From Balikbayan Visa to 13A Visa?

[Che]

I am a Filipina, my husband is a Dominican national. We are currently in Manila, him via a Balikbayan Visa.

1. To be clear: Non-Quota Immigrant Visa and 13A Visa are one and the same? I've seen it referred to (perhaps incorrectly?) as either Permanent or Temporary. Are there two kinds of 13A?
2. If we opt to have a business in the Philippines, which visa is most appropriate for my husband?
3. We are going back to the Dominican Republic before Christmas. Should we apply for said visa now? Does my husband have to stay in the Philippines while the visa is under process? Will it be better to process his visa back in the DR (seeing as government agencies here tend to be slow)?

Salamat.

[Mike J]

Welcome to the forum. 

1. The 13A is issued as a temporary visa.  The visa can be made permanent after the one year probation period is up.

2.  Your husband is allowed to work with a 13A visa.  The business would probably have to be in your name. 

3.  You can leave during the one year probation period of the temporary visa but only with a visa waiver.  Otherwise you have to start all over.  Many people have found it easier to apply for the visa in their respective home countries. 

[hk blues]

1 hour ago, Mike J said:

Welcome to the forum. 

1. The 13A is issued as a temporary visa.  The visa can be made permanent after the one year probation period is up.

2.  Your husband is allowed to work with a 13A visa.  The business would probably have to be in your name. 

3.  You can leave during the one year probation period of the temporary visa but only with a visa waiver.  Otherwise you have to start all over.  Many people have found it easier to apply for the visa in their respective home countries. 

Regarding 1. Mike, when i applied 4 years ago in Hong Kong I was given a 13A Permanent from the outset i.e. no probation period whilst my neighbour, who obtained his here around the same time, received a 13A Probationary.  My understanding is that a 13A Permanent was issued if the visa was obtained outside the Philippines.  Things may have changed now.

[Huggybearman]

Has anyone applied for a 13A in the UK? 

I am currently on a BB visa (I say visa, but its just a stamp allowing a 12 month stay) I will be returning to the UK for a month next spring.

Has anyone here done the 13A process in London? Is it straightforward and could it be completed within the month? I will be staying in Stratford-upon-Avon so don't want to make numerous trips to and fro London, in that case would probably do it here in the Philippines.

I have read the relevant section on the Philippines Embassy website, and it infers the 13A will be issued on the same day as the interview. But in reality can the process be completed within a month?

Ta in advance.

Ken

Edited November 11, 2019 by Huggybearman

[jimeve]

20 minutes ago, Huggybearman said:

Has anyone applied for a 13A in the UK? 

I am currently on a BB visa (I say visa, but its just a stamp allowing a 12 month stay) I will be returning to the UK for a month next spring.

Has anyone here done the 13A process in London? Is it straightforward and could it be completed within the month? I will be staying in Stratford-upon-Avon so don't want to make numerous trips to and fro London, in that case would probably do it here in the Philippines.

I have read the relevant section on the Philippines Embassy website, and it infers the 13A will be issued on the same day as the interview. But in reality can the process be completed within a month?

Ta in advance.

Ken

I believe you need your wife with you for the 13a doing the 13a in UK, and I should think it would take a few months. 

[Huggybearman]

10 minutes ago, jimeve said:

I believe you need your wife with you for the 13a doing the 13a in UK, and I should think it would take a few months. 

Thanks Jim. My wife will be with me in the UK. 

The procedure SEEMS quite straightforward reading the requirements posted on the Philippines London Embassy  website. Just lots of forms etc, most of which I can do online. But like most things the reality is often different!

Ken

 

[Huggybearman]

They also require a “Certificate of Good Moral Character”. I don't think anything like that actually exists in the UK as far as I can determine.

Do you think my UK doctor, who would be doing my medical exam, be able to do it?

How have UK applicants dealt with that one?

Ken

[Dave Hounddriver]

50 minutes ago, Huggybearman said:

They also require a “Certificate of Good Moral Character”. I don't think anything like that actually exists in the UK as far as I can determine.

Maybe not in the UK, but come to the Dumaguete get together on Thursday.  Buy us all a round and we'll get Jack to sign that you are a good 'un.

[jimeve]

1 hour ago, Huggybearman said:

They also require a “Certificate of Good Moral Character”. I don't think anything like that actually exists in the UK as far as I can determine.

Do you think my UK doctor, who would be doing my medical exam, be able to do it?

How have UK applicants dealt with that one?

Ken

Would you need a police report?

[hk blues]

18 hours ago, Huggybearman said:

They also require a “Certificate of Good Moral Character”. I don't think anything like that actually exists in the UK as far as I can determine.

Do you think my UK doctor, who would be doing my medical exam, be able to do it?

How have UK applicants dealt with that one?

Ken

I applied in Hong Kong so cannot help with the UK requirements, but aren't the requirements the same regardless of which country you are applying in?  I would be surprised if the UK had different rules to other countries for those applying for the 13A - I thought the requirements would be centrally decided rather than locally.