Remember a couple of weeks ago when I wrote about a friend who was trying to open a bank account here in the Philippines? My friend was having problems opening an account because he is living here on a Balikbayan Visa. Although the law does not require it, many Philippine Banks require that a foreigner must present an ACR Card as a prerequisite to opening a bank account here.
Generally, people who live here on any kind of residence visa are the ones who have ACR cards, actually called “ACR I-cards.” I have an ACR I-card as a 13(g) Permanent Resident Visa holder. Holders of SRRV (Special Retirees Resident Visa) Visas also get ACR I-cards, as do holders of any type of visa that allows them to live long term in the Philippines. Anybody with an ACR I-card can easily open an account at any bank in the Philippines, provided they can deposit the minimum amount required by the bank.
Now, though, if you do not have a permanent visa, you generally would not have an ACR I-card. So, if you are living in the Philippines on a Tourist Visa or a Balikbayan Visa, you generally would not have an ACR I-card, and thus may encounter problems opening a bank account.
My friend, Dave Starr got a little curious after reading my article and decided to do a little research. Dave passed along the results of his research to me and gave me permission to publish it here. I told Dave it would be OK for him to publish it, but he said that since I had already started this topic, he would be happy to let me publish it.
Dave wrote an e-mail to the Bureau of Immigration Help Desk, and they replied to him promptly. Dave inquired to the BoI if it would be possible for a Balikbayan Visa holder to obtain an ACR I-card. The information that Dave got back was surprising to me.
The Bureau of Immigration replied to Dave with this information:
Dear Sir:
Thank you for the inquiry.
Only the following visa holders under Section 9(d) treaty traders visa, 9(f) student visa, 9(g) Commercial and Missionary visa, 13 Quota Immigrant visa, 13(a) to 13(g), 47(a)(2) special non-immigrant visa, and Temporary Resident Visa are required to apply an ACR I-card with the Alien Registration Division (ARD) of the Bureau of Immigration, Manila.
Also, any foreign national who intend to apply for a driver’s license or open a bank account can apply voluntarily for an ACR I-card at the said office.
We hope we have assisted you on the matter.
So, the matter is pretty clear. If you have a residence visa, you are required to get an ACR I-card. If you have any other type of visa, you can voluntarily get an ACR I-card, although it is not required.
With this information, it should now be easy for any foreigner who is staying in the Philippines to open a bank account in the Philippines. For around $50 you can obtain your ACR I-card, and once you have that in hand, you are ready to go to your bank of choice and open an account.
Thank you very much to Dave for doing the legwork on this. I know that this information is quite helpful to many people who read this site! Thanks again, Dave!
Bob/Dave
Hope some follow up on this can be done as some of the local BI offices don't subscribe to the " voluntary " approach . 🙂 Or at least don't seem to believe that someone on a " tourist visa " could get an ACR card so maybe i am reading this incorrectly ?
Thanks for getting the info out, Bob, Your readership is alot bigger thna mine, so mor epeople will get the word.
This has been aproblem for a number of people for several years now, ever since the ACR-I card came into wide use. It certainly may help some folks who have been frustrated by this 'show an ACR-I catd' requiremwnt.
One little thing that will help sweeten the sourness of having to buy a document that you don't really want to … in the ACR-I card info on the BI web site it clearly states that part of the ACR-I card fee is an ECC (Exit Permit) clearance. That means that ab ACR-I card holder does not have to apply for and purchase an ECC if s/he leaves the Philippines during the period of validity of the card … offsets some of the cost at least.
Alan, the follow-up is already in the quoted email. The voluntary ACR-I can only be issued at BI hq in Intramuros, Manila. 'required' ACR-I cards can be applied for an many (but not all) BI Field Offices. There is aseparate list for that. Voluntary issuamce is at the Manila Hq.
