Manila

Need very urgent advice / info re the visa situation for Phil girls going to BKK.

Planning to take my GF there and must leave in next few days. Getting all sorts of contradictory information from local travel agents so near to hear from guys who HAVE ACTUALLY DONE IT.

As far as I can see from reading the Thai Embassy web site Filipinos being ASEAN members are entitled to a 30 day visa waiver at the airport in BKK.

I do know that if the girl is travelling alone she gets interrogated and they try to stop her boarding if possible on some technicality or another. At least thats what happened to a Phil friend of mine who had planned to fly to Singapore and there meet her BF and then fly on to Bali.

I am hoping that if she is travelling with a foreign BF ie me things will be much easier?

If she is travelling with me is she going to be asked for booked accommodation for the whole 30 day period? This is what the travel agency says.

Unfortunately my GF just had time to check with 1 agency to day adn they said that they could only issue air tickets with a maximum 14 day retrun period UNLESS she has a visa (which I presume involves flying first to Manila (I'm currently in Cebu) and then sorting the visa out- how long would that take and how much cost?)

Clearly she could buy a 30 day return ticket online, will this be enough to get her on board or may she be denied entry to the flight in BKK.

Nay help most appreciated.

GL

[QUOTE=Red Kilt; 1166385]I agree FF BUT. In my office there are lots of women who are very very angry at me for a sticker I had on my filing cabinet that said "support the RH bill".

All intelligent women too.

They just mindlessly believe what the priests have been telling them from the pulpit. I am really disturbed myself that so many priests can tell such blatant lies just to bolster their opposition to the bill.

Whilst I wish the letter-writers supporting the RH Bill in the newspapers (and on Yahoo) are in the majority I fear that there are a lot of unthinking people who just treat what they are told by the religious as THE TRUTH.

Rizal got it right when he said.

"Ignorance is servitude. . . . . . ; a man who does not think for himself and allows himself to be guided by the thought of another is like the beast led by a halter. '. Jose Rizal[/QUOTE]Analytic thinking-particularly when it flies in the face of "authority"-is neither encouraged, nor taught here. In fact, students expressing "unconventional" opinions are reprimanded swiftly. Filipinos are taught-implicitly and later explicitly-from birth to obey authority and never to accept responsibility for anything. It's therefore no wonder that the majority of the country is so easily led by politicians and the unelected politicians wearing skirts and preaching from the pulpits of the country. The fact is that there's no, or very little separation of church and state here. The two are intertwined like lovers and the power of one depends in large measure on the support of the other. It's a nice, cozy arrangement. Support of the RH bill might diminish the number of poor, easily-led catholics being produced like rabbits each year, and any diminution of the flock will be fought aggressively by the church which might see its stranglehold on the country lessened somewhat.

GE

Greg London: Filipinas get 30 days into Bangkok. Thais also get 30 days into Philippines. Asean and also inter-governmental agreement between the 2 countries. If the Pinoy girl has 30 Thai stamps in 2 years in her passport or she has overstay record in Tailand or she stays 30 days then turn around next day for another 30 days, then she may be questioned at Thai immigration. Otherwise no problem, just get the common requirements ready like return ticket within 30 days, minimum funds ect. Thai and Filippines are both very poor countries, I don't think Filipinas would go there to find work or to hook, they can make more money hooking at home. Among Philippines visa free nations, I think Singapore and Malaysian probably more strict because the large quantity of Filipinas working in the night trade.

I have booked for 2 separate Filipina girls to join me in Thailand for holiday in the past, each flyed alone on Cebu Pacific, make sure you e-mail her her Cebu Pacific ticket and print a copy in case immigration clerk wants to see.

I also had 2 Filipina girl to visit me in Singapore when I was working there on and off. 4 trips each on Cebu Pacific or Tiger into Changi in about 1 year period, they never had a problem getting into Singapore. Only question asked was what is the purpose of the trip? Girl answers come see my friend.

[QUOTE=RCA Knight; 1166431]Greg London: Filipinas get 30 days into Bangkok. Thais also get 30 days into Philippines. Asean and also inter-governmental agreement between the 2 countries. If the Pinoy girl has 30 Thai stamps in 2 years in her passport or she has overstay record in Tailand or she stays 30 days then turn around next day for another 30 days, then she may be questioned at Thai immigration. Otherwise no problem, just get the common requirements ready like return ticket within 30 days, minimum funds ect. Thai and Filippines are both very poor countries, I don't think Filipinas would go there to find work or to hook, they can make more money hooking at home. Among Philippines visa free nations, I think Singapore and Malaysian probably more strict because the large quantity of Filipinas working in the night trade.

