How to get the Philippine evisa software to work ?

I'm not entirely sure this is what you want.  As a USA citizen, you are automatically able to visit the country without a visa.  I'm thinking that this process is for those countries where this is not the case (although, I admit I am not familiar with this particular web site).  It sounds like you might be thinking this is a way to get an extended visa without being in the country yet, which again I suspect that is not what this site is designed for.  Of course I could be totally wrong.

BTW, if you go to the main page of that web site (i.e., without entering any information anywhere) there is a dropdown with only those 4 same countries, which also leads me to believe its just something specific for countries that don't have an automatic visa like the USA.

Unless procedure has changed, you will need to process the 90 day Visa in person, either in the states before you leave or when you arrive here at a BI. Back when, I received a 90 day visa by traveling to the Philippine Consulate in LA. Left passport with app. Then had to go back 2 days later to pick up.

Hi mati_steve and vehicross100 thank you both for your reply back to me. I have been to the Phillipines many times. I used to live near washington DC so I would bring my passport to the Phillipine embassy along with the other needed documents and get a VISA so i could buy a round trip plane ticket that was for more than a 30 day stay in the Phillipines. Now I live far from Washington DC (I now live in Johnson City TN) so I cannot do that.

I was hoping this website was a way to apply for and get a Phillipine VISA on the web which would make sense for the Phillipine govt and would be very easy to implement. However it appears like it is either not for that purpose or it's screwed up software. If it's screwed up software which I highly suspect it is, it's  what I expected even before I tried to use it. That's why the Phillipines is cheap it's screwed up.

I know I can get into the Phillipines with a round trip plane ticket that has me coming back in 30 days without a VISA and then I can extend my time in the phillipines once I am there. But that wastes my money. If I have to do that then I have to buy another one way return ticket home after already purchasing a round trip ticket.

Now that a couple of other folks have looked at the web site and have encountered the same problems I did I know it's not me using the website incorrectly. Thank you.

steven

Hi Steven,

I know this doesn't directly answer your question, but I gave up on the longer visa as the consulate closest to me (but still in a different state) was so unresponsive to calls or email and they wanted all kinds of financial statements. Not worth it, imho.  I go to PH every winter and one of the following should suffice.  It is important to note that you can purchase a round trip ticket for any length of time - the only thing that the airline will check is whether you have proof of onward travel before 30 days are up.

So here are some solutions, which you may have also tried, if so apologies...

You can book a 30 day round trip with a changeable fare. Doesn't need to be fully refundable, just changeable. The airline will see you are leaving in 30 days and will be happy. Then once in country you call the airline and change your return flight to later, and then just do your BI visa extensions. The only real issue is it is sometimes a more expensive fare, and a bit of a hassle to call, but I generally go Prem Econ and it is included with that fare.

Another solution which I have used is to buy your preferred 3-6 month round trip ticket, then also purchase a cheap one-way ticket to HK or KL within 30 days on one of the discount airlines and simply not take the flight. This "throw away ticket"  will meet the requirements for onward travel. Then just do your normal 30 or 60 day tourist extensions. This approach still wastes a little money ($100?), but would be less expensive than buying that second one-way return to the US which you mentioned..

Lastly, there are companies that offer onward tickets for $10 or $20 which "expire" after 24 or 48 hours. buy it just before you leave and it is a valid ticket that can be shown to the airline agent if they ask for proof of onward travel. I have never tried this approach but obviously it is the least expensive.

Hope this helps.

I am trying to us the eVisa application and am having a problem uploading files. Like the person who started this thread, I am thinking that the developers were not that bright as the interface is very frustrating. See recommendations to do to an embassy and to game the system by booking a changeable flight. But, no one is answering the question of how to get evisa.gov.ph to actually work for those who can't access an embassy and already have tickets. Any help?

Having a problem that I can't upload documents to evisa.gov.ph. Lots of recommendations for avoiding this terrible interface but none helping with this web site for those who need to use it. Anyone successfully use this crappy web site? I have a JPG of required files but when I upload them I just get a red triangle with an explanation point in it. JPG is supposed to be an acceptable format. Have tried on my iPad & laptop with multiple browsers.

If you don't belong to the nationalities who need a visa for the initial 30 days, don't apply for the visa online. Make a reservation for a return flight within 30 days which you can cancel afteranother  immigration in the Philippines. If you plan to stay longer in the Phillippines and this is the reason for the visa, you are mistaken. The maximum stay here is 59 days. You can come back with the visa  but only for 59 days.

@Andy_1963

I will be in the Philippines for 36 days (I know, I should have rounded down to 30 but did not check visa requirements first) so will need a tourist eVisa as an American. I also have non-changeable tickets which makes the hack of scheduling a flight out that I then change not work. Really trying to work with the system but this web site is really poorly designed. There is clearly something it does not like about the file uploads but I don't get any meaningful feedback. The FAQ is not helpful either. Seems like everyone's advise is to find a way around the web site.

@tlllava

Hi, as an US citizen you do NOT need a visa to go to the Philippines. What you need is a flight out of the Philppines within the initial 30 days.

So you have 2 options:

1. Book a flight to/from Hongkong, Vietnam, Malaysia with a low cost airline and spend the time there. When you return the period of 30 days starts again.
2. Go to a travel agency and have them reserved a flight out of the Philippines. As soon as you are thru the immigration, text the travel agency to cancel your reservation. After 3 weeks you need to go to the local immigration to extend your visa for 29 days. This will cost you 4000 Pesos (68 USD)

If I would be in the position, I would buy a flight to Hong Kong with Cebu Pacific.

Andy

@tlllava

A cheaper alternative to booking a ticket to other Asian countries is to book a 'throwaway' ticket. This can be presented at check in if the airline requests proof of a return ticket according to your country of destination visa rules: 30 days with the Philippines, or if asked for by immigration (very rarely). You have to book the ticket usually within 48 hours of departure. See link below. Its basically a fake ticket but is not illegal. Cost about US$20

https://onwardticket.com/en?gad_source= … AFEALw_wcB

Just a note of caution, I've heard of cases where travelers were denied boarding or entry even with a throwaway ticket. It might work sometimes, but it’s not guaranteed, so I’d be careful and weigh the risks before relying on it.

@RelocateandThrive

Which is why I attached the link I did . Highly rated on TrustPilot which is one of the few review sites I ‘trust’

Back up plan if the check in clark refuses to accept it. Go to the back of the check in queue and book a genuine one way ticket to HK . Because your flight is 4 weeks away you will still get a good deal especially if you book a Cebu Pacific ‘lite’ ticket

Use your common sense and I’m sure you will ‘Thrive’ in the Philippines. If you don’t you will become the proverbial mark.

@tlllava

You are not understanding what everyone above is telling you.

That website is NOT for you. It was not Created for US Citizens.

There is no such thing as a Evisa for American Citizens going to the Philippines.

It is Mandatory that as a US citizen you visit a immigration office after your initial 30 Days to Extend, unless you visit a local embassy and apply for the 59 Day visa before your trip.

As stated that website is not for citizens of countries entitled to visa free entry. Also, my experience over the last year or so is the exit flight no longer has to be within 30 days. I book a cheap MNL-HKG one way within 12 months of arrival and this has been accepted - once they asked  if I was aware of the visa extension requirements (and I was). But on the other occasions they have only asked to see the exit flight booking. BTW that's my airline asking, immigration has not said anything