ACR confusion

Hey Bro, no never heard that story.

I've always paid my 50 US bucks when extending for the 3rd and 4th months extensions, pick up my ACR1 card with my next visit to extend for the 5th and 6th months. Don't worry your immi office won't miss a trick so if staying beyond 2 months you will need to pay for the ACR1 and the joys of a visitor visa.

As for your visitor visa you get 30 days for free but if you extent at the airport or an immi office for a an extension of a further 29 days you will actually pay for 2 months at about P3,100, possibly 4,100 with the new fees. The next extension will require the 1 or 2 month extension fees as well as the ACR1 fee, around P6/7K.

My figures from my head may be off as the express lane fees have recently jumped from P500 to P 1K and with an ACR1 application and extensions you will be hit with 3 of these new fees, normal visitor visa extension 2 express lane fees.

Good luck.

Cheers, Steve.

@Brojeslov

Hi, you need an ACR card as a temporary resident after the 59 days. This will be done when you extend before the 59 days expire. If you dont want to waste the 50 USD and the visa extension fee, fly out of the country, stay a few days and return to the Philippines. The 59 days counter will reset. This was my way before the pandemie hit.

You can also email the immigration.

All the best

Andy

Yep Andy and as for the US 50 buck ACR1 cost? Weigh up the exit and reentry  flight tickets as well as a further exit ticket, The ACR1 card is cheaper and will allow you to open a bank account here but little else from my 15 years knocking about here.

Cheers, Steve.

         Or you could marry a citizen of the Philippines, enter country with the mate and stay a year, leave and start the process again upon reentry.

@Andy_1963

Thanks for your response. It's confusing but I did find one reference on a government website to exactly what the guy was telling me - you only need an ACR if intending another visa extension after your 1st visa extension. That's why your 1st visa extension is granted before your ACR is finalised. I think it's more than semantics and why he told me I wasn't going to get an ACR because my exit date was within the 89 day period but I will email to be sure