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Long term stay / perpetual tourism

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B0nkers
  12/15/2015 14:30 EST

I'm a Canadian, currently on a double entry visa in Thailand with 3 months left to go including extension. Starting to consider the next stop and would like to make my way to the PI at some point. I do prefer to stay several months and maybe one day if I happen to come across a nice lady, stay longer without having to get married.

What are th rules for long term stay in the PI? I see a 59 day tourist visa option or a 30 day non visa option is available. Is it possible to simply do a border run after each period or is that frowned upon? Any limitations to the number of times you can do this or how many days per year you can stay etc?

Thanks in advance

standupguy
  12/15/2015 20:44 EST

Bonkers - I am. a Canucklehead too. The less expensive route is the single entry 59 day visa that you will still need to extend. Don't believe everything on the PH immigration website. Just bring pictures & photocopy of the bio page and 59 day visa and immigration entry stamp to immigration office. Plan for a 3 to 4 hour stay. You can wear shorts below the knee. They will charge you 100p for a sticker fee. You get the form for renewal there. They also will charge you Express lane fee, express lane certification fee, express lane for Alien Certification Registration card. They also charge research fee., ACR card fee, etc. fee after fee. There is no Express Lane so don't get pissed. My 2 month renewal cost 8000 p. Easy to find a beautiful pnay tourist guide. A friend of mine has a whole stable full. The KTV & hobo-hobo bars are clip joints. Don't run a tab, pay for each serving when delivered. If you let a bar girl sit next to you, expect frotage that they will demand a tip for. With strange pnay in your room, take your wallet, passport and phone to the shower with you. There are honest and beautiful women here, but it takes time to determine that. You need to find out as much as you can about her family history. Is she separated? Annulments cost 4 to 5 thousand loonies. Does she have kids staying with relatives? Are her parents alive? Remember, you are her apple tree and she will want to pick as many as possible. There will always be emergencies that they ask you for money. If you are absolutely certain they are real (99% are not) then make a one-time-only contribution. Don't buy gifts or make loans. You will only set yourself up as an ATM. They will beg too. I have heard me Swiss neighbor bellow many times "WHAT YOU THINK I AM AN ATM? GO AWAY AND DON'T COME BACK". There are lots of scammers and a skin tax. Negotiate all quotes on labor. Have loads of fun ! Bonne Chance!

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Singlelooking
  12/16/2015 03:24 EST

Go to immigration on Mondays.
Took me less than a half hour in Cebu city (Mandaue office)

standupguy
  12/16/2015 06:51 EST

Louis - huh. I am luckier since my wife is not on speaking terms with any of her siblings except her oldest and youngest sister. Her youngest sister has a lot more money than us and her older sister's husband has a decent pension. My wife is the middle child of 11 siblings so the other 8 all did offensive things, scams, threats, etc, and stay clear of my wife. She is a taurus with sharp horns. Her parents both passed away.

I have a sexy pirate sign out front and it says "you can have my chest, but leave my booty alone"

standupguy
  12/16/2015 06:53 EST

Louis - give it another year and a half, and things should die down a bit more.

B0nkers
  12/17/2015 16:47 EST

Thanks for all the replies. I also posted in another forum and it sounds very easy to stay long term. Thailand is making it more difficult, so I really don;t mind extra fees for immigration as it also takes less of our time to process. ie: No border run required every 3 months and a 1/2 day at immigration locally for 3 day extensions once every 2 months.

Now...I just need to find where 'home' is going to be. Ideally a modern house or condo rental in a gated golf/beach community, with public transit close by (if that's even possible, I don't have a drivers license)

How's the health care?

Cheers

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Nephi
  12/17/2015 17:56 EST

Bonkers,

The only place in these islands (that I know of ) that meets all your needs, including public transit, is Subic Bay Freeport. They truly have it all. They even have a new medical center but not sure of the quality of care. Quality medical care here can be hard to find. It ranges from very few that are excellent, down to the fact that most of them can be deadly adventurism. Here's a link to the Subic Chamber of Commerce for a look-see. Best of luck, Nephi..


Here's the link: http://sbfcc.com/

standupguy
  12/20/2015 02:58 EST

Louis - The PLDT wifi was down for three days here. When I booted up my tablet,which I use to post in Facebook (mostly about the missing 45 bil Pesos) it hung on the log in screen, First time in a year my tablet malfunctions. I turned it off and on and then no log on screen at all. I also have my HP Desktop. I use it for all my internet banking, bill payments and email. Hackers actually advertise in the comments section of Facebook. They use nude female photos as a lure, but my Norton blocks all that. Many of the organizations investigating the missing Yolanda aid have been raided by police and the hard drives taken. One investigative radio reporter in Quezon City was murdered. The UN has begun an investigation. I guess I should keep my information about the political scene to myself.

