Philippiness Back to US

[kittens_0117 5]

It's been a while since I've left the PH - I got married and all and now planning to visit family in the PH after several years. I don't know how much has changed since then.

What travel docs do I need to bring to travel to PH (I do have a PH passport and a US Green Card)?

When I get ready to return back to US, do I need to do something in the PH or will I just be able to hit the airport with the return ticket and the passport/GC and I'm all set?

[TinTin and Samby 11]

On your return from PH to the USA, you will have to get a Waiver form for the "Filipino Exit Tax". The waiver can be gotten at the desk in the lobby hall of the main terminal of NAIA. There isn't a fee, but there usually is a line (well...it's the Philippines, so actually , no line...just a SWARM of unqued people!). You will need this waiver form BEFORE you check in at the Airline desk. So, just make sure you leave yourself an extra 30 minutes or so to get the form. (and of course, as you already know, you will need your PH Passport and your USA GreenCard.).

Warm Regards,

Samby

[MalolosToUSA 0]

My wife (PI citizen; US Green Card holder) and I just returned from the Philippines this past Saturday. Her PI passport and US Green Card were the only documentation she needed upon return to the US. One clarification from the previous post. It is correct that you must go to the desk in NAIA to get the travel tax exemption, but it is not free. For PI citizens who do not resided in the PI (e.g. US Green Card holders) you have to pay a 200 piso fee. Just show them your Green Card and you will be good to go upon checking in. It was my wife's first return trip in two years. She stayed for 6 weeks.

Safe travels.

[kittens_0117 5]

God, I was too busy to before I had the time to check back in here. Thank you -- this is good info. Me and my US husband are planning to visit the PH this coming Feb 2012. Having grown up in the PH, I know nothing's free, but at least I won't ignorantly walk straight to the plane assuming I don't need anything else.

Oh yeah -- and that's assuming I don't need to bring anything besides the ticket, passport and GC when departing the US, right?

Since you seem to have the same scenario as I am, did you need to bring anything upon departure to PH and back (as a US citizen)? We are staying at most 2 weeks only (I know there's a 21-day limit before you have to go to US Emb and file some papers).

It sounds stupid but I know there shouldn't be anything required for him, but I wanted to make sure that we both have the necessary docs (if any) prepared before we fly. I am what you call "sigurista" (ask your wife ).

My wife (PI citizen; US Green Card holder) and I just returned from the Philippines this past Saturday. Her PI passport and US Green Card were the only documentation she needed upon return to the US. One clarification from the previous post. It is correct that you must go to the desk in NAIA to get the travel tax exemption, but it is not free. For PI citizens who do not resided in the PI (e.g. US Green Card holders) you have to pay a 200 piso fee. Just show them your Green Card and you will be good to go upon checking in. It was my wife's first return trip in two years. She stayed for 6 weeks.

Safe travels.

[raquel_1208 1]

Your husband is entitled to a balikbayan visa which will be stamped on his passport, no fee to avail it because he is married to a Filipina which is valid for 1 year stay. You might want to bring a copy of your marriage certificate in case you need it. Just ask the immigration officer about it before they stamped your husband's and your passport. We also just got back from the Philippines a month ago and my US citizen husband and 2-year old US citizen son have them in their passports. We stayed there for 30 days.

[kittens_0117 5]

Thanks, we didn't know that! Just booked the flight, excited and anxious!

Your husband is entitled to a balikbayan visa which will be stamped on his passport, no fee to avail it because he is married to a Filipina which is valid for 1 year stay. You might want to bring a copy of your marriage certificate in case you need it. Just ask the immigration officer about it before they stamped your husband's and your passport. We also just got back from the Philippines a month ago and my US citizen husband and 2-year old US citizen son have them in their passports. We stayed there for 30 days.

[dan.and.audrey 2]

On your return from PH to the USA, you will have to get a Waiver form for the "Filipino Exit Tax". The waiver can be gotten at the desk in the lobby hall of the main terminal of NAIA. There isn't a fee, but there usually is a line (well...it's the Philippines, so actually , no line...just a SWARM of unqued people!). You will need this waiver form BEFORE you check in at the Airline desk. So, just make sure you leave yourself an extra 30 minutes or so to get the form. (and of course, as you already know, you will need your PH Passport and your USA GreenCard.).

Warm Regards,

Samby

My wife (PI citizen; US Green Card holder) and I just returned from the Philippines this past Saturday. Her PI passport and US Green Card were the only documentation she needed upon return to the US. One clarification from the previous post. It is correct that you must go to the desk in NAIA to get the travel tax exemption, but it is not free. For PI citizens who do not resided in the PI (e.g. US Green Card holders) you have to pay a 200 piso fee. Just show them your Green Card and you will be good to go upon checking in. It was my wife's first return trip in two years. She stayed for 6 weeks.

Safe travels.

