Visa

[Torete 121]

Good day,

My understanding is the current visa-free length of stay is 30 days. Is this correct?

Is the departure date calculated from the date that is stamped in one's visa. ie. If the arrival date is July 1st, 2014 would the departure date be on or earlier than July 30th, 2014?

Thank you in advance.

[Al422 221]

30-1=29. Sounds like 29 days to me. But they might count it as 30.

[Torete 121]

Yep, that's what I'm wondering...how it's calculated. If I arrive on July 1st (1st day in Phils) and I count ahead 30 calendar days, my departure date would have to be on or before July 30th?

Maybe I'm missing something?

[Hank_ 9,174]

Good day,

My understanding is the current visa-free length of stay is 30 days. Is this correct?

Is the departure date calculated from the date that is stamped in one's visa. ie. If the arrival date is July 1st, 2014 would the departure date be on or earlier than July 30th, 2014?

Thank you in advance.

Yes it is now an 30 automatic visa when arriving, 1st day is the day of your arrival, the 30th day should be your departure day.

Edited May 30, 2014 by Hank_

[Torete 121]

Yes it is now an 30 automatic visa when arriving, 1st day is the day of your arrival, the 30th day should be your departure day.

Thank you Hank. It's been awhile since I've traveled to the Phils and I don't have my old passport. The arrival date is stamped inside the passport and/or a date is notated advising the required departure date?

Gotta run...the boss is shoulder surfing. I'll look at the thread again later.

[Sirliner 26]

Yep. Arrival and departure dates stamped in your passport

[sweet cakes 326]

Good day,

My understanding is the current visa-free length of stay is 30 days. Is this correct?

Is the departure date calculated from the date that is stamped in one's visa. ie. If the arrival date is July 1st, 2014 would the departure date be on or earlier than July 30th, 2014?

Thank you in advance.

Hi Torete. Is your Filipina wife flying to Philippines with you? If so, you don't need to be concerned about this because both of you will have the Balikbayan stamp when you go through immigrations together, and you will automatically have 1 year visa-free stay.

http://www.living-in-the-philippines.com/balik-bayan-visa.shtml

[Torete 121]

Hi Torete. Is your Filipina wife flying to Philippines with you? If so, you don't need to be concerned about this because both of you will have the Balikbayan stamp when you go through immigrations together, and you will automatically have 1 year visa-free stay.

http://www.living-in-the-philippines.com/balik-bayan-visa.shtml

Hi Sweet Cakes,

Thank you...I took a look at the link you provided but I'm still unclear if it's applicable to me. If I'm reading it correctly, it says that the Balik Bayan stamp is available for direct relatives of Filipino citizens, (I'm her husband, does that qualify me?) and former Filipinos who have changed their citizenship to another country.

My wife has yet to naturalize so her entry isn't an issue since she enters on her Philippines passport. Having said that, when she naturalizes, my understanding is she can continue to maintain her Philippines citizenship hence lengthy stays for her won't be an issue. (But that's another topic)

If I'm then a "direct relative" then I will avail myself of the stamp on our next trip...provided we decide that I'll stay longer than 30 days.

Let me know.

Regards.

Edited May 31, 2014 by Torete

[Tahoma 2,292]

Hi Torete. Is your Filipina wife flying to Philippines with you? If so, you don't need to be concerned about this because both of you will have the Balikbayan stamp when you go through immigrations together, and you will automatically have 1 year visa-free stay.

http://www.living-in-the-philippines.com/balik-bayan-visa.shtml

^^^ This.

I see from other posts that Torete is married and his wife is in the process of removing conditions on her green card. If Torene and his wife are traveling together to the Philippines, indeed they can get the one-year balikbayan stamp.

[sweet cakes 326]

Hi Sweet Cakes,

Thank you...I took a look at the link you provided but I'm still unclear if it's applicable to me. If I'm reading it correctly, it says that the Balik Bayan stamp is available for direct relatives of Filipino citizens, (I'm her husband, does that qualify me?) and former Filipinos who have changed their citizenship to another country.

