One question that I get from time to time on my e-mail is from people planning to travel here or to move here is this – “Should I go to the embassy and check in with them when I get there?” It’s true that there is indeed a “check in” system where you can go to the embassy of your country in Manila and register with them so that they know where you are visiting or where you are living, if that is the case.
Personally, I have never “checked in” with the US Embassy. It is my feeling that it is really not their business where I live, or where I visit. On other posts I’ve made, people leaving comments have talked about “big brother” and such, and I really feel that any kind of Government “tracking” of where I live or visit is indeed big brother keeping tabs on me. I have no need for that, and don’t want to participate in such tracking.
What do you think?
I agree with you Bob. I'll be leaving tomorrow morning for my 4th trip there, to Davao, and I have never checked in. I just don't think it's anyone's business where I go, who I see, etc.
BTW, thanks for such an informative website, since I found it I'm here reading and learning every day.
Hi Bob,good job you are not from the UK.Big Brother rules bigtime here.CCTV cameras every major street,any official documents you have to fill in have questions not related to what the document is about.If I want to emigrate I have to inform Her Majestys Revenue,VAT tax,National Insurance you name it they want to know.Ive had it with this country,couple more years and im out of here to join my honey in the land of smiles.John.
In this age with mobile communication there's probably less of a need for it too
Great blog this, great appearance too
I read the interview http://expatinterviews.com/Bob-Martin.html
have seen a lot of negative reports on Manila eg talesmag.com but seems very attractive outside such a big and perhaps polluted city….
Hi Roger – Yep, my life is mine, not Uncle Sam's! Thanks for visiting the site!
Hi John – Oh, believe me, a lot of places in the States are now monitored by CCTV too, especially roads. I do believe that London is worse, though, from what I've heard and read. Haha… when you head over this way, be sure to look me up! Just don't go ask at the Embassy where to find me!!! 😀
Hi PJoe – Thanks for visiting! Glad that you read my interview over at ExPat Interviews site, they are nice folks there, and I hope they continue to do well.
Hi Bob, John Johnston has spoken for us, hahahaha, he hits the nail on the head, they want to know everything, overhead cctv cams are everywhere, we are the most surveilled people in the world, I agree with you, why should these agencies known where we are, I would not tell the British Embassy where I was, they cannot do anything for you in any regard, they make this big thing about registering your prescence, its all for figures and stats, so they can determine who is in the country, I dont see the need personally, so its a big thumbs down on that one.
Hi Peter – I wonder how long it will be before there are cctv cameras in the Philippines too! I bet in 50 years you won't be able to avoid them anywhere in the world by that time. Good news is that I probably won't be alive by then!
I agree with Bob. I never check with the U.S. embassy. It's just another way for them to know your whereabout, which is really non of their business. Not only that, the personnels there probably don't care one way or the other which American citizens are here in the Philippines. In fact you'd give them less paperwork to process if you don't check in with them. They figured it's your life. Live it the way you want to. As long as you don't do anything to embarass the good name of the United States, like what that young marine who was convicted of raping a girl from Subic, then you're just another number to them. Till next time….
Hi Julius – I believe that they actually want you to check in, because they want to track your whereabouts. I was at a US Embassy outreach in Davao a couple years ago, and they really kept pestering me to give them my contact details "for their records". I didn't do it though. 😉
I think they wanted to do that to me when I first arrived here, too. But since I'm a frequent traveller, I quit bothering with it. The line alone outside is enough to deter anyone from checking in. Till next time….
Never bothered with the U.K Embassy ….. what for ive never experienced any problems and as for citizenship … I have to return to the U.K once a year anyway so what i do is come here on my own and leave the wife with the kids so they can continue school 🙂 (thats my excuse anyway). Then on the way back meet mae in Singapore and get a "balikbayan" visa …. its free and it lasts for a year. Only problem is …. your spouse has to enter the phil' with you and you need to have your marriage certificate with you just in case.
Seems that all of us on the board here don't really care to check-in. Bahala na!
Though I have not checked in with the embassy here in Davao, it can still be a good idea. The gov. is not trying to keep "tabs" on you, but in the event there are real threats and they feel an evacuation is advisable they have a way of contacting US citizens and helping them. In other countries I have lived people have had there skins saved by the ability of the US embassy to contact them when a serious situation arises. I have never felt the threat here in the Philippines warrented my registering at the embassy, however if terrorism was high here like in the middle east I certainly would consider it, or atleast know how to contact the embassy if you need to.
