US Citizens banned from entering Philippines - Jan. 3rd

[Allovertheworld 355]

From Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque -

On the additional measures to address the COVID-19 new variant

The Office of the President, upon the joint recommendation of the Department of Health and the Department of Foreign Affairs, included the United States of America (US) as among the countries subject to travel restrictions.

In this regard, foreign passengers coming from the US, or who have been to the US within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, shall be prohibited from entering the country effective January 3, 2021, 12:01AM, Manila time, until January 15, 2021.

On the other hand, effective immediately, foreign passengers coming from the US, or who have been to the US within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, arriving before January 3, 2021, 12:01AM, Manila time, shall be allowed to enter the Philippines. However, they shall be required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period, even if they obtain a negative RT-PCR test result.

Also, effective immediately, Filipino citizens coming from the US, or who have been to the US, within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, including those arriving after January 3, 2021, 12:01AM, Manila time, shall be allowed to enter the Philippines. However, they shall be required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period, even if they obtain a negative RT-PCR test result.

Further, the Office of the President provided the following rules to Filipino and foreign passengers merely transiting through a country covered by travel restrictions:

A. All passengers, Filipinos or foreigners alike, merely transiting through any of the countries covered by the Memorandum of the Executive Secretary, dated 29 December 2020, and other succeeding memos, shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to that country, provided the passengers stayed in the airport the whole time and they were not cleared for entry by the immigration authorities of the said country covered by our travel restrictions.

B. The abovementioned passengers (in A) who arrive in the Philippines are not required to complete a 14-day facility-based quarantine and may be allowed home quarantine after getting a negative RT-PCR test result at point of entry.

C. Transiting foreign passengers who left the airport or were cleared for entry into the country covered by our travel restrictions shall be prohibited from entering the Philippines.

D. Transiting Filipino citizens who left the airport or were cleared for entry into the country covered by our travel restrictions shall be allowed to enter the Philippines. However, they shall be required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period, even if they obtain a negative RT-PCR test result.

[top_secret 2,715]

If there is a bright side at all in that, it seems to provide some clarity that at least Filipino Citizens can still transit no-bueno countries without triggering super-special enhanced quarantine.   That keeps allot of airline options connecting through Europe alive for the time being.  At least for Filipinas.  I also read that to say that US Citizens, whom are otherwise admissable to the Philippines, must now stopover and document their presence in a neutral third nation for 14 days prior to arrival in the Philippines.  Travel continues to be challenging.

[Allovertheworld 355]

I wonder if you (US Citizen) can enter with balikbayan privilege? 

 

I wonder if that is a loophole, I haven't seen BI address that as of yet

[flicks1998 1,044]

9 hours ago, Allovertheworld said:

I wonder if you (US Citizen) can enter with balikbayan privilege? 

 

I wonder if that is a loophole, I haven't seen BI address that as of yet

No, there is no loophole.  Even the ones who got the special visas based on spouse, or minor child, etc etc are no longer allowed to enter, at least between Jan 3 to Jan 15, unless you have been outside one of the banned countries for at least 14 days.  This is whole thing is really a joke.  The UK variant has been around since early September.  Its going to be everywhere, its just that nobody was testing for it or they dont have the resources too.  The Philippines says they have the ability to test for it, which I dont believe as they are not doing any testing anyway except on incoming international passengers and Filipinos domestically who want to pay 3500-5000p for each test.  Even now, Manila just put a ban on anyone coming back to Manila from the provinces that they need to do a PCR test (not a rapid test) and quarantine in a facility before they get their results and travel back to Manila.  The funny thing is, they just announced this today......when everyone had already left the city for the holiday hahahaha.  Now your going to have millions of people, finding out they cant come back home on Sunday without a test.  The government says they will help them and give them a free test, but they still need to quarantine until the results come back in their province. 

[angeljolie 188]

This ban is really a joke. I just hope they don't extend it beyond Jan 15. SMH.

[seekingthetruth 1,255]

A friend and his Filipino American wife jumped through all the hoops to come here in early November, as part of their retirement plans.  Found a great deal on a really nice house in Angeles an leased.  Went back to U.S. mid-December to finish moving and intended to come back permanently mid-January.  Now they are stuck in the U.S.

[senya 1]

I have a trip planned where I arrive on the 16th. I have no idea if that flight is cancelled or if I will be screwed by them extending the ban. Don't know what to do but contact the airline and find out what my options are.

[flicks1998 1,044]

3 hours ago, senya said:

I have a trip planned where I arrive on the 16th. I have no idea if that flight is cancelled or if I will be screwed by them extending the ban. Don't know what to do but contact the airline and find out what my options are.

Thats the problem as of now.  Nobody really knows whats going on.  But even if the ban is lifted, the other thing to be concerned about is the mandatory 2 week quarantine in one of the designated hotels.  Previously it was take the pcr test and within 24 hours you would get your results and be free to go (at least travel around Manila), but now I dont know if they will require the mandatory quarantine for two weeks on arrival. My feeling is this will become permanent as they are even requiring people who have been vaccinated to also do the 2 week quarantine.  

[RO_AH 1,684]

I was hoping that the new year would have things start lightening up a bit so I was hoping to go there to see my wife and babies around Feb. I have been very hesitant on buying tickets because everything keeps changing day to day. I am surprised that Duterte has been such a pawn in this whole Covid mess.

[Allovertheworld 355]

On 1/2/2021 at 8:58 PM, angeljolie said:

This ban is really a joke. I just hope they don't extend it beyond Jan 15. SMH.

I can promise you it will be extended

 

It will be a very long time before they lift the ban, it could be years

[angeljolie 188]

1 minute ago, Allovertheworld said:

I can promise you it will be extended

 

It will be a very long time before they lift the ban, it could be years

I don't want to believe you but I may have to.    My husband joked that, with the addition of Brazil, Finland, India, Jordan, Norway, and Portugal, we might as well ban the whole world. lol

[Allovertheworld 355]

On 1/9/2021 at 2:52 AM, angeljolie said:

I don't want to believe you but I may have to.    My husband joked that, with the addition of Brazil, Finland, India, Jordan, Norway, and Portugal, we might as well ban the whole world. lol

It don't look good for US Citizens getting into Philippines for a very long time.

[flicks1998 1,044]

On 1/9/2021 at 4:52 PM, angeljolie said:

I don't want to believe you but I may have to.    My husband joked that, with the addition of Brazil, Finland, India, Jordan, Norway, and Portugal, we might as well ban the whole world. lol

I dont think the ban will be the biggest issue.  I think it will be extended again for another few weeks and then maybe extended a few more times, but eventually I believe it will be lifted sooner or later.  The bigger issue is once they lift the ban if they keep the mandatory 14 day quarantine that is now in place for returning Filipinos.  I can see the ban being lifted on foreigners from the 28 countries in the next month or two, but they may just do what other countries in the region are doing and say you need to quarantine (Filipinos and foreigners) for 14 days and it doesnt matter if you test negative on a PCR test.  I believe that could be in place for the rest of the year and one of the reasons that made me extend longer here as I have a feeling Im not getting back in once I leave.