Return Ticket Requirement to be Enforced

[JoeLP]

JOE-LP;

If I arrived in Philippines with a fly-through ticket to China 25 days later, could I stay in Philippines? Is it possible?  (i.e. is it possible for the same ticket to return me to America.)  What airline or ticket agency do you think is best and most reliable?  Thanks

Not sure I understand 100% what you are asking, but, if your exit ticket(doesn't matter to which country) is withing the 28 or 29 days of when you arrive, you will be able to hang out in the Philippines for all that time with no worries.  When you arrive the "free" visa they stamp you with gives you the 28(i think it's only 28.  was 30 when I first came to the Phils years ago, but currently I think it's 28) days free visa.  But they'll want that forwarded/exit plane ticket showing you are leaving inside that 28 day window.
On this subject, when I went to Taiwan in February, no one asked for the fowarding ticket.  No one.  When I arrived at the airport in Taiwan, I used my passport and my ACR I-Card as my ID.  I was asked my business and I told the lady I live in the Philippines(pointed to the ACR I-card) and that my son and fiance where there waiting for me to return.  She smiled at me, finished my process of turning my e-ticket into a boarding pass and wished me well and sent me to the gate.  The whole way back to and through the Cebu/Mactan international airport till I left it to the taxi area I was not asked once for the forwarding ticket.  The first time that happened to me since they were required.  The only thing I did different?  Showed my ACR I-card and when ask business, told them I lived in the Phils and had a fiance and son waiting for me.  Going to use that going forward. 

[David690]

Not sure I understand 100% what you are asking, but, if your exit ticket(doesn't matter to which country) is withing the 28 or 29 days of when you arrive, you will be able to hang out in the Philippines for all that time with no worries.  When you arrive the "free" visa they stamp you with gives you the 28(i think it's only 28.  was 30 when I first came to the Phils years ago, but currently I think it's 28) days free visa.  But they'll want that forwarded/exit plane ticket showing you are leaving inside that 28 day window.
On this subject, when I went to Taiwan in February, no one asked for the fowarding ticket.  No one.  When I arrived at the airport in Taiwan, I used my passport and my ACR I-Card as my ID.  I was asked my business and I told the lady I live in the Philippines(pointed to the ACR I-card) and that my son and fiance where there waiting for me to return.  She smiled at me, finished my process of turning my e-ticket into a boarding pass and wished me well and sent me to the gate.  The whole way back to and through the Cebu/Mactan international airport till I left it to the taxi area I was not asked once for the forwarding ticket.  The first time that happened to me since they were required.  The only thing I did different?  Showed my ACR I-card and when ask business, told them I lived in the Phils and had a fiance and son waiting for me.  Going to use that going forward.

You will be asked for an onward or return ticket when checking in for your flight to Philippines.  Once you are onboard, you're fine.  i have never been asked to show an onward or return ticket by Philippines immigration.

[Peter]

JOE-LP;

If I arrived in Philippines with a fly-through ticket to China 25 days later, could I stay in Philippines? Is it possible?  (i.e. is it possible for the same ticket to return me to America.)  What airline or ticket agency do you think is best and most reliable?  Thanks

Guys.

This particular question was posted by/on < Pelican on March 27, 2018, 03:11:29 AM >, so maybe he's been and gone.

Saying that, every airline I've been on, before I had the permanent 13A and ACR-Icard, wanted to see proof of an onward ticket, at check in. Paper ticket in the olden days, computer generated print out, latterly.

Immigration never asked, but I always made sure the ticket/print out was in my passport when I handed it over to Immigration on arrival.

Peter

[DArtagnan]

On the contrary David.

On our return to Davao from Singers last November the two people directly in front of us at the immigration desk were asked for onward tickets as was I

I had mine and was waived through - the others were taken to some back office !

[JoeLP]

You will be asked for an onward or return ticket when checking in for your flight to Philippines.  Once you are onboard, you're fine.  i have never been asked to show an onward or return ticket by Philippines immigration.

