Today we have another edition of the Expat Answerman!
Today we feature several questions from readers.
First, we have a follow up from Henry. You may remember a couple weeks back Henry called in with a question regarding his 13A Visa. His visa was cancelled due to the death of his Filipina spouse. Now, Henry has more troubles with that issue, but Bob has answers to help him out!
Second we had a call from Steve. Steve has questions about getting a Driver’s License in the Philippines. The procedure for getting a driver’s license changed a couple years back, so be sure to find out the latest! Steve had a follow up question as well. He is thinking of moving a Baby Grand Piano to the Philippines, but Bob has good reason why such a move might not be a good idea! Watch the show to see why!
So, that is this week’s episode of the Expat Answerman Show. Watch for a new episode next week!
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Thanks again for listening, everybody!
I came here in November 2016 after applying for my 13A visa in the US. After being examined at the quarantine office, and delivering my “sealed” medical file, I went to the main immigration office in Manila and applied for my ACR card. After about 2 weeks I had my ACR card. During this time, I used my US driver’s license until February, when I went to the LTO, ACR card in hand, and applied for a Philippine Driver’s license. Let me tell you nothing is easy at the LTO! haha. It took a couple of weeks. What I did was a “conversion” of my US driver’s license. No exam or driver’s test required, just an eye exam to verify that you’re not blind. At the end of this two week process I was issued a “paper” license and told that it would be a “few weeks” until I got my actual plastic driver’s license card. Well, I’m still waiting, but I haven’t visited the LTO for a few months so it may be there by now. Getting license plates is also a long process – a neighbor of mine has been waiting a year for his and still no plates. There is a big side business now in companies that will manufacture you a license plate because the LTO takes so long. Anyway that’s my 13A and “Getting a driver’s license” story 🙂 Cheers all!
It used to be that you got DL (plastic) or License plates quickly, bur for maybe 5 or 6 years now it takes forever. My last DL took about 6 to 8 months to get the plastic card. The paper one works fine, but would be nice to get the plastic “real” license quicker, for sure.
I have a great question about this so in April I tried to get my DL in Davao city and they said I could not get a DL and I needed to get a 1 year visa ( I don’t know of a 1 year visa) or I needed an international DL from an Insurance company in the US I’m so confused about this and yes I’m there on a tourist visa
If you are on a tourist visa is it no longer easy to get a DL. You need some kind of resident visa to get a DL now, since they changed the rules a few years back. Sorry for the bad news.
O man it’s so bad omg I really wanted that DL, can I still use my California DL for the first 3 months that I am there than I will have to start using my international DL?
You can use your CA DL for 90 days only, not after that, unless you leave the country and return. As I said specifically on the video, an International license is of no value… it is not issued by a government agency, International DL is nothing but a money making scam, they hold no weight.
So besides leaving the country and besides getting an international DL what can I do and no I’m not ready to get married hahahahahahaha
Please understand…. an “International Driver’s License” is of NO value. It is only a plastic card that gives you no rights. If you have a resident visa you can get a DL here with no problems.
Bob – This is alarming information. Confusing. AAA is authorized by the U.S. State Department to issue International Driving Permits – I get one every year – and the Phillipines is a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention, which recognizes foreign-issued driving permits. I have been stopped by the Philippine police who examined my IDP and sent me on my way. You have demonstrated that you know your way around the intricacies of Philippine law, but this one has me scratching my head.
Hi Peter – I am sorry the information is alarming to you. Your US driver’s license is fine here for 90 days, might be better to just use that.
Good luck.
Sig2 kuya bob but don’t I need to get married to get a resident visa?
You can get a resident Visa without marriage if you go for an srrv Visa, or a quota Visa.
I’ll have to look in to the quota visa, I know I don’t qualify for the SRRV visa I’m not old enough
If you are older than 30 years old you qualify for a SRRV. Maybe you are younger than I thought, though.
I qualify for everything except for the Age I’m only 27
I see… give the quota a try! Good luck.
The easiest thing thing I ever did in the Philippines, was get a local D.L. Florida wanted me to fly from San Diego to Tampa Bay to take an eye test, goodbye Florida, Hello Philippines. As a merchant marine you want your name on nothing in California unless .you desire to pay their taxes.
