Interview Open dates for K1 Visa at US Embassy in Manila

[flicks1998 1,044]

4 minutes ago, Will&Christine said:

Are they still not letting in foreigners? I thought foreigners just need to get visa because they stopped doing visa on arrival. Flicks, I also thinking of going to Cebu In January to see my fiancee. I want to stay there until she gets visa. I don't want to leave her at airport again for the fouth time. But if embassy doesn't start K1 until second half of 2021 then it will be long stay for me. I would need a way to make money in Philippines and have leftover for flights and green card application. At least my fiancee said I can stay in her house rent free but have to pay for food and others. We'll see how things are going by Jan. I have until end of Nov to decide to buy plane tickets.

They are letting in foreigners who have a spouse or a child in the Philippines.  There was some consideration of letting foreigners in who had a significant other but I heard today this idea is not going to be considered at this time.  They are still afraid of too many foreigners from entering the country.

 

My guesstimate on the 2nd half of 2021 is strictly a guess.  As I mentioned, the Philippine government is considering around July 2021 on opening up to regular tourists, however as with anything in the Philippines this can change.  It doesnt mean the US Embassy would wait that long either, although if I compare to other countries who have practically no COVID issue at all, the Embassies there are still not processing most types of visas.  

 

Also dont work in the Philippines without the proper visa.  Ive spent years working in conjunction with Philippine immigration and although the PI has one of the easiest visa rules for tourists (can extend up to 3 years without leaving the country), they are extremely strict when it comes to foreigners working without the proper visa.  If you do this and are caught, you will be taken to the Immigration jail in Taguig for processing (which can take a week to many months) and then you will be deported and blacklisted from entering the country again.  You can come off the blacklist after a few years and $20-$30K fine paid.  Also, Filipinos can be paid a "reward" for turning in foreigners who they think may not be working legally.  Its actually a huge problem and that system is abused terribly.  Any Filipino who may have a grudge against you, may report you in hope of getting a reward.  As long as you are legally working, you have zero issues, however many foreigners are caught this way.  To get a proper work permit can take alot of time and its not easy especially if your just looking for short term work.  I can go into the details, but none would apply to you for such a short period of working.  Also, unless your paid by a foreign company (and not paid as a local) your salary will be awful.  If you married there, you could get a 13A and work legally, but then your K1 is no longer valid.  Also, if you ever decide to work in the Philippines long term and your married to a Filipino, its better to not tell employers this until the last minute.  Its better to get an employer to apply for a work visa for you (if they are willing) as there are minimum salary requirements that a foreigner must be paid under certain visa classes.  However if your going to work on a 13A (married to a Filipino) there are no such rules and you will be paid much less for doing the same type of job.  Every foreigner I know working in the Philippines on a 13A is paid drastically less than if on a normal work visa.  If you want to know the details on work visas just google 9g, SWP, and 47a2 visa.  Those are the main 3 that foreigners are hired on. 

 

 

[Will&Christine 52]

1 hour ago, flicks1998 said:

They are letting in foreigners who have a spouse or a child in the Philippines.  There was some consideration of letting foreigners in who had a significant other but I heard today this idea is not going to be considered at this time.  They are still afraid of too many foreigners from entering the country.

 

My guesstimate on the 2nd half of 2021 is strictly a guess.  As I mentioned, the Philippine government is considering around July 2021 on opening up to regular tourists, however as with anything in the Philippines this can change.  It doesnt mean the US Embassy would wait that long either, although if I compare to other countries who have practically no COVID issue at all, the Embassies there are still not processing most types of visas.  

 

Also dont work in the Philippines without the proper visa.  Ive spent years working in conjunction with Philippine immigration and although the PI has one of the easiest visa rules for tourists (can extend up to 3 years without leaving the country), they are extremely strict when it comes to foreigners working without the proper visa.  If you do this and are caught, you will be taken to the Immigration jail in Taguig for processing (which can take a week to many months) and then you will be deported and blacklisted from entering the country again.  You can come off the blacklist after a few years and $20-$30K fine paid.  Also, Filipinos can be paid a "reward" for turning in foreigners who they think may not be working legally.  Its actually a huge problem and that system is abused terribly.  Any Filipino who may have a grudge against you, may report you in hope of getting a reward.  As long as you are legally working, you have zero issues, however many foreigners are caught this way.  To get a proper work permit can take alot of time and its not easy especially if your just looking for short term work.  I can go into the details, but none would apply to you for such a short period of working.  Also, unless your paid by a foreign company (and not paid as a local) your salary will be awful.  If you married there, you could get a 13A and work legally, but then your K1 is no longer valid.  Also, if you ever decide to work in the Philippines long term and your married to a Filipino, its better to not tell employers this until the last minute.  Its better to get an employer to apply for a work visa for you (if they are willing) as there are minimum salary requirements that a foreigner must be paid under certain visa classes.  However if your going to work on a 13A (married to a Filipino) there are no such rules and you will be paid much less for doing the same type of job.  Every foreigner I know working in the Philippines on a 13A is paid drastically less than if on a normal work visa.  If you want to know the details on work visas just google 9g, SWP, and 47a2 visa.  Those are the main 3 that foreigners are hired on. 