As I always was til my last flight here from Taiwan.  Not asked once at any step.

[Peter]

On the contrary David.

On our return to Davao from Singers last November the two people directly in front of us at the immigration desk were asked for onward tickets as was I

I had mine and was waived through - the others were taken to some back office !

I would surmise that could have been the result of profiling, or even prior knowledge of something amiss on the flight, by the BI and they were being cautious.
On the other hand, maybe the BI bigshots were around, so the front line staff had to be seen to be doing their jobs 

Peter

[David690]

On the contrary David.

On our return to Davao from Singers last November the two people directly in front of us at the immigration desk were asked for onward tickets as was I

I had mine and was waived through - the others were taken to some back office !

I must have had entered Philippines at least a dozen times on visit visas and never once been asked by immigration at either Manila, Davao or Cebu.  I was always asked when checking in for the flight.

[bigrod]

Well it is a BI rule requiring an onward ticket, is it not?  Whether you have been here one time or hundred times nothing precludes BI from asking to see the onward ticket.  I have seen it mentioned having BI personnel asking for the onward ticket more in the last six months on different FB groups I belong to than I have in the last 10 years.  Plus  people being questioned for making the 3 year tourist visa runs.  Maybe times/policies are changing.  JMHO

Chuck

[David690]

Well it is a BI rule requiring an onward ticket, is it not?  Whether you have been here one time or hundred times nothing precludes BI from asking to see the onward ticket.  I have seen it mentioned having BI personnel asking for the onward ticket more in the last six months on different FB groups I belong to than I have in the last 10 years.  Plus  people being questioned for making the 3 year tourist visa runs.  Maybe times/policies are changing.  JMHO

Chuck

Yes it is a requirement to have an onward or return ticket, nobody is disputing that.  I believe that the airlines are required to check passengers at check in to avoid lengthy checks at Philippines immigration and to avoid the hassle of having to repatriate persons arriving without the ticket.  Airlines manifest and other information is available to Philippines Immigration before the flight arrives, so they will know in advance the passenger details.  I guess sometimes things go wrong and for whatever reason that info isn't available, but the onus is on the airline to check this and avoid difficulties on arrival.  No doubt there are spot checks, but all I can say is that I have never been asked to show an onward or return ticket when arriving at Philippines immigration.

[bigrod]

Yes it is a requirement to have an onward or return ticket, nobody is disputing that.  I believe that the airlines are required to check passengers at check in to avoid lengthy checks at Philippines immigration and to avoid the hassle of having to repatriate persons arriving without the ticket.  Airlines manifest and other information is available to Philippines Immigration before the flight arrives, so they will know in advance the passenger details.  I guess sometimes things go wrong and for whatever reason that info isn't available, but the onus is on the airline to check this and avoid difficulties on arrival.  No doubt there are spot checks, but all I can say is that I have never been asked to show an onward or return ticket when arriving at Philippines immigration.

The airline checking has nothing to do with lengthy checks at Philippine Immigration.  It is due to the hefty fine the airline would receive for the individual not having the ticket.

Chuck

[Peter]

The airline checking has nothing to do with lengthy checks at Philippine Immigration.  It is due to the hefty fine the airline would receive for the individual not having the ticket.

Chuck

Spot on Chuck!
The airline is also responsible for returning the passenger to point of departure. Overall it will cost them financially.

For interest only.
When we returned to stay on retirement, our plan was for the wife to get me the balikbayan visa when we arrived. That way we could have up to 12 months to sort any paperwork problems before applying for the 13A.
When we checked with both the Philippines' Embassy in Oman and the airline (Etihad) if I could travel just on the wife's say-so that we could get the BB on arrival, both said I had to have an on-going ticket in case the BB privilege was not granted. The Embassy did stress that the BB is a privilege not a right.
So I bought an online, US$ 35, Tiger Air one way ticket to KL.

We got the BB on arrival and the rest, as they say, is history! 

Peter

[David690]

The airline checking has nothing to do with lengthy checks at Philippine Immigration.  It is due to the hefty fine the airline would receive for the individual not having the ticket.

