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Immigration Bureau to fine airlines for tourists without return tickets

Discussion in 'Travel Tips and Advice' started by Micawber, Jul 23, 2012.

  1. Micawber
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    Micawber Renowned Lifetime Member

    Airlines will be penalized with administrative fines by the Bureau of Immigration if they allow foreign tourists bound for the Philippines to board their planes without return tickets.

    BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. noted that it should be the responsibility of the airlines to make sure that all its passengers who are traveling as tourists have procured the necessary return tickets.

    He noted that the requirement on return tickets for tourists is an international rule, practiced and implemented in almost all other countries in the world.

    Furthermore, David said that those tourists with no return tickets will be prohibited from entering the country and sent back to their port of origin.

    “This rule is meant to guarantee that a tourist will leave the host country before the lapse of his stay as a temporary visitor,” David explained.

    Likewise, BI spokesperson Atty. Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, explained that under Sec. 29 of the immigration act, aliens who arrived as tourists but do not have valid return or onward tickets shall be automatically excluded.

    However, she added that Balikbayans, who are also considered tourists but are admitted for one year, are exempted from the rule in deference to the fact that they are former citizens of the Philippines

    Source:-
    http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/stor...-airlines-for-tourists-without-return-tickets
  2. Micawber
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    Micawber Renowned Lifetime Member

    As we know it was always a requirement, with the carrier being responsible for return.
    Now the carrier airline will be fined :boxer:

    Wonder if the return ticket needs to be within 21 days (or within pre-approved visa limits) for UK citizens??

    Hmmm :erm:
  3. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    I've been thinking about this recently. Hopefully we're moving to the Phils next year for a couple of years and I'll be coming and going every 4 weeks or so for work. The wife won't be with me for most of the time when I arrive at Manila as I'd be coming from the ship and i'd be coming in on a single ticket. How will I get through Immigration?
  4. Jim
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    Jim Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    You might be better with an ACR card visa.
    Or a Balikbayan stamp on your passport, thats valid for 12 months, but you must enter the Phils with her and marriage cert.
    For a flight ticket, get a cheap throw -away ticket. Don't know about arriving from a ship. Sorry.
  5. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    I don't get it :erm: I was told years ago at check-in that KLM would get fined if they let me travel with less than 6 months on my passport, in spite of the fact they had let me do exactly that 6 weeks earlier when I had 5 and a half months left.

    I have also had an argument about what constituted 21 days at the KLM check-in before and also been told they get fined if they let me fly there without the correct visa, I had to explain patiently to the woman that I would be arriving one day later, you would think they would know that the destination was on the other side of the planet :rolleyes:
  6. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    Won't work Jim, Balikbayan stamp is for the duration of one stay, it does not allow what Stu needs to do, the current last stamp in your passport is the one that counts as far as I know.
  7. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    You might want to try to apply for the Permanent Residence Visa the 13A as soon as you get there, you know what they are like regards processing times, you are entitled and that way you will be able to come and go freely.
  8. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    Thanks. That sounds like a good idea. Does anyone know the wait time / costs for a 13A visa?
  9. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=106&Itemid=51

    It's not at all obvious Stu but if you read a bit there you should figure it out, there is another immigration fee's link off to the right as well.

    Looks to me to be around 7000 peso all in but it's tricky trying to understand if all the fees in the breakdown have to be paid.

    I think you would need :-

    Fees for Filing

    Fees for 13 (a) - Implementation

    and

    eventually

    Amendment of 13 (a) to Permanent Resident

    that probably brings it up to just over 10,000 peso getting on close to 200 quid these days.
  10. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    Thanks for the help. 200 quid or so doesn't sound too bad to me to be honest if it limits the possibilities of getting hassle from bent immigration types wanting a hand out everytime I'm passing through. I'll have a look at the link in a bit.
  11. Micawber
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    Micawber Renowned Lifetime Member

    Stu, you might consider getting that 13a here in UK from the Phils Embassy.
    Last time I checked on the cost it wasn't that expensive.
    Certainly could save time energy and travel costs etc compared to Phils. The other advantage is that it offers permanent residence from day 1
    The 13a in the Phils is temp for 1 year then converted to perm.

