13A Questions

[OnMyWay]

13A and a few related questions.  I looked on some previous threads and the BI website, in vain.

1.  In a previous thread started by Americano, he stated that your visa must have 20 days left on it when you first apply for the 13A.  Is this still the case?  BI website has nothing about it.

2.  When you first apply for the 13A, do you have to carry another valid visa during the time you are waiting for it to be approved?  E.g., BB or tourist?  From what I have read, the time from application to approval is often more than 20 days.

3.  In another thread about 13A pros and cons, it said that the Balikbayan can be converted to tourist.  Is that a simple task easily accomplished at any BI?  No info on BI website.

My timing on my 13A will be tight and during the Xmas holiday period.  My BB Visa expires on Jan. 5, 2017.  It seems that I may be required to extend before I can get a probationary 13A.

Also, leaving the country in early May and I could get another BB visa at the end of May when we return.  I'm considering just converting my current BB to tourist for 4 months, then we will leave on vacation.  Upon return, I will have another BB for a year.

Thoughts?

 

[robert k]

As you must convert to another visa before the BB expires, I would just go to the local office and get a tourist visa extension. I see little difference between 30 days free entry and 1 year free entry with your spouse and I doubt the BoI does either.

I do think the 3 years total you could spend in the country on tourist visa would stand, meaning 1 year BB and 2 years on tourist visa = 3 years total since your last entry. But this wouldn't apply to you anyway.

[AlwaysRt]

Not that I am an expert but my understanding is everything Robert said is 100% correct.

[Tukaram (Tim)]

If I was leaving in a few months I would probably just convert to tourist and do the 13a when I got back.  Depending on if you would need a tourist ACR - it would be expensive.  Actually that is what I did. I left a week before I would have to get the ACR, did a Hong Kong weekend, and got the BB stamp when I came back.  Once you get your 13a there is a bigger airport exit price. So compare that to a possible tourist ACR cost... kind of depends on your timing.

I recently converted my BB stamp to a tourist visa. It is the exact same process as a simple extension.  I did a 2 month extension, then applied for my 13a. I was waiting on my NBI clearance so had to convert to tourist...

While waiting for my 13a approval, my tourist stamp did expire but the immigration office said just to keep my 13a receipt in my passport.  They said no need to extend it. I do not know if that is within the rules or not... but it worked for me. 

 

[sonjack2847]

I would stay in the country when applying for a 13a. You don`t know what they might ask for and if you are not here you cannot furnish them with the extra information.I would also have at least 2 months left on my visa when I applied.Don`t worry too much about overstaying when applying for the 13a as they are quite understanding and will probably only charge you what you would have had to pay  for a tourist visa anyway.

[Jack Peterson]

10 hours ago, Tukaram (Tim) said:

While waiting for my 13a approval, my tourist stamp did expire but the immigration office said just to keep my 13a receipt in my passport.  They said no need to extend

 I would all be careful on this one, when I did my 13a my 20 days ran out on my extension, Cebu would not Complete the 13a Approval as I was out of Time and effectively Over Staying. I had to do a 1 month extension. It really is just not worth the aggravation, the Lawyers (at Immigration) will pick it up and use the immigration law against you. It is what is in your Passport that is important.

Just Saying.

 

Jack

Morning All

[OnMyWay]

Thanks for all the great information!  It will help me make an informed decision.  Keep it coming if you think of anything else!