TripleG

You have probably seen this already:

http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/contactus.htm

It lists several phone numbers to call, including a "passport mailing section" number.

Good luck

Yeah....sent an email, no response. Called and got be patient sir, but no information at what phase of the process it is at or anything like that. Just wanted them to check, but maybe I am being unrealistic in my expectations. If its going to be longer than 8 weeks...that info would really help me out a lot. There is some really good deals on airfare through United on the flight we most like to take. Houston to Hawaii to Guam to Manila, but I can't purchase until it arrives or I know definatively when it will.

Thanks anyway for your response.

Wyatt

Does anyone know a good phone number you can call to check the status of a Philippine passport? My wife flew to LA back around Jun. 16th to renew her passport. She payed for expedited mail service and was told it would arrive between 6 to 8 weeks. Its been close to 8 weeks already. Called the consul in LA and (no surprise) they said just be patient. Really? They either can't track the status or are too lazy to do it. I was just wondering is there a main number outside of the ones posted on the Consul website that could help us? I am trying to coordinate scheduling having surgery, buying plane tickets for 5 and getting a U.S. passport for my youngest daughter and it all hinges on when my my wife's passport will arrive.

Thanks in advance,

Wyatt

P.S. anyone on here renew in LA within the last few months? and if so, how long did it take to receive?

You can bring powder formula and water for sure, I have done this. It takes longer to clear security, but they allow it. Liquid formula already mixed might be a problem. Baby has to have passport. I would bring birth cert. and medical records just to have just in case. Also if you are traveling alone, you will need a letter from your spouse stating its okay for you travel out of the country with the baby.

Hope this helps,

TripleG

P.S. I have 3, have made the trip with the 2 boys (2 year old, 6 month old at that time) soon we will be traveling with all 3 (3 years old, 2 years old, and 1 years old) God help us! hahaha!

I concur with the $200 to $300 range per month. I base this off what an SM mall worker brings home. My wife worked at Cebu SM before and she brought home 12,000 php per month, as of right now that would be about $279.00 USD. She could make it on less. A single room, shared bathroom boarding house can be had for 2000 to 2600 per month if you look hard enough. Less per month for just bed space. Food is minimal expense. She could probablly find a job to help supplement.

Also the $150 USD figure for a family of 5 is accurate if its in the province, in a Nipa Hut with no electricity, no running water (yay! river baths) and they walk everywhere. Its tight but people do it. My wife was raised like this in the mountains of Negros Oriental (1/2 Negrito). They gathered bannanas, kumungay, grew corn, raised their own chickens and goats and her dad fished a lot. When your that poor rice is a delicacy. Bottom line is it can be done, but its a different type of lifestyle.

I got my (or atleast payed for my) I-card at the Bureau of Immigration when I extended. I always stay more than 21 days and one time was denied balikbayan status eventhough flying in with my wife and kids. Was told it was up to the immigration agent at entry. They gave my kids balikbayan stamp and denied me? (Who knows why? I have an old B2 in my passport, but have gotten balikbayan status before.) Anyways this was almost two years ago and when I went to extend my wife went with me. I filled out some paperwork payed I think somewhere in the range of 4800 pesos plus extention fee and they mailed me my I-card or so they said they would. We left before it arrived and my wifes parents said it never came. I either got scammed, or the pinoy mail system failed us. I had to show the receipt that I payed for it when exiting. So I don't know if this helps on your question, but the paperwork at the bureau of immigration wasn't that complicated, but then again I never did recieve my card so I don't know if this is the best route to go. I used the bureau of immigration in Bacolod (Negros Occidental), but our house in actually in Negros Oriental, I don't know if this complicated things.

Hello all,

My wife has been trying to get her Philippine passport renewed since the outreach in Houston,TX last March. We live close to the Houston area of Texas and wanted to renew her passport via the outreach program that will be here in Dec. 2013. We have tried twice now unsuccessfully to get an appointment, we tried back in March also. We had been calling the Los Angeles consulate office for the last couple of weeks wanting to know when they would be accepting applications for the outreach in our area for Dec. They said wait for us to post the accepting dates online, we said okay we did that last time and we never got on the list. Three days after this phone call, they posted on the website they would start accepting applications via fax, why didn't they just tell us they would be accepting fax applications in 3 days??? We faxed her e-passport application to the consulate office the first day, and called them for confirmation but they wouldn't pick up or return or calls. Looked at the list online and my wifes name was not on there. So we faxed it in again, and then called to try and get confirmation that they recieved the fax, and once again nothing. I called several more times, no answer. So we faxed a 3rd time and her name is not on the list and now the list is full and they are not accepting anymore applications. I am more than a little upset. Twice now we missed it, and I know her paper work is legit. Why isn't she getting put on the list?

Has anyone else had this problem?

I am fed up. I am more than willing to fly her to Los Angeles to renew her passport, but now they have created an almost emergency situation for our travel plans. Since they are doing the outreach they are not in LA, so where can I go to get her passport renewed. Can I fly her to another consulate? I shouldn't have to spend good money flying her somewhere to get this done, but at this point I am tired of dealing with it, and will do what ever needs to be done to be finished with it.

This situation leads to a seperate hypothetical question: What if we had an emergency and one of her relatives was sick, and we had to fly right a way?? Is there any provision for emergency's in renewing your RP passport. Like if there not in LA because they are doing outreaches in a different part of the country, what do you do then?? We don't have an emergency, thank God. But what if?

Thanks,

TripleG

I have always drove on my Texas DL while in the RP. I have only been stopped once, and that was at an LTO check point. Didn't have any problems using my Texas DL, a few pesos took care of my other problems. My question is: Will my Filipina wife have any problems driving with her Texas DL if she is pulled over in the RP? Does her Texas Drivers license cover her?

Thanks,

Wyatt

(Steve here) As a registered nurse (RN) by trade, frankly, I'm conufsed. (As was pigmonk) Few surgeries in RP cost 420,000PHP. Triple bypass (CABG) does cost about 840,000PHP and the price is similar for a kidney transplant, and that's at St. Luke's probably the highest cost hospital in RP. And for the person who stated that heart surgery cost US$40,000 well, I remember Juliet saying no to a fella as we got off the ferry between Cebu and Bohol and when I said: "Why'd you tell the cabbie no?" Well, she said "He wanted 400 peso for the fare, we'll walk around the corner and it'll be 120 peso", so I don't doubt you, but frankly whoever paid that much probably didn't need to because it should have cost one half or one quarter that much. See: http://www.phc.gov.ph/services/treatment.php or google using keywords "cabg triple-bypass and philippine cost"

I concur Juliet and Steve, back in 2005 I had back surgery double lamindectomy on L-4, and L-5 at Asian Hospital in Alabang. Doctors fees 250K, hospital fees and other incidentals for 4 days 30K. While walking around hospital I ran into another American walking around that just had triple bypass surgery and was there for a follow up visit. I asked him how much the surgery set him back and he said around 16,000 USD all total. So thats pretty close to 840K PHP considering it was 48 to 1 back then.

On a different note, my wifes cousin's daughter spent about 16 days in the hospital here recently in Cebu for a blood disease treatment. Forget the name of the disease but googled it and it was serious. They needed 20k php for the first round of treatment, so I sent 40K php. The husband of my cousin-in-law is a hard working dude, works for Cerres bus liner making only about 260 php a day, he sometimes works 14 days in a row, 14 hr days so I didn't mind sending the money. I didn't even ask him to pay me back. He payed me back anyways as soon as his Govt. assistance loan came through. He's a good dude. That scenario doesn't happen very often, but it does happen.

10K USD for motorcycle accident surgery does seem a little fishy. I guess if the dude had multiple broken bones, fractured skull, internal injuries etc. etc. it might be possible to add up to that amount in a private hospital. Public hospital sounds like the way to go for these folks.

Good Luck,

Wyatt

+1

Just because you named your sons Waylon and Willie.

I feel like driving to Luckenbach now.

Hahaha....Yeah buddy. Waylon's middle name is Wylie after Ray Wylie Hubbard. We plan on a 3rd child a little bit further down the road and no matter if its a girl or a boy we will name him/her Kris. Thats it though, 3 is enough.....we can always name the dog Johnny or Cash. A twin pregnancy could complete the Highway Men though. All my filipino relatives think Willie is named after Wow Wow Wee Willie V.

Wyatt

Our first son Waylon was born in the U.S.A. and doesn't carry his mothers maiden name. Our second son Willie has only one first name and carries his mothers maiden name as his middle name. I tried to give Willie my fathers name as his middle name, but the Civil Reistar's office in San Carlos wouldn't accept the application being sent to the NSO without the mothers maiden name being included in his name. I didn't want his entire name to be too long, so no 2 first names.

