Balikbayan Questions/Advice

[Dave Hounddriver]

1 hour ago, Joey G said:

If not... she is not a Balikbayan unless she was out of the country for at least a year.

I guess you did not read the memo and I ain't gonna find it again.

[Jollygoodfellow]

1 hour ago, Joey G said:

Just checking ... is your wife a US citizen?  If not... she is not a Balikbayan unless she was out of the country for at least a year.

Its been like that forever but not once have I heard of anyone stopped or questioned about how long they are out of the country. 

[Joey G]

Yeah... no experience here with that anyway's... so, I guess if your wife just has to get into the airport... she doesn't have to leave the country, just has to standing next to you when you get in front of the immigration officer... surely there is way to get on that side of the immigration line... no?

[Jollygoodfellow]

1 hour ago, Joey G said:

Yeah... no experience here with that anyway's... so, I guess if your wife just has to get into the airport... she doesn't have to leave the country, just has to standing next to you when you get in front of the immigration officer... surely there is way to get on that side of the immigration line... no?

No is the answer

[Gator]

5 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

No is the answer

Know might also be the answer.....as in who in immigration she knows; or could also be how many blue no's she needs to bribe someone, lol

[Jollygoodfellow]

25 minutes ago, Gator said:

Know might also be the answer.....as in who in immigration she knows; or could also be how many blue no's she needs to bribe someone, lol

You take the risk then you might be on the next flight out. None of my business but things are not like they were 10 years ago in most cases. 

[Gator]

3 minutes ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

You take the risk then you might be on the next flight out. None of my business but things are not like they were 10 years ago in most cases. 

Quite true. Your original reply to the OP was absolutely correct.

[Gator]

On 9/4/2021 at 5:10 AM, JCReed said:

Any suggestions on which country would be the most efficient for meeting up with my wife (unvaccinated/flight from Manila) for the purpose of coming into Manila under Balikbayan Program? I'm fully vaccinated coming from the U.S.

If the Philippine BOI will allow her to leave, then Thailand would be my suggestion as you don't need to lock yourself into a hotel room for the quarantine period. Under some new rules you would be able to travel to Phuket and roam around there freely. You must stay in a gov approved hotel and you can not leave Phuket (the entire province) for 2 weeks to travel to other domestic destination, but you're allowed to travel back out of the country at any time. So realistically you could meet her there, stay one night and fly together back to Manila the next day (but I'd stay at least a few days if not longer to enjoy Phuket). There are other travel restrictions and rules for entry; you can read about them here: 

https://www.thaiembassy.com/travel-to-thailand/no-quarantine-phuket-sandbox-plan

Another reason for suggesting Phuket as there are non-stop flights to/from Manila. I don't know how much international travel experience your wife has, but for someone new to it, a non-stop flight is certainly the easiest......no connections to deal with nor risking her getting lost in an airport and missing her connection.

 

[Mike J]

12 hours ago, Joey G said:

Yeah... no experience here with that anyway's... so, I guess if your wife just has to get into the airport... she doesn't have to leave the country, just has to standing next to you when you get in front of the immigration officer... surely there is way to get on that side of the immigration line... no?

You only get to that side of the line by coming in on an aircraft.  Try it any other way and the police will escort you to a holding cell.

[Jollygoodfellow]

17 hours ago, Gator said:

no connections to deal with nor risking her getting lost in an airport and missing her connection.

 

If she has not traveled out of the country she better have documents and photos of her and her partner as well. They always interview those who have not been out of the country before. Since she is traveling alone she is almost certain to have to explain what she is doing.