “Mr. Highperson) I would buy that man a beer. BTW still no computers and entries where scribed into a very large book.
Wednesday; 8 January 2014
Volume Two of the Head Tax sojourn, I have the Paperworks in my hot little hand, the passport pictures are at the ready and the Notary Public is waiting with his hand out to witness my signature and collect his hard earned pay. Plus in one pocket I still have the PNP 310.00 to complete the transaction when I finely get back to the Immigration Office. Note, again the BI employee was wrong about going to city hall, any attorney can do it, soon there will be one sitting in front of the BI Office raking in the Peso’s. The guy I went to I’ve known for years, he charged me PNP 300.00 when the price is 200.00 but he’s cheated me before.
Immigration paperwork is filled out; pictures and right and left thumb prints affixed dash on down to the new office and fall through the door, the placed is jammed full, but no line at the windows yet. So I hand over my I-card and paperworks (No one asked to see my passport or last year’s receipt, but bring them as you will meet a different guy.) Added info: Olongapo People. You are required to wear a sleeved shirt, long pants and shoes, and I was. Paid my PNP 310 and was out the door, all by 0930 AM. Next stop (Because I was blessed with extra time) I stopped by my buddy’s and let him make a thousand pesos by filling out my simple income tax form. The only reason I do it is because I know he needs the money.
Off to Sit-N’-Bull and had Fish and chips for lunch with English Malt Vinegar , wonderful, plus those couple of SMB’s I owed myself. So now I’ve taken care of all required legalities required to live in the Philippines for one more year and all is right with my world.
So write in and tell us if your experience with the Immigration office in your neck of the Philippines went as easy as mine.
Paul I couldn’t be more thrilled or happy to have contributed to the new immigration registration procedures. In fact I have heard that as a result of the new procedures Philippine GDP will go up 50% in 2014 (due to our financial supporting of photo labs and notaries) and the Country will get even more favorable nation status. Next year I hear they are already considering having expats wear special color coated shirts during registrations (for id purposes) to give a boost to the garment industry and raise GDP even further. Pink for tourists, Green for Business Visa holders and Yellow for Permanent Residents. Oh and I forgot that we will also be required next year to take taxis to our BI offices to support those in that wonderful industry. In fact I hailed a cab three hours ago here in Manila just to try it out and I am still in it looking for the BI office. I could not be happier LOL
Corey;
Cory;
Won’t that be wonderful, positive changes to improve the quality of life? While at the BI I had a chance to renew old friendships with people I’d not seen since last year. Unfortunately with the extra running around I had to do there was no time to talk to them. But maybe next year, I’ll have more time. It just gets better and better.
hahaha…my friends traveled 2 hours to Kalibo for the yearly only to be told the new form was out of stock…lol
Roxas Ron;
Like my Sandwich, one of the helpful BI employees could have downloaded the form from their own WebSite, at a small service charge. Next time tell your friends to spend the night in a hotel, until the forms arrive from Mega Manila.
I may have improved my patience in the 2 years i have lived here, and i guess it will be even better as time goes by.
When it comes to BI we use (for me) an easy and enjoyable solution. Balikbayan visa, it last for one year and can “expand” 6 months more, so when it runs out, we just take a weekend trip to Hong Kong, Malaysia or Taiwan. When we come back i get a new stamp in my passport – one more year to go. It is free, but of course we pay for a trip, but hey – doesn’t couples need a weekend trip now and then 🙂 I see i could make some people unemployed, since i don’t get photos…documents and so on, but what the heck – there’s a job to people in the airport instead. And….there’s some great beers abroad too 🙂
Axel;
That is one way to do it, until God Forbid a health issue or something else comes up and you can’t make the speed run. None of us are getting younger. Let’s hope it never happens. It’s a short cut that has the potential to bite one square on the butt.
Ha ha ha…I can see there’s a huge difference between English and US-english.. I only get the half of what you say! Or is it some “seaman” expressions? 😀 And anyway – i am danish…
What do you mean by a “shortcut” – is there something i’m not aware of with the Balikbayan visa?
Alex
Yes it’s a shortcut but by no means is the Balikpapan visa the wrong way to go, but as I pointed out things can happen to thwart its use The intention is for people living here to get the ACR I-Card, but to each his own.