Wyatt

After you clear customs at the Manila airport...you have to cross the street and then go down a ramp. Let your girlfriend negotiate the Taxi fare to Cavite or let them run the meter, either way it won't be too expensive. Once your in Cavite don't be scared to ride the Jeepney's for cheap transportation. Food is cheap..4 people can eat at Jollibee for the equivilant of 7USD or less. Have a good time, keep your head on a swivel until you get used the surroundings and try not to look lost. Try to use ATM's inside of the Bank, and break your money down when ever you can. Don't carry around all 500's. Make change where ever you can and get a bunch of 20's, 50's and 100 peso bills.

Or a nice sub-compact in .40 or .45 ACP with hollow points would fit the bill and her small hands.

GO AMY!!!

My wife is pretty efficient with a lever action Golden Boy 22 mag. rifle and I bought her a Ruger .380 that fits her small hands nicely. She also likes to shoot a Ruger 357 mag. revolver (speed six) loaded with 38's but is not strong enough to use the double action trigger, so she has to ####### it before fireing. Any higher caliber pistol and she flinches before firing because she cannot comfortabbly handle the recoil. We live on 35 acres in the piney woods and shoot guns alot. Gun safety is the most important thing to teach, then practice, practice, practice. We go through scenarios of what to do in case of home intruders so she will be prepared if I am not home. We also have situational awareness discussions when we are away from home. Texas is a permit to carry concealed state and I am always armed.

Wyatt

"Its better to have a gun and not need it. Then to need a gun and not have it." Capt. Woodrow F. Call

That's a good CRBA review -- surely others will be helped by it. Congrats on the new baby!

Thanks. I will post up later the hospital experience and the cost associate with having a C-section birth in the Philippines. Our total cost with everything was around 65,000 pesos give or take a 1,000. Willie was 3 weeks premature, but didn't need any incubation or special care after being born. Thank God because the hospital we were at was not equiped for anything serious. The 6.9 earthquake hit the day we brought him home from the hospital. Our house is located 20 miles from where the epicenter was.

Wyatt

I recently went through the CRBA experience and thought I would share my timeline on how it went. Before I went through the process I had a lot of questions that I couldn’t find answers for, so maybe this will help someone else. It took a total of 43 days from his birth date to have the CRBA and US Passport in hand.

Step 1 Birth of the child. (Feb 3rd)

Step 2 Fill out birth certificate information at the hospital. (Feb 5th)

Step 3 The hospital transcribes the information onto an application for the birth certificate and forwards it to the civil registars office. I hand carried the transcribed application to Civil Registars office on (Feb 6th)

Step 4 Civil Register’s office checks it for mistakes, records it locally, and then forwards it to the NSO.

Step 5 The NSO then records the information submitted by the Civil Registars office and issues the NSO b/c. I went to the NSO and got his NSO b/c on (Feb 24th)

Step 6 Go to the U.S. embassy Manila website and make an appointment online. The first available CRBA appointment date for us was March 5th.

Step 7 Go to appointment and submit application for CRBA and US passport, NSO b/c, supporting documents (found in CRBA checklist on the website) and other requirements.

Step 8 We received my sons CRBA and US passport via Air 21 in Negros Oriental on March 17th.

I was in a hurry to get my sons US passport as soon as possible. So there was a few things I did to speed up the process. I was told at the hospital it would take up to 7 days to transcribe the information we provided for his b/c application. I explained I was in a big hurry to get the NSO b/c, so with a little charm I was allowed to pay for expedited services… at the hospital. I then hand carried his application to the Civil Registar’s office. The expedited services I paid for at the hospital put me in contact with the head person at the Civil Registar’s office which allowed me to get expedited service again.

At the US embassy in Manila you go through 2 layers of security, then up to the second floor. When you go through security they give you receipt with a number on it. Once on the second floor you will see several windows and two rooms in the center. Wait for your number to be show up on the screens. Go to the window it prompts you to go to and there you submit all your paperwork, requirements, and supporting documents. This first trip to the window is to make sure you have everything required and that it is correct. The person at the first trip to the window is just a screener. He will tell you to go sit back down and then he takes your documents to an actual American consulate worker to review. Then you get called again to either a window or one of the rooms and they conduct an interview, or just ask you questions. You raise your right hand, swear the information is correct, and then they direct you to Air 21 desk to have your CRBA and passport mailed to you. Our actual interface with the consulate worker was less then 5 min. probably, it was real quick. Total time spent at the embassy 4 hours.

