Balikbayan Visa and green card???

[Rayanna27 3]

I know there are numerous posts regarding this but the posts were old or unclear.

Here it goes, I saw in some websites that starting March 1,2014 , foreigners and PHILIPPINE PASSPORT HOLDER with immigrant status need to fill out the arrival card and that the stay would be up to 30 days.

I already have my green card. I am going to stay to the Philippines for 4months with my son because of his birthday and I have to organize our church wedding.

My questions are:

1.is having a green card means that you can only stay up to 30 days in the Philippines although you have a Philippine passport? (Aside from paying extention of stay)

2.Will they grant a balikbayan stamped visa if you were a green card holder?

Those who just traveled with balikbayan visa stamp, please help. i need your advice. Thank you.

[VOL 425]

So you think you need a visa to enter your own country on a Philippines Passport?

[Greenbaum 12,258]

I know there are numerous posts regarding this but the posts were old or unclear.

Here it goes, I saw in some websites that starting March 1,2014 , foreigners and PHILIPPINE PASSPORT HOLDER with immigrant status need to fill out the arrival card and that the stay would be up to 30 days.

I already have my green card. I am going to stay to the Philippines for 4months with my son because of his birthday and I have to organize our church wedding.

My questions are:

1.is having a green card means that you can only stay up to 30 days in the Philippines although you have a Philippine passport? (Aside from paying extention of stay) Enter using your Philippine passport and they will stamp your passport. Your a returning Filipino Citizen so you can still enter without problems. When leaving you will show immigration your Phil passport and GC. Don't stay out more than 6 months as this will affect your adjustment status.

2.Will they grant a balikbayan stamped visa if you were a green card holder? Use your Phil passport to enter and no need for GC but you will need to use the GC to leave the Philippines.

Those who just traveled with balikbayan visa stamp, please help. i need your advice. Thank you.

Balikbayan one-year visa-free stay

Balikbayans – any overseas Filipino returning to the Philippines, including former Filipinos who have acquired foreign citizenship – can stay in the Philippines without a visa for a period of one year. The balikbayan visa-free stay privilege is extended to the balikbayan’s non-Filipino spouse and children, provided they enter the Philippines with the balikbayan.

Former Filipino Balikbayans traveling to the Philippines are advised to bring either their old Philippine passport or copy of Philippine birth certificate as proof of their former Philippine citizenship. Accompanying family members of the balikbayan can bring appropriate supporting documents:

• For the spouse: copy of marriage certificate

• For each child: copy of birth certificate

• For adopted children: copy of adoption papers Philippine Law (R.A. 9174) provides benefits to baikbayans:

• Tax-exempt maximum purchases in the amount of USD 1,500, or the equivalent in Philippine and other currency, at Philippine Government–operated duty free shops

• Exemption from Travel Tax, provided that their stay in the Philippines is one year or less. If their stay in the Philippines exceeds one year, Travel tax will apply to them.

From: http://www.philippineconsulate.com.au/balikbayan-one-year-visa-free-stay.html

Edited March 12, 2015 by Greenbaum

[manilaraf 28]

Balikbayan visa is not needed in this situation.

OP is still a PHL Citizen traveling on a PHL passport. No need to stamp a visa into a PHL passport. You're just a returning PHL citizen.

Balikbayans are former PHL Citizens who have naturalized in foreign countries.

(Example: When I was solely a US Citizen, I'd get the Balikbayan visa stamped into my US Passport. Now, as a Dual US-PHL Citizen, I'm treated as a returning PHL Citizen and don't get anything stamped except date of arrival. I can stay in the PHL as long as I want).

The OP can stay as long as she wants as far as the PHL Gov't is concerned. Don't stay longer than needed, as Greenbaum mentioned.

Edited March 12, 2015 by manilaraf

[Rayanna27 3]

So you think you need a visa to enter your own country on a Philippines Passport?

I know what I asked sounds weird but as i said, i saw in some websites this quote "arriving foreigners and PASSPORT HOLDER with IMMIGRANT STATUS are required to fill out an arrival card and can stay in the Philippines for 30 days."

This made me confused and needed some advice from whoever knows more about this statement as me and my son will stay for more than 30 days.