Kamusta mo Dave/Bob,
Ok..let me see if I understand this, so if I want to get a "voluntary" ACR-I card in order to open a bank account, I need to travel to Manila to get one? I think I will just keep my American accounts, and let Rose open up her own account for very limited funds. Traveling to Manila sounds like absolutely no fun to me..hehe..lol.
And I know each bank is different, but what is the minimum deposit..an estimate if you have to give me….what are we talking like 200,000 php or so?
Also, how long does it take to get an 13(g) Permanent Resident Visa? The cost?
Because I know after I get there, I won't want to do those "visa" runs, I hope I will be too busy for that.
Salamat kaayo,
Danny 🙂
Hi Alan – Looks like Dave beat me to the answer. Gotta go to Manila to avail of the "voluntary" ACR.
Hi Dave – And thank you for passing this along to me. It is important information that people need to know. Also, the ECC thing is something that I didn't realize myself, and is good to know. Thanks.
Hi Danny – Well, you do need to pass through Manila on the way to Maasin, right? 😉
Minimum bank deposits can be as low as P500. My Unionbank EON account has that low of an opening balance requirement.
Sorry, my friend, but you will not qualify for a 13(g) visa, so you can't get one! Good news, though… you will qualify for a 13(a). The G variety is for people who are married a to former Philippine citizen. The A variety is what you will need to get. It is for people who are married to a Philippine citizen. The cost of getting the 13(a) will run you a couple hundred dollars, and should take no more than a few months. You may not apply until after you are married, though. Your original 13(a) will be conditional for the first year, then will be permanent after that.
Kamusta ka Bob,
No..actually I won't be going through Manila when I fly to Philippines. My flight will take me from Florida to New York, New York to Singapore, Singapore to Cebu City, then a nice 4-5 hour boat ride to Maasin.
Ok…I hate to get into this discussion about visa's..lol. I have to be honest with you, this is one of the most frustrating parts of moving there, is understanding the ins and out of the different visa's. I am sure before it is all, I will be an expert on this subject…lol.
Ok..I understand now what you say about the 13a visa, and that is what I will apply for..but till that is approved, I will either stay with my tourist visa or balikbayan visa?(Of course, I say this, because we will be married soon after coming to Philippines)
Now..just for curiosity 13g visa, you said "The G variety is for people who are married a to former Philippine citizen". So what does that mean? Is it because Feyma lived in the USA and received citizenship there, and because of this, you being married to her, you are eligible for this type of visa?
I have been to the many sites that explain this, but these sites are very confusing to me, the way they explain them. I guess I need a "lamens" explanation. I am no dummy, but not a rocket scientist either :).
Salamat kaayo,
Danny 🙂
WoW that dave is such a wealth of useful knowledge ! thank you both very much your research and knowledge is invaluable
Hi Danny – No problem, I am happy to help you out on this.
When you come to the Philippines, you are only going to be eligible for one kind of visa – a tourist visa. After you are married, if you and Rose leave the Philippines for a vacation, when you return you can then be given a Balikbayan visa, but as a single, unmarried, non-filipino, you cannot receive a Balikbayan visa. So, it's a given, when you come here, you will get a tourist visa. There is no other option.
Yes, since my spouse is a former citizen – she was naturalized as a US citizen – then indeed, I was eligible for, and got a 13(g) Resident Visa. Rose, on the other hand is a Philippine Citizen (I believe), and as such, if you marry her, then you are eligible for a 13(a) Visa. A 13(a) visa is for the spouse of a Philippine Citizen. I am not eligible for a 13(a) because Feyma is not a Philippine Citizen. As a US Citizen, who is a former Philippine Citizen, Feyma also has a 13(g). Because of Feyma's status, I, and our children were also eligible for 13(g).
I hope this cuts through some of the trouble. If you have questions, feel free to ask, because I am very happy to explain further.
