As a US Citizen, can I book a one-way ticket to the Philippines and stay there for over two months? Should I be aware of anything?

[BeefedRamen 3]

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

I do intend to go back to the US when my wife is finally done with her CR1 Embassy interview and CFO. I want to travel back to America with her. Over two months is to anticipate maybe the Embassy may need more proof from us, or there may be delays in getting the visa, and to say farewell to our Filipino friends and family, etc.

 

Thank you.

[wildbug100420 378]

22 minutes ago, BeefedRamen said:

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

I do intend to go back to the US when my wife is finally done with her CR1 Embassy interview and CFO. I want to travel back to America with her. Over two months is to anticipate maybe the Embassy may need more proof from us, or there may be delays in getting the visa, and to say farewell to our Filipino friends and family, etc.

 

Thank you.

Did you check entry requirements?

[spicynujac 101]

A lot depends on what passport you are traveling on.  I have a US passport and am entitled to entry for 30 days as a tourist.  It can then be renewed for another month, multiple times, by paying additional fees.  A 3 month stay can be authorized online by getting 2 online renewals.  Longer renewal visits require a visit to the immigration office.  There are different rules for different passports based on the length of your allowable stay and entry rules.

eServices | Bureau of Immigration PH

 

If I enter the country with my Filipina wife, I get 1 year of legal status automatically (and free) with a Balikbayan visa.

BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM ADVISORY - Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines

 

[Edward and Jaycel 2,360]

On 11/26/2025 at 5:47 PM, spicynujac said:

A lot depends on what passport you are traveling on.  I have a US passport and am entitled to entry for 30 days as a tourist.  It can then be renewed for another month, multiple times, by paying additional fees.  A 3 month stay can be authorized online by getting 2 online renewals.  Longer renewal visits require a visit to the immigration office.  There are different rules for different passports based on the length of your allowable stay and entry rules.

eServices | Bureau of Immigration PH

 

If I enter the country with my Filipina wife, I get 1 year of legal status automatically (and free) with a Balikbayan visa.

BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM ADVISORY - Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines

 

 

I have a question on the Balikbayan Visa process... When my Filipina wife and I arrive in the Philippines, I know we need to go to the Immigration Officer together for me to get the Balikbayan Visa, but do we both go to the Filipino Citizens line or the Foreign Citizens line together?

[top_secret 2,761]

The Philippines requires you to have an onward or round trip ticket. Philippine immigration never checks, but it is the airline from the US you will have an issue with.  If you have a one-way ticket the airline will almost certainly request to see your onward or round trip ticket at check-in in the US and would deny you boarding if you don't have one.

 

If you really don't know your return date so don't have a return ticket yet, one solution for onward ticket is the morning you check-in buy a ticket online for United Airlines, Manila to Guam.  Present it to the check-in agent as onward ticket when requested.  Cancel it as soon as you have your boarding passes.  It's cancelable online without penalty for 24 hours. No need to worry about immigration in the Philippines.  You just need to make it past airline check-in in the US.

 

Once you are in the Philippines it is easy to extend your stay as long as you need by paying the fee for visa extensions.  You could extend you stay up to three years.