Hi Jenny – Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I understand your feelings. I prefer not to get involved in registering, though. My problem is though, that due to a number of my blogs, I am becoming well known, and I am told that a lot of the American staff at the US Embassy in Manila read some of my sites. Makes it hard to be too private! Ha ha….
hello again bob
i do remember registering with the embassy on thier website.i feel it might be good if ever there is trouble when im there in philippines.getting put in jail or hospital or whatever mabe even getting taken hostage,well it was my first time there so i figured better safe then sorry.at least if they had my info and i needed help they would allready have all my info. so i can see advantages of registering with the embassy.but the next 2 times i was there i didnt register with them. now i know its very safe there and im allways respectful no matter where i go.thanks bob
mayyong buntag bob
kamusta? salamat kayu
Bob
I work in the telecommunications industry and trust me privacy is a thing of the past. Between satellite surveillance and the ability to put sniffers on the internet there is no getting away from big brother already. My thought is let big brother watch me, he will get board to death with my life.
🙄
Hi Ron W – Maayong Buntag. Kumusta ka? Maayo kaayo ko. I understand what you mean when you say that on your first trip you felt that checking in was the right thing to do. I have never done that on any visit here, but understand your point completely.
Hi Larry – 😆 I am sure that they would get quite bored with my life as well!
Hi Bob,
I dislike the thought of being "known about" also, however, what concerns me more is when the authorities have incorrect information stored about you and you don't know about it until something hits the fan. I would consider registering if I was travelling alone and knew no-one and I had a relatively set itinerary. We have a similar situation in the remote parts of Australia where it it advisable to tell a police station where you are headed and when you expect to get out and back to tell someone you have arrived safely. There are lots of bleached bones out in the big expanses of desert belonging to people where no-one knew about their travel plans and they failed to make it out. A timely search may have found them. Something to think about, anyway.
Hi AussieLee – I believe you offer some good words of advice there. Thanks for sharing them. 🙂
Bob:
I register with the embassy in two circumstances:
1. If I am going to a country on a visit that is inherrently dangerous for Americans, such as when I went to Yemen (ONLY country I have ever visited where I felt unsafe the entire time), Saudi Arabia (NOT safe for Americans to be too conspicuous there, despite all the OFWs living there), and Pakistan (when Bhutto was campaigning in October) for business. In each place, there are numerous bombings, kidnappings, political unrest, etc.
2. If I live in a country for an extended period of time (Yes, including the RP). The first reason is that, after a natural disaster, such as earthquake, your embassy knows you are here and can notify the appropriate people in the States if something happens to you.The second reason is that they maintain an e-mail list and notify you of important happenings in the local area, such as embassy hours, holidays, , and even tax changes.
Last year, while living in the UAE, I was arrested after a traffic accident. By immediately notifying the embassy, a 48 hour hold in a dank cell with 90 other people was changed to "released under own recognizance". If the embassy knows you are here, they can assist with local authorities and, quite frankly, the mere involvement of the embassy can place an "intimidation factor" on the local police and at least ensure you are treated as a human being. Just keep in mind that they cannot "get you out" or "get you off the hook". BUT, they can act as a liaison and let the authorities that your welfare is being watched.
I am highly "anti big brother", and have never, not even for a moment, felt unsafe or at risk in the RP, but it is prudent to let someone know where you are. Think of it this way: If the China quake had happened in Manila, could you imagine the utter chaos and confusion that would result? Being that we are located along the "rim of fire", it is a real possibility that something like that could happen.
For an American, this is really a two-part question:
Shuld you regiter
Should you register in person.
The embassay actually prefers that people register online. There's adata form for that right on their web site. Also, if you ever have offical dealings such as renewing your passport or registering for Social Security, they will add you to their lists. I never registered explicitly, but I am now well know to them. I would not go out of my way to do this, but it doesn't bother me that they have the information. There are many misconceptions on the part of Americna citizens as to what the Embassy would do in the event of some sort of emergency. Mostly these expecations as silly … the State department doesn't evacuate people, bail them out of jail, take them in for medical treatment, etc., as some US citizens seem to think.
As far as warning you of dangerous situations? They already have. Travel by Ameican Citizens to Mindanao is strongly discouraged. They have essentially been promulgating the same verbatim message now for more thna 5 years, so the idea they would come up with somehting new has sort of lsipped down on my list of possibilites.