HI Tommy – Even better – that info came straight from the Bureau of Immigration! Thanks to Dave for getting it for us, though! I think this might be helpful for you, right? 😉
if i can butt in here for just a second, i noticed Danny you are flying into Cebu ? Bob may be able to clear this up but unless you fly into Manila with your wife you cannot get a balikbayan visa either
🙁
perfect bob just have to find a minute to spend the weekend in Manila …. hmmmm wonder what Dave is doing next weekend … 😆
Hi Tommy – Danny is not eligible for a Balikbayan Visa anyway, because he is not married. After he gets married, then he could get a Balikbayan Visa upon reentry, if accompanied by his wife. But, I was unaware that you could not get BB in Cebu. I thought that it could be issued at any port of entry. I could be wrong on that, though, because It's been years since I got a BB visa, since I have a resident visa.
Hi Tommy – Isn't it funny how when you "retire" or don't really have a regular job anymore… that is when you seem to have no time at all? 😀
oooops bob you beat me to it you can delete these 🙂
Hi Tommy – No need to delete. Even if we make a mistake, it is valuable information, because others may think the same. It was a good question!
Kamusta ka Bob,
Thanks so much, ok..here's the scenario, and yes Rose is a Philippine citizen, she's never been outside of the Philippines, born and raised in Maasin City, she's only travel inside of Philippines with her family, Boracay, Manila, Mindanao, Cebu, and all over Letye..thats it.
Ok…here's the scenario..I move to Philippines…of course at this point I only have tourist visa, I marry Rose, and I want to stay in Maasin City for many years. At this point, we have no desire to leave Philippines even to visit family in USA. So would I be able to apply for 13a right away after being married in Philippines, do I still need to exit the Philippines with Rose in order to get balikbayan visa, or should I just apply for 13a visa, and just do my visa runs till it is approved…what do you think? I guess what I am saying, is it really necessary to get a balikbayan visa? This is the confusing part for me, what is the best way to do this. I just want to live there in Philippines, and not have to leave and waste my funds on airfare to Bangkok or some other country. But I also know that I will initially have to do so..till I get some type of permanent resident visa.
I appreciate this Bob very much,
Salamat kaayo,
Danny 🙂
Hey Tommy,
You can "butt" in any time my friend…lol.
Danny 🙂
Hi Danny – OK… let's see what would be best for you.
Yes, you will come in on a tourist visa, that is the only kind of visa that you presently qualify for.
After you get married, you can then apply for a 13(a) anytime.
If you are here for 16 months before your 13(a) is issued, you will have to leave the Philippines. If the 13(a) is issued before your 16 months stay in the Philippines, then there is no reason why you will ever have to leave the Philippines. If you apply in a timely manner after marriage, I see no reason why you would not have your resident visa in hand before 16 months.
To answer your question – yes, you can only get a Balikbayan Visa if you and Rose leave the Philippines, and you re-enter the country together.
If you do need to leave before your Resident Visa is issued, then you can take Rose with you, go to Hong Kong, Thailand or some other nearby ASEAN (that's not Asian, it is ASEAN – Association of Southest Asian Nations) country. When you re-enter, you should be able to get a Balikbayan Visa. With a Balikbayan Visa you can stay for one year. After the end of one year, you can convert your Balikbayan Visa to a Tourist Visa and extend that up to another 16 months. You cannot change your original Tourist Visa to Balikbayan, though.
When you have a tourist visa, before you are here 21 days you will need to go to the BoI and extend that Visa, at which point it will bring it up to 59 days. After that, every 59 days you must extend again. You can keep extending up to 16 months. After 16 months have passed, you must leave the country, and return after a day or two, and everything starts over again.
Now, if you apply for, and are issued a 13(a) during your stay, your tourist visa is then canceled and you are a resident. With a resident visa you must go to the BoI and check in once per year (Jan or Feb) at a cost of around P350 or so.
Hope this helps.
Kamusta ka Bob,
This is great, the confusion is over, and now I understand. That is the best explanation I have heard from anybody so far. Thanks so much Bob, I appreciate this very much.
Maayong buntag to you and the family.
