About Calvin100

Status:

Expatriate  

Gender:

Male

Currently Lives:

Citizen Of:

United States

Some Forum Posts:

Philippines: Balikbayan box services: US to Philippines:

Anyone here shipped stuff using BB's from the US? Specifically, I had some BB's with my personal effects shipped from Miami (to my address in Manila) on the 3rd week of December, 2016. Tracking with the forwarding Company (LBC Express) using the Bill of Lading numbers was not especially helpful. All I got was confirmation of the date my stuff was accepted in Miami, something I already knew. Any info from folks as to expected date of arrival here would be greatly appreciated. I do understand any EDA's would be approximate at best. Thanks!

Philippines: Annual Report:

It's that time of year. This is a first for me. For those who have done this (annual Report) before, a brief description of the requirements and process would be greatly appreciated. I live in the outskirts of Metro Manila, so it must be at the BI Intramuros office, Thanks y'all!

Philippines: Medicare Lapse:

Hi Everyone: I am retired and have decided to live in the Philippines. Presently, I have the 13A probationary residence. My question for anyone in a similar situation: To keep my Medicare insurance alive, I understand that I need to be physically in the US for 9 months of the year. The costs of traveling to the US for such long periods strictly for that purpose would be cost-prohibitive for me. Anyone knows what happens if I simply let my Medicare lapse? What happens if at a later date I travel to the US and require medical attention? Any info on the penalties for such lapses would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Philippines: Moving to Bacolod:

My Filipino wife and I are contemplating moving to Bacolod city from Manila. We visited the city for 10 days and liked the place. Appears very livable and every place is within one jeepney ride. That said, neither one of us is familiar with Bacolod. My first question: what is the most affordable way to ship our household (very little furniture and regular kitchen stuff) from Manila to Bacolod for our relocation? Second question: We currently rent a 3/2 condo for 8,000 PHP a month. What would be a decent place to get a similar (preferably single level house) unit in Bacolod for approximately the same amount? Second, if anyone knows of a place that also has the fiber optic cable service that would be an added bonus for us. We are looking for a place that would be no more than a jeepney ride from the shopping areas and markets. Thank you all!

Philippines: 13a Visa Annual Report, Bacolod City:

Would appreciate info on the BI office at Bacolod City. My Filipina wife and I are planning to move to Bacolod from Manila. I received my probationary 13a back in July and the Annual Report will be due in January - February 2017. Can we submit the AR in Bacolod? Frankly I do not want to wait to do it in Manila if I can get it done in Bacolod. Second, once we move to Bacolod, can we also do the address change notification at the local BI office? Third, when my probationary 13a expires, can I apply for the permanent residence card right there in Bacolod? As I understand it, it is best to submit the paperwork a month or so prior to the probationary 13a expiration date. Thanks in advance for your input..

Philippines: To ship or not to ship.:

I have regular household furniture, kitchenware and personal effects in storage in Miami (modest 2BR condo). Is it worth shipping all this stuff to Manila? If I decide to give away most of the furniture, what advise do you have for my sound equipment (receiver, CD player and 2 speakers) some books and my art supplies that fit in one large box. Any advice and links would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!

Philippines: My Philippine 13A Permanent Resident Visa Experience:

Hi lblampman: I have been approved for the 13a provisional (one year) at the BI office Manila. They told us to go back in 2 weeks for the I-card. A few questions: 1) What happens after the probation period? 2) Must the permanent residence status application be submitted only at the main BI office? 3) What are the requirements (and costs) compared to the 13a probationary? 4) I believe thereafter, renewal is every 5 years. Please confirm. Thanks!

Philippines: What's the Real Scoop?:

A quick question on insects, especially mosquitoes. Do expats routinely take malarial prophylaxis tabs? Thanks

Philippines: Manila airport scam:

Hi HMMcBride: You state "After my bags are checked by security here I have them put hardened zip ties on all zippers and a security tag indicating that the bags were "strip searched" already". That is an excellent idea. But by "here" where exactly did you do that? As I intend traveling to PHP in mid-November, additional details would be greatly appreciated. Can this be done when checking in suitcase in the US, or is this done on arrival in the Philippines? Where precisely is this done? Thanks

Philippines: Applying for 13a visa, need police clearance:

Congrats on your marriage and all the best. I'll do my best to address your questions and hope this helps. Before coming to Manila, I went to a Miami Police Station where they issue such clearance and I was given the document just like yours in less than 5 minutes (Fee $5). I was unable to use it here in the Philippines for the sole reason that I had lived here for more than 6 months and thus my US clearance was no longer valid, but one I could have used had I applied for my 13a visa earlier than my 6 months residence on a tourist visa here. Should that create a problem, no worries, you can apply for the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) clearance in Manila. But they will issue you with that if you extend your tourist visa to beyond 6 months. I wouldn't worry too much about the police clearance you already have. I would ask that it carry a police stamp. This country I notice does like stamps (although a little less than Latin Americans). Hope this helps. Good luck and enjoy your stay here. Just like you, I found this country in perfect accord with my life vision, as you put it. I hope others here will weigh with additional info.

Date Joined:

11/10/2015

Total Posts:

43

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