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Extending your visa in the Philippines as a tourist.

Discussion in 'Migrating to the Philippines' started by Dave C, Dec 12, 2013.

  1. Dave C
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    Dave C Member Trusted Member

    If you are wanting to extend your visa, I suggest you get to the Bureau of Immigration when it opens at usually 7am.

    The reason being is that I have had the misfortune at getting there early, midday and late and each time I have paid different amounts.

    A Visa extension should cost you no more than PH4000 or you would expect from reading their website.

    Wrong!!

    Get there at 7am and you will pay PH3,800 waiting time is approx 45 minutes
    Get there at 12pm and you will find that you may probably pay almost PH5,000 waiting time is approx 2 hours
    Get there at 4pm and the price increases more to almost PH6,000 and you may be told to come back the next day

    If it is your first time there, you will issued a ID card at a cost to yourself.

    Get there at 7am and the price including the ID card is about PH4,500 waiting time is approx 1 hour.
    Get there at 12pm and the price goes up to PH8,000 waiting time approx 2.5 hours or more
    Get there at 4pm and the price is the same as you would pay at getting there at 12pm, and you may be told to come back the next day.

    I have never paid the same amount each time I go there!
    Also ensure if you stay in the Philippines for more than 6 months you will need to go back to the Bureau of Immigration 1 week before you leave to get Immigration clearance. failing to do so, will render you unable to get your flight back home. I am not sure how much that will cost either!
  2. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    Nice try, sailor but no cigar! This chart explains the current fees:

    [​IMG]

    The chart is a little out of date but only in respect of the initial visa waiver period which is now 30 days rather than 21`. However all the extension and ACR-I Card costs are current.
  3. KeithAngel
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    KeithAngel 2063 Lifetime Member

    unless your using an itermediary?
  4. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    In which case you will pay the intermediary's fee on top which, if it's Paul Whiteway in Metro Cebu, will be Php1,500 for the "2 to 4 Month" extension - because of the added ACR Card - and Php1,200 for all the others.
  5. Dave C
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    Dave C Member Trusted Member

    You chart you have supplied is correct and still valid, but I have 5 receipts all showing different amounts from 3,000+ to 8,000+ none of them are even near what the charts outside stipulates and the chart you supplied.
  6. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    Oh come on, where's your sense of humour?! If the advertised prices were correct then life would be boring and it wouldn't be more fun in the Philippines, now would it?! :D
  7. KeithAngel
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    KeithAngel 2063 Lifetime Member

    Dave are all your receipts computer generated ?
  8. bukidnon
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    bukidnon Member

    did you ask why they are different at different times?or ask to see a current list of fees?
  9. blue_acid
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    blue_acid Member Trusted Member

    Dave C, do you do this in BI in Manila? My husband always extends his tourist visa since he is never here for longer than 6 weeks thus not eligible for ACR.

    He would go at different times and never charged a different price. If you want, I have a lawyer friend who specializes in immigration law among others and can do the task for you to ensure that you will not be over charged.
    • Like Like x 1
  10. Dave C
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    Dave C Member Trusted Member

    All of my receipts are computer generated, the first one I received was high because of the immigration ID.
    As for needing a lawyer, Thanks blue_acid, but hopefully I will not be here long enough to need one. If I do, I will be sure to give you a message.
    In regards to asking, not sure if that would go down well with grumpy immigration officers who hold the cards, I think that could be a way more expensive way around things! lol
  11. ancienrocka
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    ancienrocka New Member

    Yes the chart is a little out of date, I must get round to amending it. There are slight differences in the cost of the second extension depending on whether it is your first application for an ACR Card or not, and of course the exchange rate of the peso against the US$ changes daily. Another anomaly is that if you arrived as a tourist before 31st October, you will be charged an additional 310p Annual report Fee when you renew in January or February.
    I'm not sure about the rest of the country, but in Cebu the Immigration office opens at 8am and the morning "cut off" time is 11.30am. they start processing again at 1pm until the 4.30pm afternoon "cut off".
  12. Sunnyjim
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    Sunnyjim Member

    Where is the Bureau of Immigration in Manila?
  13. bukidnon
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    bukidnon Member

  14. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    Intramuros.

    You can apply for your first extension at the airport, simply tell the Immigration Officer and he will direct you to a side office within the Immigration Hall; that will extend your stay to 59 days and costs Php3,030. Subsequent extensions can be obtained at any BI regional or satellite office in cities around the country. Once you have been in-country for 59 days, you will be required to obtain an ACR Card which is valid for 12 months. This is priced in US$ and currently costs the Peso-equivalent of $50, making your second extension cost around Php7,000.
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 21, 2014
  15. bukidnon
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    bukidnon Member

    markham -where did you see the ext from 30 days to 59 days costs 2000 peso?
  16. Sunnyjim
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    Sunnyjim Member

    Yeah I've looked at that. I'll be darned if I can find the answer on that website!
  17. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    That's a typo - my apologies. The amount is, including Express Lane Fees, Php3030.

    BI's web site is hopelessly out of date. Better sources of information are BI Press Releases and the BI Facebook page or Cebu Expat Services.
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 21, 2014
  18. Dave C
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    Dave C Member Trusted Member

    I have an update on the visa extension application process as the forms have now changed.

    You now need 2 references instead of only 1, including their addresses.
    Yes and they have now found away to get more money from you, you now have to have a 1x2 inch photo attached by glue to the top right corner of the visa extension application with a white back ground, no glasses or make up, no smiling and no head wear and all for the cost of 100 piso extra which is done by one of the immigration employees site.

    I know it does not sound much, but when you have 1000 people a day getting photos done, that adds up to a large amount of extra beans!
  19. Glen L
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    Glen L New Member

    Hi all.
    I have been living in the philippines for 4 years now and just get the extension everytime that I am home on leave.
    My question is can I obtain an ACR-I Card If I am only there for 38 days. I work away for 46 days including travel and usually get 38 days off.
    My company are to start paying for my travel, but they only issue one way tickets. Would immigration accept a letter explaining that I would be issued with a outbound ticket at the end of my leave period or would I need to buy a cheep ticket every leave.
  20. Anon04576
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    Anon04576 Well-Known Member

    Regards the outbound ticket, I understand that they will only accept valid documentation (e-ticket) of your onward journey when you get to immigration. It also has to be in paper form, however, I did see people presenting their e-ticket on tablets when we were passing through last month.

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