As far as _going_ to the embassy? My recommendation is, do not do it. American citizens, although relatively well treated inside, are an obvious nusisance to the contract civilian security staff. They routib
ely bark and shout at Filipios seeking entry and treat US citizens with the same disdain. Thye also make up the rules as they go along … last time I went there in Novemebr I was turned away because I had a pack of cigarettes. Not a cell phone, that's already 'verboten' and they do not provide a place to store it. Not a lighter, because after all that could be a terrorist weapon (threaten to hijack the building and fly it into another building, perhaps … or set fire to the concrete?). But a pack of cigarettes. (there is no such regulation, BTW, t was the guard's whim).
By the way, you get absolutely _great_ service from the passport people … give them an email, they send an agent to your resdence, pick up yur old passport, bring back the new in less than two weeks. Great service from the Social security folks too … I am now "officially old" as I am getting my Social security Retirement benefits … but avoid the main gate unless you want a glimpse of the gulag. How different it was when we used to have Marine Guards.
I never checked in ..
hi bob, when i first read about the check in all i could think about was that every one in phe philippines would know where i was and i felt i might put my self in danger by checking in. you know i was afraid that the wrong people might get the adress of where i was staying. just my thoughts though.
Hi Bob – though I've never checked-in with the embassy, I do let the local satellite RAO (retired affairs office for retired military) know when I'm in town. No big brother tracking here, but abiliity to obtain certain retiree benefits is enhanced. 😉
Hi John Miele – Hey, you've been to some pretty dangerous places! You and I have something in common there! 😉 I think that your personal policy regarding checking-in is pretty reasonable.
Hi Dave Starr – Interesting thoughts. You know what… I've been coming to the Philippines for nearly 20 years now, been living here for more than 8 years, and to date I have never stepped foot in the US Embassy – never even seen the building! Ha ha… I just never had any need to go there. I'm sad to hear about the arbitrary rules set by security guards and the detest with which people are treated.
Hi Phil R – You and me both! 😆
Hi jerry smith – Personally, I don't think that checking in would cause any security concerns. I think that the embassy staff are pretty darn security conscience with that type of info. Just my feeling, though.
Hi Paul – That's a good idea to check in with the RAO. 😆
Hi Bob- I agree with J M #21. Its not about Big Brother its about personal safety. All is well until something happens as the saying goes.
Its also about choice if you feel its necessary to check into your Embassy go ahead if not don't. Put it this way when the children go out for the evening you like them to tell you where they are going and with whom and when they are likely to return. Now when "you" go off to a foreign land !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll leave the rest to you.
It seems like there are a lot of people who are worried about Big Brother!
The purpose of registration with your embassy is so that in the event of any emergency, political unrest etc, then they can try to locate you and make arrrangements to get you out of there. If they don't know you are there…well I guess that makes the job harder.
I wouldn't and have not registered when I'm there for a three or four week trip. If I was coming for a longer period, I might do so, and if I find myself in the unfortunate situation of having some savage holding a blunt machete at my neck I might be glad I did. I certainly registered when I lived in Saudi Arabia, and it was nice to be invited to embassy parties as a result too!
I really don't feel like I'm being watched under those circumstances.
As for CCTV. Well the current news in the UK is that there is a couple going around supermarkets, volounteering to assist aged people carry their shopping then taking the opportunity to steal their purses. That is until their images were splashed all over national TV yesterday; maybe that will halt their "career". Also, when someone damaged my car in the supermarket car park the other week, it was nice the police were able to see the registration of the vehicle that did it and thus save me paying the insurance "excess". Let's not forget, that, although paranoia might make us feel uncomfortable at times, such things are usually instigated for our own safety and protection, and probably act as a deterrent for some crimes.
On the other hand, "just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you"! LOL
Bob,
I registered with the US Embassy before I came here, again a year after I arrived and then just a few months ago to update my info. Social Security has my personal info at the US Embassy, and when I made application for CRBA, my personal info again is recorded at the US Embassy.
I respect anyones decision not to register with the US Embassy, but if by not registering, they think they can thwart "big brother", it may be a little late for that. In your case, with your high visibility, I guess it makes no difference if you register or not, especially given your recent exploit with the apprehension of a terrorist.
Registering with the US Embassy, for me, made sense. If there should arise an emergency at home, I believe the US Embassy would be the ones to inform me quicker than my family could, given the level of reliability , or lack thereof, of the Internet, telephone and mail service here. If I had listened to the US Embassy warnings that I read on their web site, I probably would not be here in the "dangerous area" of Mindanao. That said, I believe that if a 'real' dangerous situation should arise, I like the feeling that the US Embassy knows where I am and will do their best to evacuat if needed.
Again, I am not disrespecting anyones decision not to register. It's just my personal feelings that it is not such a bad idea.
