Going to Cebu Feb 4 to 28.
Is anyone going to be wing man?
There are alot of great places in Cebu too.
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Going to Cebu Feb 4 to 28.
Is anyone going to be wing man?
There are alot of great places in Cebu too.
[QUOTE=YellowStar45; 1369625]Going to Cebu Feb 4 to 28.
Is anyone going to be wing man?
There are alot of great places in Cebu too.[/QUOTE]YS45,
I was going to suggest you post in the Philippine Travel Announcements section but I see you already did that. I notice your stay will be longer than 22 days, that means you will need to get a visa extension from BI in Mandaue. Cost 3030p* (2012 prices not sure if there was an increase Jan 1st). Wear long pants, closed toe shoes, and a shirt with a collar like a golf shirt. Although a clean tshirt will do as long as it`s not a wife beater. No shorts, no flipflops, no sandals. If you forget and show up with flipflops or shorts there are a few locals that hang around the gate and will `rent`you some shoes or long pants, but they are dirty and small.
Post a trip report stud.
Enjoy the Philippines.
[QUOTE=Stroker Ace88; 1369962]YS45,
I was going to suggest you post in the Philippine Travel Announcements section but I see you already did that. I notice Enjoy the Philippines.[/QUOTE]Or if you arrive in Manila NAIA Terminal 1 see earlier FRs.
A little bit of RTFF does not hurt!
You most likely will be going to Ayala mall a few times to meet girls or shop. You can drop your passport off at Olivis travel and pick up your new visa the next day. It's a big time saver and time is money when your in the Philippines. I believe I payed a service fee of 500 peso. I assume any mall will have at least one agency offering the service.
[QUOTE=Bob Bowie;1370856]You most likely will be going to Ayala mall a few times to meet girls or shop. You can drop your passport off at Olivis travel and pick up your new visa the next day. It's a big time saver and time is money when your in the Philippines. I believe I payed a service fee of 500 peso. I assume any mall will have at least one agency offering the service.[/QUOTE]With the number of Cebu tourists on the rise there has been an increased number of 'visa service' companies that have opened shop. Personally taking the risk of losing my passport far outweighs the couple of hours that I spend at BI and I get the visa extension on the spot. Trusting a visa service with your passport can be risky. The visa service companies mostly use middlemen or fixers to get the visa extension and the foreigner is often unaware that their passport goes through several hands before being returned and that increases the chance your passport could be lost.
I used a visa service years ago but the last time I used one the fee started to increase and the normally reliable visa service took 6 days to return my passport. I told myself never again. Every day I would go to the visa service office and they would give me excuses and there I was shitting bricks worried they had lost my passport. I was kicking myself for trusting a local with something that was valuable to me. Never again.
Not sure how it is in Cebu but in Davao there is a visa service office right next to the immigration office at Victoria mall. No passing around of passports. You can actually see the person take your passport and walk over to the long line. Risk is close to zero and I personally know of about 40-50 cases where it was used with 100% success. So maybe this could be an option also in Cebu? I hate to stand in line.
Barba
[QUOTE=Barba; 1370945]Not sure how it is in Cebu but in Davao there is a visa service office right next to the immigration office at Victoria mall. No passing around of passports. You can actually see the person take your passport and walk over to the long line. Risk is close to zero and I personally know of about 40-50 cases where it was used with 100% success. So maybe this could be an option also in Cebu? I hate to stand in line.
Barba[/QUOTE]BI Mandaue is located just off a busy industrial area and is tucked down a small mostly residential side street. While there might be a few visa service offices around BI, why pay the extra when you already made the trip and it's much easier to walk in BI and get the extension done in the same time. Most visa service offices are located on Mango or in a mall that foreigners frequent. I have not seen any signs near BI recently that offer visa services.
Please note that as of mid 2012 BI Mandaue and NBI Cebu offices (I can't comment on other Gov locations in the Philippines) have implemented a [b]NO FIXER[/b] Policy. This wholesale reform means it takes just as long to process the application-extension as the fixer will take. Gone are the days when long lines exist and the fixers walk to the front of the line and have instant access to the officials to get their papers processed first.
Previously BI Mandaue was a distaster with long lines and even longer wait times. Things are much much better and it's a very easy process now at BI. Even NBI has gone digital and getting an NBI clearance takes an hour not weeks like it did with the old system.
Barba, I hear ya about waiting in line and I agree. I used a visa service before 2011 when paying up to 1000php to a visa service office was well worth it to avoid waiting in lines all day in a crowded office for a priority number to be called. Now things have improved to the point where it's a simple process. Last time in BI it took me 60mins to get the extension and it wasn't crowded or hot. YMMV.
[QUOTE=Stroker Ace88; 1371356Now things have improved to the point where it's a simple process. Last time in BI it took me 60mins to get the extension and it wasn't crowded or hot. YMMV.[/QUOTE]Evolution. Cebu is some years before Davao in many aspects, and probably also when it comes to this. Few things annoy me more than these fixers jumping in front of me in lines. I also implement a NO FIXER policy if I am in the line. This "fixing" a means to an end for many guys and girls that have no other work, I get that, but in this case it is just dysfunctional and annoying.
B.
[QUOTE=Stroker Ace88; 1371356]. .
