Philippine Residency and/or Permanent Visa

[Macho Dik]

Anyone has this recent problem in renewing your I card? I think the bureau of Immigration and deportation is changing its rule without prior notice to their Phillipne Embassies aborad or their consular offices.

Recently, the new commission of Immigration of the Phillipine has change the rule and making everyone big problemn in renewing their I card. It has to be process in person against the past with Special power of Attorney to empower your designated representative to process for you in your behalf, which is very good way without you coming back and left your work with increasing expenses. Furthermore, now a days even you appear in person, it also have making you to wait for whayt I heard is over a month or so before you get it renew. This is crazy, as you have to be in the philippne to wait that long before able to depart the country and back to where you are working with.

Have anyone encountere such issues recently? Any possibility to expedite your I card renewal?

Please share your comments.

Cheers,

MD

[Member #4491]

I'm not thinking of starting a business and what I would be doing would be fairly low profile (mostly free-lance writing, probably, and similar small-scale stuff) , so there probably would be relatively little chance of getting caught

At the most I had some 25 employees and a down town office, and never had a work permit. Applied for an employers visa since I had 10+ employees, but never got it into my passport due to silly circumstances, and now I do not care about it. Note that I never competed on the local market but rather brought money / salary into the country. You get a 5 year tax holiday if you make your company a pure export company. As long as you do not take bread from the mouth of some pinoy, you are quite safe.

But as RK mentions it is not that hard to get the work permit. I was just busy and lazy so I am not a good example of a model visitor to Phil.

B

[Red Kilt]

I'm not thinking of starting a business and what I would be doing would be fairly low profile (mostly free-lance writing, probably, and similar small-scale stuff) , so there probably would be relatively little chance of getting caught. But somebody might talk, and why risk even a small chance of trouble if it's easy to get the working visa?

I don't think there will be any problems for you if this is all you plan to do.

Those activities are not going to trouble anyone at all.

Working visas are more for those who plan to be salaried in a local business here.

I suggest that you go to the Department of Labor & Employment (rather euphemistically named DOLE) and ask them what is needed.

Foe example, from a website:

Working Visas in the Philippines
In the Philippines, work visa applications are based upon a candidate obtaining a job offer from a Philippines based firm and will be issued as a Special Work Permit application for those who will only be working in the Philippines for six months or less.
For candidates who wish to work in the Philippines for longer than this period, a standard work permit will be required which may be obtained from outside the country or from within the Philippines.
Applicants will need to provide evidence of their job offer through a letter of request from their sponsoring employer as well as an affidavit of support from the company. Candidates will also need to obtain an Alien Employment Permit (AEP).
It should be noted that work permit holders must also notify the Philippines immigration authorities when they intend to leave the country and that the Alien Employee Permit must be returned.

[FreebieFan]

Thanks. That's great to know.

Good to hear that it's getting tougher to bribe people. Could it be that the Philippines is actually making progress?

One would love to think so but its very hard to break habits that are ingrained, past on from father to son etc. Theres a lot of posturing going on that plays out well in the media. But the traffic cops are still playing their games thats for sure. Corruption can only be claimed to be reducing when its stopping at the top, and the bottom.

[Econo Tech]

Good to hear that it's getting tougher to bribe people. Could it be that the Philippines is actually making progress?

No, stories abound and have increased of working visas, legally obtained, whos mere existance evoporated in all the BI records. And so did it for PRA (the much promoted residency scheme) when somebody does you in, suddenly BI finds you were never given PRA. And everything in between. No kidding.

[Azil]

Working visas are NOT hard to get. All you have to do is agree to pay the 12% withholding tax.

Thanks. That's great to know.

I'm not thinking of starting a business and what I would be doing would be fairly low profile (mostly free-lance writing, probably, and similar small-scale stuff) , so there probably would be relatively little chance of getting caught. But somebody might talk, and why risk even a small chance of trouble if it's easy to get the working visa? I have no objection to paying taxes. Well, I do actually, but I accept their inevitability.

Good to hear that it's getting tougher to bribe people. Could it be that the Philippines is actually making progress?

[Red Kilt]

But what if I decide to take a part-time job there? I understand working visas are very hard to get. But what is enforcement like? My experience with the Philippines (my late wife was from Manila) in regard to law emphasizes two points. Inefficiency and corruption. So my instincts tell me that I'm unlikely to get caught and if I do, a payoff will suffice.

But does anyone with real experience have advice for me?

If you have an invested stake in the Philippines then you take a risk that you will not get caught.

Two koreans in my condo have been deported with stamps in their passports because they were caught not only working but running a business on tourist visas. They were not "caught". They were reported by pinoys who were in the same business and resented the competition.

When they tried to pay their way out the penalty was increased by the "new" approach to business that is slowly percolating through the PNoy government administration. They picked the wrong guy to bribe.

You have to factor in the possibility (probability?) that if you have a successful business without the correct documentation then you may well find someone will "dob you in". Working visas are NOT hard to get. All you have to do is agree to pay the 12% withholding tax.

[Azil]

I'm planning to move to the Philippines (probably Cebu, maybe Davao, definitely not Manila) next year as a semi-retiree. Although the last few years have taken a toll on me financially, I could make it fairly decently there without working, but extra money is always helpful.

I have worked (mostly in the US, but with some overseas jobs) for some time as a marketing consultant and a free-lance writer. If I can continue to pick up such work, it would probably be online or outside the Philippines, so the fact that I don't have a working visa would make no difference.

