Overstay policies

The BI website is pretty thorough, but certain things aren't addressed, like what if you DO overstay a visa.  My tourist visa hits the 59-day expiration (got the 29 day extension before hitting 30) this next Monday the 11th.   I'm in an odd situation, but to keep it brief, someone who sponsored my stay here has disappeared, I have almost no money left at this point, and cannot afford the ACR card and waiting for it to show up before leaving, but am not sure I will make it out of here before Monday, as I have this financial situation.   I will get my U.S. tax refund in about two weeks, but can't do much before then.  Is there just a fine I pay upon exiting the country?  How does this work?  I know in this part of the world things can be "subjective" in terms of who you ask in immigration (at least that's how it was in Cambodia when I was there - five different officers will have five different sets of rules and five different levels of fines), so I was hoping to get the word from anyone with direct knowledge of how this works.  Thank you!

And just putting this out there, but I'm a web developer, and if anyone needs any work done, I'm happy to earn the money for my flight sometime this week to avoid any potential difficulties in leaving on time.

You have a business but no savings or line of credit?  Perhaps you could do a short local flight and back to get A new 30 days.  Counting on a tax refund when the gov could be shutting down again on 2/15 might be cutting it close.  IRS just started tax season on 1/28, so getting a refund 3 weeks later is being very optimistic.

I was working for another company, it was not my business.

My taxes were filed on the 28th, and are due to be refunded before another shutdown (which is only hypothetical right now, and frankly, doubtful in my opinion).

Enltguy wrote:

I was working for another company, it was not my business.

My taxes were filed on the 28th, and are due to be refunded before another shutdown (which is only hypothetical right now, and frankly, doubtful in my opinion).


When the IRS started up again they had 5 million pieces of snail mail to open.  Good luck on getting a refund by 2/15.

Two years ago, I goofed thinking I had 60 days instead of 59! I had purchased a round trip ticket which couldn't be changed. I go prancing past customs thinking I was headed to my plane when I got escorted to another window. I explained my situation, and got a discount on my overstay fine! I only paid $130.00 or so to be able to leave. The fine full amount is huge! Had I overstayed a week I would have been levied the full amount for sure. You don't leave without paying, in cash. Not sure about CC's. Get someone to Moneygram or Western Union you some funds. I don't know if you would be detained, but you better keep your Visa payments up to date, because there is no love or slack given. Best wishes!

I just renewed my tourist visa - goofed up with the holiday yesterday and so was a day late. They didn't care that it was a holiday. My fault I wasn't paying attention. 1000p fine for one day. I am not clear however on whether it goes up by the day or not.

I would second the opinion to have someone send a WU so you can extend it or get out.

pnwcyclist wrote:

I just renewed my tourist visa - goofed up with the holiday yesterday and so was a day late. They didn't care that it was a holiday. My fault I wasn't paying attention. 1000p fine for one day. I am not clear however on whether it goes up by the day or not.

I would second the opinion to have someone send a WU so you can extend it or get out.


What's funny but I think you must compare the Phil's visa policy with your US visa policy.
So .....

Wunhotttuna wrote:

Two years ago, I goofed thinking I had 60 days instead of 59! I had purchased a round trip ticket which couldn't be changed. I go prancing past customs thinking I was headed to my plane when I got escorted to another window. I explained my situation, and got a discount on my overstay fine! I only paid $130.00 or so to be able to leave. The fine full amount is huge! Had I overstayed a week I would have been levied the full amount for sure. You don't leave without paying, in cash. Not sure about CC's. Get someone to Moneygram or Western Union you some funds. I don't know if you would be detained, but you better keep your Visa payments up to date, because there is no love or slack given. Best wishes!


What's funny but I think you must compare the Phil's visa policy with your US visa policy.
So .....

pby92 wrote:

What's funny but I think you must compare the Phil's visa policy with your US visa policy.
So .....


Yes. 

Phil's tourist visa policy:  Free 29 day Tourist Visa with proof that you are going to leave the country (outgoing plane ticket), then you apply for a 30 day extension and then pay.  Cost runs about $30-$35 per month plus transportation costs, plus ACR-I card after 60 days.  Cost per year of about $410+, depending on if you get charged express lane fees on renewal. No working in the Philippines allowed.

US tourist visa policy:  $160 application fee & interview to show evidence that you have sufficient means to live on while in the US and reason to return to the Phil's.  Visa is a 10 year, multiple entry visa with no additional costs.  1 caviat is you must leave the USA every 6 months but having a plane ticket in hand not required.  No working in the US allowed.

The Philippines has a 1 year multiple entry visa, cost is $160 if I remember correctly but is only issued in foreign embassies.  You must leave the Philippines every 60 days on this visa.  And again, no working allowed in the Philippines on this visa.

Hobbit112 wrote:
pby92 wrote:

What's funny but I think you must compare the Phil's visa policy with your US visa policy.
So .....


Yes. 

Phil's tourist visa policy:  Free 29 day Tourist Visa with proof that you are going to leave the country (outgoing plane ticket), then you apply for a 30 day extension and then pay.  Cost runs about $30-$35 per month plus transportation costs, plus ACR-I card after 60 days.  Cost per year of about $410+, depending on if you get charged express lane fees on renewal. No working in the Philippines allowed.