Please note that as of mid 2012 BI Mandaue and NBI Cebu offices (I can't comment on other Gov locations in the Philippines) have implemented a [b]NO FIXER[/b] Policy. This wholesale reform means it takes just as long to process the application-extension as the fixer will take. Gone are the days when long lines exist and the fixers walk to the front of the line and have instant access to the officials to get their papers processed first.[/QUOTE]I am trying to find the announcement from late last year that BOI (from a certain date that I cannot remember) will no longer allow tourist agencies and others to process visa applications and extensions. It must be done in person by the passport holder. Does anyone have it?
[QUOTE=Red Kilt;1371479]I am trying to find the announcement from late last year that BOI (from a certain date that I cannot remember) will no longer allow tourist agencies and others to process visa applications and extensions. It must be done in person by the passport holder. Does anyone have it?[/QUOTE]It should be on the BI website, I will take a look.
RK,
Here is the news release from BI.
[url]http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=839&Itemid=103[/url]
Some very interesting stories and news releases on the BI website, like the two Chinese nationals who faked BI entry and exit stamps to avoid paying extension fees.
There is a immigration office on the basement level of Casino in Cebu . Not sure of what services they do?
I was going to check it out but they were closed that day for some holiday.
[QUOTE=Sammon; 1371652]There is a immigration office on the basement level of Casino in Cebu. Not sure of what services they do?
I was going to check it out but they were closed that day for some holiday.[/QUOTE]There are three PAGCOR casinos located in and around Cebu. One located on the 3rd floor Crown Regency Fuente, one in Waterfront Lahug, and another in Waterfront Mactan. I will assume you mean Waterfront Lahug.
There is no BI office in Waterfront Lahug but there is a Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) office located on the second floor of the main lobby. This office deals only with foreigners or previous Filipino nationals who reside outside the Philippines and want to retire in the Philippines. The PRA office does not have anything to do with normal immigration issues and no regular BI services are offered at the office.
The PRA is a PI government created entity that is under the control of the Board of Investments (BOI). At the PRA office anyone looking to retire in the Philippines can apply for a Special Residents Retiree's Visa (SRRV). This type of visa is a multiple entry visa issued by BI and SRRV visa holders have increased privileges such as;
-Option of permanent residency
-Multiple entry
-Exempted from BI exit clearance and re-entry permits and annual report.
-Exempted from import and customs duties and taxes for household personal goods up to $7000USD.
-Exempted from travel tax and special study permit fees
-Tax free remittance of annuities and pensions.
[u][b]SRRA visa holders also have access through the PRA to get assistance and advice when dealing with other PI Gov issues such as;[/b][/u]
-Obtaining alien employment permit. NBI clearance.
-Tax exemption-extension certificates.
-BIR Tax identification number
-PI drivers license.
[u][b]I visited the PRA office in 2009 when I was looking at buying a condo in Cebu. They were helpful but there is a downside to obtaining a SRRV.[/b][/u]
-Applicants have to be 35+
-Obtain valid medical and NBI clearances plus a police certificates from the current country of residence.
-One time processing fee of 1400USD. Annual report fee (not disclosed)
-Certificate of Retirees Deposit: -
-1A-Without Pension-35-49yrs old 50000USD- 50yrs+ 20000USD.
-1B-With Pension- 50yrs+ 10000USD.
-Under the 'with pension' scheme the applicant can't engage in a business or be employed in the Philippines.
-Minimum amount of monthly pension for single applicant- 800USD. Married applicant- 1000USD.
The money is held 'in trust' in an authorized PI bank and can only be applied to approved investments inside the Philippines. These investments include;
-Purchase of a condo.
-Long term lease of house and lot (lease not shorter than 20yrs)
-Purchase of a golf club or country club membership.
If a foreigner was looking at buying a condo in the Philippines the SRRV can be a win-win visa, but keep in mind that if the value of the property drops below the minimum investment the government can demand you add additional funds. If you sell your condo your visa will be suspended within 30 days unless the proper investment level is manintained in trust at a PI bank.
[QUOTE=Stroker Ace88; 1371813]there is a Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) office located on the second floor of the main lobby. This office deals only with foreigners or previous Filipino nationals who reside outside the Philippines and want to retire in the Philippines. The PRA office does not have anything to do with normal immigration issues and no regular BI services are offered at the office.[/QUOTE]SA.
This office has been relocated but I need to remember where. My brain is not working today. But I received an email and a text from the lady I met there.
[url]http://www.pra.gov.ph/main/srrv_program[/url]
[url]http://www.pra.gov.ph/main/about_pra?page=1#cebu[/url]
RK FR a good one on retirement etc in another thread also for those interested
Going online I can find a Tagalog translation webpage that helps me get the general jist of online chatter that I want to understand. Is there a good site for Cebuano / Visayan?
Full disclosure, I just want to understand more of what I read online when my Filipina friends converse on FB. For example, a gal posts on FB saying she got a random phone text asking about "ms abc". The first thing I think is that one of her foreign friends has made a mistake. From what I can understand in their language, one of her friends replies,". Blah, blah, is it a foreinger. Asking. Blah?". And then her answer is,"Hahay, puhon na mars. Lagi lisod man dii ning gwapa noh kay monitoron man". If anyone cares to do a translation, I'd appreciate it.
Meanwhile, I should study a bit.