What Me Worry?

[patmac]

Please some reassurance from this Group!  I plan on visiting in June for 3 weeks . The last thing i want is a problem with BI ! ( I have traviled to central America countries, never have a problem with the law , here in the US or abroad )  Is there any truth about being detained, And having to pay bribes to get an exit visa . Read some scarrey stuff on this site & others  about  jail & fines and being detained in the Philippines . I don't believe there is any truth in this.  If that has ever happened it was someone trying to get over on BI .Any problem's i should coserned about ? I was thinking spending the winter on Bohol or in Cebu                           

 Patrick

 

[OnMyWay]

You don't need anything to stay 3 weeks.  You get a 30 day tourist visa on arrival and when you leave, just go to the airport.

 

If you extend the tourist visa past 6 months, then you need an ECC (Emigration Clearance Certificate) before you leave.  I have not heard the stories you mention.

[sonjack2847]

Stories are sometimes just that stories. The only two times I have heard of people being detained is when they have a dodgy visa. A friend whos  flight was  delayed  by a few days was not allowed to leave as he was then over 6 months and had to get an ECC but he was not held in custody.

Edited May 28, 2015 by sonjack2847

[Gratefuled]

So, it appears that if you give yourself some extra time to leave and not wait til the last day of your free visa, you will not have any problem. 

Plan ahead your exit in plenty of time to avoid delays.

[Dave Hounddriver]

 Is there any truth about being detained, And having to pay bribes to get an exit visa . Read some scary stuff on this site & others  about  jail & fines and being detained in the Philippines .

 

Not sure what the scary stuff is that you refer to but the only scary stuff a 3 week tourist needs to worry about is being on the blacklist.  And that almost never happens, unless there is a reason you suspect you may be on t?

[Jollygoodfellow]

Please some reassurance from this Group!  I plan on visiting in June for 3 weeks . The last thing i want is a problem with BI ! ( I have traviled to central America countries, never have a problem with the law , here in the US or abroad )  Is there any truth about being detained, And having to pay bribes to get an exit visa . Read some scarrey stuff on this site & others  about  jail & fines and being detained in the Philippines . I don't believe there is any truth in this.  If that has ever happened it was someone trying to get over on BI .Any problem's i should coserned about ? I was thinking spending the winter on Bohol or in Cebu                           

 Patrick

 

If you obey the law there is no reason anything is going to go wrong. You can stay 30 days without doing anything else regarding visa or exit. Your 30 days starts the day after arrival so do not count the day you arrive. The rare reasons sometimes people have problems is that they have done the wrong thing, overstayed, did not get visa extensions, broke Philippines laws or whatever so just join the thousands who come and go without any problems. Where ever you come from must have short winters if 3 weeks is winter.

[Jack Peterson]

In 17+ years in and out of the PI, I can Honestly say I have only  had 1 (One) Problem with Immigration on Arrival and That was Totally my own fault BUT I have never been denied Entry.

JP :tiphat: