Comments on: Emigration Clearance Certificate (update February 2009)

by: Jim Sibbick

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:31:25 +0000

If you need it at all, you will have to get it at the Bureau of Immigration. However, I don’t believe you will need it. I believe one of the uses of the ACR-i card is to avoid stuff like Emigration Clearance Certificate.

Please contact the Bureau of Immigration and report back here what they tell you!

Regards; Jim

by: stanley.kyle

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:57:19 +0000

HI, I just obtained my 13aPerm visa a week ago. I will be leaving next week for travel. I am an ACR-i card holder. Do I have to get the ECC before going to the airport of can i get it their..

thanks

Kyle

by: RichardinQC

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:08:04 +0000

Just wanted to share my experience last year. I had been living in the Phils for about 10 months (tourist VISA). Heading home (USA) to see my family for the holidays. The lady that reviewed my passport for departure asked about some stamp I knew nothing about (call me Newbie). I guess it was the ECC. She called over another guy and he informed me I was supposed to get something from BI office. It was late at night and few people were there. He asked for P1,200 or P1,500 fee don’t recall exactly, stamped my passport and sent me through. Color me Lucky, I could tell from his reaction that it was outside normal procedure, but either his kindness of heart, or pity on me got me by. This time out I will have all the paperwork in hand. Don’t you just love these people! Thanks for all the great information!

by: Jim Sibbick

Sun, 17 May 2009 10:40:42 +0000

Thankyou, I have had one item of your article clarified.

That is, if you are a tourist, you definitely still have to obtain an Emigration Clearance Certificate from the Bureau of Immigration.

ACR-I card holders can arrange theirs at the airport, no photos required. I presume as a long term resident, you are an ACR-I card holder. That is why you personally don’t have to go to the Bureau of Immigration.

I am still concerned about the agents who will arrange an Emigration Clearance Certificate with out a personal appearance at the Bureau of Immigration. I have no doubt that some are doing it. However, I am not sure what they are doing is legal.

Regards; Jim Sibbick

by: morrisl01

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:17 +0000

I’ve been here since 2001 and travelled out of the country a few times, I’ve never been to the BOI to get a ECC. I just ask the travel agent and they do it for me for a small fee. You can also pay at the airport, there is a counter where you pay before going to the Immigration Officer counter, but I prefer to get it before hand in case there is a problem - it is also one less step at the airport and as a nervous traveller it suits me to not have that worry.
The best place to ask is at a reputable travel agency - they will know what the requirements are - if they don’t, they are not a good agency to use.

by: Jim Sibbick

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:28:08 +0000

Sorry, I have not heard of anyone arranging an ECC at the airport. What I have heard of is people being denied boarding and missing their flight.

At the airport is not the time to discover you still have paperwork to be completed.

My suggestion is that you get to the nearest Bureau of Immigration as soon as possible. Make sure you take your passport and 3 passport style photos.

Regards: Jim Sibbick

by: angeldc

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:13:25 +0000

Hello, i’m having problems upon reading your blog. Because before I thought I can just pay the emigration clearance certificate upon my departure here in NAIA. Can I still do that now? Because I’ll be leaving in 6 days and I just learned about the new procedure. If I process my ECC will I have it on one day? Can you please help me, thank you. btw if ever i’ll be processing my ECC here in Intramuros, Manila.

Thank you and I hope you can answer and guide me, hoefully ASAP.

by: Jim Sibbick

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:42:03 +0000

Once you are married, you can enter the Philippines together and stay in the Philippines for a year without a visa. You can use the year to arrange a 13a visa which is a visa for the spouse of a Filipino and will allow you to stay in the Philippines indefinitely. As a 13a visa holder, you will also be able to own your own business.

Until you are married, you can only enter the Philippines as a tourist, unless you arrange some other type of visa such as a retirement visa.

As a tourist, you can’t arrange in advance to stay longer than 59 days. Once in the Philippines, you can extend your stay every 2 months until you have been in the Philippines for 16 months. At the end of the 16 months, you can go for a shopping trip to Hong Kong then go back to the Philippines and start your 16 months all over again.

Regards: Jim Sibbick

by: billw

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:53:47 +0000

query! i am irish (male) with a philippine partner, living in ireland. we are not married but do have a 1 yo baby girl. i am thinking of moving to philippines for an indefinate period to write, bringing our daughter with me. Is it possible for me to get a visa to stay in philippines? what advice. Billw

by: Jim Sibbick

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:33:40 +0000

It sounds as if she is travelling on a Philippines passport.

If that is the case, the Emigration Clearance Certificate will not apply as the main purpose of the Emigration Clearance Certificate is to confirm that a foreigner is not wanted by the police.

It will not even apply if she becomes a US citizen as she will then enter the Philippines as a Balikbayan. Former Filipino citizens are allowed to enter and stay in the the Philippines, without a visa, for a year. At the end of the 12 months, Balibayans are not required to have an Emigration Clearance Certificate. This has been confirmed for me by Balikbayans who have stayed longer than 6 months.

Regards: Jim Sibbick