Living permanently in the Philippines?

    Klaus

December 3, 2007 by Klaus  
Filed under Klaus

There are many different possibilities to do so. The most common way to live permanently in the Philippines is to get married to a Filipina, and apply for a status change from 9A (Tourist) to 13A (Through marriage). Fact is, you’ll get at first only a probationary visa good for one year. Early enough (before ending this year) you should apply for a change status from probationary to permanent resident under section 13 (a) of the Philippine Immigration Act. The checklist of requirements for petition for amendments says:

- Letter request from the petitioner (and Filipino spouse),

- General Application Form (BI Form No. RBR 98-01) duly accomplished, signed by both petitioner and applicant and notarized,

- 2×2 ID pictures to be attached to the General Application Form,

- Photocopies of the following  a) Passport with stamped of the visa, b) Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR), and c) Immigrant Certificate of Residence (ICR),

- Joint Affidavit of the petitioner and the applicant stating that: a) they are husband and wife and are living together, b) they are financially capable of supporting each other. As the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation says: Important, supporting documents to prove financial capacity such as proofs of joint bank diposits or a bank certification, Income Tax Return, land titles, contract of employment, pension etc. (with English translations) must be submitted,

- Barangay Certificate, that petitioner and applicant are residents of the barangay and that they continue to live together as husband and wife,

- Birth Certificate of children born subsequent to the approval of the probationary one year period.

If positively approved by the BID Manila, you’ll receive a new “Identification Card”, which is valued for five years.

Law changes permanently. Please inform yourself at first before you submit your application at the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation in Manila, Cebu City or Davao City or contact the Philippine Embassy as well as Philippine (General/Honorary) Consulate in your home country.

About the Author:  Klaus is from Germany, but has been living in the Philippines since the late 1990’s. Klaus is a journalist by trade, having written for a number of newspapers, studied also Publishing House Management and Marketing and has also been a Radio Host here in the Philippines.