Chuck

And why are heavy fines imposed on the airline?  To ensure that they do not allow passengers to fly here without the onward ticket.  Imagine the chaos that would ensue if passengers turned up at Manila airport without the ticket.  There are no facilities for arranging an onward ticket airside at Manila airport.  It would be an impossible situation.  So to avoid that, airlines are under strict instructions, with heavy fines etc, if they allow this to happen.  Hence they ensure that no passengers is allowed to board without the ticket.

[David690]

Spot on Chuck!
The airline is also responsible for returning the passenger to point of departure. Overall it will cost them financially.

For interest only.
When we returned to stay on retirement, our plan was for the wife to get me the balikbayan visa when we arrived. That way we could have up to 12 months to sort any paperwork problems before applying for the 13A.
When we checked with both the Philippines' Embassy in Oman and the airline (Etihad) if I could travel just on the wife's say-so that we could get the BB on arrival, both said I had to have an on-going ticket in case the BB privilege was not granted. The Embassy did stress that the BB is a privilege not a right.
So I bought an online, US$ 35, Tiger Air one way ticket to KL.

We got the BB on arrival and the rest, as they say, is history! 

Peter

See my reply to Chuck etc.

I also finally arrived here flying from Dubai and planning on obtaining a BB.  I checked with Philippines Dept of Immigration and received an email message from them confirming that an onward ticket WAS NOT required.  Accordingly I did not purchase an onward ticket and had no problem when checking in for my flight here with Emirates.  The BB was issued at Manila Immigration in less than 10 minutes without any request to see an onward ticket.

[Peter]

And why are heavy fines imposed on the airline?  To ensure that they do not allow passengers to fly here without the onward ticket.  Imagine the chaos that would ensue if passengers turned up at Manila airport without the ticket.  There are no facilities for arranging an onward ticket airside at Manila airport.  It would be an impossible situation.  So to avoid that, airlines are under strict instructions, with heavy fines etc, if they allow this to happen.  Hence they ensure that no passengers is allowed to board without the ticket.

David.

it is not just the Philippines (.....   they do not allow passengers to fly here without the onward ticket. ..... ) that require on ongoing ticket. There are many countries which have the same requirement before issuing a visa, whether prior or on-demand at the entry point.

It is not because the Philippines can't handle the influx (which they probably can't anyway ), but rather a universal Immigration issue to stop neer-do-wells, or those with no visible means of support, from entering any country and abusing whatever social welfare system exists.
With an ongoing ticket requirement, the nation's Immigration Department are assured the tourist/visitor can depart - if they run out of money, for instance.
Most, if not all, Asean countries require non-Asean citizens/visitors/tourists to have ongoing tickets. Other countries also have similar non-citizen, or non-community (eg. EU/GCC) member, requlations.

Peter

[David690]

David.

it is not just the Philippines (.....   they do not allow passengers to fly here without the onward ticket. ..... ) that require on ongoing ticket. There are many countries which have the same requirement before issuing a visa, whether prior or on-demand at the entry point.

It is not because the Philippines can't handle the influx (which they probably can't anyway ), but rather a universal Immigration issue to stop neer-do-wells, or those with no visible means of support, from entering any country and abusing whatever social welfare system exists.
With an ongoing ticket requirement, the nation's Immigration Department are assured the tourist/visitor can depart - if they run out of money, for instance.
Most, if not all, Asean countries require non-Asean citizens/visitors/tourists to have ongoing tickets. Other countries also have similar non-citizen, or non-community (eg. EU/GCC) member, requlations.

Peter

Agreed, there are other countries that apply the onward ticket requirement.  The way that they avoid this becoming an issue at their immigration desks is by imposing strict fines on the airlines if they permit someone to fly either without the correct visa, or passport that will allow visa on arrival, and onward ticket.  If they waited until the visitor arrived at their immigration desks without a visa or an onward ticket, it would be an unmanageable situation, so they stop them ever arriving there by placing the responsibility on the airlines.

David