+to_dave007 6,024 Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 German friend of mine has serious issue. His passport expired during lockdown, and he is just now getting his "shyte" taken care of. He has appointment August 6 (or 9?) at the German embassy in Manila, and now must arrange his travel to Manila, to make sure he does not miss his appointment. Nothing can be done remotely because he has to deliver fingerprints. So he must physically go there. Anyone been to Manila and back in last 2 to 4 weeks? How did it go? Link to post Share on other sites
SkyMan 24,381 Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 40 minutes ago, to_dave007 said: German friend of mine has serious issue. His passport expired during lockdown, and he is just now getting his "shyte" taken care of. He has appointment August 6 (or 9?) at the German embassy in Manila, and now must arrange his travel to Manila, to make sure he does not miss his appointment. Nothing can be done remotely because he has to deliver fingerprints. So he must physically go there. Anyone been to Manila and back in last 2 to 4 weeks? How did it go? I believe PAL is doing CEB-MNL 3 times a day but can't give you anything beyond that. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
+to_dave007 6,024 Posted July 27, 2020 Author Share Posted July 27, 2020 1 hour ago, SkyMan said: I believe PAL is doing CEB-MNL 3 times a day but can't give you anything beyond that. Thanks. Hoping I can find someone who actually FLEW it in last month. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Administrator +Dafey 15,946 Posted July 27, 2020 Administrator Share Posted July 27, 2020 We're all waiting on your report! 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites
+to_dave007 6,024 Posted August 24, 2020 Author Share Posted August 24, 2020 The passport for my German friend (Werner) expired during COVID and he needs to get to the embassy in Makati and back to get it renewed. He is on tourist visa.. and his visa is expired.. and (as reported here previously) he can't extend his visa without renewing his passport. He is not a visitor to the Philippines, He lives here full time, and is a single father here. He wants to get his status here cleared up and he likes to keep his record here clean. Apparently Germany provides no ability for him to do this in Cebu, or by mail. He MUST go to Manila, or live with an expired passport. His first attempt was cancelled (by airlines) when Manila went back to MECQ. He's booked at embassy for his second attempt this Friday Aug 28 at 8am. Flights are booked on Cebu Pacific Thursday afternoon the 27th, with return late on 28th. He was unable to book online because of his expired passport, so he made trip to city to get the flight booked. Mask and face shield and sanitizer mandatory for flight. Booking hotel in Makati was not easy. Red Planet is close to the RCBC building (where the embassy is.. same as Canadian embassy) but did not answer the phone and showed as "fully booked" online. He tried 4 other hotels and 3 of the 4 did not answer the phone, and the last did.. and said they were fully booked. He begged without shame, and is booked now into their family room for Thursday night. It seems no COVID test at either end. I'll ask from him his documentation list for this trip and report it here, as well as anything out of ordinary I hear about for the trip. This thread is about the TRAVEL aspects of his journey.. not the passport or embassy aspects. I'm assuming that others, like me, would like to know the state of travel within PI just now. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites
+to_dave007 6,024 Posted August 25, 2020 Author Share Posted August 25, 2020 (edited) Sigh.. It's really NOT normal times. I said I wanted to make this thread about travel aspects of this trip, and NOT about the embassy.. but today the embassy issued THIS news, and cancelled Werner's appointment scheduled for this Friday the 28th. As if this process wasn't already as difficult as it could be. So now he must cancel the travel plans, and try again at a later time.. as yet unknown.. Edited August 25, 2020 by to_dave007 1 Link to post Share on other sites
MickyG 340 Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 surprised he needed a passport for a domestic flight, many locals do not have a passport and they fly internally Link to post Share on other sites
SkyMan 24,381 Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 14 minutes ago, MickyG said: surprised he needed a passport for a domestic flight, many locals do not have a passport and they fly internally I don't think I've ever had to enter passport info for a domestic flight but perhaps there's another new requirement. Link to post Share on other sites
+to_dave007 6,024 Posted August 25, 2020 Author Share Posted August 25, 2020 26 minutes ago, SkyMan said: I don't think I've ever had to enter passport info for a domestic flight but perhaps there's another new requirement. maybe he could have got away without it. I don't know.. Link to post Share on other sites
mikecon3 422 Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 A picture ID is required...for locals that could even be a school ID. I think most westerners are just used to handing over the passport. Guarantee if he didn't have it, they would ask for it! Sounds like he has my kind of luck! Link to post Share on other sites
