DevonDiver
N/A
To all EXPATS living/residing in the Philippines. Please note:
The rules on EMIGRATION CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE (ECC) have changed this week. No warning was given and the changes are NOT publicized on the immigration website. Actually, the regulations on the Philippines Immigration website haven't been changed since 2008 (and were already grossly outdated).
According to copy of memo I got from the immigration sub-office and was also shown/explained at the airport: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, ECC is only processed by the Main Immigration Office in Manila. It is NOW only valid three (3) days prior to departure.
Again... no warning was given of this. It was not publicized...and the sub-offices didn't know of it in advance. The sub-office assured me on Friday that I could get ECC with them... I drove there specially on Tuesday, and.... I could NOT(cost me 18,000php in missed flights).
If you've been in the Philippines longer than six (6) months and require an ECC for departure... you cannot now get one directly at the airport, or from a local immigration sub-office.
Please check those requirements out long before your flight to avoid frustrating and (very) costly disappointments.... especially if you live, or intend to fly, a long distance from Manila (i.e. Cebu airport etc).
I'll post copy of the memo tomorrow..
The rules on EMIGRATION CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE (ECC) have changed this week. No warning was given and the changes are NOT publicized on the immigration website. Actually, the regulations on the Philippines Immigration website haven't been changed since 2008 (and were already grossly outdated).
According to copy of memo I got from the immigration sub-office and was also shown/explained at the airport: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, ECC is only processed by the Main Immigration Office in Manila. It is NOW only valid three (3) days prior to departure.
Again... no warning was given of this. It was not publicized...and the sub-offices didn't know of it in advance. The sub-office assured me on Friday that I could get ECC with them... I drove there specially on Tuesday, and.... I could NOT(cost me 18,000php in missed flights).
If you've been in the Philippines longer than six (6) months and require an ECC for departure... you cannot now get one directly at the airport, or from a local immigration sub-office.
Please check those requirements out long before your flight to avoid frustrating and (very) costly disappointments.... especially if you live, or intend to fly, a long distance from Manila (i.e. Cebu airport etc).
I'll post copy of the memo tomorrow..