 

 

Thank for your info. There's a chance I would still work for my employer remotely. My sister did with same employer. Most of the paperwork and documents are online in our company sharepoint and one drive. Do I still need work visa if usa employer pays me direct deposit to my usa bank account? I hope it won't be that long for K1 to start up.

[flicks1998 1,044]

9 minutes ago, Will&Christine said:

Thank for your info. There's a chance I would still work for my employer remotely. My sister did with same employer. Most of the paperwork and documents are online in our company sharepoint and one drive. Do I still need work visa if usa employer pays me direct deposit to my usa bank account? I hope it won't be that long for K1 to start up.

Working remotely is OK for now.  As long as you are paid out of the US and are not a signatory for an entity in the Philippines then you are OK.  There could be permanent establishment effects for the company you work for, but I wouldnt even worry about that.  If you qualify for a visa to enter the PI, then working remotely is OK.  The PI as well as alot of other governments are trying to find a way to capture this "remote" tax revenue but it will be years before they have anything in place. 

 

When we moved expats into the PI, the trailing spouse would often work remotely from the Philippines while the spouse would be employed by an entity in the PI.  There were never any repercussions on this.  My previous post was if you were going to work in the PI and have someone pay you from within the country or you were employed by a legal entity of the PI, thats where the problems can occur.    

 

However if you are working remotely in the PI and immigration, etc asks you what is your purpose for entering the country (for now its only for spouse and children), dont ever say you are working remotely.  More than likely nothing will be done, but I do know that since 2018 this has been talked about within Immigration and the BIR so it can be a sensitive subject.  The pandemic is only going to increase this remote work much more quickly and governments are way behind in developing a plan for it. 

Edited October 6, 2020 by flicks1998

[Will&Christine 52]

1 hour ago, flicks1998 said:

Working remotely is OK for now.  As long as you are paid out of the US and are not a signatory for an entity in the Philippines then you are OK.  There could be permanent establishment effects for the company you work for, but I wouldnt even worry about that.  If you qualify for a visa to enter the PI, then working remotely is OK.  The PI as well as alot of other governments are trying to find a way to capture this "remote" tax revenue but it will be years before they have anything in place. 

 

When we moved expats into the PI, the trailing spouse would often work remotely from the Philippines while the spouse would be employed by an entity in the PI.  There were never any repercussions on this.  My previous post was if you were going to work in the PI and have someone pay you from within the country or you were employed by a legal entity of the PI, thats where the problems can occur.    

 

However if you are working remotely in the PI and immigration, etc asks you what is your purpose for entering the country (for now its only for spouse and children), dont ever say you are working remotely.  More than likely nothing will be done, but I do know that since 2018 this has been talked about within Immigration and the BIR so it can be a sensitive subject.  The pandemic is only going to increase this remote work much more quickly and governments are way behind in developing a plan for it. 

Good advice. I won't say anything about working remotely. I'll just say to be with my fiancee. But it's discouraging that they only let in foreigners who have a child or spouse in Philippines. Does it mean I can't get in even with some kind of tourist visa? Where can I find more info or apply? At Philippines embassy in US?

[flicks1998 1,044]

56 minutes ago, Will&Christine said:

Good advice. I won't say anything about working remotely. I'll just say to be with my fiancee. But it's discouraging that they only let in foreigners who have a child or spouse in Philippines. Does it mean I can't get in even with some kind of tourist visa? Where can I find more info or apply? At Philippines embassy in US?

At the moment, they are only allowing foreigners who have a spouse or child to apply for a tourist visa (9a).  I heard if your fiance/SO is pregnant, you can apply for a tourist visa as well but there are alot of hoops to jump through, bordering on ridiculousness.

 

You can find the requirements in the Philippine Embassy/Consulate website.  Just go to the visa section and look under 9a.  Its quite detailed but there are only a few exceptions given for the tourist visa at this point.  

[Allovertheworld 355]

18 hours ago, Will&Christine said:

Are they still not letting in foreigners? I thought foreigners just need to get visa because they stopped doing visa on arrival. Flicks, I also thinking of going to Cebu In January to see my fiancee. I want to stay there until she gets visa. I don't want to leave her at airport again for the fouth time. But if embassy doesn't start K1 until second half of 2021 then it will be long stay for me. I would need a way to make money in Philippines and have leftover for flights and green card application. At least my fiancee said I can stay in her house rent free but have to pay for food and others. We'll see how things are going by Jan. I have until end of Nov to decide to buy plane tickets.

You plan on working in Philippines?  I hope it for your US based company, other wise you are not legally allowed and BI has a hotline to turn in foreigners who overstay or work in Philippines by text for a reward of cash. Just a FYI, and they will blacklist you from entering the country again.  USA may turn a blind eye on illegal immigrants and working illegally, but Philippines don't.

