I overstayed and here is how it turned out.

Curious Frank? The bill if you reported every 2 months?

Costs me like P 22K per annum.

Cheers, Steve.

@bigpearl At a quick glance back in 2018-2020, it ranged from 1900-2000 for every couple months, my most recent visa just this week was 2850 for 45 Days non inclusive of express fees. So your number sounds about right.

Visa fee has gone up, I recall express fee use to be 500? now it's 1500.

@frankanderson This seems to tell us that if you resolve to fix the overstay on your own, it is likely you will be OK. Contrast this with viral information circulating about one youtuber Barry J the Phils YouTube community who apparently overstayed for 7 years and was reported to BI by another expat; he was arrested in Carcar Cebu and now sits in the Graybar Hotel 😂 prison in Cebu awaiting transfer to the BI Hilton (prison) in Taguig and then deportation. So, in addition to fixing these probkems on your own before they catch you, people may wish to keep any overstay status quiet if there are expats around that they don't get along with. The police seem to act right away in complaints from other expats; it has happened to other prominent youtubers as well but none others jailed as far as I know.

Just pay your dues and no problems, I overstayed for 5 days, the early days of

Covid when all the immi offices were closed, when they reopened and you had to find that out online there would be no overstay fees,,,,,, 5 days after they announced that after being here for 4 months cost me an extra P1K for the Christmas fund? Perhaps legit, regardless immi fees here are affordable if you are a regular.

Cheers, Steve.

@frankanderson This seems to tell us that if you resolve to fix the overstay on your own, it is likely you will be OK. Contrast this with viral information circulating about one youtuber Barry J the Phils YouTube community who apparently overstayed for 7 years and was reported to BI by another expat; he was arrested in Carcar Cebu and now sits in the Graybar Hotel 😂 prison in Cebu awaiting transfer to the BI Hilton (prison) in Taguig and then deportation. So, in addition to fixing these probkems on your own before they catch you, people may wish to keep any overstay status quiet if there are expats around that they don't get along with. The police seem to act right away in complaints from other expats; it has happened to other prominent youtubers as well but none others jailed as far as I know.

-@danfinn

That's messed up, getting ratted out by another expat.

7 years is  a long time and he's also working here, even as a youtuber, it's still considered working. Maybe that's why they took action so quick

But yea, during my overstay. I was informed by my local friends to stay quiet about that . Also kinda struck me as common sense really.

@frankandersonBut yea, during my overstay. I was informed by my local friends to stay quiet about that 1f605.svg. Also kinda struck me as common sense really.

If someone here does not like you and they know you have overstayed more than a year, they know they have the power to land you in jail just by contacting the police. Police do not actively seek out overstayers (not sure about BI) but they must act on complaints. Yeah, it is common sense. Not all expats possess that, especially the arrogant ones.

Why overstay, run risks, visa renewal is inexpensive here compared to other countries.

Cheers, Steve.

Why overstay, run risks, visa renewal is inexpensive here compared to other countries.
Cheers, Steve.
-@bigpearl

I agree 100% but some people put themselves into these situations. I knew one person who went with spouse to hongkong to renew a balikbayan visa. In returning there was word going around the people standing in line that to get the BB stamp you had to insert $100 in the passport. He wouldn't do that (nor would I insuch a situation) so they stamped him a 30 day tourist visa. Then he went to a lawyer to try for a 13A. This person was not good at documentation and refused to keep extending which made a 13A impossible in any case. He just gave up on the system and didn't care if they deported him as long as somebidy paid the plane fare. Kind of crazy. Eventually he went to the hospital and passed  away from pancreatic cancer as an overstayer.

@bigpearl it was during the covid era where everything was locked down, flights constantly being cancelled, mandatory quarantines. It would have cost me a fortune to head back and possibly having to wait to return as border was still closed. My visa extension was already maxed.

I recalled there was a lot of people in the same predicament on the forums back then and all was asking the same question.

@frankandersonBut yea, during my overstay. I was informed by my local friends to stay quiet about that 1f605.svg. Also kinda struck me as common sense really.