I have booked for 2 separate Filipina girls to join me in Thailand for holiday in the past, each flyed alone on Cebu Pacific, make sure you e-mail her her Cebu Pacific ticket and print a copy in case immigration clerk wants to see.

I also had 2 Filipina girl to visit me in Singapore when I was working there on and off. 4 trips each on Cebu Pacific or Tiger into Changi in about 1 year period, they never had a problem getting into Singapore. Only question asked was what is the purpose of the trip? Girl answers come see my friend. [/QUOTE]Can you (or anyone else) tell me whether if I am standing besides her and saying that she's my GF and I will pay for accommodation and everything etc I still need to worry about booking 30 days accommodation (which of course I would not normally do). Also re minimum funds will it be OK she's travelling with me and show them some credit cards etc or do I have to get hold of actual cash and put it into her hands? Will they try to separate us and interview her separately?

Greg London:

I think you worry way too much, just prepare the basic like return tickets and 10000x2 bahts or other currency of equal value. Doesn't matter who have it, because you two are couple. If you worry so so much, you can hand her 10000 bahts or other equal value currency beforehand.

In your case, I definitely think they will not ask you guys to show anything.

Interview her separately? There are thousands of girls from other 3rd world Asean nations flying alone or with boyfriends to Thailand every single day, unless the girl has something definitely wrong, there is no such thing as separate interview. Keep in mind this is no EU or US.

Guys, I have been thinking about my Gf and taking her to other countries for a vacation. I appreciate your questions and answers. Keep up the good work

[QUOTE=GregLondon; 1166407]Need very urgent advice / info re the visa situation for Phil girls going to BKK.

Planning to take my GF there and must leave in next few days. Getting all sorts of contradictory information from local travel agents so near to hear from guys who HAVE ACTUALLY DONE IT.

As far as I can see from reading the Thai Embassy web site Filipinos being ASEAN members are entitled to a 30 day visa waiver at the airport in BKK.

I do know that if the girl is travelling alone she gets interrogated and they try to stop her boarding if possible on some technicality or another. At least thats what happened to a Phil friend of mine who had planned to fly to Singapore and there meet her BF and then fly on to Bali.

I am hoping that if she is travelling with a foreign BF ie me things will be much easier?

If she is travelling with me is she going to be asked for booked accommodation for the whole 30 day period? This is what the travel agency says.

Unfortunately my GF just had time to check with 1 agency to day adn they said that they could only issue air tickets with a maximum 14 day retrun period UNLESS she has a visa (which I presume involves flying first to Manila (I'm currently in Cebu) and then sorting the visa out- how long would that take and how much cost?)

Clearly she could buy a 30 day return ticket online, will this be enough to get her on board or may she be denied entry to the flight in BKK.

Nay help most appreciated.

GL[/QUOTE]Greg,

I have taken my GF to BKK on 3 occassions but I live in Australia and meet her there and whilst we have only stayed for a max of 2 weeks her visa shows 30 days as previously reported by others. Interestingly she asks me each time to provide her with a written invitation expressing that I will meet her costs whilst she is there. I have never quite understood this but it appears that this letter seems to have more value on the Phil side as immigration on departure seem to quiz her about it. She has never been asked anything on entry into Thailand. In fact she always comments how easy it is in entering BKK. She also said similar when we met in HGK. That was just after the killing on the bus of HGK nationals and she was somewhat nervous about it. But again got much more "conversation" on the Phil side being asked if it was a good idea to go to HGK.

In Thailand, other than being mistaken as a Thai, I found that she is better treated by the locals than she is even in Phil, given that she is travelling with me.

Let us know how you go and enjoy your holiday.

P

Philippine immigration authorities have good reason to question and in some cases deny exit to some girls. There have been cases of mongers abandoning their young "girlfriends" abroad without any money when the girls fail to keep them satisfied. The government must then foot the bill for repatriation.

