Philippines visa overstay experience A-Z

 

After 16months with an overstay of fifteen in another country, I am finally onboard a flight, not back to my country, but to the US. Enriched with new experiences good and bad I now feel that I gained a drop of wisdom and I say drop, because foolish is he who thinks he is wise. I am not wise, but wiser.

I have travelled a lot before the pandemic. Honestly, I don’t like writing about the "pandemic" but unfortunately it is because of the pandemic that I am now on a new path. In fact my profession is within the travel industry, which is another reason this pandemic has hit us hard.

The pandemic has caused several other difficult challenges : financial, relationship, mental and physical. It was a journey that brought me closer to God, but that is a post for another day.

Being back at travelling is exciting and very different, but I feel like even though more is required from us. There is changes, positive. Perhaps it is because I am an individual who sees the glass half full rather than half empty, but sleeping on a flight with my mouth open is no longer a worry as no one can see what is going on beneath the mask. You don’t have to worry about waking up with morning breath ordering your meal from the flight attendant. So even if the mask lay grooves into my ears, there is with  other things that I prefer to wear it.

Talking about the flight however is a post for another day.
This post is about how I got here. And the all you need to know about overstaying in the Philippines. The A-Z I was searching google in desperation, and finding nothing in-depth enough to know.

I entered the Philippines last March 2020 with a lockdown nipping at my heels. The day after I entered the country it announced its lockdown. I thought it to be lifted by the time of my departure, but 12 April arrived with a cancellation notification in my email. The rest is history, one year and four months past.

I didn’t know where to start and on top of that I was terrified. I searched the web but couldn’t find anything in depth enough to know how to proceed.

Well the day arrived that I had to approach this situation.
I knew that there was going to be a great fine for overstaying 15 months of my visa, and approached the bureau of immigration in January with an email, requesting a waiver of penalties due to COVID and the lockdown.

I didn’t get any response, until March. A email popped up amongst my scam, stating that my email has been forwarded to the commissioner for approval and signature, and that I should be following up from the below number 465 2400 local 103.

I gave it about 2 weeks as I figured considering how long it took to receive the email response.

After 2 weeks I decided to follow up. The number, busy. Every single time I called, busy. Discouraged that day, I postponed another week of calling with follow up emails. After a week when I called, it was like the heavens opened above me.
"Hello, Sir...
I am a calm person who believes that kindness makes life easier when dealing with someone in a difficult situation.
Eventually the lady informed me that there was no application of mine received. I read to her from the email that was send to me by the legal division who forwarded it to her the department, which is the office of the commissioner. 

This email FYI, I have received 2 months after I send my application. Receiving a response after 2 months, felt like a breakthrough after nearly giving up hope, just to be told that there is no application of mine. Understand my frustration, when I was told to call the division that sent me the email. I did. I had no choice, only to be told that they did forward it. So now I was stuck in a rut. One division tells me they sent it and the other division tells me they didn’t receive it. I called many times, eventually broke down and explained my situation, only to be answered with a " Sorry Sir "

"Sorry?"

What I find hardest to fathom, is that this situation I found myself in was due to COVID.
But, found no understanding and no lenience. Just expectations.
I eventually gave up calling, their incompetence just disrupted my days. Another 3 months past, hereafter countless prayers I was offered an opportunity, I had to leave the country for. I had to move fast and look people in the eyes for help.

And so my journey to the Philippines Bureau of immigration started. This is steps A-Z if you want to know the consequences and requirements, in depth of a visa overstay in the Philippines.

Tip: rather try not to overstay, as the procedure is tedious and frustrating, you will wish you haven’t.

I went to the immigration office where I filed my motion for reconsideration at window 31. You have to make an online booking before going, but the online calendar selection did not work, so we went without a booking and just explained to the security. It is best to go there in the morning as I found early morning to be quieter at this specific window. It is not really a window that is very busy, it is just if you go after 3pm, security will not let you in even though they only close at 5pm.

So i filed a "motion for reconsideration" on the 8th of June and received a receipt with a date and phone number 465 2400 local 103,  where I had to follow up after 21 working days. The estimate time of release was 7th of July. To me this is a bit mind boggling as i have already been overstaying 15 months which I had to pay a hefty fine for. So why not speed up the process so you could leave the country as soon as possible.

I received a "return to work" request from the US with a ticket to return on June 21, so I decided to follow up after 5 working days instead and was told that they can speed up the process if I can present a flight ticket.

So the next day we went back in person with a copy of the flight ticket.
Tip: Print 3 copies. Cause you will need more later.
We presented the ticket, asked to wait, which was not to long until we were directed to the 4th floor where the process actually started. Room 420, now I cannot tell you exactly what happens in each of these rooms. But we had to wait at 420 for about 30min, until we were directed to 404. We waited at 404 for some time, and decided to go for lunch first and return. By the time we returned, our papers were already back at room 420 and we were advised. Now 1pm, to wait until 2.30pm for someone’s signature. Each time we expected it to be the last wait.