Wyatt

My wife just had her 28 week check up at Cebu doctors hospital. She just flew in yesterday from Texas. She really likes her OBGYN at the hospital Dr.Larrazabal. This doctor was recommended to us by another VJ member when she was pregnant with our first son during a visit to the RP. I will be joining my wife in January and was not at this appointment. During her appointment my wife asked if I could be present in the room when they perform my wifes planned C-section in Feb. The doctor said no. I am really, really dissapointed by this. I was present for my first sons birth via C-section in Texas. Heck, Texas Womens Hospital in Houston let me film the C-section (it was awsome on many different levels). Anyways I don't need to film it again, but I do want to be present. Its not like I want to help or anything, I just want to be in there for moral support for my wife. Also I understand I am not a doctor but I want to watch what they do, I already seen one in the USA and I want to compare.

Has any father on this board been allowed into the OP room during a C-section in the RP?

Is there anything I might could say in anyones opinion that could change the Doc's mind?

My wife already plead my case some, and was rejected on safety concerns? Like I said, I don't plan on helping (lol)

Thanks,

Wyatt

I have it now, it took a little over 2 Weeks, Very efficient! Thanks US Embassy Manila!

Thanks for the great follow up post on this topic. My wife and I and our newborn will be going through the CRBA process in March 2012. She has a planned C-section scheduled for Feb. 20th in Cebu and we wanted to wait atleast a week before flying to Manila. Also we are not sure how long it will take the NSO to get us a certified copy of birth certificate after the birth? I have done tons of research on the subject and got my checklist for documents off the USA/Manila website and got most of it all together. I feel pretty confident it will go smoothe, we are married, have another child that was born in Texas, and all the other necessary proof.

Did you have any suprises in documents that the checklist wasn't clear about?

Thanks,

Wyatt

1. A child born to a US Citizen Father and a Philippine Citizen Mother is INSTANTLY a Dual (Natual Born) American and (Natural Born) Filipino Citizen AT the instance of birth. This is the case regardless of whether the birth occurs in the Philippines or if the birth occurs in the USA.

All in all nice post TinTin and Samby I agree with almost everything you stated except #1.

I THINK? NOT SURE? There are instances where Philippine law stipulates a difference between a citizen by blood and a citizen by birth. A child born to a Philippine parent would be a citizen by blood not by birth, hence not a natural born citizen if born in the U.S.A.

Does anyone know if Philippine law stipulates a differnce in citizenship by blood or by soil birth? Where is it referenced?

Wyatt

My wife plans on having our second child in the RP in Febuarary. There are different reasons why we decided to do this. The first reason is if you look at Philippine property law it states only a natural born citizen can inherit. Our first son is duel citizen but was born here in U.S.A. so we didn't want to take any chances in the event of a property dispute later. My wife and I own ag. property which I cannot inherit. There is belief by some Americans that they will inherit joint property in the RP in the event their wife dies....(good luck!). By having a child in the RP it covers our bases in the event of something tragic happening. Secondly by having our second son in the RP my wife gets to share the experience with her family and they can help take care of our other infant son. The cost can vary. My wife plans on having a C-section done at the Cebu Doctors Hospital in Cebu. I am expecting to pay between 60,000php to 100,000php for this procedure and thats just an estimate. A C-section in the U.S. without insurance can cost up to $30,000USD. As far as type of care or quality of care? Its a matter of opinion. I had major surgery in Alabang a few years ago and am completely happy with the outcome. I think the most important thing when choosing a doctor either in the RP or the U.S.A is asking questions. Do your research online and then ask questions based on concerns you might have.

(I AM NOT A PHILIPPINE PROPERTY LAW EXPERT, THESE ARE JUST MY OPINIONS BASED OFF CONVERSTATIONS WITH AN ATTORNEY)

Wyatt

My wife is going to have our second child in the RP in Febuarary. I have been reading all about CRBA trying to make sure I have all the correct documents that I need before we fly over there. I have read the required CRBA check sheet from the USCIS website but still have a few questions.

Question #1 I am a natural born citizen of the U.S.A. Is my passport all that I need to prove my citizenship? Several blogs I have read about the subject say "Don't forget your birth certificate" The CRBA check sheet does not specifiy that I need it. I don't have it and don't want to waste time getting it if I don't need it.

Question #2 The CRBA checksheet does say if my wife or I have had previous marriages, they require divorce decrees for those marriages. I have not seen this as a requirement on any blogs about the subject. Has anyone on here who has been through the CRBA process been asked for them? My problem is I don't have a copy of this item either. I supplied the original I had when I filed the I29F years ago for her K1. My current wife and I where married in Texas and I will have our original marriage cert.