    As always it's a personal choice depending on personal cicumstances etc

    Food for thought.
  12. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    That is a belting idea, I'm just looking at the Embassy site now. I was hoping that under Balikbayan privaliages I would just have to show our marriage cert but it looks like thats not the case. Just downloaded this though, doesn't half look a right work up if I do it in the UK. Some stuff is ok but some requirements I wouldn't have a clue.

    Documentary Requirements
    1. Three (3) original application forms (FA Form No. 3) duly accomplished and signed.
    2. Three (3) original medical report forms (FA Form No. 11) with:
    - original and 2 photocopies of laboratory report
    - chest x-ray film (11” x 17”)
    - certification from the General Medical Council (GMC) that the Doctor who
    signed the medical report is duly registered to practice medicine in the United
    Kingdom.
    3. Six (6) passport photographs (1.77” x 1.37”)
    4. Original and three (3) photocopies of proof of financial capacity (e.g. bank statements,
    pension benefit statements, title to properties, etc.)
    5. Three (3) photocopies of the Philippine passport or birth certificate of Filipino spouse duly
    authenticated by the Philippine National Statistics Office (http://www.e-census.com.ph)
    6. Original and three (3) photocopies of marriage certificate
    7. For applicants with prior marriage/s, kindly submit the original and three (3) photocopies of
    proof of dissolution of the prior marriage/s (i.e. death certificate, annulment order, NSO
    authenticated marriage certificate duly annotated by the local civil registrar, etc.)
    8. Original and three (3) photocopies of a “Certificate of Good Moral Character” from the
    applicant’s employer/former employer or parish priest or any person of good standing in the
    community
    9. Original and three (3) photocopies of Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) report
    10. Current passport of the applicant (must be more than 6 months valid)
    11. Application fee of One Hundred and Eight Pounds (£108.00) in cash or postal money order
    Approval Process
    Once the completed application form is received, the applicant is scheduled for interview by the
    Consul General or Consul of the Embassy (please contact the Visa Officer at tel. no. 020 74511814 to
    obtain interview schedule)
    The interview requires the presence of the applicant and the Filipino spouse. Immediately after the
    interview, the applicant is informed of the decision on his/her application for a non-quota immigrant
    visa.
    Note: The non-quota immigrant visa is a one-year multiple entry visa which should be renewed in
    the Philippines for three (3) consecutive years. On the fourth year (3rd renewal), the applicant may
    apply for permanent residency in the Philippines.
  13. Micawber
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    Micawber Renowned Lifetime Member

    Well !!!
    Now I've seen all that, I have to say it looks a bit of a palarva :erm:
  14. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    Points 2, 8, 9 seem to be way too much bother, plus trying to organise an interview down london. A lot of bother with my job trying to sort all that. Still it was worth a look.
  15. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    The situation is very simple. You must be in possession of a valid ticket out of the Philippines when you check-in for a flight to the country. If you have a fixed-return ticket and will stay up to 59 days but more than 21, I suggest you apply for a Visa from the Philippine Embassy otherwise you will need a "throw-away" ticket for a journey out of the country within the initial 21-day Visa waiver period. For cheap throw-away tickets, I'd suggest Tiger Airways Clark to Singapore which can be had for around $20 (plus+).

    You must now show your flight ticket when applying for Extensions of Stay at the Bureau of Immigration and this should be valid within the next Extension period (ie, a flight within the next 59 days).

    BUT, if you come here on an open-return that is valid for one year, none of the above applies other than the requirement to show that ticket to BoI when applying for an Extension.

    Warning: I do know of at least one American who "doctored" an old e-ticket (Manila to Hong Kong) on his way back to the Philippines recently. He was turned-away by Cebu Pacific at check-in in Hong Kong and told to buy a new ticket; he missed his flight and had to buy a new ticket for the following day. His old e-ticket was issued by PAL, incidentally.
  16. Dave_E
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    Dave_E Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Why is this needed?

