SRRV Expanded Courtesy Visa

I'm in a similar situation Duke so I emailed that question to my local BI. The girl there has been great at answering my other questions so hopefully she will get back to me with the answer.

I’ll be needing to know the same sort of thing. The closest BI to me will be in Dumaguete City.

Do me a favor, friend? If you hear anything, please post here? I asked my marketer and I'll will also pass the word on what I learn.

No reply yet but if you go by the policy the way it's printed it is only for "retired Armed Force officers".

"For foreign nationals, 50 years old & above, who are retired Armed Force officers of foreign countries with existing military ties and/or agreement with the Philippine Government. A monthly pension of at least US$1,000.00 and an SRR Visa deposit of US$1,500.00 are required. The SRR Visa deposit includes the principal applicant and 2 dependents. Additional dependent, entails additional SRR Visa deposit of US$15,000 each (except for former Filipinos). CHILDREN must be legitimate or legally adopted by the Principal Retiree, unmarried and below 21 years old upon joining the program."

It's not limited to officers, but for all personnel, as long as there is DD214 and at least 2 y of active duty.
DD214 will be pre-evaluated by PRA, because of some misunderstandings.

25% of my wife's clients are former military and they  have gotten their SRRV or an EED to finish their application process here in the Philippines.

I believe it is your partner I am working with. I also seen her video on this topic on her YouTube channel stating all that is needed is a DD-214 and a retirement income of minimum $1000. More Googling led me to see others stating you just need to be a vet with an honorable discharge. They said retired is retired is retired, whether you retired as a member of the armed forces or not. There seems to be some confusion here. Although I am prepared and capable of the $10,000 SRRV deposit, it sure would be nice not to have to do this.

If you working with my wife already then you are in the best possible hands. I am certain that if you meet the conditions set by the government and executed by the PRA, you will be fine.

We live adjacent to the PRA office and my wife has the best and most up-to-date information. She doesn't make the rules, the Government does. She offers assistance, without charging for the extra work she does. By now she has a long list of successful applications via the EED route and has been awarded as one of PRA's top marketers.

emvaningen:

Yes, MR emailed me and asked me to send her my DD-214. She wants to have a look at it. I am still unsure if I qualify for the expanded courtesy SRRV or will I have to go after the Classic SRRV. That was my main question which is still unanswered. It has been a few decades since I have seen my DD-214.  I have put in a request to servicerecs.gov to obtain a new copy and I am waiting for it.

So far, it has been a rewarding experience working with your wife. I am so looking forward for my new life to begin in the Philippines.

I think your question can be answered when PRA has seen your document.
There have been problems so they have added another layer of bureaucracy.

Thanks for that reply. I will get my DD-214 to MR as soon as my slow government can get a copy to me.

Wasn't the SRR Visa program suspended in October 2019 period.  There was massive fraud from the Chinese and Koreans.   If any one can prove different please post. Thanks JIM

Reinstated last year for over 50s.

The abuse was from Chinese in the 35+ age group.  Koreans not an issue.

Can you show me the link/proof it was reinstated and how to apply thanks JIM

Here is a link to the Philippine Retirement Authority. I would suggest finding a marketer to work with. They will assist you in gathering all documents needed and answering all questions. The marketers are paid by the PRA and should be of no cost to you. Most of the work needs to be done in your country of origin but your SRRV will only be granted in the Philippines. There is an exemption visa open for SRRV applicants. (That is what I am seeking now.)

https://pra.gov.ph/

Thanks when did the exemption get put in to law as the SRR Visa was suspended in Oct 2020 I was off on the date, Thanks

ICDRSKI

I am not sure exactly when the exemption was put in law, perhaps it was September 2021. I do know it is a thing as I am working with a marketer now trying to obtain one.

If the current plans stand then you can come into the PI as a tourist starting on the 10th. Then you can have your marketer work on your SRRV. Remember not to start the process directly with the PRA as then you have to pay a marketer instead of the PRA paying.

@emvaningen, how do I get in touch with your wife for my SRRV questions?

@pilotdrh  How did you get an apostle on your SS statement. There is no signature by a SS officer. The state dept won't apostle. The SS office in Manila refuse to notorized anything. I hit a brick wall. I am disillusioned by this visa. I already put out 170,000 pesos and looks like I won't be able to keep it....more money lost to the BS in this country.

@pilotdrh  How did you get an apostle on your SS statement. There is no signature by a SS officer. The state dept won't apostle. The SS office in Manila refuse to notorized anything. I hit a brick wall. I am disillusioned by this visa. I already put out 170,000 pesos and looks like I won't be able to keep it....more money lost to the BS in this country.

- @Munchie

@emvaningen hi, thanks for your reply. My cost so far. $1600 to PDB. $1400 application Fee. $360 to pay marketer in my area. Total $3360 @ 50  peso exchange rate back in the day = 168,000 pesos. Approved Oct 29 2020. I got in just before the pause. The money I spent on medical, NBI etc brings me over the top of 170,000 pesos. Thank you again.

@Enzyte Bob Yes Bob, they have seen my SS statement and a letter from BPI showing pension deposits. However, they do seem to insist on an apostilled statement. I contacted an apostle service in Washington DC and the lady said The State Department won't accept that statement from SS because it bears no name, signature or legal capacity (job description). And will just throw it back. My card comes up for it's second renewal soon, I guess I'ma wait and see where it goes. My marketer told me don't worry about it, apostles are not needed for extended courtesy visas.

@emvaningen  This guy charges $360. I actually walked away from SRRV in 2019 because at the bank to withdraw all the funds, he told me I needed to pay him $360 plus an undisclosed fee for a quarantine fee. It was during the onset of Covid. I decided to go ahead with the visa in October 2020 because my 3 years was staring me in the face and obviously, I didn't want to leave the country then. I must make it clear that I do have the Visa now, but living in fear of it being withdrawn because I can't seem to get a SS Statement apostle. This is an extended courtesy visa for military service, the annual renewal fee is $10. Plus his generous fee of 4500 to do it for me.  I hope that clears it up my situation to you. Thank you again.

@emvaningen Many thanks, I have sent you a private message...

@emvaningen the U.S. government considers you a full fledged US veteran with all basic VA rights/benefits with a two year active duty term, Army, Navy, Airforce and Marines or at least 90+ days active duty during an official war time, Vietnam included as long as you had an "Honorable" Discharge with DD214 as proof!