Salamat kaayo, ingatz,
Danny 🙂
Hello all,
Your right Tommy, like most of the LiP writers, Dave is a great contributor to this site, and I for one love his point of views and observations in the Philippines. They make for great articles, and great info for us "greehorns" coming there.
Take care now,
Danny 🙂
Hi Danny – Way sapayan! Walay problema. Malipayon ko.
I agree, Danny. Dave is a valuable resource! He can be a curmudgeon at times (as he says), but that's OK! 😉
A foreign spouse of a Filipino/former Filipino can avail of the BB Privilege (technically speaking it is not a visa) at any Philippine port of entry, provided the couple (must be man and woman BTW, Philippines does not recognize same gender unions).
Only requirement is that the coupkle be together and that they have proof od marriage is asked for it.
As an aside to that, for couple married overseas … be sure to get your marriage certificate recorded at the Philippine Embassy/Consulate in the country you married in. Foreign marriage certificates are _not_ useable for proof ogff marraige to avail of 13a or 13g visas, and they can be recoded within the Philippines. A catch 22 that has caused alot of heartburn.
Hi all, you can get a balikbayan visa if you travel to the phils with your wife through Cebu and Davao, I have had no problems getting one.
Cheers
I know, Boib. Seriously I have been thinking about looking for ajob … not becuase need the money but becuase it would give me 40 plus hours a week that were organized LoL And if I could go back to work as a swivel … oops I mean civil servant, I'd get a lot of rest in too.
Hi Dave – One other thing along the lines of what you are saying. As you said, Balikbayan is a Privilege. It is not a right. Nobody has a right to be issued a Balikbayan stamp upon entry, even if they meet all the requirements. It is the sold discretion of the Immigration officer to decide if he will issue it or not. So, for anybody coming in, they have their wife with them, or whatever…. you may or may not get it. 9 times out of 10 you will, but if you are denied, it is still perfectly legal, because nobody is entitled to it.
Hi Jason – That's what I thought… thanks for clarifying.
Hi Bob
All this talk of visas has reminded me I must apple for a residence visa this September. That is because I will have been here in Kuwait 5yrs at that stage(yahoooooooo). Now one of the reasons I havn't applied before this and correct me please if I'm wrong, one must supply a police report for the previous 5yrs where they were resident, to show that you have been a good boy. Prior to this I would have had to collect several police reports from different countries and I don't know if that would have been acceptable.
Now when I have the residence visa will it be necessary for me to report to immigration (apart from the normal passport control) everytime I leave and re-enter the Philippines after that and do I have to pay some kind of additional immegration tax. Thanks in advance.
Hi Jack – To be honest, I am certainly not an expert on this, but I will tell you what I think! Ha ha… you see, I've been here more than 9 years, but I've never left before.
When I first came here, the procedure was as you described. When you wanted to leave, you had to go to the BoI and take care of some kind of paperwork. However, it is my belief that this is no longer the case. Now that they have the ACR I-card, it is my understanding that you can simply go to the airport and leave. They swipe your card through some machine when you go and when you come back. So, I think that the reporting to the office is no longer necessary. But, I don't know for certain. Others may comment here who know better than I do. But, even if others comment, I would recommend checking with the BoI to find out for certain.
Thanks for clearing that up Dave and Jason
I processed my 13a visa in the Philippine Embassy in London – my wife regained her Philippine nationality in the morning and in the afternoon she sponsored me as the spouse of a Philippine national.The staff in the embassy were absolutely marvelous – it was made very easy, the interview with the consul was a friendly conversation – it was all completed in one day.When I came back to Manila I had to report to Intramuros within a few days – I cannot remember if it was 3 or 5.The main difficulty then was that there was no document to tell you what you needed and how many copies. Each window wanted something different and a different number of copies so you would have to stop the process to get more copies etc.
It was just a question of patience!The only drawback of the ICard is that instead of 750pesos at the Airport when you leave, it totals 2900 pesos.