So absolutely true about California. A while back Feyma told me she was thinking of working in California… I told her to forget that! California will chase you down for the rest of your life no matter where you work claiming that you owe them taxes!
Bob;
The Navy moved me to California, I was told to protect myself with the Solders Sailors Federal Civil Relief Act of 1947. Military stationed in California during WW-II were gone after by the patriotic California State Government for back taxes, thus requiring a law to protect the US military from greedy democrats.
We were required to keep our car and DL registered in another state. As a seaman in the 1990’s, my main office was in California and I had a mail drop box (Address) in Washington State. Then they (CA) sued me for back taxes and I told them to extradite me from Olongapo City and we’d discuss it in court.
I’m glad I never needed sanctuary; the lord only knows how much that would cost?
Yep, much of California gives sanctuary to illegal aliens, yet they chase down honest people who have no reason to owe taxes to the state. I told Feyma we don’t want anything to do with that. I would rather work in some other place for half the pay than work in California and spend decades “avoiding” them! I did not know about the law for Military people stationed there, but that is sure a good thing!
Paul, Bob
Ohio is doing that to me right now. I use my parents address in Ohio as my mailing address only. My pension is from Florida. Ohio thinks I should file taxes in Ohio because I have an Ohio mailing address. This has been going on since 2015. I’ve sent paperwork to Ohio Dept of Taxation 3 times proving I did not live in Ohio. They say I owe over $2,000 in back taxes. They garnished my 2016 Federal Tax Return. They wanted me to show proof I lived in Florida and or Philippines in 2014. I just sent out a copy of my Fl DL that was issued in 2011 and of my Philippine Permanent Resident Card issued in 2014. When this is resolved they said they will refund the Tax Return they garnished. I saw on Tucker Carlson, California next year will circulate a petition to leave the US. They want all the middle class to leave and replace them with illegals. We can only hope that happens.
Yes, if California were to leave the union, I pay it would probably be a blessing for the rest of us.
The drivers license process was easy and fast for me. I went to the LTO well before my 3 months were up with the completed form for the conversion in hand. The guy at the window asked for the form, my Stateside license, and my passport, and copies, front and back of all of those. Then he sent me to a med station a couple blocks away. Nice lady there asked some questions, took my blood pressure, signed a form for me, and sent me back. Guy Number 1 took the med form, and sent me to the other waiting area. He said they’d call my name at the other window soon. Waited about an hour or so chatting with a Filipino who was reinstating his license. They called my name, I paid the fee, and got my receipt. Guy Number 2 said I’d get the plastic license in August. I’ll check at the end of the month, but won’t hold my breath on that part. Took a couple, maybe 3 hours. I’ve spent longer waiting at the Virginia DMV.
Could be because we’re a smaller place. Population isn’t high enough to be classed as a “City” yet. Guy number 1 also recognized my name. Turns out he’s a distant relative of my wife. That may have helped some as well.
I should add that I’m on the balikbayan visa, so I’m in the 1 year category.
Take care,
Pete
Yep, as long as you have a resident visa it is very easy and quick. Glad it worked out for you, Pete.
All I know is it cost me $50 usd and a half hour of time …. Anything is possible in the Philippines ….. Seem the Asawa has Relatives with connections
You said the magic words, anything is possible in the Philippines. That is completely 100% true.
You can get an International Driver’s License from the AAA in the US.
Just bring in your US driver’s license to any AAA place of business.
It takes just a few minutes and is good for either 1 or 2 years depending on where you picked it up.
An international driver’s license is worth nothing. It has no legal standing. AAA is not a government agency and has no right to issue a license. Believe what you want, but if you get pulled over and pull out an international license you will have no standing with the police.
An international drivers license is just a transcript of you countries licence into a language acceptable to the country you are travelling to. So a US license in english does not need translating as english is spoken in the Philippines. If you came from the Middle East or Pakistan say, you would need an international license ie an english translation of you home license.
Elisabeth Murphy — i’m not sure if ANY of this apples to you.
