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Immigration, what can go wrong.

July 9, 2010 By GenSan Chris 59 Comments
IMMIGRATION LOGO

This is an attempt by me to explain a bit more about the Visa System in the Philippines, I am sure that there are lots of bits missing due to the complexity of the subject but I will give it a go anyway. In March this year, A friend of mine and his wife planned a short visit to Hong Kong in order for him to get the required fresh start to his Visa after nearly 16 months in the Philippines. The trip was booked through a reputable travel agent here in Gen San so away they went to enjoy the break. On departure at the new airport in Manila the Immigration Officer asked for his Certification of Clearance, he explained that after spending … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Chris Tagged With: Chris Dearne, Expats, Immigration, Living in The Philippines, Travel

EXTRA! – I Am NOT An EXPAT!

May 14, 2010 By PaulK 23 Comments
NO EXPAT2

I’m not an Expat.  I may be a Kano, or a “Puti,” or a “Purow,” or even a “Hey Joe,” but I’m definitely not an Expat. Others can call themselves an Expat, or “God’s Gift to Mankind,” or even a “P.O.S.” if they want – that’s their prerogative.  I, however, am NOT and Expat! If I had to classify myself as something, I’d have to say that I’m just someone with a new address.  I’m not an expatriate – I just changed addresses. There’s a good chance that that my current address will be my last address.  I have no reason to move anymore.  I’ve finally found my home.  I’ll still be a Kano.  The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Paul Tagged With: Adjustment, Daily Life, Expats, Ilocos Norte, Immigration, Living in The Philippines, Paul Keating

Goodbye U.S. Citizenship (Pt II)

May 6, 2010 By PaulK 20 Comments
expatriation

"That’s it. I’m finished. I can’t take this crap anymore. I’m out of here." That line of thought has passed through my mind on many occasions. Now that I’m in The Philippines, it’s time to do something besides think.  This time, I’m really prepared to DO SOMETHING. IT'S TIME FOR CONTINUING Last week's article began with those very words.  Sentiments haven't changed much in a week's time, but I've read and researched this topic a little more since you last read those words.  My "two r's" centered on whether I overlooked any issues in our discussion on renouncing your citizenship. It's always good to review your work, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Paul Tagged With: Adjustment, Citizenship, Daily Life, Expats, Ilocos Norte, Immigration, Living in The Philippines, Paul Keating

Goodbye U.S. Citizenship (Pt I)

April 29, 2010 By PaulK 43 Comments
no passport

“That’s it. I’m finished. I can’t take this crap anymore. I’m out of here.” That line of thought has passed through my mind on many occasions. Now that I’m in The Philippines, it’s time to do something besides think.  This time, I'm really prepared to DO SOMETHING. IT’S TIME FOR ACTION. Reading MindanaoBob’s articles about U.S. citizenship issues here, here, here and here (there are more, but you get the picture) makes me want to “take care of business.” More U.S. citizens worldwide are renouncing their citizenship now, than ever before. The same holds true with green-card holders:  more are severing their ties … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Paul Tagged With: Adjustment, Citizenship, Daily Life, Expats, Ilocos Norte, Immigration, Living in The Philippines, Paul Keating

Visa Update Experience

March 12, 2010 By Jawz 12 Comments
passport

Okay, so, my current tourist visa was expiring. The medical check-ups for Ateneo de Davao University ain't happening yet, so it is preventing me from getting a student visa for the moment. So, I needed to update my visa. I took a taxi to the Bureau of Immigration across from the Victoria Plaza mall. I was confused at what to do when I entered the building till I just repeated the process of another white guy; walk up to the window. The man at the window looked at my passport and then handed me a paper to fill out. The guy at the window of the counter then requested 3 pages of my passport to be photocopied. So, I went out of the building to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Jawz Tagged With: Daily Life, Expats, Immigration, Jonathan Watson, Living in The Philippines, Travel

An interview with Ray Bacon

January 29, 2010 By MindanaoBob 20 Comments
Ray and Ampee Bacon

If you have cruised the Internet much over the past 15 years or so in search of information about the Philippines, there is a good chance that you know who Ray Bacon is.  I first came to know of Ray about that many years ago, or so.  I used to operate an e-mail list in the early to mid-90's called "Asialink" which was mostly a group of men who were married to Filipina wives.  We gathered on this on-line e-mail chat group for support, sharing information and such.  After a few years, the group splintered into two groups, and that other group later splintered again, and a new e-mail group called "Mag-Anak" was born.  Ray was one of the original … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Immigration, Relationships

Maybe a little clarification is in order

December 21, 2009 By MindanaoBob 53 Comments

A few days ago, my friend Chas, a regular LiP reader forwarded me a link to a news article, something which he does on a fairly regular basis.  Sometimes, I get links to stuff I already know about, but sometimes I get little jewels of information that is totally new to me.  In this case, thanks to Chas, I found out something that I knew nothing about. Well, maybe I can't say that I knew nothing about it, but only very little.  Some time back, I wrote an article, based on information that I got from another friend, Dave Starr.  Dave had let me know that the Bureau of Immigration was making it possible for people who were here on tourist … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Expats, Immigration, Living in The Philippines, Travel

Dear Feyma, Wanting to go to America!

December 10, 2009 By Feyma 43 Comments
flag

Dear Feyma, I am a filipina  and wish to go to America. Married to a Pinoy many years ago and this seems to be a real problem obtaining the appropriate visa for me to enter the USA. What can I do? I have an American boyfriend and I love him. We had child together with my American BF and he is here with me now. He wants me to go with him to the USA, now I have a problem which visa do we apply for? And how do we even begin this long journey? Please advise. Wow, to be honest I don't know what kind of visa that she needs to get. She didn't tell me if she already got  an annulment from her previous husband. Firstly I don't think she can even start … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feyma Tagged With: Feyma Martin, Immigration, Living in The Philippines

I’m still not Him (Continued from Last week)

November 17, 2009 By Paul Thompson 7 Comments

Five years, copious amounts of money, many trip into Mega Manila, and I receive my big yellow ACR card with my picture on it back in 2001. I’m a self satisfied man, the stars are in the heavens were aligned and all in the world is well. Hell no, the next year they change to the "I" card and I start again! All the paperworks are lost in Manila, so no card shows up in Olongapo. I go to Manila for two days and “I” found the paperwork’s they must by now think I work there and that they were never informed, or was I ever paid for that matter. Three months later my “I Card” falls from the Manila sky, and it’s good for only one year. After … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Paul T Tagged With: Expats, Immigration, Living in The Philippines, Paul Thompson

I’m Still Not Him, circa 2001

November 10, 2009 By Paul Thompson 18 Comments

This is to prove that even I had trouble getting my ACR card. Last week I told you about how I had to prove I was me to the U.S. Government, the time before that in 2001, I had to prove to the Philippine Government that I’m not him. This time I go to Manila because I had to finish up the paperwork’s on my application, for a permanent ACR, this was a few years ago. I received my temporary ACR, which was good for one year, on probation. I assumed that since I received all these official papers from the Department of Immigration that I had jumped all over all the hurdles, slipped between all the cracks, and was on the road to easy times. Wrong … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Paul T Tagged With: Daily Life, Filipino Culture, Immigration, Living in The Philippines, Paul Thompson
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