Traveling with Filipino Spouse

[Bob & Joana 2]

Hello,

I am looking for advice regarding traveling with Filipino spouse. I am USC, She currently has a 2yr greencard and paperwork showing we applied for the greencard extension for 10 year this may. We plan to travel to Philippines to visit her family in march 2016(I hope we have the updated 10yr greencard by then!). The flight i want to book takes us through Japan(NRT). They layover going to PI is short so we will not need to exit into japan just pass through so I dont see any problems with that. However the return flight has a 2hr layover in NRT. That is too long to stay in the airport so I am wondering what I can do to ensure it is very likely they will not have a problem granting her entry for the night, to depart the following day. We will be traveling with 2 young children both USC. Do you guys foresee(or have experience with?) problems for her to enter Japan if she is LPR for US, traveling with USC spouse, USC children, with reservations at a hotel, and an itinerary showing a next-day departure?

Thanks in advance, as I know a lot of you have been very helpful with our journey thus far.

Edit: Also while there, we are thinking of taking our delayed honeymoon to Hong Kong if anyone has any experience with that visa either.

Edited July 18, 2015 by Bob & Joana

[usmsbow 801]

2 hours is too long to stay in the airport? Really? Maybe you meant 2 days? Because 2 hours is an ideal layover for an international transfer (not in a rush to get to your next flight, enough time to go to the bathroom, maybe grab some food, etc).

If you do plan to leave NRT airport, she'll need to get a visa.

[Darnell 8,478]

travel visa? she not need any travel visa.

2 hours at NRT is not enough time to collect the luggage and exit immigration control.

based on 'next day departure' though, i finally understand yer quagmire.

Yes, she'll need that special transit visa .

Edited July 18, 2015 by Darnell

[Bob & Joana 2]

Oops, that was meant to say 22hrs. One of my 2's didnt register.

Is the visa something I need to arrange ahead of time for her? As USC do I need to get that ahead or apply for it upon arrival? Thanks for spotting that error as it has probably confused a few folks that read this.

2 hours is too long to stay in the airport? Really? Maybe you meant 2 days? Because 2 hours is an ideal layover for an international transfer (not in a rush to get to your next flight, enough time to go to the bathroom, maybe grab some food, etc).

If you do plan to leave NRT airport, she'll need to get a visa.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Someone just talked about this subject not to long ago. I love the searh feature here.

<http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/535779-booking-one-way-flight-from-manila/page-2>

[Greenbaum 12,259]

"We are on a layover in Japan now flying with JAL one way tickets. We booked through Orbitz and that worked great and $780 each to Chicago. We had two big suitcases and there was no charge. The layover is 15 hours at Narita. JAL operates their own hotel close to the airport, called Nikko. The room is free with the layover and the hotel shuttle is free from the airport. The airline automatically reserved the room for us.

Immigration Counter A at Narita Airport gives the overnight "shore pass" easy. My fiancée finished that in 5 minutes with passport and boarding pass. Also there are two forms the airline hands out that need to be completed by everyone going out of the airport. One is for immigration and one is for customs ... easy."

http://www.visajourn...-manila/page-2

If you are traveling with JAL then you can avail yourself of this opportunity. Call Jal to confirm.

If you are not flying JAL, then I would call the airlines that you are flying on and inquire about their policy and the policy of Japan.

MAKATI

Address : 2/F 6788 Ayala Avenue, Oledan Square, Makati City 1226, Philippines
Website : www.ph.jal.com
BSP : Member
Route : International

Reservations

Tel #s : (632) 886-6868 to 76
Fax # : (632) 830-0239

Ticketing & Rate Desk

Tel #s : (632) 886-6987 to 88
Fax # : (632) 886-6995

Sales

Tel # : (632) 886-6877
Fax # : (632) 886-7000

Airport Office

Address : 4/F Ninoy Aquino International Airport Pasay City, Philippines
Tel #s : (632) 832-2781 / 854-2783
Fax # : (632) 831-0785

Edited July 18, 2015 by Greenbaum

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hello,

I am looking for advice regarding traveling with Filipino spouse. I am USC, She currently has a 2yr greencard and paperwork showing we applied for the greencard extension for 10 year this may. We plan to travel to Philippines to visit her family in march 2016(I hope we have the updated 10yr greencard by then!). The flight i want to book takes us through Japan(NRT). They layover going to PI is short so we will not need to exit into japan just pass through so I dont see any problems with that. However the return flight has a 2hr layover in NRT. That is too long to stay in the airport so I am wondering what I can do to ensure it is very likely they will not have a problem granting her entry for the night, to depart the following day. We will be traveling with 2 young children both USC. Do you guys foresee(or have experience with?) problems for her to enter Japan if she is LPR for US, traveling with USC spouse, USC children, with reservations at a hotel, and an itinerary showing a next-day departure?

Thanks in advance, as I know a lot of you have been very helpful with our journey thus far.

Edit: Also while there, we are thinking of taking our delayed honeymoon to Hong Kong if anyone has any experience with that visa either.

1st, what is the expiration date on the conditional green card? The notice from USCIS will be fine for entering the USA again, not sure if any other country will look at anything other than the green card and if it is expired when you are traveling ... well you get the idea. Remember you need to show the green card to exit the Philippines to avoid the Travel Tax. As Greenbaum said there is no issue staying in Japan over night, and I think that is a cool idea.

As for a two hour lay-over in Tokyo, that is not all that long considering how big, busy and crowded that airport is. When we went through on the way to the Philippines we had a two hour lay-over and we have a two hour lay-over on the way back again, really not all that long when your next gate is on the other side of the airport.

Hong Kong travel is easy, my wife has been there a couple times.