If someone here does not like you and they know you have overstayed more than a year, they know they have the power to land you in jail just by contacting the police. Police do not actively seek out overstayers (not sure about BI) but they must act on complaints. Yeah, it is common sense. Not all expats possess that, especially the arrogant ones.

-@danfinn

As far as I know, there isn't anyone here that doesn't like me. But then again, there are those people that doesn't need to not like you, they just want to see the world burn for no reason.

As far as I know, there isn't anyone here that doesn't like me. But then again, there are those people that doesn't need to not like you, they just want to see the world burn for no reason.
-@frankanderson

Dude, there's a list of people....oh fugetit. Got a match?

As far as I know, there isn't anyone here that doesn't like me. But then again, there are those people that doesn't need to not like you, they just want to see the world burn for no reason.
-@frankanderson
Dude, there's a list of people....oh fugetit. Got a match?
-@Larry Fisher

I suppose some people are totally against the idea of overstay because they themselves make the effort and pay the cost to stay. Nothing personal to the overstayer. Some people like that have agendas, maybe more than we might think. Even more reason to keep quiet and resolve your issues ASAP.

true, never thought of looking at it from that perspective.

In the end I ended paying more then a usual visa renewal due to fines. But on the flip side, it was much cheaper than if I were to leave, mandatory tests, mandatory quarantine, living arrangements, not to mention when can I come back.

Now that I think of it, 2 year visa vs 2 year overstay, prices aren't that far apart if you take away all the normal visa and fees, the fine is a fraction of it. But of course at a risk.

I did read you can still get a visa from the embassy direct if you have actual family here, not girl friend. Family that depends on you, like children. I just didn't want to be bothered, I was covid free the whole time, take a plane during peak omicron season and I catch covid. What are the chances. lol

man those few years was really harsh on a lot of people.

I guess in the end, it's up to the individual, just overstay as long as possible then once caught, deported and blacklist and they are ok with that. I recall hearing some people in HK were living like that, in particular illegal workers.

Glad we are all here and talking about it and Sorry to the ones that has fallen. Stay Safe

@frankanderson I guess in the end, it's up to the individual, just overstay as long as possible then once caught, deported and blacklist and they are ok with that. I recall hearing some people in HK were living like that, in particular illegal workers.

That might be true but the only thing is the possible jail time before deportation. It could take months or even years before a judge hears the case and there you sit in the detention center in Taguig. Personally I don't think I could last more than a month in a place like that. But it happens to some expats and I don't think all of the older ones survive.

@frankanderson

That's messed up, getting ratted out by another expat.

Agreed. Even if it turned out he was bonking his GF.

Understand now Frank, you were caught between a rock and a hard place, I was lucky as I arrived the day of the lock down in Manila 14th or 15th of March 2020, had to leave the hotel in the evening to get out of town before they blocked the roads, lost 2 days prepaid booking at the hotel and got home here at 3 in the morning.

So I had 3 years.

I have become a bit of a hermit because of Covid and for a couple of years only went out to renew my visa, My big day out, lol.

I also copped a P 1K fine once immi reopened their doors as I was 5 days late, apparently the amnesty was only for the day they reopened, no point to argue.

Cheers, Steve.

@frankanderson Consider yourself lucky. After almost a year, I'm still going through the process. I've had to deal with a lot of harassment from workers there. I've been given someone else's paperwork. I have been accused of stealing that person's passport. Have recently been told pay by x date and upon going there to pay on x date, been told I need to refile. I have grown to despise that office and never want to enter it again. Though of course, I will still have to...

@Michael9025 No problem if you stay current and always pay on time. Don't blame BI, blame yourself. You are lucky they let you stay.

Moral of story:

Keep your nose clean, keep a low-key profile, and don't mow another man's 'lawn' (IYKYK)

@danfinn please think about what you say, BEFORE you say it. So it's my fault that they gave me another person's information? How so? And it's my fault that they accused me of stealing that person's passport? Again, how so? If I was going to do anything wrong, it would have been to go through with what THEY, told me to do and return to receive that person's passport. I did not do that because I've been trying to do everything the right way because I don't want any trouble. So again I refer you to the first part of this reply, thank you very much!

