Traveling to (and from) the Philippines during COVID-19

[Jack D]

To start with, I had to show my ACR I-Card at the airline counter in Los Angeles (LAX), which showed that I’m a permanent resident… but that was not enough, and I was asked to show my old passport with my 13a stamp…. no big deal. I know that I’m not a permanent resident anymore, but I had to get to the Philippines to take care of a time-sensitive issue.

My flight to Manila was changed to a flight to Cebu. When I arrived, I had to pay 10,000 PHP for a Covid-19 swab test, and then I was taken to a government-approved hotel to be quarantined until the results came back (which was negative).

After 2 days, my negative result came back, and I was allowed to fly to Manila, where I was able to take care of my personal business.

When I was ready to leave, Korean Airlines was the only one that left when I wanted to leave.

At NAIA, I had to pay about 20,000 PHP for late payments ACR-I Card.or maybe travel tax too.

The stop at Incheon Airport was unbelievable. I was asked ever 6 feet by a different inspector the very same questions (after a temperature check):

1 - Have you travelled to a Covid-19 hotspot?

2 - Did you have any contact with a Covid -19? (as if I would really know, since there are asymptomatic carriers almost everywhere).

3- Who packed your bag?

4- Do I have a laptop? ‘When I said yes, I was asked if I owned it, or did it belong to my employer?

5, Finally, after several of these stops, I was pulled over by two lovely Korean girls, who did a complete body search on me. That felt really good!

After that, I boarded my plane and I had plenty of room since there were so many empty seats.

 

[Mike J]

3 hours ago, Jack D said:

I know that I’m not a permanent resident anymore,

Curious - When you say "not a permanent resident" do you mean you no longer live in the Philippines, or that the 13A visa is no longer valid for some reason?

[Jack D]

51 minutes ago, Mike J said:

Curious - When you say "not a permanent resident" do you mean you no longer live in the Philippines, or that the 13A visa is no longer valid for some reason?

I no longer live in the Philippines but my Permanent resident/13 A Status is still valid. It seems that as long as you pay money, your 13A remains valid... at least for me it is.

[scott h]

4 hours ago, Jack D said:

I had to pay about 20,000 PHP for late payments

could part of that be your yearly check in fee?

[Old55]

Thanks for the update Jack. Glad it all worked out for you reasonably well.

Any tips on how to get fondled by lovely ladies in Korea? Asking for a friend. 

[Jack D]

1 hour ago, scott h said:

could part of that be your yearly check in fee?

I believe so.

Edited July 20, 2020 by Jack D
speech app repeated itself

[Jack D]

30 minutes ago, Old55 said:

Any tips on how to get fondled by lovely ladies in Korea? Asking for a friend. 

My suggestion to your friend is to fly Korean Airlines with a stopover in Incheon, and carry a laptop (like me). He's bound to get fondled by some very lovely ladies at the airport who are doing security checks... at least that worked for me. 

[Jollygoodfellow]

Todays info

     

[Jack D]

4 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

Todays info

 

I wonder what tomorrow's info will be. 

[Jollygoodfellow]

40 minutes ago, Jack D said:

I wonder what tomorrow's info will be. 

The same but reversed