Cebu City marketer SRRV?

AaronAardvark wrote:

I am curious as to why you would want a marketeer in Cebu when you could just use the PRA satellite office there?
Doing it in Manila might be an issue unless you intend to stay there for an extended time since you might have to appear several times.
Do you have a reason why you believe your application might get rejected?  I don't know this but I believe the actual PRA would be a better judge of any potential issues.  The satellite office in Clark has no problem answering any phone questions that I have.
Cebu office phone number  +63 32 238 8001

Why NOT use a marketer. They are free.

Munchie wrote:

AaronAardvark wrote:

I am curious as to why you would want a marketeer in Cebu when you could just use the PRA satellite office there?
Doing it in Manila might be an issue unless you intend to stay there for an extended time since you might have to appear several times.
Do you have a reason why you believe your application might get rejected?  I don't know this but I believe the actual PRA would be a better judge of any potential issues.  The satellite office in Clark has no problem answering any phone questions that I have.
Cebu office phone number  +63 32 238 8001

Why NOT use a marketer. They are free.

I phoned 3 different ones in Clark/Angeles and none were free.  I do not understand any reason not to use the the PRA if you are in a location that has a satellite office or if there are reported issues with a particular PRA.  The PRA has the expertise and the marketeer just adds an extra layer.  The satellite office in Clark/Angeles has been very helpful, answered all of my questions, promised to take care of the bank requirements and arrange for a free health check.

AaronAardvark wrote:

Munchie wrote:

AaronAardvark wrote:

I am curious as to why you would want a marketeer in Cebu when you could just use the PRA satellite office there?
Doing it in Manila might be an issue unless you intend to stay there for an extended time since you might have to appear several times.
Do you have a reason why you believe your application might get rejected?  I don't know this but I believe the actual PRA would be a better judge of any potential issues.  The satellite office in Clark has no problem answering any phone questions that I have.
Cebu office phone number  +63 32 238 8001

Why NOT use a marketer. They are free.

I phoned 3 different ones in Clark/Angeles and none were free.  I do not understand any reason not to use the the PRA if you are in a location that has a satellite office or if there are reported issues with a particular PRA.  The PRA has the expertise and the marketeer just adds an extra layer.  The satellite office in Clark/Angeles has been very helpful, answered all of my questions, promised to take care of the bank requirements and arrange for a free health check.

I have been to a seminar in Dumaguete last year, the PRA rep from Cebu told be to email my particulars, I am Austalian and there was some doubt if I could get an extended military visa. She was going to get an answer from higher up. Long story short,,she never replied to any of my emails...so no confidence there with Cebu, PRA.

This is why I think I need a marketer. 1. Australian Military, My discharge certificate is mutilated, so cant be aposilled. I can get a service history, will that suffice?. 2. I have previously held a 13a visa and there are requirements pertaining to that. 3. All my money is already in the Philippines, BPI don't seem to want to help me with a declaration about it being US money. 4. NBI clearance, I cant find out if I need a finger print clearance, or name clearance (dumaguete or Manila). 5. I have not lived in my barangay for 5 years, so have to get an Australian Police clearance, do I need a fingerprint clearance or name only clearance. 6.My pension is from SSS in the USA, the computer generated statement and 1099 is unsigned, so it cant be aposilled, so what do I do about that?

I might stop thinking about this visa because the requirements are too ridiculous. $2930.00 to initiate visa, another $1,000 to round up all the aposille documents and travel to manila for NBI. I can buy a lot of tourist visa extensions for that much $$.

I invite all comments and suggestions on what I need to do..BTW, I talked to a marketer in Cebu, seems he has got cold feet and has not followed up with me.

Munchie wrote:

AaronAardvark wrote:

Munchie wrote:

Why NOT use a marketer. They are free.

I phoned 3 different ones in Clark/Angeles and none were free.  I do not understand any reason not to use the the PRA if you are in a location that has a satellite office or if there are reported issues with a particular PRA.  The PRA has the expertise and the marketeer just adds an extra layer.  The satellite office in Clark/Angeles has been very helpful, answered all of my questions, promised to take care of the bank requirements and arrange for a free health check.

I have been to a seminar in Dumaguete last year, the PRA rep from Cebu told be to email my particulars, I am Austalian and there was some doubt if I could get an extended military visa. She was going to get an answer from higher up. Long story short,,she never replied to any of my emails...so no confidence there with Cebu, PRA.

This is why I think I need a marketer. 1. Australian Military, My discharge certificate is mutilated, so cant be aposilled. I can get a service history, will that suffice?. 2. I have previously held a 13a visa and there are requirements pertaining to that. 3. All my money is already in the Philippines, BPI don't seem to want to help me with a declaration about it being US money. 4. NBI clearance, I cant find out if I need a finger print clearance, or name clearance (dumaguete or Manila). 5. I have not lived in my barangay for 5 years, so have to get an Australian Police clearance, do I need a fingerprint clearance or name only clearance. 6.My pension is from SSS in the USA, the computer generated statement and 1099 is unsigned, so it cant be aposilled, so what do I do about that?

I might stop thinking about this visa because the requirements are too ridiculous. $2930.00 to initiate visa, another $1,000 to round up all the aposille documents and travel to manila for NBI. I can buy a lot of tourist visa extensions for that much $$.

I invite all comments and suggestions on what I need to do..BTW, I talked to a marketer in Cebu, seems he has got cold feet and has not followed up with me.