@danfinn please think about what you say, BEFORE you say it. So it's my fault that they gave me another person's information? How so? And it's my fault that they accused me of stealing that person's passport? Again, how so? If I was going to do anything wrong, it would have been to go through with what THEY, told me to do and return to receive that person's passport. I did not do that because I've been trying to do everything the right way because I don't want any trouble. So again I refer you to the first part of this reply, thank you very much!
-@Michael9025

Well this time I will say nothing because I am confused by your post, other than to suggest in your case, get a long term visa to minimize contact with authorities because they seem to be persecuting you.

I wonder how or why that started.

Cheers, Steve.

@danfinn I've been trying to do just that. The plan was to marry my fiancé, once this whole mess is finally sorted and it should have been, in February. I had gone into the BI, to pay my fines and that's when I was given the wrong person's paperwork. The next visit was to return said paperwork, which they never took or asked for. This was when they accused me of stealing his passport. Next visit, went in to pay again but was given misinformation at the previous visit. Next visit, April 3rd, I was told I had to refile, even though in March I was told to pay by April 4th and was given the advance receipts for the amount. It's like every time I go there, they change what they said and tell me something different.

@bigpearl It started after they gave me the wrong person's information. And I had gone in to pay my fines that day. And God forbid, anyone there accepts responsibility for their errors.

@danfinn In some countries you can pay to have your case heard early

@bigpearl It started after they gave me the wrong person's information. And I had gone in to pay my fines that day. And God forbid, anyone there accepts responsibility for their errors.
-@Michael9025

Seems it might be their error but you never looked at the paperwork and passport they handed back to you at the counter? I always do.

Cheers, Steve.

@danfinn I've been trying to do just that. The plan was to marry my fiancé, once this whole mess is finally sorted and it should have been, in February. I had gone into the BI, to pay my fines and that's when I was given the wrong person's paperwork. The next visit was to return said paperwork, which they never took or asked for. This was when they accused me of stealing his passport. Next visit, went in to pay again but was given misinformation at the previous visit. Next visit, April 3rd, I was told I had to refile, even though in March I was told to pay by April 4th and was given the advance receipts for the amount. It's like every time I go there, they change what they said and tell me something different.
-@Michael9025

Sure but if they gave you the wrong person's passport, didn't you look at the passport before leaving the office? You would know better than THEM if you had the wrong passport. When you  did discover it you should have returnef it right away without waiting for an appointment. Because of this, they wondered why you held on to the wrong passport for too long. They may have even put you on a list. You cannot deal with passports so casually; you must check and double check. They made a mistake for sure but you failed to resolve it in a time they considered reasonable.

@bigpearl they did not give me his passport, only his paperwork. And I agree, I should have checked before leaving the office. Unfortunately, I was not in a condition that I was thinking straight. Without going into all of the details, I'm sure if you've ever had to go to the main BI office, you know how long the wait can be. I have a fractured vertebrae and was in severe pain due to the wait and hard chairs, hence the lack of full concentration/focus.

@danfinn I never had his passport, nor had I ever seen it. It was his paperwork. All of the information that he gave them, for renewal/extension/overstay and even his lawyers contact information. And yes, I did contact his lawyer, who told me that the BI told him/his client, that they had lost his paperwork.

Paperwork and Passport are not and should not be assumed to be the same things. If it had been his passport, unless I were blind, I would have noticed that, immediately, by the photo alone.

@Michael9025   You said "This was when they accused me of stealing his passport. Next visit, went in to pay again but was given misinformation at the previous visit. Next visit, April 3rd, I was told I had to refile, even though in"

So they falsely accused you of stealing his passport. This is hard to follow since, based on your statement it seemed you actually had the guy's passport and explains mt comments. However, anytime you have a conflict wit BI, be prepared to lose. You have no choice but to give in to them.

No need to take the stock to the water trough?

Cheers, Steve.

@danfinn actually, if you completely read what I wrote, it's quite easy to follow. I never said I had his passport, only his paperwork. I did say that I "could" have returned and picked up his passport, as they instructed, but having realized they mistook me for someone else, I did what was right and told them of the mistake and upon returning to give them back this person's paperwork, I was then accused of stealing his passport. I even stated in one of my posts that I've never even seen his passport, and if I've never seen it, it's obviously never been in my possession. And I completely agree, no matter what, even if wrong, they are always right, even if they're not. And for some reason, lawyers and immigration consultants won't go against them, even if they're wrong.