2.30pm came, excitedly we went back to room 420 and was directed to the second floor. 208, which I understand was the office of the commissioner, for signature and approval. We waited…and waited…after a while we became a little impatient as we expected it to be finalized that day, which was a Wednesday. 2.30pm turned in 5pm, and staff began to clock out, when we overheard the security tell someone they wont be able to pay as the cashiers is already closed. 6pm we were informed that our application was approved but that we had to return the next day to pay. At this point we did not know how much, but one of the clerks informed us that it will be between PHP10 000 and PHP15 000.

 

The next day, the Thursday, we returned but decided to go a little later, as all we needed to do was pick up and pay.  At window 31 we were directed to window 30 where the lady handed us a paper, pay PHP10 000 and the PHP 5000 for express lane. Also obtain a NBI clearance. We went straight to the NBI office and I got priority as a foreigner without having to make an online booking. However we had to pay online and obtain a reference number to proceed with the processing.   When I got to biometrics the clerk couldn’t continue as there was an error on my online application which was different from my passport, so she informed me that I had to open a new profile, redo the application, pay again, without getting a refund for the first. And then come back.

After that I was send to the 3^rd floor for finger prints, once done, I received a release date receipt for 22 June, keep in mind my flight was June 21. I stated this and was then directed to the 4^th floor IRD division, where I had to request priority release. Now here is why I said print more copies of your flight or any documents that will serve as your reason for expedite. I sat outside the office on a chair waiting for some time, as there is a notice asking you to wait. No one came to assist. So eventually I entered politely and asked, the lady asked me if I have proof of flight, I showed her on my phone, she requested a hard copy, I asked if possible to email it, where after she replied rudely through tightened square mouthed lips and long teeth

 

“hardkape"    

 

At this point I was already stressed out of my wits. Pressured with a departure date, I found this overstay situation in everyway, has put me in a situation of humiliation.  The people I encountered was put in a position of power by the unfortunate situation I found myself in. After I returned with the hardcopy of my flight to the 4^th floor, I was given a receipt to pick up my papers on the 3^rd floor and return to the 4^th floor afterwards.. FYI , this was all happening on the Thursday, in the meantime my flight go rescheduled for Sunday morning.  In the IRD department they informed me that my prioritized NBI clearance can be collected on the Friday at 3pm.  This would leave me with 2hours on the Friday to finalize the procedure at the immigration office. I tried to explain this to the head of the IRD department and the NBI office where upon he replied. You will have enough time.

“If you are not pleased with our procedure, then go back to the immigration office and restart the process" he said. I asked him kindly, and did not quite understand his obnoxious response.

But I went on my way frustrated with the power trippers I was faced to deal with. Frustrated that it was another day unfinalized, another day I would have to travel back and forth on a 3hr trip to the city of Manila.

We decided, and luckily we did, to go to the immigration office before returning to the NBI office. We asked if possible we pay the PHP 15 000 before picking up my NBI clearance, which was suppose to be at 3pm. They let us and gave us a receipt and directed us back to window 31, then at 31 they informed us that they will now compute the charged. Confused, we asked so what was the PHP 15 000.  To be told.

“That is only the legal fees, Sir.”

NOTE:  they do not inform you of this before so you can come prepared.

I did not have enough money and we had to contact my sister in law in Norway for assistance. Time was running out, if we lost Friday, we lost a departure date.  

The new computation I had to pay, was PHP 32 780. My sister in law deposited the money into our account, ready to pay we went to withdraw, this is when it became complicated, we had a withdraw limit of only PHP 20 000. They do not accept cards, so make sure you have enough cash on hand for surprises like this. I contacted my sister asking if she could transfer money with western union, we waited. She got to the bank to do western union, imagine my discouragement when I received a text, with many red angry emoji

They are offline, working on the cables, ill wait.

At this point we had 1h and 15 min left before the immigration office closed. 15min and loads of stress and tears later wee received the MTCN. 4pm, 1hr before the immigration office closes. We ran back ended in a long line to pay the fees, directed to another window, back to make multiple copies of all my documents, by then it was already 4.50pm. We finalized everything exactly at 5pm and was informed that my passport would be delivered to the airport on the Sunday where I will be escorted by immigration. It was all prayers. If western union stayed offline, I would not be able to finalize and depart. It was completely in the Lord's hands.

Make sure you asked everything, you will not be told anything until needed. Have at least PHP 50 000 in Cash with you. Make 5 copies of everything, thoroughly go over any personal details you fill in online or in hard copy. And suck balls and lick ass of every government official possible, give them their 5min of fame, let them feel as powerful as possible, do this to prevent complicating your life more.

This is my overstay experience from A-Z. All I can say is, rather do not overstay. It will totally complicate your life and disrupt your peace. It was a prayer upon prayer, until we were finally in the air travelling to the US.