It may have been said and I just missed it but “Beware of Fixers” at the Tagbilaran City LTO on the island of Bohol. They were supposed to stop the fixers from scamming people. However, I see they are still outside the LTO.
All LTO offices across the country are actively trying to prevent the use of fixers now.
Enjoyed the information, but could not help but notice the use of the green screen caused an effect where you could see the background thru your eyes, you must have green eyes. I remember a news woman that wore a green dress and had the same effect.
Wow, I didn’t notice that. Actually my eyes are blue, and the screen I was using was it kind of a neon lime green. I’ll take a second look at that.
I have had a regular Ph license since 2012. when I renew will I have to go through this new process?
I can’t really say for sure if you’ll have to do it or not. This is the Philippines, and as we all know, nothing is ever the same, it’s always different depending on the office or the person you’re dealing with. The only way you can know for sure is if you go give it a try. Good luck to you.
thats very true.. thanks Bob!
Question: Has anyone used a travel agency in the Philippines? Have they used cash to pay for the flight? Are the amounts quoted by the agency close to what is charged on line?
Rusty
Hi Rusty,
On our last trip to the Philippines we decided to try to change the time of a flight from Bohol to Manila so we could spend some time with our family in Manila. We were told at Cebu Pacific office in Tagbilaran it would be cheaper to cancel and buy a one way ticket. We did. They required cash. We paid in cash and had no problem. Not exactly a travel agency, I know. We also used the travel agency at the BQ Mall for a tour and to reserve a hotel in Manila they found us a promo that got a room for about half the going rate and I am pretty sure we paid cash there, too. We had no problem. I guess you might get ripped off, but we didn’t. Good luck and keep the receipt!
Peace
Jay
I am in the US and have never been to the Philippines and I plan on coming on a tourist visa around late November this year. I plan on getting married some time in the near future with a woman there, if all works out. We will marry in the Philippines as I do not plan on returning for maybe two years if not longer depending on how long it takes for the marriage, her and her children passports and visa’s and time to save up for the return trip. I have a few questions obviously. One upon entering the Philippines:
1) Upon arrival at Manila do I need a ticket to another country or a throw away ticket if I plan on extending as soon as I arrive, if that is even possible?. Or do I need to wait the 29 days out first?
2) Upon arrival in Manila airport, do I get the extension at the airport? If so, where will I be inquiring at, and will I be inquiring about a 59 day extension or a six month extension since this is my first time in the country?
3) If things works out okay and I do get married there, how easy and the process of converting the tourist visa to a 13a and can that be done in Davao City?
1) Under Philippine law you must have an ongoing ticket. You can extend to 59 days at the airport upon arrival, but you must still have an ongoing ticket. We would be happy to help you in getting a cheap throwaway ticket to cover this for you. Check here for details on how we can help you: http://liveinthephilippines.com/let-us-get-you-a-cheap-throw-away-ticket/
2) Yes, as I said in #1 you can get the extension at the airport. There is a Bureau of Immigration counter at the airport where you can do that. You are not allowed to get a 6 month extension until you have been in the country for 59+ days, so you will only be able to get the 29 day extension at the airport.
3) It is not difficult. Yes, it can be done in Davao City.
Thank you, that information is exactly what I needed.
Have a wonderful day!
Glad to help! Thanks for letting me know.
Is it possible to get a driver’s license on a tourist visa?
LTO updated the 5-month visa requirement to a 1-year visa requirement. [www.lto.gov.ph/license-permit-issuance/284-non-professional-driver-s-license.html] (See qualification 5 or requirement D).
As a tourist, I can continue to renew my tourist visa for up to 3 years, but each extension is only a max of 6-months, which means I cannot meet the 1-year visa requirement even though I may be here in the Philippines longer than 1 year. So it seems like I can drive on my foreign license for the first 90 days after my arrival only, then I am resigned to public transit after that.
Your question has been covered on this website many times. Generally speaking, no it is not possible.
Wanted to comment about your statement about the IDP not being really valid anywhere in the world. I travel extensively and there are some countries that will not let you for example rent a car without it (some places in Middle East for example) so there are reasons you may need one and if you are in an accident you better have it. They will not accept your US DL.