QuestioningTraveling to/through the Philippines

[Louis and Aya 17]

Wanted to ask a quick question. Just looking for straight forward answers here.....

I am under the impression that if you go to the Philippines you are stamped a 21 day visa but you have to have a ticket saying you are leaving the country within 21 days; is that correct?

If so can you buy a ticket leaving, say Cebu and going to Kuala Lumpur (which gives Americans a 3 month stay for fun/business with no required Visa) that leaves on that 21st day will they allow you into the country?

Just wanting to know how that works. Thank you so much.

[Natsukiii 35]

I am really not sure but I believe they will base that 21 days on the stamps that you will be getting on your passport. You can also stay more than 21 days but you need to file the extension of stay at Bureau of Immigration like what my husband did.

-Ema

[Vic20r 14]

Wanted to ask a quick question. Just looking for straight forward answers here.....

I am under the impression that if you go to the Philippines you are stamped a 21 day visa but you have to have a ticket saying you are leaving the country within 21 days; is that correct?

If so can you buy a ticket leaving, say Cebu and going to Kuala Lumpur (which gives Americans a 3 month stay for fun/business with no required Visa) that leaves on that 21st day will they allow you into the country?

Just wanting to know how that works. Thank you so much.

Yes! That's what my husband did before we got married..Everytime he comes to Philippines, he will buy an exit ticket to somewhere in Asia and NEVER use the ticket because he just renew his Visa at the BI and pay for the next 59days.

[Natsukiii 35]

My husband bought a round trip ticket dated Feb27 - Apr07 and he did not have issues because when he got here in the Philippines, we processed extension of stay at Bureau of Immigration before the 21 days ended.

-Ema

[Vic20r 14]

My husband bought a round trip ticket dated Feb27 - Apr07 and he did not have issues because when he got here in the Philippines, we processed extension of stay at Bureau of Immigration before the 21 days ended.

-Ema

Well, in our case, hubby was already retired and stayed in the Philippines for about 18 months at one time, so he did not buy a roundtrip ticket since he is not certain when he will go back to US..After we got married no more extension problem at all coz he has Balikbayan stamp on his passport

[jajaju 33]

Husband and I lived in China for 2 years, many many expats would travel to hong kong, wait in the airport for the next flight back to Shanghai and you're good to go, another fresh 90 days or a year on your passport. I'm presuming this is the type of thing you're referring to. Was very common in China, maybe you can find an expat forum for Philippines to scope it.

[Natsukiii 35]

Well, in our case, hubby was already retired and stayed in the Philippines for about 18 months at one time, so he did not buy a roundtrip ticket since he is not certain when he will go back to US..After we got married no more extension problem at all coz he has Balikbayan stamp on his passport

We have different situations here Mrs. Vic20r, my husband only visited here in the Philippines but your husband seems like living here for a long period of time to permanent. As for you case, I really don't have any idea, I was just giving Louis an overview about my husband's experience since he was asking about the 21 day period of allowable stay here in Pinas.

-Ema

[Vic20r 14]

We have different situations here Mrs. Vic20r, my husband only visited here in the Philippines but your husband seems like living here for a long period of time to permanent. As for you case, I really don't have any idea, I was just giving Louis an overview about my husband's experience since he was asking about the 21 day period of allowable stay here in Pinas.

-Ema

[Vic20r 14]

We have different situations here Mrs. Vic20r, my husband only visited here in the Philippines but your husband seems like living here for a long period of time to permanent. As for you case, I really don't have any idea, I was just giving Louis an overview about my husband's experience since he was asking about the 21 day period of allowable stay here in Pinas.

-Ema

So, what's the problem? I know exactly that we have different situations that is why i stated " IN OUR CASE"...Everybody here wants to help everyone and i am giving my opinion too..Not unless Louis and Aya will Exclusively or Specifically mentioned that they will Only Accept your opinion...