Alex;
In my country close to 400 million speak English Plus our Canadian friends to the North who also speak English the way I do. Vice the other English speaking countries, so with that many people who do you think does it right?
England of course. Just ask them. LOL!
Joe;
That’s why their TV & movies need sub-titles in English? (LOL)
Paul just before I left my nephew got a new phone with internet. As long as the phone was close it worked like a router and you could log your computer on to the internet through the phone. Of course the question then would be “would the phone work in your section of paradise. First time I ever ate fish & chips was with you at Sitting Bulls and I must say I really liked them.
Loren;
My daughter has an I-phone, that works much better off the Globe stick than my computer does, who knows why?
I love fish and chips and we had your favorite Onion Rings too! (Joy was on vacation so we had a new girl wait on us, she was funny also.
Oh nothing works well in the “Land Where Time Forgot” I’m doomed to live with what I have and learn to like it! (LOL)
Hmmm… I had to do the photos and fingerprints at the beginning of 2013. I have a week to report back when I return from the US (due to my permanent resident visa still being good). I wonder if I’ll be required to enjoy the notary thing. I might have done that already, but I don’t remember that part.
RT;
Yes you will be standing in line to work on your head tax for 2014. 2013 was easy, you will now be starting again from scratch doing the 2014 paperworks, and there was no notary required in 2013. Welcome back to the Philippines.
Hello Sir Paul!
As always I admire your positive outlook and your tremendous patience in dealing with stuff like these.
I’ve always dreaded this time of the year. We will be going to BI Manila this week and I am prepping myself for a gruelling day. I will be bringing my downloaded Annual Report form, ACR-icard, pics etc. My question is, I have a change of address and I would like to know if I have to fill up another form for that aside from the Annual Report form? Has anyone here done this before?
Thanks 🙂
Jijii
I was blessed with the patience of Job (Of Bible Fame) but I can only thank the United States Navy for that, as their “Hurry up and Wait” attitude that will teach you how to be patience. If you must be in Manila, take the tour of the fort, ride a kalesa and have a nice day of it. That is what I did my last time there and I enjoyed it.
As for your change of address, my driver licenses still says I live in Olongapo after the lady explained what it took to change it.
Hi Paul – Dumaguete office can have hectic loads of people as they have 2 ladies and 1 guy to service up to circa 10,000 tourists, students etc. I have the patience to wait and just go with the flow if required, but I hear others muttering from time to time. However I intentionally visit 15 minutes prior to opening or visit 15 minutes prior to lunch finishing. Things happen faster as I am first in line. Hassles can be minimized by good timing in Dumaguete.
Brenton
Timing is everything, by going back on Wednesday with my paperworks completed while everyone else were just starting to fill theirs out was a stress free way to be out of there within 20 minutes so I ended up by taking the day off by spending less than 45 minutes total in the office (Over the two days) Add in 30 minutes more for the notary and it worked out well. Plus we got two nice lunches out of the deal.
Hi Paul – Just had a separate thought I had. I experience many being disgruntled at the immigration costs in the Philippines and the process involved. How ever from a global standard I don’t consider costs or process that bad. Example – My brother has a partner in Dumaguete that is pregnant. She will be going to Australia in 2 months time. For a permanent visa will be $4500 just to apply, that is no extras and is no way final costs. The actual costs are substantially higher. Convert the costs to peso and it is quite large. Then they are super anal with paperwork and particulars and it takes three to nine months to approve. People might get annoyed by immigration in the Philippines, but they are much more relaxed and cheaper than many other countries.
Brenton;
You are so right about the higher cost, that other countries charge, the Philippines are reasonable when compared. to them. But no country can keep you in a line longer or has so many windows to line up in front of.
Paul,
I’m so happy I’m getting my Permanent Visa at the Philippine Consulate in Chicago. Should be done in 1-2 weeks. People there at the Consulate are very friendly and helpful. Next year will have to start the Annual Reporting. At least I know what to expect now. Fish and Chips sounds good along with onion rings. Will have to try them next time we come your way.
Randy;
Anyone who can get their ACR in the States or their home country should because it really is easier.
Sit-N’-Bulls food is great no matter what you order.