Balikbayan visa

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Michaelm54 Contributor

Member since 25 April 2021

Michaelm54Contributor08 August 2022 04:16:54

101

Im married to a Filipina, we’ve been here in the Philippines for 9 months and built a house on a Balikbayan visa. Does anyone know if we can get a new 1 year Balikbayan stay by leaving the country on a short trip out of the country and coming back?

Rex71 Member

Member since 17 July 2021

Rex71Member08 August 2022 04:23:47

@Michaelm54 yes you can do that or you can extend for 6 months without leaving

Enzyte Bob ViP

Member since 26 October 2018

Enzyte BobViP08 August 2022 04:34:38

3772

Im married to a Filipina, we’ve been here in the Philippines for 9 months and built a house on a Balikbayan visa. Does anyone know if we can get a new 1 year Balikbayan stay by leaving the country on a short trip out of the country and coming back?
- @Michaelm54

You can get your ACR-1 since you have been here over 90 days good for one year. . .Then apply for a 13A.

No trips out of the country are necessary unless you want to take a vacation.

GuestPoster26607 Guest

GuestPoster26607Guest08 August 2022 07:33:57

214245

A couple of things

1) it is called a Balikbayan privilege and not a visa. It is only given at the discretion of the attending officer. I believe it is rarely refused though provided you enter the country with your wife.

2) you can extend your stay by going to the BI office but the Balikbayan Privilege is then converted to a tourist visa and can be extended up to a total of 3 1/2 years including the original stay.

You can do the visa run but it is not necessary.

Michaelm54 Contributor

Member since 25 April 2021

Michaelm54Contributor09 August 2022 02:19:20

101

I knew it wasn’t a visa but had no idea what to call it, thanks! … privilege hardly sounds important enough but I do feel privileged and grateful to stay here. The immigration officer looked at the marrage license for 10 seconds asked my wife one softball question and stamped me for a year.

We’re going to Thailand in October so I’ll just re-up my Balikbayan then.

Michaelm54 Contributor

Member since 25 April 2021

Michaelm54Contributor09 August 2022 02:23:28

101

@Enzyte Bob

Thanks Bob, we’re planning a Thailand vacation in October so I’ll re-up the Balikbayan but in the meantime get my ACR card soon and then work on my 13A next year.

Life in the Philippines is good!

Michaelm54 Contributor

Member since 25 April 2021

Michaelm54Contributor09 August 2022 02:29:21

101

@Rex71

Great we’re planning a trip to Thailand in October, if that doesn’t work to reset me for another year, there is a BI a couple of hours away in Dipolog city that’s open on Fridays.

Carry on carrying on as they say, life here in the Philippines is good!

Mike

Harbred6051 Active member

Member since 29 July 2020

Harbred6051Active member09 August 2022 23:30:01

Just remember that the Balikbayan is a privilege, not an actual visa. Also remember that it is the filipina who is the Balikbayan, not the foreigner. The one year visa free privilege is extended to the both the spouse & kids of the bailibayan, subject to the approval of the immigration officer in charge at the time of entry. Enjoy your one year visa free stay!

Enzyte Bob ViP

Member since 26 October 2018

Enzyte BobViP10 August 2022 00:40:01

3772

Just remember that the Balikbayan is a privilege, not an actual visa. Also remember that it is the filipina who is the Balikbayan, not the foreigner. The one year visa free privilege is extended to the both the spouse & kids of the bailibayan, subject to the approval of the immigration officer in charge at the time of entry. Enjoy your one year visa free stay!
- @Harbred6051

When I came to the Philippines I was unaware of the Balikbayan privilege and was completely surprised when checking my passport later and seeing it was good for one year.

Immigration didn't look up to see me and just rubber stamped my passport. I was in the nothing to declare line and didn't even have the declaration paper to turn in.

- Moderated-

Moderated by Bhavna 2 years ago
Reason : Off-Topic leads to more ff-topic
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Veronique Da Silva Team

Member since 02 February 2017

Veronique Da SilvaTeam11 August 2022 15:33:50

#10

9005

Hi all,

Please note that a few messages have been moved from this conversation. We kindly ask you to remember that this forum is a friendly place where we encourage cordial exchanges of information among members. There is no point in calling each other stupid.

Thank you,

Vero
Expat.com team

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