Visa and retirement

Drug dealing is a gray area, I don't know if that would come up or not. Section 29 of the Philippine Immigration Act prohibits "persons who have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude" from entering the Philippines. Is drug dealing a crime of "moral turpitude"? If it comes up it will probably be up to the immigration officials at the point of entry. If it were something involving sex crimes against children forget it, they've been identifying those guys at the airport and sending them back.

If you are 70 years old you could visit the Philippines and extend your visitor visa for 6 months and apply for a SRRV visa and not have to provide a criminal background check from your home country. I don't know if the same applies to the 13a visa, but you have to be married to a Filipina for that one. The SRRV visa is quite expensive, especially if you're not a veteran.

If you're allowed in you can extend your visitor visa for up to 3 years, but then you have to leave, but you can come back for another 3 years.

Thanks fir the advice

    Hi just need some confirmation about visa rules for the Philippines I have a prison conviction for drug dealing in the late 80s any help and idea with my chances many thanks
   

    -@alanhamer68

Welcome to the forum Alan.

Moon Dog basically gave you the general idea but I will add that I have read in other threads where people in your situation have had their record/s closed/removed/expunged. Not sure what they call it but they are always very old records and not sure how you would go about achieving it. others may chime in with the answers.

Good luck.

Cheers, Steve.

alanhamer68 asked. . . . Hi just need some confirmation about visa rules for the Philippines I have a prison conviction for drug dealing in the late 80s any help and idea with my chances many thanks.

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

Alan there are respected members of this forum who have similar experiences. Hopefully they will private message you.
   

(U) Intentional Distribution of Controlled Substances:  The Board of Immigration Appeals has determined that in general, a conviction for the intentional distribution of a controlled substance or a conviction for drug trafficking is a crime involving moral turpitude. The mere possession or use of a controlled substance is not generally sufficient for  INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I) ("2A1") however it may result in an INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(II) ("2A2") ineligibility and/or an INA 212(a)(2)(C)(i) ineligibility.  A typical drug statute that would constitute a crime involving moral turpitude is “possession with intent to distribute.”  A conviction or legally valid admission is required for INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I) ineligibility.  Applicants may be found ineligible under both INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I) and INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(II) and perhaps even under INA 212(a)(2)(C)(1) (which requires only that the “reason to believe” standard be met and does not require a conviction or even an arrest.)  You should consider whether the applicant should be referred to the panel physician for an assessment of a possible ineligibility under INA 212(a)(1)(A)(iii) ("1A3") for a physical or mental disorder with behavior that may pose or has posed a threat to others' safety or property including substance-related disorders or INA 212(a)(1)(A)(iv) ("1A4") for drug abuse or addiction.

This is the US definition which on most things are similar to Philippines definition. 

When does Philippines Immigration ask for criminal history? I've only ever entered on tourist visas so have never been asked. I could be a murderer or rapist for all anyone knows. I imagine if I was flagged for child abuse or terrorism the Australian Government might take it on themselves to notify the Philippines but they're not going to disclose criminal history routinely - it would take special circumstances.

AFAIK,

No one here will ever know unless you provide that info to them yourself.

If its a visitor Visa you never need any background clearance doc to apply,

if its a 13A, usually you can wait 6 months to process, then you only need to provide a philippine background clearance from here for those 6 months, and as someone responded above same applies to SRRV, no worries

Agree vehicross100 and I don't have any record/s but given the technology these days and info sharing and the amount of people being turned away from the Philippines and other countries for various crimes shows they are now onto it (recorded crimes), the bar has been raised with immi all around the world.

As for simply rolling up to the Philippines on a visitor visa? If you have a criminal record then it seems immi have access to your history in their system which will come up on entry when they look at your passport.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve

             Back in 1983 I was on probation for DUI in both NJ and PA and nether knew about the other one.  Cannot imagine getting away with that today.

I mentioned that people with a criminal history of child sexual abuse are being turned back at NAIA and Mactan-Cebu International Airport so if you have that sort of record chances are slim that you will be allowed in the Philippines. I don't know what other crimes pop up, you would have to process through immigration to find out.

https://www.expatforum.com/threads/regi … y.1540112/

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/02 … hilippines

https://immigration.gov.ph/us-pedophile … 20weekend.

                 Back in 1983 I was on probation for DUI in both NJ and PA and nether knew about the other one.  Cannot imagine getting away with that today.
   

    -@mugteck

For our non American friends ’DUI’ is essentially being caught pissed behind the wheel.

I just love those US movies where the cop says ’ I’m going to give you a citation’

Sorry couldn’t resist

@bigpearl

thanks steve