Hi,... just asking a question on behalf of a friend who is moving out to Cebu next month to retire there and be with his wife and child. He is booking his return flights from UK,... and being met at the Cebu airport by his wife and child. Although we all know you need to be with your wife on entering the country to obtain the Balikbayan stamp,.... would it be worth just politely asking the officer at the desk if he could have one as his wife is waiting for him and he intends living there ?? Okay,..so they say no,.. but would they take offence with him ?? not let him in ?? He does plan on taking a trip with his wife to Hong Kong within the first 3 weeks so they can then re-enter and get it that way, but if it just happened that he asked the right officer on the right day and maybe just be granted that lovely one year 'free-pass' ! I hear of others leaving a 1000 peso note in their passport when they hand it over to the officer, but I wouldn't advise him to go down that route. Any suggestions please ?? Jonny
Absolutely not! As you (should!) know, BB Privileges must be applied for by the Filipina spouse on behalf of her foreign husband - even if he's standing next to her - the "Privilege" being that she can bring her husband to the Philippines for a maximum of a year's stay without the need for a Visa. The days of dodgy BBs are over and whilst your friend may get away with it in the short term, it can come back and bite him later. If he were to obtain one and subsequently apply for a 13(a) at a later date, on seeing his BB stamp the BoI may ask to see the wife's Passport and cross-reference her dates of re-entry with his. If there's no corresponding date of entry stamped into her Passport for his BB stamp, then it's one-way trip to Bicutan for him followed by deportation, heavy fines and blacklisting. He's going to get an automatic 21-day waiver on arrival and if he's planning to take his missus to Honkers anyway, she'll get the Privilege on their return -- provided she's remembered the all-important (NSO) Certificate of Marriage!
Yup,... would never advise the 1000 peso bill,... and your right about the cross-referance to her own passport. Looks like its just gonna have to be the trip to ( Honkers) lol as you say. He's going out in 3 weeks time and I'm hoping all goes well for him.
I can put my hand on my heart and say I've never done anything like that in the Philippines. Only one time I found myself in a tricky situation and was directly told (in English) it's Christmas time, if I give a Christmas present donation I can go safely on my way with my wife. In full view of everyone around I handed over a £5 note and in a loud voice said "merry Christmas, that's the queen of England there". We're still here to re-tell the tale.
Further my understanding is that the visa is only available if the Filipino is returning having been out of the country for a year
That was certainly how the original legislation was framed, Keith, however there was a Presidential Decree some years back which meant that Balikbayan Privileges should be granted regardless of the Philippine citizen's length of stay abroad. To be on the safe side, the recommended minimum stay abroad is 24 hours.
Ive got the bb stamp on a couple of occasions without my Mrs being present.. If I travel alone or with one of my kids I always show them my last BB stamp and request another politely.. Doesn't always work but no harm in trying. I know of a few guys that leave a tenner in their passport and I have never heard of anyone getting arrested.. I still probably would not do it personally.
I got BB status once by accident in 2010 when returning with Ana, it was during the Iceland volcano episode and I only found out I had it because I visited the BI in Manila to ask for an extension as my flight had been cancelled (didn't really have to ask as there was allowance for the volcano problem but I was not leaving things to chance), when they told me I had BB status I was surprised, I asked how come, they then asked if we were married and I was completely honest I said 'no not married', they looked puzzled and I said my children are Filipino and everyone was all smiles, everything was fine from then on. Next time I traveled I asked for BB status but I was not that clear and did not really point out the previous BB stamp, plus I made the mistake of picking the most straight laced older officer at immigration, I had seen him and used him many times before but I did know that he scrutinised documents more carefully than any other desk I had ever used Anyway he politely refused, this was at NAIA, and I certainly would not have tried the bribe!
When we (wife, two kids and me) all arrived last January the immigration officer in Mactan asked my wife if she wanted one or four years BB stamps for me and the kids. She requested one year as we would only be there for 6 weeks.
As Oss stated you can actually get the BB without knowing. We went over a few years ago when we just had the one child. I miss-calculated the 21 days stay and it was when we got to the airport at Mactan on the way home that i realised we were actually on our 22nd day. I approached a guard by myself as my wife was in a shop and asked him how they calculated the 21 days, was the first day counted etc. He immediately went from his smiling face to a stern look, and raised his voice to me,.."your an over-stayer sir?? ",.. "come with me" . Scary stuff walking with him into an office where there were 2 others waiting,... give me your passport he said. I sheepishly handed it over, waiting for a bollocking and a fine,..only to be told "ahhh, you have a Balikbayan,...is your wife with you ? ". Close shave,... was a bit daunting thinking how the mood changed so quickly when they thought they had caught me out !!
Yes indeed scary, for information the count starts on the day after the day you arrive, I verified that by back calculating on a good number of my previous stamps and from advice found on the German Philippine Embassy site.
