Visa Extension- New Form.

[hk blues]

 

6 hours ago, BrettGC said:

If anything it's easier now than even 7 years ago.  For a range of reasons including where we live (somewhat remotely - we used a courier from us to the agent), value for money and the "set and forget" side of it using an agent works out better for us.  Granted, more expensive but very much a time/hassle saver for us. 

Will you have to repeat the process again when moving from temporary to permanent , including paying again or does the 30k cover the transfer as well?

[BrettGC]

51 minutes ago, hk blues said:

 

Will you have to repeat the process again when moving from temporary to permanent , including paying again or does the 30k cover the transfer as well?

Just the temp.  We'll cross the permanent bridge when we come to it.

[spaul]

On 9/12/2024 at 7:23 AM, Mike J said:

Hmm, we did ours ourselves with no issues.  But this was seven or so years ago, maybe things have changed a bit.

Rant warning:

I did it myself too but ran into a few problems and we were sent home two times from the BI office in Cebu for something wrong on the forms. It was upsetting because the errors on the forms to me were trivial. First time, I had the wrong Commissioners name, even though he was the one listed on the BI web site for the Cebu office. Second time, our house address wasn't correct, no house number so they told us to make something up and come back because they wouldn't accept that our house was listed as Street, Barangay, Town, Province. Another time, they just decided to close the office for the day even though I had a scheduled appointment to pick up my passport.

All this wouldn't have been so bad if we lived in on Cebu island but coming from Negros has been a huge hassle. I can tell you there are a lot of foreigners having the same problems. A lot of unhappy guys at the Cebu office.

The moral of the story, if you can find a good Agency for a decent price, maybe go that route. The Agency in Dumaguete wanted 60K to do the Probationary.

[BrettGC]

30 minutes ago, spaul said:

The Agency in Dumaguete wanted 60K to do the Probationary.

The ones co-located with BI in Dumaguete charge the following:  JRC - 37K, RJ - 31k, and the one down the end (can't remember the name) 30k.  60K seems way over the top. 

[hk blues]

15 hours ago, spaul said:

Rant warning:

I did it myself too but ran into a few problems and we were sent home two times from the BI office in Cebu for something wrong on the forms. It was upsetting because the errors on the forms to me were trivial. First time, I had the wrong Commissioners name, even though he was the one listed on the BI web site for the Cebu office. Second time, our house address wasn't correct, no house number so they told us to make something up and come back because they wouldn't accept that our house was listed as Street, Barangay, Town, Province. Another time, they just decided to close the office for the day even though I had a scheduled appointment to pick up my passport.

All this wouldn't have been so bad if we lived in on Cebu island but coming from Negros has been a huge hassle. I can tell you there are a lot of foreigners having the same problems. A lot of unhappy guys at the Cebu office.

The moral of the story, if you can find a good Agency for a decent price, maybe go that route. The Agency in Dumaguete wanted 60K to do the Probationary.

Possibly the BI is encouraging folks to go down the agency route by making it as painful as possible for those who don't - one can only imagine why.  

[spaul]

5 hours ago, hk blues said:

Possibly the BI is encouraging folks to go down the agency route by making it as painful as possible for those who don't - one can only imagine why.  

Yes that's what I think too. It's the most bizarre thing I have ever gone through. They will refuse your application even if the color of your folder is wrong and you use a staple or a paper clip to hold it all together. I'm not kidding.

[spaul]

20 hours ago, BrettGC said:

60K seems way over the top. 

Ya I goofed. It was about 40K at the one office I went to.

But my exchange rate sucks so I didn't bother. 40 pesos to one Canadian dollar.

[jimeve]

23 hours ago, spaul said:

Rant warning:

I did it myself too but ran into a few problems and we were sent home two times from the BI office in Cebu for something wrong on the forms. It was upsetting because the errors on the forms to me were trivial. First time, I had the wrong Commissioners name, even though he was the one listed on the BI web site for the Cebu office. Second time, our house address wasn't correct, no house number so they told us to make something up and come back because they wouldn't accept that our house was listed as Street, Barangay, Town, Province. Another time, they just decided to close the office for the day even though I had a scheduled appointment to pick up my passport.

All this wouldn't have been so bad if we lived in on Cebu island but coming from Negros has been a huge hassle. I can tell you there are a lot of foreigners having the same problems. A lot of unhappy guys at the Cebu office.

The moral of the story, if you can find a good Agency for a decent price, maybe go that route. The Agency in Dumaguete wanted 60K to do the Probationary.

Did mine myself, both probation and permanent and I'm too from Dumaguete. But I did get an agency to do the 5 year renewal card think they charged 16k.

[hk blues]

I did mine in Hong Kong and I'd strongly recommend anyone who can do it from outside does so...less hassle and the main advantage is permanent from Day 1, no probationary. 

Not an option for many, I know.