Expanded SRRV for ex military

[Art, just a re(tired) Fil-Am]

Anyone 50 yrs and older from any country who has served in any branch of service retired or not and or married or not and do not have to have served a tour of duty in the Philippines can qualify for the Expanded SRRVisa.
(see 2015 SRRV guidelines attached thumb nail below for download)

Those with no military service and are not married, the long stay (LSVVE) 6 month visa is probably the best visa to apply for the long term, unless one prefers doing the every one or two month tourist 9a visa extensions before their 59 days visa expires, which can get old after a while if the nearest BI field office is off the beaten path and far away.

[Lee2]

Anyone get one of these visa lately, member Danson L asked me about it?

[BudM]

Not lately but what is the question?  I might possibly know the answer or point him in the direction.  If I can't, I am sure someone else would be able to do so.

[Art, just a re(tired) Fil-Am]

The 2015 SRRV Guide http://tinyurl.com/jf6hygb I provided in my post above on this page should of answered all of Danson L's questions about the Expanded SRRVisa for ex-military members (retired or not), which I obtained my own SRRVisa just less than a year ago, but I initiated all of my paperwork, documents and physical exams in N. Calif. while on vacation and then returned to the Philippines to submit my completed application with all the required documents at the PRA main office in Makati for final processing (15 days).   

[Danson L.]

 :)Many, many, many, many, many Thanks to EVERYONE for the information. It was EXACTLY what I needed 10000%. Ya'll "haved saved the day" I appreciate everything from the bottom of my heart. Ya'll the GREATEST EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW I know what is going on. hahaha Thanks AGAIN!!!

[chimellie]

THE SPECIAL RESIDENT RETIREE VISA (SRRV) – BEST CHOICE VISA

Many foreigners in the Philippines are retired or semi-retired, remaining indefinitely on the Special Resident Retiree Visa (SRRV) offered by the Philippine government to would-be retirees who want to live-out their golden years enjoying sun, sea and the world-renowned Filipino hospitality. This visa, by far, offers the greatest benefits and perks for those willing to retire in this country. Check-out all the advantages listed below:

• Indefinite stay
• Multiple entry
• Exemption from exit/re-entry clearance and permit
• Exemption from travel tax
• Exemption from duties, customs and taxes from the importation of personal effects
• Guaranteed repatriation of deposits and investments, including profits
• Conversion of foreign Currency into Philippine Pesos
• Conversion of Deposits into investments
• Tax-exempt on purchase of goods for personal consumption in government-owned Duty Free Shops E.O 250
• Eligibility to obtain an Alien Employment Permit
• Covers spouse and dependents below 21
• Entitlement to tax exemption under P.D. 1217
• Exemption from student’s visa/special study permit
• Tax-exempt inward remittance of pensions and annuities
• Membership in the exclusive PLRA Executive Club
• May avail of PLRA “24/7-Call Home” and Service Center
• Entitlement to incentives and benefits under the Omnibus Investment Code (E.O. 226),
• May Avail of services of PLRA Travel Agency
• Avail of discounts at PLRA – authorized establishments and shops
• Use PLRA memberships at various golf, sports and country clubs
• Tourism Incentives program (P.D. 535), and investments
 Promotion Act (B.P. 44)

[BudM]

Looks like they have added something on like something called the PLRA.  Guess I will have to try and research that.  Nothing comes up on Google that I see.  By the way, even though it says exempt from the travel tax that is true if you leave the country within 12 months.  I haven't been back across the Pacific since I moved here but the first time I flew out of the country to go across the sea to the west of here, I paid travel tax.  Although, it sure was nice not to have to get an exit clearance.  Yeah, it is also nice to not have to go to immigration although maybe I should experience it once and see what all the complaining is about.

[Art, just a re(tired) Fil-Am]

THE SPECIAL RESIDENT RETIREE VISA (SRRV) – BEST CHOICE VISA

Yes, after doing the Balikbayan Program and tourist visa extensions for 12 yrs, the SRRV for ex-military was the best choice, time, money spent and the effort to obtain my SRRV was worth it.
I obtained all of my documents and physical exams while on vacation in N. Calif in 2015 for 4 months and only took a one day process to submit my packet to the PRA folks in Makati and 15 days later I got my passport with a permanent SRRVisa stamp and an ID card valid for 3 yrs.
The nice thing about it all is not having to set foot inside a BI office ever again after the process of my SRRVisa.

[clarkee]

Small question on the SRRV stamp in your passport.  Once your passport expires with the stamp is there a certain process you have to go through on getting a new stamp in your new passport?  Do you have to bring your new passport to your local PRA office and have them take care of the issue?  Just curious on how this works.

[lost_in_samoa]

Once your passport expires with the stamp is there a certain process you have to go through on getting a new stamp in your new passport?  Do you have to bring your new passport to your local PRA office and have them take care of the issue?

Happened to me.   You can get a new stamp in your new passport.  But you got to pay for the stamp again.

I chose to carry my old passport, (with the stamp), along with my new passport when I travel.   

When I renew my SRRV again I'll get the stamp in the new passport.

HTH

[clarkee]

If I'm not mistaken I believe I have always had to turn my old passport in when I submitted my application for a new one.  My old passport would then be holed punch and sometimes or sometimes not returned to me.