I don't think there is a set rule on what must be provided for military service.  Can you not get a new copy, which is what I did from the US. All the final acceptances will go through the PRA and finally by the BI whether you use the PRA directly or a marketeer.
I believe you have to send USD from outside of the Philippines to either the banks in the US or to a bank designated by PRA in the Philippines.
I don't have to worry about the NBI since I have a fresh one from the US and I got that without finger prints.
A little confusing, you are Australian, served in the Australian military but you get a pension from the US.  In any event, you should be able to get several different documents from SSA online.  The US consulate where I live in Thailand refuses to authenticate ANY document which is financial including Social Security.  So I plan on just submitting what I got.  Surely, PRA has dealt with SSA documents many times before.
When talking about the cost, I look at it over the course of many years.  On top of that the hassle of doing multiple extensions, getting (and paying for) an ACR card and having to leave the country every 3 years, makes the fee very reasonable.  Also, $1500 (or more depending on the SRRV option) is still yours at some time.
But, if you are anywhere near a PRA office, just stop in and discuss your concerns.  I was able to get answers to all of mine by phone.

AaronAardvark wrote:

Munchie wrote:

AaronAardvark wrote:

I phoned 3 different ones in Clark/Angeles and none were free.  I do not understand any reason not to use the the PRA if you are in a location that has a satellite office or if there are reported issues with a particular PRA.  The PRA has the expertise and the marketeer just adds an extra layer.  The satellite office in Clark/Angeles has been very helpful, answered all of my questions, promised to take care of the bank requirements and arrange for a free health check.

I have been to a seminar in Dumaguete last year, the PRA rep from Cebu told be to email my particulars, I am Austalian and there was some doubt if I could get an extended military visa. She was going to get an answer from higher up. Long story short,,she never replied to any of my emails...so no confidence there with Cebu, PRA.

This is why I think I need a marketer. 1. Australian Military, My discharge certificate is mutilated, so cant be aposilled. I can get a service history, will that suffice?. 2. I have previously held a 13a visa and there are requirements pertaining to that. 3. All my money is already in the Philippines, BPI don't seem to want to help me with a declaration about it being US money. 4. NBI clearance, I cant find out if I need a finger print clearance, or name clearance (dumaguete or Manila). 5. I have not lived in my barangay for 5 years, so have to get an Australian Police clearance, do I need a fingerprint clearance or name only clearance. 6.My pension is from SSS in the USA, the computer generated statement and 1099 is unsigned, so it cant be aposilled, so what do I do about that?

I might stop thinking about this visa because the requirements are too ridiculous. $2930.00 to initiate visa, another $1,000 to round up all the aposille documents and travel to manila for NBI. I can buy a lot of tourist visa extensions for that much $$.

I invite all comments and suggestions on what I need to do..BTW, I talked to a marketer in Cebu, seems he has got cold feet and has not followed up with me.

I don't think there is a set rule on what must be provided for military service.  Can you not get a new copy, which is what I did from the US. All the final acceptances will go through the PRA and finally by the BI whether you use the PRA directly or a marketeer.
I believe you have to send USD from outside of the Philippines to either the banks in the US or to a bank designated by PRA in the Philippines.
I don't have to worry about the NBI since I have a fresh one from the US and I got that without finger prints.
A little confusing, you are Australian, served in the Australian military but you get a pension from the US.  In any event, you should be able to get several different documents from SSA online.  The US consulate where I live in Thailand refuses to authenticate ANY document which is financial including Social Security.  So I plan on just submitting what I got.  Surely, PRA has dealt with SSA documents many times before.
When talking about the cost, I look at it over the course of many years.  On top of that the hassle of doing multiple extensions, getting (and paying for) an ACR card and having to leave the country every 3 years, makes the fee very reasonable.  Also, $1500 (or more depending on the SRRV option) is still yours at some time.
But, if you are anywhere near a PRA office, just stop in and discuss your concerns.  I was able to get answers to all of mine by phone.

I work in the USA for 21 years and earned 40 points. Thank god I did, Australia wont give me "Veterans Pension" because don't live there.

Not sure about getting stuff from SSS online. I have an account but cannot access it outside of the states. But I will try that again. About the money, I might just wire it back to my bank in North Cakalaka and let them grab it from there...the rest can be worked thru.

Appreciate if you could PM your progress. Am interested to know exactly what docs you needed to Aposille and any extra hoops (if any) you had to jump thru.

AaronAardvark wrote:

I have no problem accessing my SSA account from Thailand.  I think they might want to email me a code to enter.  In any event I access multiple times.
The SRRV deposit money MUST be sent from outside of the Philippines to particular banks.  There are two banks in the US, JPmorgan and Citibank than can be used.  Those banks will forward the money to the banks in the Philippines.  Also, there are banks in the Philippines that can accept the deposit from outside of the country.  There are about 10 approved banks that this can be done in.  The PRA in Clark/Angeles tell me that once I go to them they will send me to the approved bank which will set up the account for me.  That bank will then provide the Swift code and account number where the money can be sent.  Again, a cash deposit cannot be done.
Once I actually get there and start the process (March 2), I will be happy to post what worked and what didn't.

Thank you for the updates. I tried the ssa site, it was off line but I did see how to request a benifits letter. BTW, did you have to get your benefits letter Aposilled or notorized??