 

I am thinking you won't be flying to see your fiance until second half of 2021,

[Cody&Razely 134]

I recommend inundating the DFA Visa Division, IATF Vice President/Cabinet Secretary, PH Consulate and the Secretary of foreign affairs email addresses with requests to add Fiancés of Filipino Citizens to the exemption list. I plan to do so once a week on Mon. every week until allowed in on what ever ground, make it nice and humble but persistent. If anyone would like the email addresses I will be more than happy to furnish them as well as an email template if so desired. I am getting really sick and tired of this ####### and the utter stupidity in general. 

[Commish10 427]

1 hour ago, Cody&Razely said:

I recommend inundating the DFA Visa Division, IATF Vice President/Cabinet Secretary, PH Consulate and the Secretary of foreign affairs email addresses with requests to add Fiancés of Filipino Citizens to the exemption list. I plan to do so once a week on Mon. every week until allowed in on what ever ground, make it nice and humble but persistent. If anyone would like the email addresses I will be more than happy to furnish them as well as an email template if so desired. I am getting really sick and tired of this ####### and the utter stupidity in general. 

PM to me. We have been waiting since March. 

[flicks1998 1,044]

19 minutes ago, Commish10 said:

PM to me. We have been waiting since March. 

You can send to me as well.  If you do write them, I would include a copy of one of the US Immigration official forms stating your fiance is in the K1 process.  I dont remember the US immigration form names but something that shows your late in the process and that its been ongoing for awhile.  

[Cody&Razely 134]

25 minutes ago, Commish10 said:

PM to me. We have been waiting since March. 

PM Sent, I am still trying to get the Email Address of the DFA's Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Though I have included the DFA Visa Divisions email address

[Cody&Razely 134]

7 minutes ago, flicks1998 said:

You can send to me as well.  If you do write them, I would include a copy of one of the US Immigration official forms stating your fiance is in the K1 process.  I dont remember the US immigration form names but something that shows your late in the process and that its been ongoing for awhile.  

PM Sent, Yes I referenced that in the Template (Approved I-797 Fiancé Petition, aka NOA2). Unless you mean a different form...?

 

If any one already knows or can get the email address for DFA Secretary of Foreign Affairs - Teodoro Locsin Jr, I would gladly take it and add to my email chain

[Will&Christine 52]

3 hours ago, Cody&Razely said:

I recommend inundating the DFA Visa Division, IATF Vice President/Cabinet Secretary, PH Consulate and the Secretary of foreign affairs email addresses with requests to add Fiancés of Filipino Citizens to the exemption list. I plan to do so once a week on Mon. every week until allowed in on what ever ground, make it nice and humble but persistent. If anyone would like the email addresses I will be more than happy to furnish them as well as an email template if so desired. I am getting really sick and tired of this ####### and the utter stupidity in general. 

PM to me too. It's worth a shot.

[Cody&Razely 134]

1 hour ago, Will&Christine said:

PM to me too. It's worth a shot.

PM Sent

[AlaMike 258]

21 hours ago, Cody&Razely said:

I recommend inundating the DFA Visa Division, IATF Vice President/Cabinet Secretary, PH Consulate and the Secretary of foreign affairs email addresses with requests to add Fiancés of Filipino Citizens to the exemption list. I plan to do so once a week on Mon. every week until allowed in on what ever ground, make it nice and humble but persistent. If anyone would like the email addresses I will be more than happy to furnish them as well as an email template if so desired. I am getting really sick and tired of this ####### and the utter stupidity in general. 

This has been done with #Loveisnottourism petition. But the BI Commissioner Jaime Morente put on an email stating that the country was still not allowing foreign tourist unless they meet the restrictions that were put in place by the IATF earlier.

Even if you meet the restrictions, there are several hoops to jump thru once you get to Manila. And even more to go in another Province, as they have their own restrictions above and beyond Manila.

But it never hurts to keep pressing.

[Cody&Razely 134]

2 hours ago, AlaMike said:

This has been done with #Loveisnottourism petition. But the BI Commissioner Jaime Morente put on an email stating that the country was still not allowing foreign tourist unless they meet the restrictions that were put in place by the IATF earlier.

Even if you meet the restrictions, there are several hoops to jump thru once you get to Manila. And even more to go in another Province, as they have their own restrictions above and beyond Manila.

But it never hurts to keep pressing.

Yes exactly I already signed both petitions as there are two circulating for unmarried partners/fiancé's. However that is why I recommend inundating their email addresses with humble requests repeatedly week over week. The petitions were a good start but the issue is not resolved and it will take many people to show that this is important more than just a signature on a page one time go and no, is not the end of it. It's inexcusable and and for those who feel this is really important and necessary they should not just lay down on it, this has been dragging out way too long with no end in sight and in fact the "leader" lol of the PH seems to want to go for broke on this, nothing is going to change until people make it change, there is no accountability there.