Getting Prepared For The Philippines > Laws, Regulations, Taxes as Applied to Foreigners

Advisory to all Foreigners in the PHL staying over 59 days

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Lee2:
The below page was posted on facebook.
Is this something new? I thought clearance was not needed until after staying 6 months? Boy I am glad we get to stay each year on the Balikbayan Privilege so I do not have to put up with all the other bs but now since it says "TO ALL FOREIGNERS" I wonder if they will extend that to Balikbayans as well? I hope not!!!!

Art, just a re(tired) Fil-Am:
I know all this BS mainly pertains to regular tourists, but Balikbayans are also considered in a tourist status under the BB Program after it expires and one has extended over 6 months, one will have an ACR I-card in hand and a ECC prior to their departure from the Philippines unless they decide to stay longer up to 24 months total via the every 2 or 6 months visa extensions! Balikbayans and regular tourists are on two different playing fields sort of in an about similar way concerning ECCs and ACR I-Cards!
One has to know what the differences are between a regular tourist vs a Balikbayan!
This letter in question mainly pertains to the regular tourist as I understand it and I've been both over the years when my BB stamp has expired, but there is still a difference when one is under the Balikbayan Program and on visa extensions, but sort of similar to tourists also on visa extensions up to their 16 month stay!

I don't understand the letter you posted Lee! Read and explain to me what this memorandum below says.
Looks like a contradiction or misinterpretation here! What does paragraph 12 at the bottom mean?

http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=612&Itemid=103

MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. MCL-09-027

IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS (IRR) OF MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. MCL-09-024, DATED 23 NOVEMBER 2009, ENTITLED "ISSUANCE OF ALIEN CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION IDENTITY CARD (ACR-ICARD) TO [1] NON-RESTRICTED FOREIGN NATIONALS GRANTED A TOTAL AUTHORIZED STAY OF FIFTY-NINE DAYS (59) AS TEMPORARY VISITORS UNDER SECTION 9(A) OF COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 613, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1940 AS AMMENDED, AND

11. EMIGRATION CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE (ECC). - Foreign nationals who have been granted a total authorized stay of six (6) months or more shall be required to secure a Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) from the Bureau of Immigration.

12. EXIT/DEPARTURE FROM THE COUNTRY. - Notwithstanding its validity period, the ACR I-CARD shall not be used as a Re-Entry Permit (RP) or Special Return Certificate (SRC) at the time if arrival and primary inspection at the port of entry for [1] non-restricted foreign nationals who have been granted a total authorized stay of more than fifty-nine (59) days as Temporary Visitor under Section 9(a) of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as ammended

Lee2:
Yeah I do not understand it either Art, that was why I posted it, and to warn people staying over 59 days and leaving that the rules seem to have changed. It seems they now want an EC after 59 days instead of 6 months and while I believe BB are not included because it said tourists, the heading says "ALL Foreigners" and technically those of us who come with our wives are technically tourists, so the heading had me a little concerned but it probably should have said except balikbayans even when it was apparently referring to tourists.

Metz:
They gave me a 6 month tourist visa without the clearance certificate.  It was the spousal visa they wanted it for.  Work visa no need certificate.

coleman2347:
I assume you guys are talking about the one year Balikbayans who avail themselves of the privilege. Not the 13a, I just left and came back for my tourist visa (16 months) and had an ECC but one guy in the line didnt have any idea about it so they pulled him out of the line..cost him 1900 for the on the spot ECC....BTW, my acr card expired last  June and I went to get another one, paid etc. but it is not here yet...boi just told me to carry the receipt to show I had paid for a new one....They are also asking to see the ongoing ticket...I came back through Cebu and its much better than Manila...

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