Today we got a comment and question from Kevin.
This is what Kevin had to say:
Hi John i have been here in Phil since 22 sep last year, i had already visa extension from Phil embassy in london till 20 th dec last year,i went for visa extension here in Manila on dec 20th i paid around 7000 php for extension and card ect.So i have to return next week for another 2 months extension so this will take me up to 6 months.What the best option after this , to take a trip a to h/k or singapore?
This is John’s reply:
Kevin: I would. It’s easy and relatively cheap (as is Macao). Weather in SIN this time of year gets a bit rainy. Look at it as a little mini vacation.
Maybe Kevin should consider becoming a permanent resident? It can be a hassle to do so, but it may well pay off in the long run with the end of annual visa renewals. .
I agree that a resident visa is preferable in most cases. We don’t know everything we need to know about Kevin, though. Maybe he is not married or some other reason why a resident visa may be more difficult.
The first point to make is that you can keep extending a tourist visa beyond six months, perhaps as long as two years. And there are other options – if married to a filipina, and your wife travels with you, you will be granted a ‘balikbayan’ visa on your return, which lasts for 12 months. Again, if you are married to a filipina, you can apply for a non-quota 13(a) permanent visa. If not married, you can apply for a permanent quota visa. If you are over 35 y/o and not working, then there is the option of an SRRV (retirement visa), but you need to have some cash to invest.
As Bob says, much more information is needed before the most appropriate advice can be given.
The tourist visa can be extended for a total stay of 3 years.
Do you know the fee for a 1, 2, or 3 year extension for a tourist visa?
I’ve heard there isn’t that much of a difference, in the fee, between a two month extension and a 1 year extension.
There is no such thing as a one two or three-year extension. The longest extension is six months. The cost of the six-month extension it is almost exactly the same as doing 3 2 months extension.
My GOD that immigration office is crazy the only one iv been to in the Philippines that forces you to dress nice ????
Hey bob you should make a post about the new clearance a time that you need to leave the country I think it’s now two weeks or one month it almost got me but I was good by 15 days
Have a good one bro
I’ve never heard of it taking two weeks to be able to leave the country, maybe you could let me know about that. Several in my family have left the country recently and it didn’t even take one day. Fill me in! What kind of these are you on?
https://www.silent-gardens.com/visa.php
Go to that website look at the Top under important it talks about some of the new laws and how the Express lane is NO MORE and even though it takes 1-4 days they make you get it a week out but in my case my flight home was may 15th and I was 3 days early to get it in Davao city they told me I could pick it up on may 29th than I counted my days with the immagration officer on the 3rd floor where the holding cells are and he told me I had been the from nov to may but the days counted I was saved just by 15.
So happy
Btw I’ll PM you on FB maybe you can give me some tips about Genson