Hi Bryan – Your experience is almost identical to what I did back in May 2000. It hasn't changed much!
Hi Bob
Haven't had time to read all the relpies in detail, so forgive me if this has already been mentioned.
You say you got a 13g visa as Femya is a US citizen. Could she not reapply for her Filipino citizenship and become a dual citizen, then you could get a 13a visa?
Do you know what is the difference between a 13a or 13g visa? Does one enable you to buy / own / work any differently?
I know this is slightly off topic, but as this tread was already started, I will continue this theme.
very confusing 🙁
Hi Barry – Well… let's see where to start! 😆
At the time that I got my 13(g), there was no Dual Citizenship law, so the option was not available. Could Feyma get Dual Citizenship now? No problem at all. But, if she does, then my 13(g) could be revoked, because I would no longer be the spouse of a Former Citizen, and thus would no longer qualify for a 13(g). At that point, I could apply for a 13(a) and go through the whole process again. If Feyma doesn't become a citizen again, we can all just keep our 13(g) and keep enjoying our life.
What is the difference between a 13(a) and a 13(g)? Only one difference. One is for spouse of a citizen. The other is for spouse of a former citizen. That is the only difference. As far as what privileges you get, they are the same. If I switched visa types, I would gain nothing in terms of what I could buy, own, work, etc. There is no difference between the two visas, except who can get one.
So, basically, Feyma can get her dual citizenship, and then I can start the whole Resident Visa merry go round again. Or she can not get it and we already have what we need. It is not a tough choice.
Now, let me add… the BoI may or may not revoke a 13(g) under these circumstances. I went to the BoI office and inquired about this. I was told by the officer in charge that they can revoke if they choose to under those circumstances. He said they probably would not, but they can if they want to. All in all, I'm pretty happy now, and would gain nothing by changing… so why change? 😀
OK Bob
Clear and concise answers.
I'm no longer confused. 🙂 🙂
Thanks Barry
Hi Barry – I'm glad that I was able to clear everything! 😉
Bob,
This is very informative but there is one thing confusing or a mistake from the BI.
They say if you want a drivers license. I received mine just a few weeks after arriving here, with just a tourist Visa.
Hi Bruce – That's not a mistake. Recently, some (not all) LTO offices are requiring an ACR to get a driver's license. You applied some time ago and things have changed in some areas.
Bob,
I stand corrected.
Hi Bob – Baketko (asawako) [my wife] doesn't want anything to do with a resident visa (e.g., Sect 13[g]) so this definitely solves the potential problem opening a bank account. (Yeah, I can spare PHP500!)
She heard from "THEY" that getting a resident visa would ensnare her in Philippine taxes and other administrative nightmares, and could jeopardize her USA citizenship (yes, she's definitely against dual-citizenship, too!). No amount of research and info (LiP included) can trump "THEY" – I've yet to find out who "THEY" are but I think I'm getting close to discovery whenever I pass by the pinay hairdresser's shop! 🙂
Now I can use the ploy of, "Hey, lets go to Manila, see Intramoros, and putter around" coupled with "Say, while we're here, why not…."
😉
Hi Paul – I'm glad that this should work out for you then!
thanks guys good info …Phil n Jess
Bob I am so glad that you and Dave got this thread going was so helpful that may even replace my black ink to print it. haha. Have a great day.
Although Feyma will not be able to buy more than more than 1000 square meters of lot/land. If you are planning to buy more than that she's going to have to get dual citizen.
Hi Bob,
Kinda related topic… if you have a Phil bank account… say Metro or BDO and want to transfer money/fund your local account from the States, you just need to do a regular remittance like OFW's do, right? Thanks.
That information was a great help to me as well. My situation is similar to Danny's.
One thing…I read alot of different answers here and everywhere on the internet…Question is…..HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU HAVE TO SPEND OUT OF THE COUNTRY WHEN YOU ARE ON A TOURIST VISA RUN??? I read 1 day 2 days 3 days what is correct??????