[QUOTE=GregLondon;1166438]Can you (or anyone else) tell me whether if I am standing besides her and saying that she's my GF and I will pay for accommodation and everything etc I still need to worry about booking 30 days accommodation (which of course I would not normally do). Also re minimum funds will it be OK she's travelling with me and show them some credit cards etc or do I have to get hold of actual cash and put it into her hands? Will they try to separate us and interview her separately?[/QUOTE]If she's travelling with you then no issue whtsoever. As in your BKK post on same subject I have taken Filipinas into Singapore and HK and BKK. If they were ever to ask you to separate for questioning then open up your pc, show the emails and ym chats between you, photos etc that establishes you are bf / gf. The biggest issue can be the Philippines immigration who are nosy bastards about who what where when. Thats when the girl does need " show money", plus your business card, plus your invite letter. If she has your pic in her wallet even better. I'm taking a 19 year old to HK soon and am now educating mine about how to do it.

[QUOTE=Dwight Fry;1166342]Don't understand why you would fly a girl in from one big city to another big city. Maybe a bit like bringing sand to the beach?[/QUOTE]Actually she's from a small town near Cebu. Don't worry about what you don't understand.

Have been visiting Phils for 25 years and banging Manila girls endlessly for same period.

When I find one that I want to spend more than one night with then I fly them in. P300 airfare doesn't exactly break no banks.

We all March to a different drum and Sand comes in many colours and shades

[QUOTE=Chocha Monger;1166595]Philippine immigration authorities have good reason to question and in some cases deny exit to some girls. There have been cases of mongers abandoning their young "girlfriends" abroad without any money when the girls fail to keep them satisfied. The government must then foot the bill for repatriation.[/QUOTE]don't tell me. I will say that is about 0. 1% of the left-behinds. And the left behinds, through my sources in the Phil Embassy, are not like dumb village girls left behind. And mostly they decided to dump their BF than the other way around. And seek the Embassy's comfort. .

The rest of are all trafficked women. No kidding.

Of course, the govt makes the most of the noise about the dumped women. And blaming a cano for the woman being dumped gets more publicity than saying the woman went willingly. Right?

[QUOTE=RCA Knight;1166448]Interview her separately? There are thousands of girls from other 3rd world Asean nations flying alone or with boyfriends to Thailand every single day, unless the girl has something definitely wrong, there is no such thing as separate interview. Keep in mind this is no EU or US.[/QUOTE]Maybe that was the case 5 years ago, but as of now, in every flight, atleast a dozen pax gets Returned, in Singapore, especially those coming in LCCs.

And provided they can escape the wrath of the Philippines Immigration bureau, who have even tuned away those with valid papers, passport, and invite letter to Singapore. And the only reason given was 'possibly [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord908][CodeWord908][/url] victim'

No kidding. The more money US gives to Phil for stopping [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord908][CodeWord908][/url], the more the BI is hell bent on stopping every young woman leaving.

And even my GF, being a Med-Tech, was stopped and the BI in Phil had demanded that she show proof that she is not a victim. And only when she threw her famous tantrum did they relent.

It is not a money stealing scam: Apparently the BI prides itself from preventing [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord908][CodeWord908][/url]. Now only if they address the reason why every Filipino wants to get the hell out of Philippines (including the fact that most mall workers make about 4000 peso a month, money they can make it doing just one trick a night in Singapore. And 60 day here can make them put up proper roof over their crumbling shack. Or have $ for their kids education. And everything.)

Note the Swedes were also charged for "[url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord908][CodeWord908][/url]" not illegal activity such as forced nudity, or engaging in immoral activity etc. Etc.

Last year they tightened the leaving country I have been told they need to have cash, they need to show they have money, and in some cases pay the fixer 8000

I have been told this by different people one got refused exit (credit card was not proof) the other now has to alllow for the 8000 exit. So my advice would be have as many papers as you can prove what you are doing have the cash and be ready to fight for her rights. YMMV

Last month my GF from Leyte (also a med tech, job and family to come back to) visited me here in Tokyo for a couple weeks traveling alone, her first international trip.

She got a few questions from outbound immigration at NAIA T2, but she was armed with a proper Tourist visa (full 1-page and laminated onto a visa page) , pictures of us on her phone, etc. Did not mention having to present show-money but I didn't ask about it. She did say a few people on her flight got some relatively severe questioning in the queue ahead of her, but I put it down to dodgy paperwork on their part, her ducks were all in a row because of my insistence on getting everything right.

The visa was a real pain, because the earthquake stuffed things totally up and by the point all the paperwork was complete I almost had to resubmit invitation / guarantee letters because they go stale after 3mo. My own work visa to Japan 14 years ago took only half the documents she needed for a 2-week tourism one.