This might be a crazy question, but a friend of mine has just booked a flight from UK to Clark and under the T&C's no refunds or changes allowed. He and his wife will be spending 4 weeks in Philippines He has asked me a questions I'm not 100% certain about. Will he be able to secure Balikbayan visa free stamp at Clark? I've said yes. But only because I can't see wht not. To be honest I've no real experience. This is an immigration issue and any airport with immigration desks should be capable to do this. Usually it's written in the entry stamp by hand. Anybody knows 100% for sure?
Best to carry the marriage certificate with them but yes I would expect that he could get a BB stamp, I don't know for sure so the best advice would be to get the throwaway ticket this time and to ask at immigration if he can be guaranteed a BB stamp in future. You are right about it being hand written so in practice with the correct supporting docs and with an explicit request made to the immigration officer it should not be a problem, the only time I was given it was at NAIA and they did not even ask me for supporting docs.
I have been told, by a friend with a business in Subic Bay who uses Clark very often, that immigration staff there can be "difficult", though I had no problems myself.
To secure a BB Privilege, it is the Filipina spouse who should hand both her and her husband's Passports to the Immigration Official, as well as a (certified) copy of the Marriage Certificate, and it is she who asks for the BB Privilege, not her husband. BB Privileges are usually granted but sometimes may not be. In any event, the husband should have a (cheap throwaway) ticket for a destination outside the country and dated within 21 days of arrival; or, alternatively, be in possession of an outbound ticket whose date can be changed. Immigration Officers are now instructed to ask to see evidence of a pre-booked outbound flight for everyone who is not in possession of a current and valid residents' visa. Follow that recipe and there should be no problem.
