About to head to the Phils for Christmas/New Years and return with my wife :)

[srogue 0]

Hey guys. I am about to head to the Phils to be with my wife and her family for Christmas and New Years.

I have a couple of questions. For one, my wife needs to get her stamp on her Passport/Visa from the CFO. She has already attended the CFO, and just needs the stamp. How long does this take and can it be done the day we depart the Phils in mid January?

One problem though is that I will be there for more than 21 days! I think I will be there for 24 days total... what do I need to be able to extend my visa? I heard that if you are married to a Phil. citizen, you can stay longer, is that true?

Also, I found airfare from Manila to Cebu on the 26th of Dec is about 4-5 times normal price! Has anyone sailed on the super ferries, or know any other safe or acceptable methods of getting from Manila to cebu without spending an arm and a leg? I can pay the ticket price, but would prefer to save the money on having fun over the holidays!

Lastly, if anyone has any advice for doing things in the Phils before we depart for America, please let me know! Things like getting her hair done in the Phils before we depart (its a ton cheaper there than in the states!), already had dental work done for her and myself, but any other things we might need to do beforehand or things we need to know or prepare for at the POE etc would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you guys!

[srogue 0]

Oh, and one other thing. Our POE will be Guam. Does anyone have any experience with that as a POE, and we have about two hours between flights, will that be enough time? Thanks!

[George&Hazel 1]

I am headed there the 28th this month for interview on the 4th. Good luck on your pink.

[srogue 0]

I am headed there the 28th this month for interview on the 4th. Good luck on your pink.

Thanks! We already have our spouse visa now, so we are good to go. Just visiting with her and her family for the Christmas and New Years season one last time before she moves to the USA. It is an exciting time and I am looking forward to it very much!

My wife's medical and interview were extremely fast and easy. I pray you guys will have an easy time as well, and a late Christmas present

[Brettanne 1]

Hey guys. I am about to head to the Phils to be with my wife and her family for Christmas and New Years.

I have a couple of questions. For one, my wife needs to get her stamp on her Passport/Visa from the CFO. She has already attended the CFO, and just needs the stamp. How long does this take and can it be done the day we depart the Phils in mid January?

One problem though is that I will be there for more than 21 days! I think I will be there for 24 days total... what do I need to be able to extend my visa? I heard that if you are married to a Phil. citizen, you can stay longer, is that true?

Also, I found airfare from Manila to Cebu on the 26th of Dec is about 4-5 times normal price! Has anyone sailed on the super ferries, or know any other safe or acceptable methods of getting from Manila to cebu without spending an arm and a leg? I can pay the ticket price, but would prefer to save the money on having fun over the holidays!

Lastly, if anyone has any advice for doing things in the Phils before we depart for America, please let me know! Things like getting her hair done in the Phils before we depart (its a ton cheaper there than in the states!), already had dental work done for her and myself, but any other things we might need to do beforehand or things we need to know or prepare for at the POE etc would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you guys!

The CFO sticker/stamp will be done in 30 mins. (based on my experience) as you've said she already attended the seminar. If you plans to stay longer than 21 days, you must apply for an extension at the Philippine Bureau of Immigration and Deportation's main office at Intramuros, Manila or at any of its provincial offices and it has nothing to do whether you are married to a filipina citizen or not.

A treat on a beauty parlor would be a good idea before coming here. I pampered myself (beauty parlor, spa, dental, last OB visit) before flying here as I know spa and dental are expensive here.

And oh don't forget the farewell party. Please enjoy the holiday in the Philippines!

[Scott and Mhay 57]

It took me about an hour and a half to do my visa extension at the bureau of immigration. Nothing spectacular. Go there with a pen and a copy of your passport....of course you can purchase these things there...but it's free if you go there already with it.

[sephlijane 0]

Hey guys. I am about to head to the Phils to be with my wife and her family for Christmas and New Years.

I have a couple of questions. For one, my wife needs to get her stamp on her Passport/Visa from the CFO. She has already attended the CFO, and just needs the stamp. How long does this take and can it be done the day we depart the Phils in mid January?

One problem though is that I will be there for more than 21 days! I think I will be there for 24 days total... what do I need to be able to extend my visa? I heard that if you are married to a Phil. citizen, you can stay longer, is that true?