US tourist visa policy:  $160 application fee & interview to show evidence that you have sufficient means to live on while in the US and reason to return to the Phil's.  Visa is a 10 year, multiple entry visa with no additional costs.  1 caviat is you must leave the USA every 6 months but having a plane ticket in hand not required.  No working in the US allowed.

The Philippines has a 1 year multiple entry visa, cost is $160 if I remember correctly but is only issued in foreign embassies.  You must leave the Philippines every 60 days on this visa.  And again, no working allowed in the Philippines on this visa.


Was not speaking about cost was speaking about
how it's easy to get a visa for us to stay in Philippines and how it's not in US or France for Filipino.
To all foreigners who complain on this forum
about overstay and so on

pby92 wrote:

Was not speaking about cost was speaking about
how it's easy to get a visa for us to stay in Philippines and how it's not in US or France for Filipino.
To all foreigners who complain on this forum
about overstay and so on


The Philippines is currently a Tourist Destination for the world and tourism is their biggest industry. They want people to come and spend their monies here so they make it easy for tourists to come here, but not to stay long.

The overstay is the problem and much is because they enter the US under false pretenses, i.e., tourist visa when their real intent is to overstay and find a job.

Compare getting a work visa in the Philippines vs. getting one in your own country.

Well you can stay in the PH as long as you want with a tourist visa. Try to do that in Europe or US ... Many foreigners are working in the PH with a tourist visa even though it is forbidden

geolefrench wrote:

Well you can stay in the PH as long as you want with a tourist visa. Try to do that in Europe or US ... Many foreigners are working in the PH with a tourist visa even though it is forbidden


You can stay in the Philippines on a tourist visa for a maximum of 3 years, then you are required to leave the country.  You can then return and start the tourist visa process all over again. 

"Working in the Philippines on a tourist visa", first off, why?  Wages are so low it's not worth it. Or do you mean like the American who was running a resort on Boracay who has been caught and is waiting for extradition and blacklisting in a Bureau of Immigration jail? 

Anyone can do anything forbidden/illegal anywhere as long as they are willing to pay the consequences when they are caught and then suffer the consequences.

There were 500 Indians and Chinese arrested recently in PH. Most entered with tourists visas.
Yes every 3 years you can spend a week end in Hong Kong and then reenter the Philippines for 3 years. It is quite generous from the Philippines. Thats why I am also pissed off when foreigners are complaining about their overstay in the PH.

geolefrench wrote:

There were 500 Indians and Chinese arrested recently in PH. Most entered with tourists visas.
Yes every 3 years you can spend a week end in Hong Kong and then reenter the Philippines for 3 years. It is quite generous from the Philippines. Thats why I am also pissed off when foreigners are complaining about their overstay in the PH.


Yes seems hobbit112 don't want to understand our message

pby92 wrote:
Hobbit112 wrote:
pby92 wrote:

What's funny but I think you must compare the Phil's visa policy with your US visa policy.
So .....


Yes. 

Phil's tourist visa policy:  Free 29 day Tourist Visa with proof that you are going to leave the country (outgoing plane ticket), then you apply for a 30 day extension and then pay.  Cost runs about $30-$35 per month plus transportation costs, plus ACR-I card after 60 days.  Cost per year of about $410+, depending on if you get charged express lane fees on renewal. No working in the Philippines allowed.

US tourist visa policy:  $160 application fee & interview to show evidence that you have sufficient means to live on while in the US and reason to return to the Phil's.  Visa is a 10 year, multiple entry visa with no additional costs.  1 caviat is you must leave the USA every 6 months but having a plane ticket in hand not required.  No working in the US allowed.

The Philippines has a 1 year multiple entry visa, cost is $160 if I remember correctly but is only issued in foreign embassies.  You must leave the Philippines every 60 days on this visa.  And again, no working allowed in the Philippines on this visa.


Was not speaking about cost was speaking about
how it's easy to get a visa for us to stay in Philippines and how it's not in US or France for Filipino.
To all foreigners who complain on this forum
about overstay and so on


Many who enter the USA legally overstay their visa, which is why it is more difficult to get into the USA.  Many sneak into the USA for the economic opportunities.

pby92 wrote:
Wunhotttuna wrote:

Two years ago, I goofed thinking I had 60 days instead of 59! I had purchased a round trip ticket which couldn't be changed. I go prancing past customs thinking I was headed to my plane when I got escorted to another window. I explained my situation, and got a discount on my overstay fine! I only paid $130.00 or so to be able to leave. The fine full amount is huge! Had I overstayed a week I would have been levied the full amount for sure. You don't leave without paying, in cash. Not sure about CC's. Get someone to Moneygram or Western Union you some funds. I don't know if you would be detained, but you better keep your Visa payments up to date, because there is no love or slack given. Best wishes!


What's funny but I think you must compare the Phil's visa policy with your US visa policy.
So .....


Yes, your message was very unclear as pby92 moved the issue from being fined for overstaying to comparing the two countries visa policies.

It is my belief that if you violate a countries policies/laws there should be no complaint as you should be aware of the consequences ahead of time. 

Thinking that the authorities should let you off for a violation of one day is simplistic, the line has been drawn in ink and that is what THEY must obey or THEY suffer consequences.