Hi andy – I'm glad the post was helpful. Just send me a bill for the ink, or put it on my tab! 😉
Hi Miss August – That is true. However, we have no intention of buying more property than that anyway.
Hi Gerry – To be honest, I am not really familiar with how OFW's do remittances, so I can't really answer totally on that, but what you say does make sense to me.
Hi Ron – Happy to help, with the assistance of Dave, of course!
Hi Lenny – I have heard the same things. Since I have a resident visa, I never have to leave, so I don't know your answer for certain. I believe that if you leave one day and return the next day you won't have any problem.
Gerry,
I have found two decent ways to transfer money to the Philippines.
1) http://www.xoom.com (first transaction will take a few days to a week, after that it is immediate).
2) Citibank offers a checking account in the US as well as several other countries.(branches in Cebu and Metro Manila). International transfer from one branch to another is free of transfer fees and the 3% conversion fee that 90% of US banks charge for international transactions. It would definitely be a long term benefit to go this root. If using a US ATM/Debit card in the Philippines the transaction charge is anywhere from $1-5 plus 1-3% conversion fee.
Like Bob I am unsure what OFW's do to transfer funds back home.
Hope this helps.
Hi Mike – Thanks for your input. Good resources.
Maraming salamat Mike!
Maraming salamat Bob.
Hi Gerry – 😀
Hi Mike – I'll try to write a Bisaya update in the next week or so.
hi Bob,i am new on this site,its great,it prepared me for my first visit and now i am here in dipolog permeantly,packed my bags and left las vegas with a buyout from work.About the banking account,I walked into BDO with nothing more than a passport and a Nevada drivers license and i opened a dollar account with an atm card which i pick the card up in 10 days at the bank,i dodnt even have a phone yet,so no number and i am staying at a motel,which i didnt even fill in the address on the paperwork.I didnt have the 2 2×2 pics that were needed.The banking lady as i was sitting at her desk told me not to worry about getting the info i didnt have.Heck,i just walked off the plane 3 hours earlier,carrying $3000.00 in big bills from the USA in a sandwich baggie stuffed in my underwear.The bank lady took down all the serial numbers of each 100 dollar bill and i had to sign for each one.I am very relieved,good luck to you others whom try to open an account.
Hi scott in dipolog – Nice to meet you! I'm glad that you found my site. I hope you are enjoying Dipolog, a place that I have enjoyed visiting in the past!
Great to hear that you were able to open a bank account with no hassle at all! That's good news, and I wish that all banks were like that.
BTW, just a quick tip (not being critical… just to help you out)… don't tell people you are staying in a "motel." Here, a motel is the name used for a "short time" place where you go for a few hours of fun with a girl. A place where you are staying more legitimately is a hotel here, but never called a motel! 😉 If you go around telling people here that you are staying in a motel, you are sure to get some strange looks! 😆
Hi Bob,
You can open a bank account without an ACR card as Scott mentioned. The requirement is actually at the banks discretion. It is best to talk directly to the bank manager because he is the one who can waive the requirement. It also helps if you have a friend who can recommend you. I have two peso accounts and a dollar account.
As it was explained to me this rule is to prevent money laundering so if you can convince him you have no criminal intent he can allow the account. Sometimes chocolate helps. 🙂
Hi Tom – Yeah, in my original article on the subject, I did point out that under Philippine law you don't need an ACR to open an account at a bank. Unfortunately, though, these days most banks have a policy requiring it. Chocolate is always a good idea! 😉
The PNB told me i can open an account with no problem they have a location in NewYork and California without a visa just stop in and open one.
Hi Terry – That is absolutely true. If you want to bank in New York or California, it will be real helpful too. However, due to the law, they are different entities from their Philippines owners, and may or may not work well to use here. If you want to live in, and bank in the Philippines, it would be a much better option to open an account in the Philippines.