Your husband is entitled to a balikbayan visa which will be stamped on his passport, no fee to avail it because he is married to a Filipina which is valid for 1 year stay. You might want to bring a copy of your marriage certificate in case you need it. Just ask the immigration officer about it before they stamped your husband's and your passport. We also just got back from the Philippines a month ago and my US citizen husband and 2-year old US citizen son have them in their passports. We stayed there for 30 days.

Wow! These are great advices. I'll keep them in mind if we ever decide to go back to the Philippines. Thanks!

[edp333 9]

The Waiver for the Filipino Exit Tax can also be done at any PTA office if your flight is early or you do not want to hassle with it before your flight. The processing fee was the same at 200 PHP for my asawa.

[Gumbolette 58]

I just got back from my Philippine trip.

You just need your PHIL passport, GC, if you are in ROC processing, with an expired GC, bring your Notice of action letter, then you are good to go.

My very first advice to you is be there at the Airport least 2.5 hrs before your flight. I went there 2 hrs before my flight just for the sole purpose of spending a little more time with my family while waiting for my departure, it turned out.. 2 hrs is not enough to do all the things you need to see about. . From the line in paying your travel tax, checking in, immigration processing, security checks, and the freaking inspection even in the terminal already, were all time consuming.

If you are a green card holder, you don't need to pay the whole 1,620.00, instead you just have to pay Php 200, then the terminal fee of Php750 which you pay this in the immigration both., that's it.

P.S. Pay your travel tax first before checking in your luggage, or else the people in the airline you are using will ask you to do it first, then you'll gonna have to line in the checking area with prolly 5 million people.

In the checking area, they will give you the immigration form, fill it up immediately, because if you dont have it filled up in the immigration both before you get to security xray machine.. huh, you'll just hear, "NEXT".. then you'll go to the end of the line. (Listen, it happened to me.)

Dealing with airport people at NAIA was freaking nightmare.

Edited January 4, 2012 by Cutie_Patootie

[F & J 21]

You will need your Philippine Passport and U.S. Permanent Resident Card (green card) - make sure that when you book your flight that you use the name on your passport. When you leave the Philippines to return to the U.S., make sure you have Php950. Php750 for the terminal fee and Php200 for the travel tax (they will ask for your Philippine passport and green card at the Travel Tax counter - if your passport is still in your maiden name, make sure you bring your marriage certificate to show proof of name change or other government-issued ID like Driver's License in your married name). Hope that helps!

*** BTW, when I went home to the Philippines last year (June and November 2011), my return flights to the U.S. were at 6 AM and there were NO LINES at the Travel Tax counter both times

Edited January 5, 2012 by Fatima and Jim

[RonnieKris 26]

You will only need your passport, green card and marriage certificate if the name on your passport is different that that of your green card.

[kittens_0117 5]

Thanks for the responses! Does my USC husband need to pay any airport fees, too?

Wow. I would think after years NAIA would've improved their process. I guess I hoped for too much.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Everyone going through the airport has to pay the airport fee. I just read they reduced it back to Php 500, so it is no longer Php 750.

[Joan >3 Bob 20]

You are correct we were just there last July and my wife had to pay this P200 fee also. Of course I hope everyone knows they will have to pay the P750 airport departure fee always.

I would like to add that the weight restriction limit on checked and carryon luggage is much less in the PHILS. Cebu Airlines and Philippine Airlines both had a 15 kilo limit and we brought 3 checked bags and we got hit with a P5,000 plus overweight fee departing terminal 2 going to Mindanao from Manila.

My wife (PI citizen; US Green Card holder) and I just returned from the Philippines this past Saturday. Her PI passport and US Green Card were the only documentation she needed upon return to the US. One clarification from the previous post. It is correct that you must go to the desk in NAIA to get the travel tax exemption, but it is not free. For PI citizens who do not resided in the PI (e.g. US Green Card holders) you have to pay a 200 piso fee. Just show them your Green Card and you will be good to go upon checking in. It was my wife's first return trip in two years. She stayed for 6 weeks.

Safe travels.

[kittens_0117 5]

Well, just came back from my trip. All I needed to present was the green card and PH passport on the entire trip. Just make sure the ticket is named after the name on the passport. Then make sure all the stamps are in there from immigration -- both arrival and departure.

Terminal fee as of when we departed was Php550/pax (I think it varies by exchange rate, so it's about US$13+). I went straight to the little booth out front for the Php200 travel tax waiver. Then straight to check-in line, then terminal fee line.

We were lucky we didn't need to pay any overweight baggage fees. Domestic flights though (e.g. Cebu Pacific), are pretty weird in terms of carry-on items, as they assess it by weight PLUS size. So a small carry-on that can actually fit on the overhead bins may possibly need to be checked in.

Return trip was hell. There was a long line in NAIA due to a similar flight being canceled the day before, and the airline looked like this never happened in all their lives. We waited for at least 2 hours just to get checked in (we were still in line during the set boarding time). Needless to say, the flight was delayed.

And we had to go through 3 bag/body scans through the airport, which I don't remember doing before. It drove us nuts. I laughed and said "It's more fun in the Philippines!"

We enjoyed the trip, though. The airport experience? Not so much.