[2021-11-08] 13A Visa Intramuros Update **Probationary to Permanent Update**

[Shol]

Hi there.   Just wanted to as usual, share my experiences visiting and doing the visa nonsense so that YOU will have an idea of what to expect and perhaps make your quality of experience as solid as possible.   Also as usual, take everything here as potentially an individual experience but anything is probably better than nothing which is quite often what you might end up with :)

This is a summary of my experience from Monday November 8th, 2021 arriving around 7:50 AM at BOI Intramuros for my 8:00 AM appointment. 

1.  Online Appointments   As usual make sure to book the online appointment from the link on the BOI website.  It seems like these days that the lead time for appointments is far better than in 2020 as I was pretty much able to book with about a two week lead.   Make sure to do this but also align it with your NBI clearance which NEEDS to be updated so that it will be valid when your visa is approved, not when you show up there to do all this.   You can check some of my other threads for current details on obtaining NBI clearance but pay attention to the  upcoming section on it here as it's important.

2. Notary Scam  As discussed in previous topics, it appears that this "scam" is in full force as it was last year since they did away with the "interview" and replaced it with the questionnaire /  Guarantee Affidavit.   The players changed as this year's helpdesk helper looked more like a creepy lizard like Filipino politician versus Ellen Degeneres but eventually after "going through" your documents they will find something wrong with the joint letter or this "guarantee" affidavit that needs to be amended and they will call a yellow shirted "assistant" to take you to I assume a prearranged notary republic to fix the documents up for around 800-900 PHP.    We were told that all of it needs to state "conversion to 13a Amendment Visa" despite on previous calls into immigration to simply use "any" online format and it would be OK.   Keep in mind there are no online templates in BOI for this guarantee affidavit so as expected we overheard foreigners and spouses wondering 1) Why I researched, what's wrong with my documents and 2) Why would I have to have that since it's not listed as a requirement; just hearing about it now."   I suspect that no matter what they will find something to get you over there to be ripped off.    Can you imagine if they are doing this to 100-200 foreigners a day how much plunder they are acquiring and it seems like they lot of them are probably in cahoots.   These are just my observations with formulated opinion however my wife begged me just to pay the 800 and get it over with with and I complied.   Begrudgingly.

Subtle non-aggressive scam hidden behind "procedure" so as not to be considered corruption despite all the "anti-fixer" signs all over the building now.  I feel for the people and low paid government positions however I will never be comfortable having no choice in handing over cash to plunderers regardless.

3. NBI Clearance Address Match  Not a massive deal but will save you some heartache.  Make sure that either your NBI Clearance matches the address you put down here on your application or they will not approve of your documents.  We had moved and even included a barangay clearance that took some time to get, but apparently despite being told that this would be the requirement, once there he told us to just put in the address on the NBI clearance.   We had updated our NBI Clearance to the new address but apparently it takes some time to update and when you use the online update function, it never included the new address when it was sent to us.  So we had to white out our new address and put back in our old one which we no longer lived at all based on the direction of the immigration lawyer.   Crazy to be told to put in the wrong details but the only reason we were in that predicament was because we listened to the "guy on the phone lol.  It's more fun in the Philippines.  Anyway just make sure that whatever is on your NBI is on the application and to check it as in the grand scheme of reality it probably doesn't matter as you really just want the visa to get approved :)

4. Miscellaneous  Just some notes, it's a lot less to do than when doing the first one as once you deal with the documents and payment nonsense you get to leave instead of being stuck there doing biometrics and pictures and other things that take more time and potentially expose you to covid in that old, decrepit building.   Prepare about 11k or a bit less if you intend to argue the "notary scam" as mentioned above.   You can do photocopies if your documents inside BOI for 2 PHP, no need to leave for that.   When entering the building, your appointment is not really an appointment but more of an "OK to enter the building" and you will have to line up at the various windows or behind other so kind of on your own.   Bring the receipt for your appointment and scan the bio and fill out the personal information and save the screenshot so you can expedite your entry when you get the front.   The line up on Monday, November 8th, 2021 was minimal and once they opened it was 5 minutes to get inside.

5. Guarantee Affidavit  Well I scanned my "old" guarantee affidavit template to share with you fellers since it's pretty much non-existent online.   Remember this one is for the temporary visitor to probationary but the ONLY difference is on the form would be section 2 which would then be changed from probationary non-quota immigrant to conversion to 13a amendment visa.   Once again as indicated, not sure that you will be able to pass this without the nonsense that I have endured twice however at least you are now informed of what to expect.

That's it for now will respond to this thread as I don't think I can keep editing it but anyway let me know if you have any questions and concerns and I will be glad to help.  

Take care always :)

Edited November 8, 2021 by Shol

[graham59]

Very helpful. Thanks .

I'll have to be applying for mine (Permanent 13A) soon...though via my local BI office.   

[Jollygoodfellow]

The thing is although helpful it may not be the same case like in the Cebu office for example so if your doing this in Manila then thats how it is there.

Now we need someone from another office if with very recent experience to explain their nice day out at the BI.

[Shol]

4 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

The thing is although helpful it may not be the same case like in the Cebu office for example so if your doing this in Manila then thats how it is there.

Now we need someone from another office if with very recent experience to explain their nice day out at the BI.

Agree 100% although it's quite clear that this is referencing the Intramuros main site by design.  For anyone at other offices the process and experience will most likely be 100% different perhaps with it's own series of nonsense or magically, none :)

And that would be great if someone could champion some of the other offices :)

[sonjack2847]

Paying extra money for this kind of thing would bug the crap out of me, but I would pay it and think to myself "well there is one more thing out of the way". Then I would just get on with my life, it`s all sent to try us.

[Shol]

I agree it's sad and tough but that building is one where you simply want to get out of there as fast as possible.  So yeah I did just pay the extra.   Pretty sure they only fleece you for that low amount so they can keep doing it without the big "anti corruption commish"  (Who's office is like a few feet from the stairs right near them within shouting distance) won't figure out what's going on under his nose...

Or I could be wrong and he's good with it lol..

Edited November 9, 2021 by Shol

[OnMyWay]

11 hours ago, graham59 said:

Very helpful. Thanks .

I'll have to be applying for mine (Permanent 13A) soon...though via my local BI office.   

 

9 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

The thing is although helpful it may not be the same case like in the Cebu office for example so if your doing this in Manila then thats how it is there.

Now we need someone from another office if with very recent experience to explain their nice day out at the BI.

Another story that says avoid Intramuros!  I hate the place and there are crocodiles all over the roads in the area!  I got my initial 13a there but then I was able to get my permanent at Balanga City.  That was 2017 and the staff there were very nice.

[graham59]

I think I wrote an account of the processing of my Probationary 13A, earlier this year... at my local very friendly and helpful Dagupan BI Field Office.  They made sure everything was present and correct, before forwarding on to Intramuros. No agents involved and, and correct 'fixed' fees charged. 

Hopefully the final stage will run as smoothly.  I'll start that probably early December, as the current 13A finishes towards the end of Feb 2022. 

[Shol]

One thing I forgot to mention is that they will ask you to "refill" out another application form as there's an apparent new form for the ACR card that's different (Looks the same but seems on legal/longer paper) It's not available online but everyone there was having to fill that out separate.

[graham59]

Yes...have to repeat everything, as no such thing as simple computer records in this country full of Facebook, TikTok, online shopping, and 'gaming addicts'.