Peter is back with questions

[Peter Lee]

Hi there everyone!

Just got back last Thursday, very busy when I got back so much mail and bills to pay on my return.   My question is when married to a Philippine in the Philippines is there any advantage with the Visa process if I want to stay more than the 21 days?   I talked to a lot of foreigners mostly German and Swiss, who have Philippine wives and they are living in the Philippines for years at a time.  What's the scoop for Americans married to Philippines and wanting to stay in the PI for long periods of time?  Do the Philippines give advantages to Men who have Philippine wives on the visa issue?    

[outwest77]

... in response to Peter is back with questions, posted by Peter Lee on Sep 10, 2003

Welcome back Peter, nice talking to you on yahoo, how was Palawan? i want to go there my next trip

BTW how long does the visa take to bring her to the USA if you get married in the phils

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Welcome back, posted by outwest77 on Sep 10, 2003

hello, good to be back

I am making a long report of my trip if anyone is interested.  I could post it a bit at a time coz it is a few pages long but i think worth reading.  I do not know how long it will take to get my wife over here.  I have multiple problems.  I need to show my bith certificate with my naturalization papers.  My mom is working on it now, she may have to write to Germany to get it.  Also i took my step fathers name from Latvia and need to show how I got that name.   I may have to hire an attorney to sort things out.  Palawan is a place if you want to backpack and rough it then thats for you.  Resorts on the Western side of the Island were deserted and no or few tourists visit.  This has happened to most resorts since 90-11.  Scuber divers keep some of these places open they seem to be hard core enthusiests.  I call it the Island from hell, but I had quite and adventure there if you read my report I wil post soon.  Don't send your best friend there in the rainy season.  See you later

[Humabdos]

... in response to Re: Welcome back, posted by Peter Lee on Sep 13, 2003

Can't wait to read that report Mr. Lee!  I wouldn't worry about your paper work problems I'm sure you'll be able straighten it out. Don't waste your money on some blood sucking attorney! any one of even average intelligence can get through there red tape if you just read carefully.

I was headed to Palawan once I even had my ticket, back in 93 when I was a novice traveler to the Philippines I took the anti Malaria pills my doctor recommended it damned near killed me! My liver swelled up and I was very sick for a week Don't ever take that Fancadar crap! Better to just avoid Palawan in the rainy season. (who's idea was that anyway)? lol
Anyway I'm sure an old sea dog like you can navigate the storm.

Ps I wouldn't take the boat out next week!

Hum

[Ray]

... in response to Re: Welcome back, posted by Peter Lee on Sep 13, 2003

Peter,

Don’t make this thing complicated when you don’t have to (K. I. S. S.)

To petition your wife, you DO NOT need to submit your birth certificate. Read the instructions for Forms I-130 and I-129F. They want a copy of your Naturalization Certificate to prove U.S. Citizenship, NOT your birth certificate! If you are using the same name that is on your Naturalization Certificate, then nobody cares what name is on your birth certificate.

You DO NOT need an attorney to file the petition!

Ray

[Ray]

... in response to Peter is back with questions, posted by Peter Lee on Sep 10, 2003

Peter, it sounds as if you got married during your trip, but you do not intend to bring your wife back to the States (?).

Yes, there are advantages to being married to a Filipina. Some of the others mentioned the Balikbayan Program. You may be able to stay for up to a year without a visa if you qualify as a Balikbayan. To be eligible:

1. Your wife must qualify as a Balikbayan. This generally means that she is returning to the Philippines after she has been out of the country for at least 1 year or she is no longer a Filipino citizen because she was naturalized.

2. You must travel with her when she returns to the Philippines.

Most guys stay for up to a year on an extended visitor visa, then leave the country and return. Theoretically, you should be able to do that ‘forever’. If you want to relocate to the Philippines permanently, you have other options. You can retire there if you deposit $50,000 in a Philippine bank, or you could apply for a non-quota immigrant visa as the spouse of a Filipino citizen.

Ray

[Nathan]

... in response to Peter is back with questions, posted by Peter Lee on Sep 10, 2003

[This message has been edited by Nathan]

 

[Nathan]

... in response to Peter is back with questions, posted by Peter Lee on Sep 10, 2003


   You can easily stay much longer than 21 days by simply going down to your closest Immigration control office and getting an extension.(Dress well and take your wife or girlfriend with you) Doing that a couple of times will take care of 6 months, though it is more expensive and complicated after that as I recall. If you leave the country to go anywhere with your wife, you can return
with her and get a one year Balikbayan visa good for a year. Of course, you can also apply for residency as the husband of a filipina.

[outwest77]

... in response to questions, posted by Nathan on Sep 10, 2003

The first extension is for 21 days up to 59 days, that usually cost 2500peso, then the next extension is for 30 days i think, well maybe you can get it for an extra 60 days,
i think to stay 6 months you need about 3 extensions,

[Humabdos]

... in response to Re: questions, posted by outwest77 on Sep 10, 2003

If you return with your filipina wife you get a balikbayan stamp good for a year. Hum

[outwest77]

... in response to Re: Re: questions, posted by Humabdos on Sep 10, 2003

Oh ok First i have  to get a filipina wife........)
does a filipina gf count?

[Humabdos]

... in response to Re: questions, posted by outwest77 on Sep 10, 2003

If you return with your filipina wife you get a balikbayan stamp good for a year. Hum