SkyMan 24,381 Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 I got to Palawan once and the guard was demanding my passport. I said I don't have it. I was going to see if I still had a copy in my wallet and when he saw my DL he said, oh, ok, you live here. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
+to_dave007 6,024 Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 My German friend WAS able to get to the German embassy in manila back in September sometime.. and submitted his application for renewed passport, and it arrived here in the province early this week. He tells me it's the new 25 year passport available for Germans.. Never heard of a 25 year passport.. but does sound nice. All's well that ends well. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
Dave the Rave 5 Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Hello members: After arrival at the airport in LLC and the mandatory approved hotel quarantine waiting for a negative test result, how do you get home if you live in the province? I need to get to Argao. Are Ceres busses running? Can I take a taxi to the bus station to get on the bus? Will I need an official escort to go to Argao? How is the 14 day at home self-quarantine administered? Do I need to check in with the local barangay office? And then, after the quarantine period is finished, will I be able to travel back to Cebu City, or anywhere else for that matter? I need to visit the Immigration office in J Centre Mall. Are ferries running, for example, to Ormoc City and Tagbiliran? If running, is there any restriction on travel? Thanks for your always helpful input. Link to post Share on other sites
+to_dave007 6,024 Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Dave the Rave said: Hello members: After arrival at the airport in LLC and the mandatory approved hotel quarantine waiting for a negative test result, how do you get home if you live in the province? I need to get to Argao. Are Ceres busses running? Can I take a taxi to the bus station to get on the bus? Will I need an official escort to go to Argao? How is the 14 day at home self-quarantine administered? Do I need to check in with the local barangay office? And then, after the quarantine period is finished, will I be able to travel back to Cebu City, or anywhere else for that matter? I need to visit the Immigration office in J Centre Mall. Are ferries running, for example, to Ormoc City and Tagbiliran? If running, is there any restriction on travel? Thanks for your always helpful input. Q - After arrival at the airport in LLC and the mandatory approved hotel quarantine waiting for a negative test result, how do you get home if you live in the province? I need to get to Argao. A - Depends if you are approved (there is an approval process) for home quarantine or not. If approved for home quarantine, you'll be ESCORTED home (at your expense). If NOT approved.. you'll serve your 14 days quarantine at approved hotel (at your expense) and you'll leave the hotel free to travel home however you wish. Q - Are Ceres busses running? A - Yes.. on some routes. You can't get a bus to Dumaguette, Bacolod or Malapascua Island these days. I'm more familiar with what's happening NORTH of the city, but Argao should be no problem. Q - Can I take a taxi to the bus station to get on the bus? A - Taxi's are running.. Q - Will I need an official escort to go to Argao? A - If you will do home quarantine.. then yes. Q - How is the 14 day at home self-quarantine administered? Do I need to check in with the local barangay office? A - Not sure but I DOUBT they want to checking in to the barangay office. They'll likely send someone to make SURE you stay at home.. They may put up the yellow police tape around your home to alert everyone to the fact that you are under quarantine. And your neighbors will likely report you if you step off the property within 14 days.. so make 100% sure you know how you will get food within those 2 weeks. Someone at your home barangay must request approval for your home quarantine BEFORE you step on a plane to come to Philippines. I believe that you need the approval in your hands when you step OFF the plane, or there will be no home quarantine. Q - And then, after the quarantine period is finished, will I be able to travel back to Cebu City, or anywhere else for that matter? A - Travel within Cebu Island is ok, though you have protocols to observe and you must have a Q-Pass. There are checkpoints, and if you get stopped without one. well.. it won't be good for you.. Q - I need to visit the Immigration office in J Centre Mall. A - No problem. Q - Are ferries running, for example, to Ormoc City and Tagbiliran? A - No ferries for passenger service or private vehicles to to Ormoc or Negros. Don't know about Tagbiliran Q - If running, is there any restriction on travel? A - Yes. You'll need a travel pass and additional papers. ONLY essential travel will be authorized. IMHO not worth the trouble these days. When you arrive back.. Post your travel experience here to the forum in as much detail as you can. It's the ONLY way we can know what the travel situation is for others in your position. Edited November 12, 2020 by to_dave007 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites
lamoe 14,751 Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Quote Q - I need to visit the Immigration office in J Centre Mall. A - No problem. If your issue can be handled at the Mactan office do so - J Mall is operating under a different set of rules than Mactan regarding Visas / extensions recently 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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