Frank
Goverments friendly to the US also share infos these days. Once immigration scans your passport when you enter the country. I'm sure the US embassy gets a report or have access to the RP immigration's data base. I know for sure they access to the National Census Office. The US have the best 911/evacuations system for their citizens.
Hi Jim Cunningham, Jim Hannah, Francisco and Bobby – Based on your comments, I think I need to clarify something. When i write a title like "Should I check in at the embassy?" I am not necessarily asking if "I" (Bob) should do so. Sometimes, I will write such a column because I've been getting several e-mails asking the question, so I write a column about the question. In this particular case, this is the situation, I am not really asking the question for myself (my decision on this was made long ago), but rather letting you guys offer advice for people who are asking me this via e-mail. I do appreciate you guys adding your ideas and thoughts too, as varied opinions on a subject offer a variety of thoughts for our readers.
In my case, I don't worry too much about the embassy taking care of things like family notifications and such, since I have very little family back in the States anyway, and those who I am close to I have regular contact with (in most cases, daily contact), so just a day or two of missed connection would indicate a problem. Anyway, we all have different situations, and that is why we all have to make our own choices.
Thanks, guys for your replies.
Its a sad day when you fear your own government..seems there is a very deep …very wide discontent cord within the general population in the USA…..as I have been saying for years …"the hell with instilling Democracy in Iraq…bring em home to instill democracy in back in the USA" !
Ron Paul for President
Hi Brian – I must say… there is more than a bit of truth there…. 😯
Good Day Everyone:
While I can not attest to the governments of third world countries, do not think for one minute that any government that is in the 1st or 2nd world does not want to keep track of it's citizens. Finical as well as political reasons are at stake. Never mind dictatorships and oligarchies. It is human nature to try to control and dominate. It varies greatly from individual to individual!!! Nearly all humans in the world have this trait and to deny it is to deny the existence of the human race.
Personally I am a bit fed up with all the US bashing that is so popular these days. If you do not like something you work with in the system to change it. Even if it is only a little bit at a time.
*"It is not my country or my government that I do not trust, but rather the people that make up the government."
*" I am a citizen! I am armed and I vote! I hold no malice to those that do not perpetrate against me."
* Quotes from W. A. Derby
Hi Bob – Sorry if I mislead you. I was talking about people in general not you specifically.
What I tried to say is you register by choice however we always ask the children to tell us where they are going and when they may return even as they grow older. So maybe we should all practice what we preach to be on the safe side.
Incidentally you personally Bob have no chance of hiding be it online or on the phone UncleSam has you covered lol.
Hi Wayne A. Derby – Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't recall seeing any US bashing here. ❓
Hi Jim Cunningham – I understand… thanks! And you are right, I am pretty high profile, and wouldn't have much chance of "hiding out." 😆
Bob
Wasn't there a quote something like "Blind trust in your leaders and your country will get you killed" I would say keep out and away from the Embassy.
Think about it, if we can openly access Google Earth Sat Photos, Im sure Big Bro has some far superior technology that can track you down, zoom in and see the crack of your Ass as you walk around MagsaySay Park.
I been working for Big Bro for 24 years and I still Do Not trust him.
Stay Alert Stay Alive!!
Hi Neal in RI – Ha ha… that's a good one, Wayne. And, unfortunately, I believe that it is true! 😆
I get the choice of registering or not registering with the Embassy or Consulate , but how does one handle the customs/immigration card when returning to the US/Canada or other countries that require you list an address, do you put your old address in North America or your current one in the Philippines???
I have checked in before online–the only reason I do not do it is because I forget. I am in the camp on wanting my presence here to be noted in the case of emergency here (i.e., big fat earthquake). I am not worried about them tracking me–my passport does that already (although I am not sure my passport is always scanned upon arrival–often times it is brought back to me still inside the plastic case).
Hi John – I never go back to the States, so that is one thing that I personally don't have to worry about. 😀 However, if I did, I would just put my US address on the form, because I do have an address in each country that I use.
Hi kikas_head – Not trying to be critical here, just having a discussion, I hope you understand that. But, what I wonder is this – if the US embassy knows that you are in a certain area in the Philippines, and a big earthquake strikes (along the lines of the recent quake in China, for instance), what could they do? I don't see any action that they could take. I mean, the USA and lots of other countries are going to send people here to help in rescuing and such, but they are not going to specifically look just for you or me. I think that regardless of what US citizens might be in such an area, it won't change the effort at all.