[Rayanna27 3]

Balikbayan one-year visa-free stay

Balikbayans any overseas Filipino returning to the Philippines, including former Filipinos who have acquired foreign citizenship can stay in the Philippines without a visa for a period of one year. The balikbayan visa-free stay privilege is extended to the balikbayans non-Filipino spouse and children, provided they enter the Philippines with the balikbayan.

Former Filipino Balikbayans traveling to the Philippines are advised to bring either their old Philippine passport or copy of Philippine birth certificate as proof of their former Philippine citizenship. Accompanying family members of the balikbayan can bring appropriate supporting documents:

For the spouse: copy of marriage certificate

For each child: copy of birth certificate

For adopted children: copy of adoption papers Philippine Law (R.A. 9174) provides benefits to baikbayans:

Tax-exempt maximum purchases in the amount of USD 1,500, or the equivalent in Philippine and other currency, at Philippine Governmentoperated duty free shops

Exemption from Travel Tax, provided that their stay in the Philippines is one year or less. If their stay in the Philippines exceeds one year, Travel tax will apply to them.

From: http://www.philippineconsulate.com.au/balikbayan-one-year-visa-free-stay.html

Thank you for enlightening me on this. If you could help me with just one more question, though, i would appreciate it.

Hoe about my son having a us passport? Does he need to extend his visa?

[Rayanna27 3]

Balikbayan visa is not needed in this situation.

OP is still a PHL Citizen traveling on a PHL passport. No need to stamp a visa into a PHL passport. You're just a returning PHL citizen.

Balikbayans are former PHL Citizens who have naturalized in foreign countries.

(Example: When I was solely a US Citizen, I'd get the Balikbayan visa stamped into my US Passport. Now, as a Dual US-PHL Citizen, I'm treated as a returning PHL Citizen and don't get anything stamped except date of arrival. I can stay in the PHL as long as I want).

The OP can stay as long as she wants as far as the PHL Gov't is concerned. Don't stay longer than needed, as Greenbaum mentioned.

Thank you for answering my question.

How about my Son having a us passport? Does he need to extend his visa? Or he can be stamped with one year validity?

[VOL 425]

Thank you for answering my question.

How about my Son having a us passport? Does he need to extend his visa? Or he can be stamped with one year validity?

The Balikbayans is not a visa, it is a privilege.

Bring his Birth Certificate and he will be good to go for a year stay...

[Hank_ 9,173]

I know what I asked sounds weird but as i said, i saw in some websites this quote "arriving foreigners and PASSPORT HOLDER with IMMIGRANT STATUS are required to fill out an arrival card and can stay in the Philippines for 30 days."

This made me confused and needed some advice from whoever knows more about this statement as me and my son will stay for more than 30 days.

How about you post a link to this mystery website.

[Rayanna27 3]

http://www.silent-gardens.com/air-arrival.php#.VQJYNIY76JJ

I don't know if i just didn't perceive the context well or if i haven't understand it correctly.

Please give me your opinion. Thank you.

[Rayanna27 3]

The Balikbayans is not a visa, it is a privilege.

Bring his Birth Certificate and he will be good to go for a year stay...

Oh okay. Then, me and my son is all set then. All i have to do is bring his birth certificate? Will it matter if my son's birth certificate is from us or not? Just want to be sure. Thank you for your help.

[Hank_ 9,173]

http://www.silent-gardens.com/air-arrival.php#.VQJYNIY76JJ

I don't know if i just didn't perceive the context well or if i haven't understand it correctly.

Please give me your opinion. Thank you.

Thanks. OK.... One thing that bothers me about that (private) site is that it provides NO links back to official government websites ... no way of verifying what is fact and what is BS

That site seems to be a might out of date also. You want the facts go to an official site.

Lastly you are a citizen of the Philippines... you don't need a visa for staying in the Philippines (any more than you need a visa for staying in the USA - you are a Legal Permanent Reside and possess a green card.)

Edited March 13, 2015 by Hank_

[Rayanna27 3]

ThankS everyone who replied and helped.

Thanks hank! I also read the consulate's website but got nothing much about going home.

Me and my son are all packed and ready to go. Since this is my first time going home by myself and my son, I'm nervous and excited so the site made me a little confused from what I already know.

I'll update here for what will happen when we get home for everyone who also have the same question or will go home with the same situation as me

[Hank_ 9,173]

All will be fine. Enjoy your trip.