OnMyWay Posted July 23, 2016 Posted July 23, 2016 15 minutes ago, Nutz2U2 said: Hi Dave, No 18 months on a balikbayan privilege. You have to enter philippines together with your wife. Free for the first year then p3k every 2 months renewal. http://www.philippineconsulate.com.au/balikbayan-one-year-visa-free-stay.html Hope that helps. Nutz2U2, copied this from the other thread on the good service at Cebu BI. I'm curious about this. I was always under the impression that if your year on the Balikbayan ended, you had to convert to a tourist or get another BB by traveling with your wife again. Is this an extension of Balikbayan or is it tourist visa? I don't think we can travel before my BB expires next January, so I will need to do something. If this is an extension of the BB privilage for p3000 every two months, and you don't have to get an ACR card, that is a better deal than the tourist visa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jollygoodfellow Posted July 23, 2016 Posted July 23, 2016 6 minutes ago, OnMyWay said: Balikbayan ended, you had to convert to a tourist Definatly according to Philippine Immigration law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlwaysRt Posted July 23, 2016 Posted July 23, 2016 35 minutes ago, Jollygoodfellow said: Definatly according to Philippine Immigration law. Do you have a link to official information or is this you definitely think so? All I can find is: Republic Act No. 6768 - November 3, 1989 - AN ACT INSTITUTING A BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1989/ra_6768_1989.html (Only mentions the first year, silent on extentions.) Republic Act No. 9174 - November 7, 2002 - AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED 6768, ENTITLED, "AN ACT INSTITUTING A BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM" BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO BALIKBAYAN AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php/faqs/visa-inquiry/balikbayan-previlege (Same as original law, silent on extentions.) From the Bureau of Immigration website http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php/faqs/visa-inquiry/balikbayan-previlege FAQ page, 3. What are the privileges of a Balikbayan? Those who are admitted as Balikbayans are given an initial stay of one (1) year. They may extend their stay for another one (1), two (2) or six (6) months provided that they present their valid passport and filled out the visa extension form and submit it to the Visa Extension Section in the BI Main Office or any BI Offices nationwide. An additional requirement will be ask for Balikbayans who have stayed in the Philippines after thirty six (36) months. (Does not mention how, if/what is different for foreign passport holders, nor what the additional requirement is for stays over 36 months.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jollygoodfellow Posted July 23, 2016 Posted July 23, 2016 6 minutes ago, AlwaysRt said: Those who are admitted as Balikbayans are given an initial stay of one (1) year. They may extend their stay for another one (1), two (2) or six (6) months provided that they present their valid passport and filled out the visa extension form and submit it to the Visa Extension Section in the BI Main Office or any BI Offices nationwide. An additional requirement will be ask for Balikbayans who have stayed in the Philippines after thirty six (36) months. You quoted it so what do you want?? I mean a type of visa has certain rules so what are you asking? pull one out of the hat? Theres is no extension other than reverting to a tourist visa belive it or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlwaysRt Posted July 23, 2016 Posted July 23, 2016 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Jollygoodfellow said: You quoted it so what do you want?? I mean a type of visa has certain rules so what are you asking? pull one out of the hat? Theres is no extension other than reverting to a tourist visa belive it or not. It does say there are extensions, it doesn't say anything about converting or reverting at all. Has the same 1, 2, or 6 month durations as a Tourist visa but also mentions going beyond 36 months which I didn't think was possible on a tourist visa. The official rules for Balikbayan extensions is what I am hunting for. Of course. I realize just because I want to find something on a government site, doesn't mean it is there or that every BI office would have the same answer if asked. Edited July 23, 2016 by AlwaysRt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jollygoodfellow Posted July 23, 2016 Posted July 23, 2016 4 minutes ago, AlwaysRt said: It does say there are extensions, it doesn't say anything about converting or reverting at all. Has the same 1, 2, or 6 month durations as a Tourist visa but also mentions going beyond 36 months which I didn't think was possible on a tourist visa. The official rules for Balikbayan extensions is what I am hunting for. Of course. I realize just because I want to find something on a government site, doesn't mean it is there or that every BI office would have the same answer if asked. No there are no extensions for Balbalika visa but once one converts to tourist there is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hounddriver Posted July 23, 2016 Posted July 23, 2016 (edited) 9 minutes ago, AlwaysRt said: just because I want to find something on a government site, doesn't mean it is there or that every BI office would have the same answer if asked. Even when we find the info it is often open to interpretation and the BI wins, every time. The extension beyond 3 years is only available to repentant, overstaying aliens who retroactively apply for that extension. You can find the application form on line and read it to see that you have to state why you have already stayed beyond the 3 years. There is another reason which would be if you are under a doctor's care and unable to travel. EDIT: another example is the minimum one year out of country requirement. The act says a filipino must be out of the country for 1 year to qualify for BB status but somewhere along the line they let up on that and I have never known an expat to be refused a BB when he takes his filipina wife on vacation for a week and then comes back. I remember seeing an official letter on that years ago but cannot find it now. Sometimes it is what it is and we just go with it. Edited July 23, 2016 by Dave Hounddriver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jollygoodfellow Posted July 23, 2016 Posted July 23, 2016 13 minutes ago, AlwaysRt said: It does say there are extensions, it doesn't say anything about converting or reverting at all. From the BI, http://www.immigration.gov.ph/faqs/visa-inquiry/balikbayan-previlege Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnMyWay Posted July 23, 2016 Author Posted July 23, 2016 Let's just wait to see what Nutz has to say. Most likely it is just a tourist conversion but you never know what BI might have up their sleeve! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddavis Posted July 23, 2016 Posted July 23, 2016 Just got back from Hong Kong to Cebu to renew my balikbayan for the start of my third year here! No problems as long as my filipina asawa ko is with me. We leave on the first flight out at 6:30 am, get to Honk Kong at 9:00am . Eat lunch, then back on the plane and home by 6pm. Balikbayan stamped and good for another year. Don't even need a continuation ticket(throw away). No extra fees or anything! Cebu Pacific is the cheapest way to go. About P10,000 per person round trip sometimes less if you catch their travel promotions. Rod 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now