Also, I found airfare from Manila to Cebu on the 26th of Dec is about 4-5 times normal price! Has anyone sailed on the super ferries, or know any other safe or acceptable methods of getting from Manila to cebu without spending an arm and a leg? I can pay the ticket price, but would prefer to save the money on having fun over the holidays!

Lastly, if anyone has any advice for doing things in the Phils before we depart for America, please let me know! Things like getting her hair done in the Phils before we depart (its a ton cheaper there than in the states!), already had dental work done for her and myself, but any other things we might need to do beforehand or things we need to know or prepare for at the POE etc would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you guys!

......based in my experienced (CFO) i just took 15 mins cuz i went there really early.as is they just open...bout your extension Yes!!!! you can extend staying in the phils married or not just be there as early as possible cuz ther will be a long queue...goodluck on your journey....

[tallcoolone 102]

If your married you get a 1 year Visa into PI.

I overstayed my first trip, and I just told them at the airport that we were married (Still courting her at the time). It was no issue.

If you gonna get your girl any plastic surgery, Nose Lifts are popular in PI, they are about 5 times cheaper than the USA, and USA Plastic Surgeons are very poor at doing Nose Jobs on Asians.

####### jobs are 4 times cheaper in PI compared to USA.

I have taken the Super Shuttles many times, Never from Manila to Cebu, but for up to 2 hour rides, it kind set up like a airplane on the inside.

For some crazy reason the girls like to get their hair bonded, which I think straighten, to me almost all girls already have straight hair, I think they also put some kind of shine on it also.

If I was you I would be going to all the ####### fights, drinking, eating, and riding motorbikes all over the place, and enjoying the Philippines

[Scott and Mhay 57]

I thought that 1 year visa was only if you were arriving with your wife?

[griffin 7]

Greetings!

I would not recommend by boat but definitely by plane.Airfare tickets are very cheap nowadays esp. if you know your travel dates way ahead of time then you may avail the promo fare otherwise may still use go fare, all you got to do is purchase the tickets online, they have the go fare as low as P1,465.00 otherwise when you purchase the day you will fly then it will be as high as P5,450.00 plus pesos oneway.May compare the price online with the specific dates.

Buy and purchase tickets online via WWW.CEBUPACIFIC.COM

Goodluck!

[Lady AA 0]

"Also, I found airfare from Manila to Cebu on the 26th of Dec is about 4-5 times normal price! Has anyone sailed on the super ferries, or know any other safe or acceptable methods of getting from Manila to cebu without spending an arm and a leg? I can pay the ticket price, but would prefer to save the money on having fun over the holidays!"

You can ride at SuperFerry... here is the link:

http://www.superferry.com.ph/

My aunt's in Cebu is always using SuperFerry when they come here in Manila, they have good employees and also when i went to Palawan for a vacation i also use SuperFerry. Their ticket price is really affordable. I hope this helps.

[tallcoolone 102]

I thought that 1 year visa was only if you were arriving with your wife?

I think that is the rule

But it is often overlooked.

Rule of thumb is if you overstay just pay the fine at the airport.

Usually they don't catch it

[srogue 0]

Thanks guys for the really good advice! I will surely enjoy this trip, as it will be during the holidays and one of from now on we will not have to be apart anymore. I will look into the superferry, as the prices online for that date are around 5000+ pesos unfortuantely for Cebu Pacific. Im a cheap #######, and woudl rather spend that extra 50 bucks on having fun with my wife and her family than on airfare hehe.

As for the visa extension, just tell them when I arrive that I am married to a Phil. citizen? Or just pay the fine when I leave and tell them i am married then or would it matter at that point? I've paid the fine, its about 100 bucks almost the last time I overstayed, but this time she will be with me, wil that make a difference?

[Scott and Mhay 57]

its only about 60 US to extend your visa at the bureau of immigration. (3030 IIRC) I know I was told that I could just pay at the airport, but I decided i didnt want to chance it. I will bring our NSO Marriage certificate and see if i can get it for free though. I dont want to get a blackmark for overstaying even if they dont check into it. I would rather spend the 60 or so US than to not be allowed back in the PI.