Hi! Bob,
I'm an OFW in HK and i sent remitances to my mother through METRO BANK,If you don't have an a/c to METRO BANK but you want to send money at home, just ask your family at home to open an account and get their a/c # then you can send money through to METRO BANK using their a/c # via bank to bank, if they need cash in emergency reason i send it via Western Union…. coz it's fast and easy….
If you western guys want to send money in the phils, just ask your beneficiary at home to open an account and ask them the account # even you don't have your own account, just go to the counter personally and give the a/c of your beneficiary to send them money.
about opening an a/c to the phils, i agree w/ u Bob….
When Venice and I got our joint account I didn't have to present a acr card but then it's a joint account so maybe the rules are different. We bank with BPI and I have never had a problem with them for the 2 years we have had an account.
Thanks for all the info. My wife and I are here on a Balikbyan visa. She is planning to get a dual citizenship. Then I can get a 13a. Thanks for the info. Have looked this up on the Immigration site. However is good to read of others experiences. We tried to open a account at two different banks and were turned down. Oh well the ole mason jar works well too ha ha! We have a U.S. account anyway so don't really matter. Thank you all for your info and experiences. BOB G.
Hi Bob G – Thanks for dropping by and for commenting. Good luck on everything – Dual citizenship for your wife, and 13a for yourself! I hope all works out well for you.
Do you have to apply in person or can an agent do it for you?
If finger prints are required that will likely require you show up in person.
I just noticed the finger print on the back of the card. That answers that question.
Hi Rusty – Yep, I think you would have to report in person.
Hi Bob,
I didn't see the original post I just pass through occasionally. :)Robert have your wife ask around to see if any friends or family work at a bank. Usually they can get you in. Enforcement of this rule varies from bank to bank and even between different branches of the same bank.
If no one you know works in a bank go into a different bank than one you already tried and talk directly to the manager. Explain your situation and he might be willing to help you out. It will be helpful if you will be making regular deposits. No guarantee but you won't know till you try. 😎
Hi Tom – Yeah, I think that your advice is spot on… keep trying different banks until you find one that is in the right mood!
A little tip that has saved me hours of heartburn. When you first arrive in the Philippines get a little folder (preferably with dividers) and stop at a sidewalk copy shop and get ten copies if every document that seems important. File them in the folder. Goto a mall photo shop and get a dozen 2×2 and a dozen 1×1 ID photos (white background and no eyeglasses). File the photos in the folder too. This will cost a total of less than ten dollars and take only a few minutes, and during your fist few months here you will find use for many of th copies/photos.
Saves so much time and aggravation, rather than waiting to be asked for them and than losing your place in line while you hut for a copy machine. Well worth the 'waste' of the ones you don't use, in my view anyway.
Gerry, to get money from your US account to a Philippine dollar account, just write yourself a check on your US bank and deposit it here. The negative factor is the Philippine banks holds your money for days or weeks, but the positive factor is, it's extremely simple and at most banks, no fee. All the remittance companies, such as Remit Home, Xoom and so on charge afee and charge actually a lot more becuase they seldom give you anyhting close to the bank exchange rate.
I made a visa run in March 2009 and was gone only 26 hours. Got a fresh one year Balikbayan stamp upon my return. According to several BI employees I have asked, there is no specific time requirement. The law states you must leave the Philippines on or before your last day of authorized stay. The same law, different chapter and verse, of course, says you get a 21 day Touerist visa waiver stamp when you arrive. Anyone can find anything in the law that states there is a waiting time, my hat is off to them … I have never seen it in writing and no BI person has been able to show it to me.
Something else to remember. The day you leave the Philippines is _not_ a day in the Philippines. In other words on my last trip my last leagl day in my passport stamp was 28 February. I departed DIMA (Clark) at about 2 pm on 1 March. Totally legal, as the 28th was my last full day in the Philippines. I returned about 4 pm on the afternoon of the 2nd of March, about 26 hours after departure.
No problems.
