Extended Visa options

[kwhkg]

BID has sub offices in Batangas and Calapan. I recall a thread last year that claims dive shops in Puerta Galera have a "liason" that extends the visa of divers, suggest you email your dive shop in PG and inquire. Or as suggested call the PH embassy is SFO and inquire. worst case is you take one day in PG and go to Calapan or Batangas and renew in person. Last suggestion is call the 1-800 number of BID

 

[Russ_UK]

I'll try contacting the hotel in Sabang and see what they suggest.
Thanks again to everyonr for replies & suggestions.

 

[DevonDiver]

Plus there is an express service, costs a bit more, but will save some time.

I think this is standard everywhere, but in the sub-office I use, the 'Express Service' is mandatory - everyone pays it and everyone waits.

Or, you can do as I did a couple of times, just pay the fee for overstaying your visa when you depart the airport at the end of your stay. Either way, I think the cost is the equivalent of about $70.

That's technically breaking the law. Not a clever idea in the Philippines... land of corruption. May have been ok for you twice... 2rd time you may get unlucky.. there could be a crack-down on, or you might encounter a 'bad' official. Not recommended at all.

 

[jbb]

Or you could just marry a filipina and stay as long as you want.

Yes, that would be possible but not all that cheap;-) and you don't just marry the girl there, you marry the whole extended family.

 

[kwhkg]

I agree with Andy, not wise to break the law even its tempting, just pay for the extension and not worry

 

[blue steal]

Yes, that would be possible but not all that cheap;-) and you don't just marry the girl there, you marry the whole extended family.

I know, I know.

 

[Russ_UK]

I've had a reply from the Sabang hotel :-

Any VISA extensions and other concerns related to it can be solved and done in Puerto Galera through our immigration consultant.

And thanks again for all your replies

 

[paolov]

Or you could just marry a filipina and stay as long as you want.

a very expensive option.
mapapamahal ka

 

[DevonDiver]

I recall a thread last year that claims dive shops in Puerta Galera have a "liason" that extends the visa of divers, ....

I've had a reply from the Sabang hotel :-
Any VISA extensions and other concerns related to it can be solved and done in Puerto Galera through our immigration consultant.

Russ.... be cautious if you use this. It would probably be ok.... BUT....

There was a similar scheme running in Thailand a few years ago. 'Consultant' service that ran your passports over the border for renewal. After a couple of years successful operation, the Police decided to crack-down on it. Of course, the consultant got away with it. The tourists had the passports impounded... upon summons to collect them, they were imprisoned and then deported. Scary...

The difference was that in Thailand, it was a border-run (stamp out, stamp back in).. in the Philippines it is a direct renewal. One thing about the Philippines is that 'routine' practices may actually be technically illegal etc... again, you may get unlucky and get caught in a 'crack-down'. The same is true of a myriad of issues, including safety ones. The short lesson is "don't believe anything you are told in the Philippines, if common sense says otherwise".

As I say... it's PROBABLY ok... and is probably above board... I should be near the Subic immigration office later this week. If I have time, I will go and inquire about the 'consultancy' services for you.

Also... be cautious with your passport... I'd want an awful lot of reassurances before I handed my passport over to someone in anything other than an 'official' capacity. Take photocopies of it. Take scans of it also...and email them to yourself, so you can always print them out. Make sure you have the contact number for the UK Embassy in Manila, just in case. Get some form of official receipt from the hotel and get some assurances when you hand it over... if they lose it, they won't admit it, or take responsibility.

 

[Kupu]

As long as due diligence is used by the person giving their passport to an agent for renewal, there will be no problems. It is not illegal, as long as the agent is accredited by the Bureau of Immigration.

Typically, if you give your passport to the hotel or diveshop for renewal, they will then pass it on to a travel agent or individual that has the proper accreditation to take the passport to the local Immigration office for extension/renewal.