BI Update - Dress code and processing

[Gus 972]

Needed an extension, due today , and an exit clearance, as Im heading off to Thailand in Dec, visa run, and meet up with family for xmas.

Decided to test the recent dress code changes, so wore the usual nice shirt and shoes etc, just swapped the long trouser for shorts.

Off I went yesterday to Lapu Lapu BI office, because I dislike the " Mandaue experince ".They still have the old dress code posted on the door, and when I mentioned that to the guy at the desk just inside the door, he said yes sir, before u not get in, in shorts ! But he was pretty relaxed, cos he had his mp4 earplugs in, and his sunglasses on ..inside !

So, it was the usual 8 to 10 minute process, only 2 others there.. BUT ....cannot do Exit clearance here sir, must go to Mandaue ... bugga !

Well I had an afternoon appointmen so good excuse to stay in city overnight, and go in the morning.

Off to Mandaue at 8am in my shorts again... old dress code posted on the door, but no comment from guard, but curious looks from all the guys in long trousers.

I had, my 3 photos,passport, and travel docs, as instructed... after filling in the form with the girl at the desk, the big guy was not there, I then had to go outside, get the form notarized, and get a photocopy of my ACR- I Card, by the time i got back, the place was filled up. Anyway, I went through the Recieving, Cashier, and Releasing process, plus Thumb printed ..In all took about 75 mins, but it looked like the normal visa extension taking about 45 mins.

I asked, if I could have done this at the airport, to which the reply was definitely NO SIr , so what if i turn up without it ? You wont be allowed to leave the country sir ..So those who still think u can do it at the airport ..be warned !

[Skywalker 19,177]

A couple of months ago I took myself to Bangkok, and my butler also came along.  I paid for his exit clearance at the airport.  Is it only locals that can do that then?

 

Just curious.  I've not stayed for a single period in excess of 6 months, so never needed to get it.

[Woolf 8,550]

If you stay more than 6 month as a tourist in the philippines, you need to go get an Exit Clearance Certificate (ECC) at the immigration office

 

If you are on a 13a visa, everything is done at the airport

Edited November 29, 2013 by Woolf

[+Salty Dog 69,193]

A couple of months ago I took myself to Bangkok, and my butler also came along.  I paid for his exit clearance at the airport.  Is it only locals that can do that then?

 

Just curious.  I've not stayed for a single period in excess of 6 months, so never needed to get it.

 

Exit clearance are not required for a Filipino citizen. His was probably the so called tourist tax.

[johnboy999 1,691]

A couple of months ago I took myself to Bangkok, and my butler also came along.  I paid for his exit clearance at the airport.  Is it only locals that can do that then?

 

Just curious.  I've not stayed for a single period in excess of 6 months, so never needed to get it.

 

That is the travel tax that you paid for your butler, not exit clearance. The ECC that is mentioned by Gus is a totally different thing!

[Skywalker 19,177]

I have the receipt in front of me.  It's called "Travel Tax" in the amount of 1620 pesos.

 

I am easily confused these days.  The fee's and taxes sometimes overwhelm my little brain.  

 

I've never come across such a tax in any other Country.  Sometimes there is an airport tax, but a tax just so you can travel is a strange one.

Edited November 29, 2013 by Skywalker

[johnboy999 1,691]

Even better, they levy it on ALL of their citizens, with just a few exemptions, even children have to pay (to be fair, they are only charged half price for the tax). Nice little earner!!

[udonthani 2,027]

I would always wear long trousers at the BoI office anyway, regardless of whether or not they were enforcing any dress code.

 

I am the same when I go out in the evenings too. A couple of nights ago I had a drink with a foreign friend in a videoke bar in a small Cebu town. The place is not flash, but decent. Soft furnishings. Not a spit and sawdust 5 peso in the slot kind of place. My friend was wearing shorts. I pointed out to him that of the 15 or so guys in the room, only two were wearing shorts, him and another foreigner. Each one of the dozen Filipino guys, almost all of whom were under 30, were wearing long trousers.

 

I'm in the city now and I will be wearing long trousers later too, when I am walking around in the evening, although right now in the afternoon, yes I am, wearing shorts. To me it just doesn't feel or look right walking around a city at night, in shorts.

[Woolf 8,550]

fees leaving philippines if you are here on a tourist visa

 

read post 6 and post 7

 

http://www.livingincebuforums.com/topic/49106-exit-visa/?p=500345

Edited November 29, 2013 by Woolf

[Monsoon 28,942]

They supply a public notary for free at the immigration head office. They should do so in the major substations too. But that would require consistency, maybe sometime this century, maybe.  

[Majorsco 3,400]

Exit clearance are not required for a Filipino citizen. His was probably the so called tourist tax.

How about Balikbayans, is an ECC needed?

[mikejwoodnz 515]

How about Balikbayans, is an ECC needed?

 

Both my wife and I had to leave the desk at Qantas in Manila Airport and go and buy some sort of minor departure tax - under 6 months visit and this was not the normal 500 p (or whatever) we expected at the final counter.

 

Edit :  I am Balikbayan and my wife is Pinay

Edited November 29, 2013 by mikejwoodnz

[SkyMan 23,737]

I would always...

Thanks for adding nothing of value to this thread.

[Paul 55,114]

 

 

my butler also came along.

 

What passport does he carry?

[Skywalker 19,177]

 

 

What passport does he carry?

 

Oh he's locally recruited.  Philippines passport, it was his first international flight.

 

The travel tax was a surprise to both of us.