visa extension behind 3 years

Hi and welcome to the forum. A difficult question that is plaguing many expats in and around the world. While I still hopefully have a couple of years left here in PH. before a move/visa run I have seen plenty of advice and opinions but personally I, if in your situation would be contacting my home country to know your rights and exit strategies. Aside would also be contacting immi here to explain your situation and their options/recommendations to help your situation. Being here for a long time you must have some recognition of local protocols as an expat and act accordingly.

Good luck and hope you sort it out.

Cheers, Steve.

Go to immigration.  There have been several reports that people have been able to get 3 - 6 month extensions on top of the 36 months.  Do not wait to get the extension.  If you are past the 36 months you will have to pay for the extension plus the overstay.

AaronAardvark wrote:

Go to immigration.  There have been several reports that people have been able to get 3 - 6 month extensions on top of the 36 months.  Do not wait to get the extension.  If you are past the 36 months you will have to pay for the extension plus the overstay.

that's very good news for bros reaching 36 months Visa.  Thanks bro.

Send a request to  BI in Manila and explain the problems. They Will give y a fair proposition

@Richard Yan doesn't happen in iloilo i have already enquired and was told by BI I must pay for residency 20kUSD or leave no other options, I can't do either I am in poor health with asthma and copd and I don't have 20k to deposit for residency

Welcome to the forum buko.

Some questions?

Are you an over stayer? Not renewed your visitor visa? A fine?

Can you clarify "deposit for residency" that BI is asking for? Are they suggesting you get an SRRV or are they taking the piss?

Perhaps clarify your situation and why BI are giving you a hard time for money, people here will try to advise and help.

Cheers, Steve.

The reason why there is no clear answer from a local BI branch is simply that no regulation for overstaying after 3 years exists!

The law states that you can stay up to 3 years. If you miss a renewal it's 500php fine each month.

Thats it!

But there is no regulation on what to do if you overstay 3+ years, therefore it lies within the discretionary scope of Manila Main BI to decide.

Usually, you need to file for a "Motion of reconsideration" WHY they should let you stay as a tourist for more than 3 years.

And you need to pay for that, and as said before there are no regulations on how much this should cost.

That's why it seems arbitrary and possibly is.

But - remember you are allowed up to 3 years - everything being that is the kindness of the local government - because you knew the 3-year rule!

When my SRRV was delayed I had to overstay nearly 1 year during Covid.

2 Motions of reconsideration cost me 2x 80k PHP - but that was way cheaper than the hassle of exiting during covid and not coming back for how many years.

Sorry to hear you got caught up in the Covid lock downs Goetz, happened to many of us, I arrived back the day they locked Manila down and I ended up retiring as I could leave but couldn't return in what turned out to be near 2 and a half years. Glad I stayed.

Cheers, Steve.

Puzzled as to how to stay for 3 years.

I arrived October 16th 2022 and was given a 30 day visa. Renewed for 30 days then renewed for 6 months followed by a further 6 months taking me to December 15 2023.

I was told by immigration in Manila that I could not extend again and I had to leave the country.

But I could come back although not stay for more than a total of 3 years.

It seems by the comments I have read that it is possible to stay for up to 3 years without a need for a visa run in December 2023.

Does anyone know the rule I can quote to the Manila BIL office in order to have my visa extended and avoid the visa run.

How do those that have stayed for 3 years get approval or was it just a Covid courtesy?

Thanks in advance

Laurence Briggs

Welcome to the forum Laurence,

Several things, I stay here for 3 years at a time and renew my visa every 2 months, my local immi office in La union won't do 6 month extensions, from my readings over the many years that in any 36 month stay you can only obtain/renew the 6 month extension twice within that 36 month period then 1 or 2 months per visitto immi. Go talk to your immi office and clarify your situation, Honestly? Intramuros immi is a pain in the ass, like pulling teeth from a hen.

While I don't know your status here as a US citizen you can legally stay here for 3 years as a terrorist with no questions asked then exit for a holiday, come back and start again.

Good luck.

Cheers, Steve.

@bigpearl thanks for taking the time to reply.