Like I say, it's just a point I want to discuss, not flaming or attacking your theory (after all, more people seem to share your viewpoint than mine).
hi bob,
nice article, anyway, i just want to share my own experience, i have an american friend here, he told me that we "pinoys" are lucky because our consulate always pay us a visit in my area every 3 months for services like passport renewals, work problems or anything that our embassy can help us, he said that the americans in my area need to fly to the embassy just to renew their passport and those americans who need embassy assistance must personally go to the embassy.
it would be nice if the U.S. embassy here will visit them once in a while or make it a periodic visit to serve the american people.
Hi Dans – The US holds a "Virtual Embassy" in Davao twice per year to assist Americans with things like passport renewals and such. We use that any time we need that kind of service – much better than having to spend the money flying to Manila to do this kind of thing!
the "Virtual Embassy" sounds good only if you have means to use it, right now, the americans here need to spend a lot of money just to renew their passport, (plance ticket, hotel etc..etc..) as i said, our cosulate here pay us a visit every 3 months, just recently, we know one american who is desperate to get help from the embassy, he had a work related problem and the only thing he want is to have anyone from the embassy to come here and mediate between him and the company. a lot of guys here chipped in so that he can survive until something good happen.
Hi dans – For me a work dispute is not really something that an Embassy should be expected to handle. Things like Visas, Passport Renewals, maybe a medical evacuation, but other daily life things are the responsibility of the individual, not their government to take care of. Just my opinion.
Bob,
It's a good thing for those who live in your area that there is a virtual embassy in Davao. For me the best option is to use the Consulate at Cebu. Even that, is not an option in some cases. Although I can, or could have, used the Cebu Consulate to process my CRBA, I still have to go to Manila for the interview. Passport renewal can be done without going to Manila and other services I've used (Social Security) didn't require my presence in Manila
Dans American friend my be ill-informed as to what services require his presence in Manila and which don't.
I was aware, when I replied to your original post, that you were not speaking of yourself personally and that is was, more than likely, a question you'd been asked by soemone else. I hope you did not think I was trying to convince you that registering with the US Embassy was what you(or anyone else)should do. A point that I would make is, registering with the US Embassy doesn't discloses much more personal information than you would have given when applying for a visa to come here. My own personal feeling is that not registering because of a "big brother" paranoia, doesn't make sense. At some of our ages, what the government doesn't know about us already is probably not that important anyway.
Frank in Pagadian
Hi Francisco – I know that they also have a virtual embassy twice per year in CdO, I had thought that they probably did in Zambo City too, but I don't know for sure on that. Not sure if the CdO would be convenient for you or not.
Yeah, I understand your response to my column, I was just pointing that out for people who might have been confused.
Next time I go to Pagadian, I'll give you a shout!
Take care!
In preparation of my first visit to the Philippines, I spent many hours finding out as much as I could about going there. I had friends in Iligan City that I wanted to visit.I am reluctant in going to any foriegn country where I don't know anyone.
On one of the on line US Govt. websites it suggested " registering " yourself, where you were going to be , dates etc. I read the information with interest months ahead of time and decided I'd think about registering and do it as my travel dates got closer.
Being somewhat knowledgable of electronic communication it is my opinion that anything you do on the internet or for that matter any other form of electronic communication is subject to being hacked. intercepted, monitored or distributed by just about anyone with the ultimate desire to do so. I never have taken " privacy " for granted regardless of the various safeguards employed in many websites.
Although these days the " trendy " and to some the most favorable way of booking flights, hotels etc. are done online, I still prefer to use a reliable Travel Agent for booking my flights. A good travel agent many times can get an equal or better deal than on line websites and if there are any errors or other errors, the travel agent gets the headaches, not me.
If I were going to share any of the details of my plans to visit the Philippines other than to those directly involved in my visit, why " advertise " the fact prior to going ? I can wait until afterwards for that when I am back home to tell my friends and others what a great time I had there ( and yes, this had to be one of the best vacations I ever had ! ) .
I decided not to register any of my plans on the US State Dept. website. You never " really " know who is going to get their hands on that information and I don't mean to sound anti-establishment here but wouldn't a Govt. website be a target for certain kinds of Internet " hackers " ?
If you think about it, most all travel these days is electronically traceable anyway. Electronically scanned passports, Passenger lists on aircraft are scanned and reviewed long before boarding, Credit Card transactions traceable within seconds etc.
Now if " Big Brother " wanted to follow me around on my vacation, I wouldn't really have a problem with that as I was there to visit friends and learn about a part of the world I had never been to before with no ill intention. It is who else could get their hands on my registered information that would concern me more. The people closest to me knew my details and as far as I am concerned, those are the only ones that needed to know.
Hi Bob New York – Thanks for sharing your thoughts on travel and registering.