seernai
  4/21/2016 09:01 EST

Hi bonkers you can stay for 3 years in the Philippines on a Tourist visa just keep extending your visa but do it at least a week before the extension is due to expire also after your first extension you will need to apply for an ACRI Card dont worry immigration will help you with that it takes about a month to come through ,Once you have that you can open a bank account in the Philippines if you want . anyway after 3 years you have to leave the country for at least 24 hrs and go to Thailand or any of the countries close to the Philippines remembering that if you want to come back to the Philippines that along with your return flight ticket you need to purchase a throw away ticket as cheap as possible to anywhere close , you need to have this otherwise the airline you use will not let you board for the return flight ,you will not use this ticket because before your initial 29 day entry visa has run out you will go to immigration to get an extension and the whole process starts again , of course if your close to retirement age and want to stay in the Philippines without having to leave the country every 3 years and have $10,000 you can get a retirement visa or if your single and meet the right Lady you can get Married and get a marriage visa

seernai
  4/21/2016 09:01 EST

Hi bonkers you can stay for 3 years in the Philippines on a Tourist visa just keep extending your visa but do it at least a week before the extension is due to expire also after your first extension you will need to apply for an ACRI Card dont worry immigration will help you with that it takes about a month to come through ,Once you have that you can open a bank account in the Philippines if you want . anyway after 3 years you have to leave the country for at least 24 hrs and go to Thailand or any of the countries close to the Philippines remembering that if you want to come back to the Philippines that along with your return flight ticket you need to purchase a throw away ticket as cheap as possible to anywhere close , you need to have this otherwise the airline you use will not let you board for the return flight ,you will not use this ticket because before your initial 29 day entry visa has run out you will go to immigration to get an extension and the whole process starts again , of course if your close to retirement age and want to stay in the Philippines without having to leave the country every 3 years and have $10,000 you can get a retirement visa or if your single and meet the right Lady you can get Married and get a marriage visa

seernai
  4/21/2016 09:01 EST

Hi bonkers you can stay for 3 years in the Philippines on a Tourist visa just keep extending your visa but do it at least a week before the extension is due to expire also after your first extension you will need to apply for an ACRI Card dont worry immigration will help you with that it takes about a month to come through ,Once you have that you can open a bank account in the Philippines if you want . anyway after 3 years you have to leave the country for at least 24 hrs and go to Thailand or any of the countries close to the Philippines remembering that if you want to come back to the Philippines that along with your return flight ticket you need to purchase a throw away ticket as cheap as possible to anywhere close , you need to have this otherwise the airline you use will not let you board for the return flight ,you will not use this ticket because before your initial 29 day entry visa has run out you will go to immigration to get an extension and the whole process starts again , of course if your close to retirement age and want to stay in the Philippines without having to leave the country every 3 years and have $10,000 you can get a retirement visa or if your single and meet the right Lady you can get Married and get a marriage visa

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B0nkers
  4/21/2016 09:30 EST

Thanks again for the replies. I actually landed in Davao about 5 weeks ago and got my first 30 day extension. Looking forward to a longer journey here and exploring where 'home' may be. Possibly Palawan or Cebu

BertelBertelsen
  4/21/2016 09:52 EST

hey bonkers.

every thursday there is an expat drink at the bonte koe at rizal street. the drink is between 3 and 7-8. the bar and restaurant are european owned and with a european standard. Rizal street is located 1 street away from city hall

ginamarquez
  4/23/2016 22:00 EST

Just a query, while in the 6 month extension and you left Philippines, and then you go back again, is the visa still valid or would you need to extend again after 29 days. Thanks in advance

chance2014
  4/23/2016 23:31 EST

As far as I know if you leave Philippines and return you have to start all over again

ginamarquez
  4/23/2016 23:36 EST

ouch! that is so sad...thanks for the reply...would go to bi tomorrow then

LarryKar
  4/24/2016 03:41 EST

ginamarquez: not to add to the problems but you will also need an Exit Permit stamp to leave before you get to the airport plus your " throw away " on ward ticket when you come back. I just live here I don't make the rules. Sorry.

dinky2408
  4/29/2016 02:17 EST

I was able to stay upto six months renewing my visa every 28 days.
I am a Brit.

Anne35
  4/29/2016 06:28 EST

if you happened to land to cebu email me i can help you accommodation in the right amount.

gelynch52ph
  5/1/2016 09:35 EST

Except on Mondays or the day after a holiday you will be in & out of the BI office inside Robinson's, Pala Pala (Dasmariñas) in 30 minutes or less.

gelynch52ph
  5/1/2016 09:38 EST

I forgot to mention that you can extend every 2 months for 3 years before you are required to leave for a day and start over. It isn't nearly the hassle the other Canadian said it is unless you are doing your extensions in the main office in Manila. You might want to do that the first time you extend because then you can get 6 months, but you still pay the same amount in fees, just saving time and trips.

nickst
  11/29/2017 01:53 EST

reop your tourist visa eveyr 2 months to a max of 2 years.. i have been a tourist here for 16 years

seernai
  11/29/2017 06:30 EST

You’r info is incorrect as you can stay for 3 years not 2 years you need to to check out the Immigration site

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