Question #3 How long does the NSO birth certificate take to get? Approximately how long after the baby is born will this document be available?

Thanks for any and all answers or opinions

Wyatt

The previous posters are correct. You have a payroll deduction line like CASDI or California short term disability that you pay into per paycheck. I think if your company is big enough they have to offer you Family leave which secures your job for up to 12 weeks (I think on the length). This income isn't taxable by the feds or the state so it doesn't count against you for income tax purposes. Have a happy last bit and take care of yourself!!

Best of luck

Bob

This is correct, google Family Medical Leave Act. This leave is good for 12 weeks. I think the company has to have over 50 employees??? Anyways with some research you can find all that you need. I have used the Family Medical leave act twice in the last 10 years, but am not an expert.

Good Luck,

Wyatt

Wow...

What happened? Brakes fail? Bald tires on wet road?

Regardless of what the cause was, it is amazing that no one was seriously hurt...and everyone walked away.

They should thank their lucky stars!

My father-in-law said he was going too fast on a wet road, and and some goats tied to the side of the road wandered too far out as he was approaching a steep curve. Instead of braking he panicked a little trying to miss the goats and swerved before apllying the brake but it was too much and the car shot off the mountain at the curve. The ordeal scared him so bad he went into shock. He was really concerned that I would be mad. Of course I am not, I love the old man and am just glad everyone is okay. My father-in-law is a really cool guy, and I consider myself lucky to have him as an inlaw.

My trusty 1986 boxtype has finally had her last ride. I bought this car a few years ago for province joy riding, and it served us well. A few days ago my father-in-law and 2 of his buddies where comming down the mountain. They went off the edge, hit a tree and plunged approx 15 meters down a ravine and into the river. My father in law and the man in the front passenger seat where ejected. The man in the back seat rode it all the way down and the car landed upside down in the river. All 3 men walked away. My father-in-law hurt his elbow. Pretty amazing, considering they where not drunk. They where comming home from work. Its a miracle in my opinion. I think I am going to salvage the engine, tranny and wheels and scrap the rest.

RIP General Lee of Negros

Wyatt

On the I-751 Form Part 5. Information about your children List all your children.

There is a box that is for Adress and immigration status of listed child. The box is about 2 inches long and there is no way an adress can fit in the box with immigration status. The next box to be checked: Does the child live with you?

Our son lives with us and is an American citizen. So do we need to list his adress? Its our adress.

How did others fill this part out? Did anyone make an addendum?

Putting this in the RP formu becuase it gets alot of traffic. If the mods think its more appropriate to transfer it to the I-751 forum I am cool with that.

Thanks,

Wyatt

I have lived as an expat in the Oil industry with a good U.S. salary and have lived with no income besides business income. One of the problems with running a business in the RP is trust. Who can you trust besides your wife? NO ONE!!! Never make the mistake that you can. This makes running a business in the RP very difficult. You will never be able to keep your Filipino employees from stealing, skimming, or scamming you in some sort of way. This frustrates some Americans that try. The most you can do is try to control it. Remember its not personal! In their eyes, you are a rich Kano and don't need or won't miss that 2000 pesos here or 5,000 pesos there. This is part of the culture, you cannot break it even by paying them well. Go in knowing that they are going to take some for themselves and try to manage it to a small amount you can live with. Treat your business contacts and employees like an auto mechanic with lots of overhead. He might consider it ethical slipping in an extra charge for specially torqued high pressure oil pan bolts if he thought he could get away with it. If your going to do business, its a good idea to learn the language, if not you are at a HUGE disadvantage. Okay next is cost of living, you need to work out a realistic budget. The only way you can do this is to stay there a while. If you think your going to live in paradise for 40K a month with wife and child? Think again. You can live on that and probablly a lot less but, you will have to figure out through experience if you would want to? I won't live in the RP for less than 85K a month and as the my boy gets older, that would get tight. I have went as low as 30k a month in the province, but wouldn't want to do that long term.

I am not an expert....these are just my opinions based off of my experiences.

Wyatt

Since I am from the province of Bicol, my most favorite place Caramoan. Its the Boracay and Palawan Version in my province. I have been there couple of times and I can't wait to come back again.

Boracay is already convoluted and massively develop. Palawan is quite far and costly to fly, so Caramoan is my haven, in my own home.

If you go to Caramoan, its like a private island, you will only see few tourists. Its like a small piece of paradise.

This is my blog about this place. Caramoan islands

Awsome pics. My wife and I love to check out new places. Will have to put this place on our to do list.

Wyatt