[Hank_ 9,173]

Wanted to ask a quick question. Just looking for straight forward answers here.....

I am under the impression that if you go to the Philippines you are stamped a 21 day visa but you have to have a ticket saying you are leaving the country within 21 days; is that correct?

If so can you buy a ticket leaving, say Cebu and going to Kuala Lumpur (which gives Americans a 3 month stay for fun/business with no required Visa) that leaves on that 21st day will they allow you into the country?

Just wanting to know how that works. Thank you so much.

Yes 21 days is "given" when you first arrive in the Phils, you can do a visa extension at the airport or later. I have done it both ways, 38 days at the airport and 59 days when I did it later. You do not have to leave the country and come back.

Visa Extension

As for buying tickets, the airlines will not let you fly to the Phils without a return ticket or a ticket flying onward to another country.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Wanted to ask a quick question. Just looking for straight forward answers here.....

I am under the impression that if you go to the Philippines you are stamped a 21 day visa but you have to have a ticket saying you are leaving the country within 21 days; is that correct?

If so can you buy a ticket leaving, say Cebu and going to Kuala Lumpur (which gives Americans a 3 month stay for fun/business with no required Visa) that leaves on that 21st day will they allow you into the country?

Just wanting to know how that works. Thank you so much.

You could fly out to Kuala Lumpur too if that's your plan and that will reset your remaining days back 21 days. I suggests to fly out to another country at least 2 days prior to your 21 days instead of the day of. We did this on my last trip, we went to Singapore, to KL and back to MNL

That trip also serves another purpose, if you fly out prior to her interview you could use your itinerary as additional proof bona fide relationship and present it to the CO

Edited June 2, 2013 by Tintin and Mike

[Hank_ 9,173]

I suggest you get a 38 or 59 day visa when you are clearing customs at NAIA and don't dink around flying out and back just to "restart the 21 day clock" ....

[LSnBigBear 61]

All you need is a return ticket or valid onward ticket as you have stated. I went two times with a one way ticket and then a cheap one way ticket to Hong Kong for $70 bucks. One time they asked me at the airport for the onward or return (This was Chicago Midway as I was traveling on Korean Air) and the other never asked me for anything (Delta). Even at POE Manila nothing was asked from me... But I had been traveling to and from for 12 years at the time with no over-stays so maybe this is why. IF you fly PAL they will scrutinize you more. Just have an onward and you will be fine. Extend at 20 days for 60 days etc and Immigration and all will be okay. Do not get behind on your Visa extensions. I have friends that did and it is costly and hard to catch up before you leave.

[Dustin and Janen 86]

I think your question has been answered, but I wanted to add if you end up leaving the Philippines and go back in you will need another ticket leaving. I'm not sure how they would handle the visa extension, but my last trip we went to Thailand for vacation and when I tried to fly back to the Philippines Cebu Pacific wouldn't let me board without a printed ticket out of the Philippines (in my case back to US since I had a round trip from US to Manila. They wouldn't accept my iPhone ticket on the Delta app, I had to go to the Internet cafe at BKK and print out the ticket. Almost missed our flight but it was delayed lol.

So, if you leave the Philippines make sure you have a printed ticket to another country from the Philippines or you might have trouble getting back haha.

Also, so far my 3 entries into the Philippines 2 this year and 1 last year at NAIA, only one ask me for my ticket back to US or to another country and I didn't have it printed. I dug my phone out of the bag and said its on my phone let me turn it on and started to turn it on and he just gave me my passport and said don't worry about it and waved me on. All future trips ill be sure to print it. I did print it last time but left it on the printer at work.

[Natsukiii 35]

So, what's the problem? I know exactly that we have different situations that is why i stated " IN OUR CASE"...Everybody here wants to help everyone and i am giving my opinion too..Not unless Louis and Aya will Exclusively or Specifically mentioned that they will Only Accept your opinion...

There isn't, if you are giving your opinion to Louis so why need to quote what I posted?

-Ema