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Online work, allowed?

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303croissant
  3/29/2022 15:32 EST

Hi all my name is “Unimportant”. I plan on coming to the Philippines soon. I work online as an entrepreneur. Will this change the status of a long term tourist visa, or do I apply for a work visa.??

draks
  3/29/2022 16:44 EST

If you come here on a tourist visa you are not allowed to work at all, not even unpaid work. If you, work solely online, for a foreign company, and don't involve any Filipino personnel at all then you might get away with it, but if caught then you are locked up until you are deported never to return. The longest imprisonment before deportation was 14 years, they don't rush themselves. Don't tell ANYONE what you are doing or even thinking of doing, many loose tongues here. Don't do anything illegal here, Filipino prisons are literally hell on earth. You definitely don't want to spend any time locked up in the Philippines.

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draks
  3/29/2022 16:54 EST

You can apply for a work permit, but if you are self employed you will need business permits, not straight forward at all. To be honest if you need to work to live, I wouldn't advise coming here. It's not an easy place to set up a business or work here. Definitely can't work or run a business whilst on a tourist visa. Any business even as self employed, you will have to have a Filipino national as a 60% business partner. Most foreigners use their Filipina wife's name as the partner.
Go to your Philippines embassy and get official information from them. But the hoops and the costs, will, I think stop you from trying to work here.

trappedinhell
  3/29/2022 22:40 EST

I've met a couple of "tourist' here in PH who works online (one American & one German) who have been here for years. They have their income deposited in their home country and wire funds needed here in their PH bank accounts. Both of them are doing good. They love it here. Filipinos are friendly and the standard of living is not that expensive - as they say. Although one of them complains that the internet where he lives is kinda flaky sometimes. They live near an immigration satelite office, where they can renew their visas every now and then. They don't "advertise" too that they are working here in PH. So I think it's doable, just as long as your average online income can support you living here in PH.

Lawdog
  3/30/2022 09:51 EST

Things changed back in January 24 2022 for work dealing with foreigners. Research the many angles and see what’s new and what’s allowed to suit your goals if possible. Many don’t know this changed for foreigners but take a. Look.

Asawa
  3/30/2022 20:22 EST

If you do work online, I highly recommend using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to tunnel all internet traffic to your native country.

Everything will just look like an encrypted stream to anyone who might monitor you, and your activity will look like it's happening in your native country where you "Pop out" of the tunnel.

If you have problems with some activity being blocked in your native country (because they can tell you are using a VPN), get a better VPN or change protocols. There are cheap and free ones that use OpenVPN standards and there are others that stealth the fact you are using VPN for $2.99 to $7.99 per month... (Less if paid annually).

If you want more info, I think I've posted it before. I can point you at the post.

-Asawa

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303croissant
  3/31/2022 12:52 EST

Thnx to all who have responded with insights on “online work allowed.?” post. Keep them thoughts coming as I am sure there are other comments not yet expressed . And thank you all again………
“Unimportant”

surfingcebu
  3/31/2022 21:22 EST

303, your online work from within the territory of the republic of the Philippines could be construed as working in the Philippines. This could result in severe penalties, eviction from the country, or even a jail sentence, which I had seen before.. I would check with the bureau of immigration when you get your passport stamped and check in with them to be double sure it’s OK to work from the Philippines on my business. Get it in writing!

Surf .

draks
  4/1/2022 16:23 EST

I knew an American that worked online, teaching, been doing it a few years, all of a sudden he dissapeared found out later a jealous gf reported him to immigration and he was in prison awaiting deportation. Nice friendly guy, and very open about what he was doing.
DONT TELL ANYONE ANYTHING here, not even other expats. You live on a small pension, disability etc. But don't tell anyone. Not worth the risk.

surfingcebu
  4/1/2022 18:50 EST

Draks - I know what your saying ... thats why I told him it could be illegal. You always get the crowd " It hasn't happen to me , it fine , go ahead !" ....but we know different . I had a friend put in jail and expelled from country for operating a Charity for the poor . The church and some girls were jealous of him ... Ratted him out . He spent 5 months in jail before charges were heard by judge . once heard , he was expelled back to the USA - never able to return . He said he almost lost his life 10-12 times in Jail. Friends had to drop off food and money in jail to keep him fed and safe .

