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Finally here

Discussion in 'Migrating to the Philippines' started by Garydarby84, May 4, 2018.

  1. Garydarby84
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    Garydarby84 Active Member

    Finally made the move to ph, will be going to Taiwan with my wife in couple of weeks for my birthday then getting balikbayan stamp on our return while I apply for my 13a, hopefully I won't have any problems getting it
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  2. graham59
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    graham59 Banned

    Good luck !
    I'll be following the same trail next month. :like:
  3. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

    Good luck to you both.
  4. DavidAlma
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    DavidAlma Well-Known Member

    Congrats. Getting the BB is easy. Have your notarised original marriage certificate and get in the Philippines Citizen line at Immigration when you arrive. Your wife has to be with you and she asks him for the BB. The immigration officer didn't even ask to see our marriage certificate. He said that as my wife passport was same family name as mine, then no need. All done in 5 min.
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  5. OTT
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    OTT Active Member

    That's good to hear , I hope it all goes smoothly and you settle into your new life there .
    It would be to see some updates after you've been there a while .
  6. OTT
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    OTT Active Member

    Exciting times , good luck with your move Graham , look forward to hearing further news .
    Last edited: May 6, 2018
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  7. graham59
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    graham59 Banned

    Cheers mate. :like:
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  8. Matt P
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    Matt P Member

    Hope all goes well for you guys...we are leaving UK in September. After getting my wife the UK visa weve decided to leave and live in PH.
    We cant decide which route is best to take. Options are to apply in UK for 13a or apply in PH after arrival.
    If applying here in UK the medical requirements are farcical...my GP said they had never seen anything so ridiculous.
    But if i apply in the PH then as UK is not on the Annex A list, no need for a full MOT medical...
    It also states that the visa can be processed from a regional BI...is this true? I have read elsewhere people being told that it has to be done in Manila and takes days to process with going here and there all over the city to different departments. Id rather not have to do that. Has anyone completed a 13a in the phils recently who could shed some light on this?
    We already have notarised documents from the UK visa application so that will be already covered.
    Also is a Police certificate the same as a CRB check or DBS as now called?
  9. graham59
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    graham59 Banned

    I can't advise on 13A visas, but I can advise you not to totally 'burn your bridges' with the UK.

    It would be a good idea for your wife to return to the UK within 2 years...even if just for a short holiday, to keep her UK visa 'open'... and thus your future options. At least look into this. (Yes, I've 'been there, done that'... my previous marriage).
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  10. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    My advice would be to obtain a Balikbayan Privilege on arrival in the Philippines which would grant you a stay of up to twelve months without the need to get any extensions from BoI. You can then process your 13a at any regional office and it'll take about three months to obtain. You will need to obtain an ACPO Police Certificate shortly before you depart these shores - this is not the same as a CRB Disclosure. Note that you'll need to rinse and repeat the exercise next year (although you won't need a fresh ACPO certificate) as your initial 13a will be probationary.
  11. Matt P
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    Matt P Member

    Fair point but I had a feeling I read somewhere that if shes out of the UK for more than 6 months it voids the visa. It was our first visa so would need renewing before March 2020. What a hassle that was to get...and the daylight robbery costs.
    Plus if we are relocating to the Philippines we are not living in the UK which is also part of the requirements.
  12. Matt P
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    Matt P Member

    Thats what I was hoping but have read that others have been refused by regional IB's and had to go to Manila even though the DFO website indicates regional offices can be used. The closest to where we intend to go would be Dagupan office.
    Applying in the Philippines looks easier but reading other experiences it seems otherwise...has anyone recently applied in Phils shortly after arriving? Has anyone used a regional BI office successfully. Also heard you need to attend interviews at Intramuros in Manilla.
    By all means if someone can point me in the right direction to what is correct and up to date...i do trust the phils government websites from experience...invariably out of date
  13. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    can i ask what you plan to do for a living ?
  14. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

    A
    I believe it' 90 days outside the UK in the duration of the visa and while the Ungov may look to not give your good lady her next FLR they may ask you to extend the original one and then apply for the 2nd FLR when the extension expires. I would guess it would be all about the quality of your reasons for being outside the UK during the visa.
    By the way my wife' family are in Dagupan
  15. Matt P
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    Matt P Member

    Thats what I thought. Well we dont intend to come back to the UK...we've sold our property here and also our business so will be taking a healthy chunk of money with us, plus my wife has already built a 3 bed family home for her parents in Alaminos while she was working abroad as a nurse so we will be living there for a while. We have friends (expats) over there already and have a few irons in the fire so to speak with work/investment options. TBO I really cannot be bothered to deal with the fools at the home office for visas and I'm pretty sick of the UK. Every time I have to leave the Phils I feel like I'm leaving my home...that speaks volumes.
    Back to the original question though about best to apply here for the 13a or when we arrive in Alaminos. Dagupan office is our closest BI so that would be fairly convenient.
  16. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    Whoever is telling you that you can not apply for a 13a visa other than at Intramuros, Manila, should sit down and let their mouths do the talking! My own 13a was issued by BoI in Davao and we certainly didn't have to fly up to Manila for interviews or any such nonsense.

    With regards to money, you are aware that regardless of the number of bank accounts you hold, your deposits will only be guaranteed to a maximum amount of Php500,000 but, as a foreigner, you will have considerably greater difficulty in claiming on that insurance -- there are a number of ex-pats whose claims have still not been met following the collapse of rural banks back in 2007/8. You'd be strongly advised to keep the bulk of your money in a UK account and transfer funds as and when you need to. Go talk to HSBC and open a Premier account and have them open a (Sterling) account in Manila. The Philippine branch will issue with a Visa Debit card which you can use in any ATM and you'll be able to transfer funds between the UK and Philippines via internet banking without cost.

    I would also suggest that you protect yourself and your wife with a decent health insurance package bought in the UK, or, alternatively from Malayan Insurance although their coverage won't be as good.
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  17. Garydarby84
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    Garydarby84 Active Member

    Off to Taiwan Tuesday for 5 days for my birthday, will be getting bbs on our return then we'll start the 13a, can't wait til it's over, atleast for a year
  18. Matt P
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    Matt P Member

    Thanks Markham for that info. Interesting about the Visa from Davao. looking at the requirements if processed in the phils if done promptly looks a lot more straight forward than the list form the UK so make take this route.

    Im on the same page as you about the banking situation although with the exchange rate as good as it is at the moment it would be a shame to loose that if you look at changing £100,000 @ 70 to the pound, the difference is 1 million pesos if at 60 to the pound...:confused: its a hard one.
    I was thinking of going the BPI Europe route. They have a branch in London and have good exchange rates and reasonable fees and instant transfer between UK and PH, plus its covered by the FSCS/PRA.

    I did look at HSBC Premier but Im sure you had to have a regular amount going in or minimum balance...something put me off.

    Health insurance is a good one and got me thinking...have you got a recommendation on UK Heratlh Insurance?

    Great info by the way as always

    Enjoy Taiwan Gary
  19. Bootsonground
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    Bootsonground Guest

    The PDIC says..

    http://www.pdic.gov.ph/?nid1=6
  20. Bootsonground
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    Bootsonground Guest

    Crikey..If this keeps up,the majority of members here will be living in the R.P!
    The last member to leave the UK,please turn out the lights.
    Good luck with your new life here Gary!
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