Foreigner With No Return Ticket

[cebu rocks]

Its the airlines problem and they will not let you board unless you have a exit ticket . They will not let you buy a one way ticket unless you can prove you are a resident . I have never been asked to show a ticket or asked just about anything at Immagration or at customs . Its a stamp and a smile next

[Duma]

That is quite true, its the Airlines problem and they have to shoulder the airline ticket back to where you just come from. If you don't have a onward ticket you can't board the plane to the Philippines. Leaving HongKong last January at checkin I didn't have a onward ticket and was asked to show my Permanent Resident card which I did. Was told no problems.

When we arrived in Manila the 1st thing that I present too customs is my card then followed by my passport.

I have also witnessed foreigners being refused entry because they don't have a onward ticket.

Some just never learn.

[MikeB]

I returned from HK last night on Cathay. I had an Air Asia onward ticket but was never asked by anyone for it. I was, however, asked by Philippine Immigration for the exit (ECC) clearance when I was leaving the Philippines because I was over 12 months on a tourist visa. If I didn't have it I don't think I would have been leaving. I would not take a chance on not having the required paperwork or ticket.

Edited June 23, 2012 by MikeB

[Adventurer]

Actually I still have a few days left on my passport stamp for my last trip as I have only been away for just over a month. I would be interested to know even though I just bought a throw away ticket how I would get on if I showed them my passport that still has a couple of days left and if they would let me in if I did not have an outbound ticket?

[Ruddy_Rooster]

Actually I still have a few days left on my passport stamp for my last trip as I have only been away for just over a month. I would be interested to know even though I just bought a throw away ticket how I would get on if I showed them my passport that still has a couple of days left and if they would let me in if I did not have an outbound ticket?

I'm not entirely confident I understand what you're asking.

As I understand, once you've left the country then any visa becomes null and void unless you have one of those multiple-entry visas. Even with multiple-entry, you still need to follow normal visa rules once in-country ie 21 days then apply for extension. Happy to be corrected if wrong here?

Edit - I suppose there might be differing rules for the Balikbayan (sp) visa where you're granted 12 months. Would be interesting to know?

Edited June 25, 2012 by Ruddy_Rooster

[Dave Hounddriver]

Edit - I suppose there might be differing rules for the Balikbayan (sp) visa where you're granted 12 months. Would be interesting to know?

You were right with the first part of your answer. Even the 12 month BB stamp becomes void the minute you have left the country. The way to come back without an onward ticket is to prove residency in the Philippines. If you are not a permanent resident you need the exit ticket or lots of luck.

Edit, for those who want to try and beat the system, here is what happened to my close friend and neighbor. He tried to get on the plane in US with an unexpired BB stamp in his passport and a driver's license to show residency in Phils. Not enough. Bumped from plane. No refund. Out US$800. Wrote several letters but it was never refunded. They told him he should have known he needed an exit ticket when he went to the airport to board the plane. BUT, if he had a pocket full of cash he could have purchased an exit ticket at the counter for a whole lot of money and they would have let him on. He did not have that kind of cash on hand so had to wait to save enough to do it again the following month. Meantime, his gf thought he was making excuses and not coming back so she cleaned him out of a lot of his stuff and headed back to Mindanao.

You just can't make this stuff up . . . but people still try to come without an exit ticket and get all excited when and if it works for them.

Edited June 25, 2012 by Dave Hounddriver

[nor cal mike]

Thanks for all the good info. I think best for me is to simply apply for an a residency visa at the consulate here in the U.S.

[Ruddy_Rooster]

Thanks for all the good info. I think best for me is to simply apply for an a residency visa at the consulate here in the U.S.

Good luck with that one sir but I doubt such a visa exists. You're talking a whole new ballgame here which might require a thread of its own (unless of course you're already confident you will be accepted as a permanent resident in which case visas aren't required).

There's nothing wrong with staying in Philippines as a tourist, you can pretty much stay as long as you like so long as you keep your visa up-to-date (if you are there long enough, you'll know when it's time to make a brief exit as per the requirement). Just make sure you have an onward ticket good for the first 21 days on your arrival.

[cebu rocks]

Thanks for all the good info. I think best for me is to simply apply for an a residency visa at the consulate here in the U.S.

Good luck with that one sir but I doubt such a visa exists. You're talking a whole new ballgame here which might require a thread of its own (unless of course you're already confident you will be accepted as a permanent resident in which case visas aren't required).

There's nothing wrong with staying in Philippines as a tourist, you can pretty much stay as long as you like so long as you keep your visa up-to-date (if you are there long enough, you'll know when it's time to make a brief exit as per the requirement). Just make sure you have an onward ticket good for the first 21 days on your arrival.

I have never had a ongoing ticket for the first 21 days its always at least a 6 month ongoing ticket(usually 1 year) . And have not talked to anyone in person who has been asked for the ticket .

In fact last time i came there was a older gentleman (60-70) wearing a sarong with long very messy grey hair and a purple man purse in front of me . The immigration officer looked disgusted and just stamped his passport . The gentleman was trying to ask questions about renewing his Visa the officer just looked at him and said you need to go to the office NEXT.

From what I have seen immigration officers are told NOT to give tourists a hard time just stamp their passports same as Customs agents . As I said before they put it all on the Airlines to make sure you have a ongoing ticket . If you don,t they have to fly you back on there money and get a 100,000 peso fine for allowing you to fly without a ongoing ticket.

[Ruddy_Rooster]

Thanks for all the good info. I think best for me is to simply apply for an a residency visa at the consulate here in the U.S.

Good luck with that one sir but I doubt such a visa exists. You're talking a whole new ballgame here which might require a thread of its own (unless of course you're already confident you will be accepted as a permanent resident in which case visas aren't required).

There's nothing wrong with staying in Philippines as a tourist, you can pretty much stay as long as you like so long as you keep your visa up-to-date (if you are there long enough, you'll know when it's time to make a brief exit as per the requirement). Just make sure you have an onward ticket good for the first 21 days on your arrival.

I have never had a ongoing ticket for the first 21 days its always at least a 6 month ongoing ticket(usually 1 year) . And have not talked to anyone in person who has been asked for the ticket .

In fact last time i came there was a older gentleman (60-70) wearing a sarong with long very messy grey hair and a purple man purse in front of me . The immigration officer looked disgusted and just stamped his passport . The gentleman was trying to ask questions about renewing his Visa the officer just looked at him and said you need to go to the office NEXT.

From what I have seen immigration officers are told NOT to give tourists a hard time just stamp their passports same as Customs agents . As I said before they put it all on the Airlines to make sure you have a ongoing ticket . If you don,t they have to fly you back on there money and get a 100,000 peso fine for allowing you to fly without a ongoing ticket.

It's an unnecessary risk. I remember when I bought my 1st return ticket to Phils from a travel agent, they made me sign a piece of paper to say I was responsible for visas (the dates were outside of the 21 day zone). It's not so much what happens at Phils immigration (that's a risk alone), you can be refused boarding on departure. There's just no need to take any risks. To suggest otherwise is poor advice.

Edited June 26, 2012 by Ruddy_Rooster