DON'T tell anyone what you make, what your doing online, or even any other real details , not even your GF as they "Chika Chika" and its then all over the place !

Does any know what a Jealous former GF can do to your life here ? Could you tell them Draks

All this for operating a non-profit charity , which the judge said was "ok, BUT should be operated by locals ,not foreigners " . Its a different country when it comes to ANY jobs for sure !

Great country to live and so on - I cant stress this enough ...just understand your on their turf - Big Time ! ...and its SO different ! Jobs of any sort are GOLD . Yes, even the volunteer ones from the RP .

When I was volunteering at checkpoints ( and eating some darn wonderful foods and such , that people dropped off for me and the Army /PNP) , I told the Police chief I would do it , but he had to write me a letter of OK ... he thought it was a good idea too ! So the BRGY Capt and the Chief wrote a letter of ' ok to volunteer for Pinoy National Cause ' letter . Still have that letter - keeping it ...it was general in tone .. :)

Surf .

Asawa
  4/4/2022 20:25 EST

FYI -- I burn through my internet bandwidth like a fiend. Depending on what you are doing, you might need to reload ever 2-5 days.

FYI -- If you hate dealing with local loads and you have a VPN, you can use recharge.com for simple recharging. I think it's made for folks from developed countries to load cards for friends/relatives all over the world. After FIGHTING with SMART/GLOBE websites for days.... I remembered that I could quickly/easily reload with that service for myself (not just my relatives when I'm abroad).

-Asawa

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s4L
  4/11/2022 19:06 EST

My Filipina Wife and I plan to move there in oct/nov. My company has mentioned about me working p/t for them, answering trouble tickets, t/s equipment issues. All U.S. business.

Even this is a no no, remaining in employed but part time.

S4Life

s4L
  4/11/2022 19:17 EST

My post was a question, not a statement, I forgot to add the ??? mark.

S4L

surfingcebu
  4/12/2022 11:52 EST

S4L- I would get it in writing that the Republic will allow you to work with your company from the RP . No letter of permission , you risk a jail sentence my friend ! ... you see its not like the west where we give away houses , jobs and Nationalism Willy-Nilly .

Surf !

cedardell
  4/12/2022 14:26 EST

no I have an online business and my money funnels from my US bank to my bank it Cebu it is a simple transfer of funds and since the money is earned in the US I pay zero tax in the phillipines

draks
  4/12/2022 18:04 EST

I think there are many foreigners working online for overseas companies, is this legal? I think not.
One good thing is police do not have the resources to search out Illegal online workers. I think the big problem is being reported to the authorities. There is a reward for reporting foreigners for overstaying and ilegall activities. Don't tell anyone anything here. Don't blindly trust anyone. Keep it to yourself

surfingcebu
  4/12/2022 20:22 EST

Draks that is sage advise - don’t tell anyone here your personal details, income or otherwise. I know a Pinoy who hangs around expat bars and areas…listens , takes pictures…. Followers you home , reports you to police or the BI office. Makes VERY good money. He is not the only one …

Watch the eve’s droppers…..

Surf .

Jefflyn
  4/15/2022 07:33 EST

I just spent 4 months in PR - I am a Logistics coordinator and 100% remote. I worked the entire time.
Work laws for immigrants are designed to prevent immigrants from taking jobs from citizens.
As my work is not conducting business in the PR and i am not taking opportunity from a citizen it is legal.This was assured to me by the BI office in Butuan.

Down side to working while there: Always working at night, Stress brought on by non-dependable electric, phone and internet coverage.

draks
  4/15/2022 12:39 EST

Jeflyn I agree with you, but I would still not tell anyone, not worth the hassle, if someone wants to get at you. You would be arrested first taken to jail untill they had conformation that what your doing is legal. It's honestly best to keep your financial situation away from prying eyes. We had untold problems in the past all caused by jealous, greedy people. Keep yourself to yourself here. We stopped having Filipino friends.

303croissant
  4/16/2022 13:44 EST

Thank you for your insights Jefflyn. It is appreciated.

west11
  5/9/2022 23:21 EST

Are you allowed to work in the Philippines on a permanent visa 13a or even probationary? I read in a few places online that you can unless this has changed or has been updated in Feb 22.

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