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Another Visa Question

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Snowbound
  4/5/2022 07:43 EST

Here's my plan. Does anyone know if I am permitted to do it?

I am moving to Iloilo Province when I retire. My wife will go to our house in October. I will follow in December.

I will have to travel on a tourist visa with a throw away round-trip ticket in order to enter the RP without her.

My question is, can i go to the Bureau of Immigration in Iloilo City with my wife to convert my tourist visa to a Balikbayan visa while we are there in Jan. 2023 and file for a 13a, which will take time?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Talako
  4/5/2022 15:49 EST

The Balikbayan Privilege is only given at the port of entry with your wife.

You cannot convert.

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Snowbound
  4/5/2022 16:28 EST

Talako,

How about this. My wife enters the RP in Oct. 2022 with a one-way ticket. I enter the RP in Dec. 2022 with a one-way ticket under a tourist visa. I make reservations, round trip to Thailand for me and my wife for Jan. 2023, before the 30 days are up for my tourist visa and have the Thailand ticket with me for entry in Dec. 2022.

My wife and I spend 3 days in Bangkok and re-enter the RP in Jan. 2023, thereby satisfying the Balikbayan requirement, giving me Phil Health and one year to obtain my 13a visa.

Will that plan work?

draks
  4/5/2022 18:40 EST

You will still need an onward ticket. Why not meet your wife in Thailand and then enter together. Seems a waste of money to come here then leave just to come back together.

Snowbound
  4/6/2022 11:36 EST

Draks,

We certainly want to be together for Christmas, so I will be traveling on Dec. 19.

It looks like I can have an onward ticket to Bali (we settled of Bali as a vacation site). So, we will spend Christmas with the family in iloilo and we will both go to Bali for a 3 day vacation around Jan. 13 and re-enter the RP together around Jan. 16. I will show my onward ticket to Bali at the airport when I fly on Dec. 19.

My wife and I will kill 2 birds with one stone. A great vacation and my obtaining another Balikbayan visa (I got one last year, but it will expire before my next trip).

My question is, "does this plan work?" (I am not concerned about costs).

draks
  4/6/2022 20:05 EST

I am sure that will work, we did this for many years had a mini honeymoon every year.

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William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.

William RussellWilliam Russell

William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

Snowbound
  4/7/2022 06:10 EST

Draks,

Thanks.

Snowbound

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