    The Philippines is not like Thailand where the return/exit flight ticket must be within the visa-waiver period.

    As I understand the rules: the 21 day visa exempt period may be extended several times up to a total stay of one year.

    The return ticket must be within that one year period.
  17. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    Not any more, the rules have changed - yet again. As a tourist, you are now required to be in possession of a valid ticket for a confirmed flight leaving the country on or before the last day of your permitted period. Right now this does pose a problem for long-term tourists as they need to buy a throw-away ticket every 59 days or so. Airlines are required to check the ticketing and Visa status of all passengers at or prior to check-in.

    If you enter the country with a Tourist Visa (Section 9(a)), your initial period of stay is set at 59 days and this is extensible by increments of either 29 or 59 days for a maximum stay of 14 months from date of entry. For all non-Tourist entry purposes, you must obtain the requisite Visa prior to travel - that includes business, employment, student and all other Section 9 Visas.

    If you enter the country without a Visa, you may be eligible for Visa-Free entry (aka "Visa Waiver") which, for western Europeans, Australians, New Zealanders, Americans and Canadians, is currently 29 days (citizens of other countries may get a shorter period or be required to obtain a Visa prior to travel). That too is extensible in 29 or 59 day increments for a maximum stay of 14 months.

    Once you have been in the country for 59 days, you are required to apply for a Tourist ACR-I card which you may then use as a valid means of ID rather than having to carry your Passport everywhere you go. And once you have been in the country for 6 months, you must apply for an Exit Clearance Certificate without which you can not leave the country.

    Under the Central Bank's rules, a Tourist ACR-I card may be used as a means of identification to open a local bank account but there will be restrictions on its use including the inability to credit that account with Pesos (foreign currency only) and no loan, overdraft or debit/credit card facilities. There are no such restrictions for permanent residents (Section 13 Visas).
  18. Januarius
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    Januarius Member

    You can apply for your 13a in the UK..(Philippine embassy). The advantage of doing this in the UK is that you will have the PERMANENT 13a.. If you apply here its provisional for a year,then you need to apply for permanent. The biggest hassle is getting all the requirements together.. It took the UK Police 5 months for them to issue me with a police clearance!
    Im not sure if this is the best option for you if you intend to leave that often as the costs for you to leave the country are more than a tourist.
    Not sure but think these prices may still be current..

    International Departure fees for a 13a visa holder at NAIA (Manila):

    Departure Tax: P 750

    Travel Tax: P 1,620

    Emigration Clearance Cert. (ECC) & Re-Entry Permit (RP): P 2,880


    Total: P 5,250
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2012
  19. Dave_E
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    Dave_E Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Is this correct? in spite of much googling I can find nothing to officially confirm that the ticket must be before end of the initially permitted period (e.g 21 days).

    Visa information on the airline (KLM) website (Prepare for travel / Health passport and Visa) is from Timaticweb which is the source of IATA information used by check-in staff when boarding passengers. This states:

    I find the section about visa on arrival rather confusing as I have never seen that option offered, though I have heard about it.

    In addition the British foreign office website FCO.gov.uk states:

    Again no mention of the onward ticked needing to be before the end of the initial period, both sites in fact suggest otherwise.

    I like to keep up to date with the current rules having once been (initially) rudely refused boarding by an inexperienced check in staff because I did not have a visa for the Philippines!

    I now prefer to carry an up-to-date print of the iata rules (above) with appropriate sections highlighted to help check in staff as a reference to their on-screen info. Don't forget that they have to deal with thousands of passengers for hundreds of different destinations, and it can be difficult to identify the appropriate facts on a screenfull of information

    I appreciate any correction or further information about this. As I never spend more than a few days in the UK at a time it is impossible for me to get a visa anyway.

    Cheers
    Dave..
  20. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    Whilst that is true, a 13(a) Visa is a residential Visa so unless you're going to spend most of the year in the Philippines, it would be a bit of a waste of time. If an Immigration Officer believed you spend most of your time outside the country, he will cancel that visa.

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