But what if I decide to take a part-time job there? I understand working visas are very hard to get. But what is enforcement like? My experience with the Philippines (my late wife was from Manila) in regard to law emphasizes two points. Inefficiency and corruption. So my instincts tell me that I'm unlikely to get caught and if I do, a payoff will suffice.

But does anyone with real experience have advice for me?

[FreebieFan]

Mine is on Conduit; all paid, all mine. All cash short-sale in Siesta Key, despite the lowest mortgage rates in history and the available tax deductions.

1% huh? On the Peso? BSs are paying 5-10% on the £ and has less risk priced into it than the Peso.

Quit the markets completely, never to return? Consider dividend-paying stock in your base currency?

ISG mongers will have no interest in this thread but I also lived in Conduit before, in 1994. Big place opposite the exit of the escalator. Building torn down now. Maybe your building replaced mine LOL.

Markets will return one fine day. But not for a few good years. Not till Greece is kicked out the Euro, maybe Spain and Portugal too. Then common sense in debt markets wil return. By that time Obama is long gone and the Us housing market will grow as will UK's. US needs to get out of Afghanistan in a hurry and put the money spent of there back into its own economy Markets will follow therafter.

[Lustforthrust]

And my Hk apartment (Stubbs Road) doubled from 1991 1993. And even as I'm at the lawyers handing over keys, the new seller was already reselling it for a 5% premium. They were the good days in HK. Yep nothing risk free except the 1% annual interest currently available. LOL

Mine is on Conduit; all paid, all mine. All cash short-sale in Siesta Key, despite the lowest mortgage rates in history and the available tax deductions.

1% huh? On the Peso? BSs are paying 5-10% on the £ and has less risk priced into it than the Peso.

Quit the markets completely, never to return? Consider dividend-paying stock in your base currency?

[Red Kilt]

I have been in the Phils for 14 years, and for 8 of those years I paid rental fees in 3 different residences in Ortigas Center in Manila and a town house in Davao when I was based there. When I realised 6 years ago that I was planning to stay here and keep working I bought a condo at a reduced price because the owner was desperate to sell.

With the benefit of hind-sight, the rents that I paid for 8 years could have bought me more than one condo in that time if only I had known that I planned to stay here.

I am reinforcing an earlier post that said that if you need somewhere to stay for an extended period then it is sensible to buy a property in lieu of not paying rental fees because you may find, as I did, that the rents were in excess of my condo purchase price.

Even if you are forced to sell it for a price that doesn't show much of a profit, you may still be in front on the overall deal.

[FreebieFan]

My apt. On HK Island is up 63% since March 2010, but up a mere 5% since 1997.

In April this year, I bought a place in Siesta Key, FL for 1/2 the price the last owner paid in 2004.

And my Hk apartment (Stubbs Road) doubled from 1991 1993. And even as I'm at the lawyers handing over keys, the new seller was already reselling it for a 5% premium. They were the good days in HK. Yep nothing risk free except the 1% annual interest currently available. LOL

[Lustforthrust]

In 2010 Ayala land opened up The Columns. Three towers of condos. Sold out within 4 weeks. In 2011 Ayala Land opened the first tower of Park Terraces, Sold out within 2 weeks. They then opened up second tower sold out withn 4 weeks, third tower) due for handover in 2017) is now 50% sold out. The Columns which opened earlier this year is trading at 25% to price last year. The situation is even better (if you are an owner) in Fort Bonifacio where there is a value increase of 30 in past 14 months alone.

My apt. On HK Island is up 63% since March 2010, but up a mere 5% since 1997.

In April this year, I bought a place in Siesta Key, FL for 1/2 the price the last owner paid in 2004.

[Zinda]

Guys thanks for the advice. The apartment building where I am renting and even considering to buy a condo has I'd card policy for visitors. Yesterday my visitor had no I'd and they would not allow her. When I told them that I am renting the place as Tenant for one month and I am willing to take responsibility, will sign on her behalf, they refused to let her go in. I was suprized as I am renting it as a tenant. Based on my experience, most hotels in Manila do not care who is going in or not and even those who care (will be ok if you tell them that you will be responsible if any thing happens if there was no I'd unless the person is very very young or looks young). So what is the point of buying a condo where you can not even bring a visitor or a family member if they don't have an I'd? I could not believe this but the security guard told me this is our policy. Any feedback on this issue?

Thanks

[FreebieFan]

I have always been big on real estate investment but at this point in time I am shying away from buying anything anywhere due to the global economy. To reside in a condo permanently or purchase as an investment are two different analyses, particularly if you're only looking at residing in the unit for two years. On Wednesday I was reading how the real estate market in the USA is not expected to start recovering until 2020. I walk or drive around Manila and see those condo developments going up and I ask myself who is going to live there other than OFWs coming back to retire. Very few working filipinos could afford even a smaller unit. Seems to me that there is already a surplus of units given the demand, just like here in my Wisconsin city.

If however, you are intent on purchasing, refer to the Living in the Philippines section report #882 by ShadowAxis on buying a condo. Its the most thorough analysis and advice I have ever seen on buying a condo in the Philippines.

Best wishes.

In 2010 Ayala land opened up The Columns. Three towers of condos. Sold out within 4 weeks. In 2011 Ayala Land opened the first tower of Park Terraces, Sold out within 2 weeks. They then opened up second tower sold out withn 4 weeks, third tower) due for handover in 2017) is now 50% sold out. The Columns which opened earlier this year is trading at 25% to price last year. The situation is even better (if you are an owner) in Fort Bonifacio where there is a value increase of 30 in past 14 months alone.