About jgarrison

Status:

Preparing to Move Abroad 

Gender:

Male

Currently Lives:

Citizen Of:

United States

Some Forum Posts:

Philippines: Some tips on visiting needed:

Hi. I'll be going to the Philippines for a two-week visit. Have a few questions since it will be my first time there: I'll be staying in Quezon City and traveling up to Baguio for a few days. First question is: I have a dual-sim globally unlocked phone. Would the mall in Manila be where I need to get a preloaded SIM for making calls/texts while I'm there? I'm only planning on calling people in country while there. Second: should I convert USD to PHP here before leaving or should I do so after arriving? And is there a place at the Manila airport to do that? Third: I have an ATM card on the Pulse network. Will withdrawing/converting currency be easy in Quezon City? I've already rented a place so that is taken care of. Will approximately $100 average per day be enough for eating out/sightseeing for myself and 3 people I will be visiting? Thanks! -Jim

Philippines: "Show Money":

I hope someone can assist me with this situation. I have been conversing online with a nurse in the Philippines. We have traded hundreds of emails. She told me she had a valid passport and a B-2 visa. I know that to be true. I wanted to meet her in person so I offered to buy her a round-trip ticket which I did. Now she is leaving tomorrow and says she is afraid she won't be allowed to board the plane without 'show money' of $2,500. I trust her but am unhappy about not being told this until the last minute. That raises red flags for me so I haven't sent it. Instead I sent her an invitation letter stating I would be completely responsible for all her travel expenses: food, transportations, lodging, medical expenses, etc. She says it isn't good enough and she is afraid she'll travel to Manila to fly and won't be allowed on the plane with the cash. Does this sound legit? Is that the way it works? I told her I think they are more worried about her returning then how much cash she is traveling on - she has a job and family there, and a ticket back already. Does she really need the 'show money'? And if so, how would you sent that much? Western Union, Zoom, etc now look very closely at all transfers and I don't think it would get there in a day. Thanks for your help. BTW: I plan on retiring to Cebu City in a few years.

Date Joined:

3/10/2015

Total Posts:

14

Posts/Day:

0.02