@Michael9025

This is especially challenging if you have a pretty common name, say Michael Smith for example.

How many has this name, a lot. Most are decent people, few not.

I wouldn't think this is a unique situation.

The BI agent doesn't care, they probably just want to get through the workday so they can get back to social media on their phones wishing they are somewhere else.

I hope you will be able to catch/mitigate their mistakes so you won't have to go to jail or worse.😁

I feel the BI can accuse a foreigner of anything and get away with it.

@Jackson4 in regards to the name of the person I was mistaken for, both of our first and middle names are exactly the same, including spelling, so the mix up is a bit understandable. Our last names have no similarities whatsoever.

@Jackson4 in regards to the name of the person I was mistaken for, both of our first and middle names are exactly the same, including spelling, so the mix up is a bit understandable. Our last names have no similarities whatsoever.
-@Michael9025

This drama has been going on for a while now...hint.

Michael said . . . . in regards to the name of the person I was mistaken for, both of our first and middle names are exactly the same, including spelling, so the mix up is a bit understandable. Our last names have no similarities whatsoever.

**********************************************

It happened to me sometime ago and I don't remember the details.

Going to or back to NBI for clearance, my name came up as a reg flag. Now I'm quite old so in all the years I've been alive there is only two other people in the US who have the same first and last name.

I was told to come back another day, after explaining to the sympathetic representative, coming back would be a hardship on me, she said then come back in two hours. My Wife, I and Stepson took a taxi to a nearby restaurant.

Two hours later the red flag was not a red flag because the person with the same name was me.

Side Note: While living in Las Vegas my wife and I went to the Wynn Casino Buffet for some special occasion. While there I joined the players club and received $10 slot/pokie machine free play. They said I was already a member. One of the other person who has the same name of me is a CEO of a hedge fund and they thought it was me. I should have played along and use all his comps (complimentary) rewards, but I didn't.

Karma was on my side, I won $400 from the $10 of free play. Karma is a great thing.

As several of u have said, it's always better to keep updated, however that's not always possible for many many reasons.

I have just left the Philippines after 16 years overstay. I spoke with the UK embassy the day before I planned to hand myself in to the BI, the embassy emphatically told me not to do that and set about the process of visa deferment.

They were unbelievably supportive and although the process was about 2mths...my contact at the embassy was superb and basically held my hand thru the whole rigmarole.

Costs were minimal fortunately and in my opinion, no process was drawn out or extended unnecessarily. I am sure that this was helped by not having had any issues/cases against me. I spent maybe 20/30 mins total at NBI hq, same amount of time in BI to collect the final document allowing me to leave.

I genuinely believe the accompanying letter I wrote to the head of the BI explaining my situation was critical to my exit being so straightforward. Take responsibility, explain why it happened, apologise and show intention for the future.

Yes, I was blacklisted, yes I regret leaving my asawa behind, but ultimately...it was a move I had to make for us to stand any chance moving forward.

If I want to return...I have to lift the blacklist by paying a $1k fine and settling the outstanding overstay fees, which I will add, the BI stated was a negotiation. I have that in writing lol.

When I left Naia, the BI rep read my letter, saw my ETD and simply smiled and wished me safe trip.

I think I was very lucky...and given I am very anti establishment, I was drowning in irony that it was 2 govts that helped me, even went out of their way to be gracious and not look to kick someone whilst they were down.

Hope this lil story helps anyone who is overstayed relax a little as if u've been a good boy and haven't caused any trouble, chances r they will deal with u accordingly.

Be lucky, stay safe.

@allworknoplay Yes, as long as you go through another agency or lawyer or in you case, the embassy, you should be able to self deport without and extended stay at yhe Graybar hotel in Taguig. But if somebody complains and turns you in, that is different. Once they detain you, you are caught up in their slow process and are detained in a prison  and it will be a sad experience. Kudos to your embassy.

@danfinn That's nuts because he should have gotten a 1 year Balikbayan stamp when he reentered the country unless he couldn't prove that he was married?