Hi Dave – That's a great idea! I do something similar… scan all documents and store them in my computer. Take digital photos for ID and save the files. When I need a document, I print it out on my laser printer. When I need an ID photo, I print that on my photo printer. Easy!
One thing of great importance to some Filipinos .. Feyma also can't (legally) register and vote. I always laugh when I hear the stories about Filipino fiancee's who only want to hook up wuth Americans so they can get a Green card. My dear wife refused to apply to go to the US and start the US citizenship process until RA-9225 (the so-called Dual Citizen law) was enacted. Niow she is a fill-fledged 'dual' and happy about it, but no way was she giving up her Philippine citizenship permanently.
Hi Dave – Yes, I understand the voting thing. But, also, it's important to remember, you and I can't legally register and vote in Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia or Canada… we get to vote in the place where we are citizens. Feyma chose to be a US Citizen, and that is where she votes now. It was her choice. We all get to choose things in our life, and what is good for one person is not necessarily the same that another person would choose. Feyma is quite happy to be a US Citizen.
I bob
I m an italian leave in south-east asia since 1995 and last year I get finally merry with a filipina and have two child.
Since I own an premier account with the HSBC bank in Jersey it take me just a few minute to open the account in HSBC calaocan brance.
Walk in the premiere club and in one week I have three account open (euro, US dollar and pesos), three atm card for my wife, one credit card for my wife and 2 atm card for me.
Now with the new internet service of the HSBC bank I can transfer up to 20.000 euro between my Jersey account and Philippines account with just one click of the mouse totally free of charge.
I have just one question.
I normally work in china,hong kong or singapore for 9 mounts every year can I apply for a 13a visa in phillipines?
Daniele
Hello Daniele – Yep! You qualify for a 13(a) as long as your wife agrees to sign for you! No problem at all.
I would like to ask if there is an agency to do the leg work on getting a residence visa so I do not have to leave. I am married and we own land and have built a home. I am looking to moving to PI and staying my contract is over with in 3 months.
v/r Eddie
H Eddie – You can certainly hire somebody to do some of the legwork for you. There will be some things, though, which you must do yourself.
Does anybody know how long it takes to stand in line while applying for a voluntary ACR? Also, how long it takes for the ACR to be issued?
We are going to the Phils. in Nov., but do not plan on staying in Manila. We plan on going straight from the airport to BI by 7am, apply for a voluntary ACR, and take an afternoon flight going to Dumaguete. Can this be done or am I dreaming?
Hi Cecile – I can't say for sure… but I think you are dreaming! 😆
Hi Bob — thanks. I figured that. I actually called the Bureau of Immigration and no one can't seem to give me a straight answer on how long it's going to take. Oh well. I should just take my chances of opening a bank account in BDO, as Scott in Dipolog did.
Thank you. BTW, you have a great site!
Hello all, I have been living in Philippines with my Fiancee for 3 months on BI(tough I know lol). All the info has been great about getting driver's licence. I was a professional driver before I came here and developed a eye condition in one eye. How sticky are they with the eye exam? Will a little amount of peso be necessary to pass?
Also my fiancee has a business that I finacial supported can she hire me, and how do I get my working/business visa? We plan on getting married next year so then I hope to have my residence visa.
Should I get my ACR or TIN?
Sam
There have not been any recent posts. Is the voluntary ACR i-card still only available in Manila? Is it still available in Manila? I might overnight in Manila in order to obtain the card.
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Hello good day , i have a question i have been married for five years , in an out i am a sea man i want to apply for my 13a visa but i only have some time two months or less before i return to work , can you apply and still leave and return wih out having to reapply . and thanks for this site it is very informative when reading about things here i feel it seems so hard to do every thing in the phillipines. thanks keep up the good work .
Hi Garthon – Thanks, I’m glad that you enjoy the site! It is my understanding that you are not supposed to leave the country while your application is pending. What I would recommend is that you talk to the Immigration Office when you go to apply and explain your situation, maybe they have some way that they can give you a special way of doing it.
Good luck!