My wife has yet to naturalize so her entry isn't an issue since she enters on her Philippines passport. Having said that, when she naturalizes, my understanding is she can continue to maintain her Philippines citizenship hence lengthy stays for her won't be an issue. (But that's another topic)

If I'm then a "direct relative" then I will avail myself of the stamp on our next trip...provided we decide that I'll stay longer than 30 days.

Let me know.

Regards.

The first bullet point applies to you. Direct/immediate relatives include the spouse too anyways. As long as you both are going through immigration together, you should be fine. Others said you have to remind the IO and ask for the balikbayan stamp, perhaps this would be the case if it's not too obvious that you two are married.

[Torete 121]

^^^ This.

I see from other posts that Torete is married and his wife is in the process of removing conditions on her green card. If Torene and his wife are traveling together to the Philippines, indeed they can get the one-year balikbayan stamp.

Morning Tahoma,

Yes, correct....married and in the process of ROC this August.

In the interest of clarity, (mine) am I correct in saying that my wife WOULDN'T need the Balikbayan stamp as she's still a citizen of the Philippines? (Philippines passport) Upon ROC, she'll receive her 10-year card but continue to be a citizen of the Philippines. The only time it would be an issue for her re-entering the Philippines is if/when she decides to obtain US citizenship correct? She'll apply to maintain dual citizenship.

Thanks,

Torete

[sweet cakes 326]

Morning Tahoma,

Yes, correct....married and in the process of ROC this August.

In the interest of clarity, (mine) am I correct in saying that my wife WOULDN'T need the Balikbayan stamp as she's still a citizen of the Philippines? (Philippines passport) Upon ROC, she'll receive her 10-year card but continue to be a citizen of the Philippines. The only time it would be an issue for her re-entering the Philippines is if/when she decides to obtain US citizenship correct? She'll apply to maintain dual citizenship.

Thanks,

Torete

She's still using her Philippines passport, so her stamp can be just the normal arrival stamp. She wouldn't have any problem leaving Philippines as long as her passport is still valid. However, since you both are going through immigration together, there is a chance that the IO will stamp the same thing. Some IOs just add some notes to say it's a Balikbayan stamp, similar to the link I posted above.

[Torete 121]

The first bullet point applies to you. Direct/immediate relatives include the spouse too anyways. As long as you both are going through immigration together, you should be fine. Others said you have to remind the IO and ask for the balikbayan stamp, perhaps this would be the case if it's not too obvious that you two are married.

Ok...1st bullet point is good to know and has been established.

Yes, we'd be traveling together and we'll politely mention to the IO to please issue the stamp.

If I decide to stay longer than 30 days, getting the stamp would really be beneficial. Before the 30 day visa came into effect, I recall it was 21 days...having knowledge of the stamp would have really been great back then!

Thank you for your input.

[Tahoma 2,292]

My wife has yet to naturalize so her entry isn't an issue since she enters on her Philippines passport. Having said that, when she naturalizes, my understanding is she can continue to maintain her Philippines citizenship hence lengthy stays for her won't be an issue. (But that's another topic)

1. You and your wife can use the balikbayan privilege regardless of whether she's traveling on a Philippines passport or on a U.S. passport.

2. When your wife becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen, she automatically gives up her Philippines citizenship.

3. Your wife can reacquire her Philippines citizenship.

[Torete 121]

She's still using her Philippines passport, so her stamp can be just the normal arrival stamp. She wouldn't have any problem leaving Philippines as long as her passport is still valid. However, since you both are going through immigration together, there is a chance that the IO will stamp the same thing. Some IOs just add some notes to say it's a Balikbayan stamp, similar to the link I posted above.

Good information...thanks. I guess we'll address the issue of dual-citizenship, (maintaining her Philippine citizenship) when the time comes that she decides to naturalize. Then she'll enjoy the best of both worlds and what they offer.

Hopefully this thread will help others.

Regards.