visitor visa expiring soon, what are my options?

frankanderson Contributor

Member since 04 July 2018

frankandersonContributor05 August 2020 05:14:13

114

Greetings fellow Expats and Filipino's.

So here's my situation, I have been here coming up on 22 months now, unmarried but living with a woman and we have a child together (born in Philippine's).

My usual routine is go to a BI satellite office, request a visa extension, filling in Reason for Stay / Other = Child Support all CAPS on form, usually gets anywhere from 4 to 6 months without issue. However with the current Covid-19 crisis and me being unsure how they are handling current visitors visa's - The visitor's that's already in the country before this whole thing started. I understand visa on land and tourist visa are cancelled until further notice.

My question is this, should I over stay and just pay the fine when the quarantine is lifted?

Should I leave? as heart broken as this may be and being separated from the missus and my son, my only option if I don't want to over stay.

Add the pain or arranging a flight to return home at the risk of catching covid-19 while travelling, current crisis and mandatory quarantine and uh...

I understand that there may be a chance I can be black listed or even deported from the country ? I'm in IT and mostly work in cyber security and have a set source of income that isn't from the Philippines, should I just wait it out and when going to BI office, explain the situation of why I had to overstay? I plan to bring bank statements proving that I am not working here in PH.

I have been going in and out of Phillipines since 2017 and have never overstayed, always updated my visa's before expiring.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks, F

Stay Safe All

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eduardo001 Banned

Member since 28 May 2013

eduardo001Banned05 August 2020 05:37:34

Hello.

My situation is same as your. I decided to overstay. Penalties are just 500 per month + you will need to pay for visa for overstaying period. And it is not big deal if you overstay less than 6 months, no blacklist or something like this. I think it is much better option then trying to leave by force and paying for their rapid tests and cancelled flights all the time.

Even if you try to leave, most probably your flights will got cancelled. One friend of mine needed to rebook 4 times until he finally escaped from here. Of course, he paid 4 times also for rapid test as they requiring it at least 72 hours before flight.

pej1111 Serial expat

Member since 09 September 2015

pej1111Serial expat05 August 2020 05:50:22

562

Many of the BI are now open. I know in Davao that they take walk in's.

Best thing is just look up your BI office on FB and send them a message or go and in and get it done. I am not sure why

I just had mine renewed, after overstay due to COVID closure of the BI office during COVID, it was not a problem, just paid the normal amount for each month needed and future.

Not sure why you put anything on the application other than ticking the relevant box's? I just tick the married for status and here for vacation/holiday box. I have never seen anything on the form about child support or the like.

eduardo001 Banned

Member since 28 May 2013

eduardo001Banned05 August 2020 06:06:52

pej1111 wrote:
Many of the BI are now open. I know in Davao that they take walk in's.

Best thing is just look up your BI office on FB and send them a message or go and in and get it done. I am not sure why

I just had mine renewed, after overstay due to COVID closure of the BI office during COVID, it was not a problem, just paid the normal amount for each month needed and future.

Not sure why you put anything on the application other than ticking the relevant box's? I just tick the married for status and here for vacation/holiday box. I have never seen anything on the form about child support or the like.

He need to leave country at least every 24 months. It is not about tourist visa extension.

frankanderson Contributor

Member since 04 July 2018

frankandersonContributor05 August 2020 09:00:41

114

There is no box for child support, there's a box for "other, please specify". The other is "Pleasure, Business and Medical", Figure it's the right answer + bit of ironic humor thrown in.

Thanks Eduardo, think I'll try to stop by next week if possible. will take it from there and see.

On another note for anyone coming across this thread, I found this link on another thread here and may help you prepare if need to stay past the 24/36 month limit.

MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION ON UPDATING AND EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZED STAY

Online Appointment System

DIRECTORY OF TRANSACTIONS

Okieboy Serial expat

Member since 20 October 2011

OkieboySerial expat05 October 2020 23:51:27

659

You can get an extension on your visa but it must go thru Manila a friend of mine is over the 3 year limit for tourists but received an extension cost around 4000

Richard Yan Contributor

Member since 03 April 2018

Richard YanContributor06 October 2020 00:31:55

197

Good info. Thank you.

frankanderson Contributor

Member since 04 July 2018

frankandersonContributor06 October 2020 03:27:32

114

Okieboy wrote:
You can get an extension on your visa but it must go thru Manila a friend of mine is over the 3 year limit for tourists but received an extension cost around 4000

Thank You Sir, I hope that will be the case when I go to their main branch this week.

I'll keep you guys posted on the outcome.

For anyone reading this, this post is outdated Aug/2020, somethings have changed and there's a more detailed post here for your reference.

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=906200

or if a forum admin/mod can kindly merge these 2 topics ? Thanks