Round trip airline to Philippines

[lyricalan 18]

Hello, I have read somewhere that to travel to the Philippines without a visa a person must have a roundtrip airline ticket. I will be going to Manila in either November or December hopefully to attend the USEM interview with my fiancee. I am planning on waiting for the visa and returning with her to the states. So I would need to book a one way ticket only to Manila then book us both one way tickets back after obtaining the visa. Am I confused on the roundtrip requirement to enter without a visa? Thanks for any reply

[thinkerlove0212 158]

Hello, I have read somewhere that to travel to the Philippines without a visa a person must have a roundtrip airline ticket. I will be going to Manila in either November or December hopefully to attend the USEM interview with my fiancee. I am planning on waiting for the visa and returning with her to the states. So I would need to book a one way ticket only to Manila then book us both one way tickets back after obtaining the visa. Am I confused on the roundtrip requirement to enter without a visa? Thanks for any reply

This was always lightly enforced but have read in Phil Star and expat blogs that they will and may enforce this more. What you do is buy a throw away ticket cheaply to singapore for example or anywhere cheap. Also you can only stay 21 days as a visitor without extension or leaving for one day. does not have to be round trip just be prepared to get a ticket on an airline such as Cebu Pacific. I had 4 trips there last year and was never asked but had standby listings as an airline employee. Standby listings does not meet the requirement

Edited October 8, 2012 by Anne and Bret

[Ron4 22]

Hello, I have read somewhere that to travel to the Philippines without a visa a person must have a roundtrip airline ticket. I will be going to Manila in either November or December hopefully to attend the USEM interview with my fiancee. I am planning on waiting for the visa and returning with her to the states. So I would need to book a one way ticket only to Manila then book us both one way tickets back after obtaining the visa. Am I confused on the roundtrip requirement to enter without a visa? Thanks for any reply

Buy a ticket that you can change the date on, book it for a return as far in the future as travel rules for Phillipines will allow and then change the date when you find out when you are leaving. Tickets that are changeable cost more but not as much as 2 one way tickets. Then when it is time to leave you have your ticket and just buy a one way for her.

[chelsea09 0]

Hi. If you are a US Citizen (or other foreign nationality) you need to buy a round trip ticket to go to the Philippines. This is a law for all non-Filipino citizens entering the country. My husband went home in August, originally bought just a one-way ticket, because like you, he wanted to go back to the US with me. He was however told at the airport here in the US that he needs to have a round-trip ticket because under the Philippine law (sorry don't know the specifics of this law or regulation), a foreign national can't go to the Philippines with just that (one-way) ticket. My husband bought a return ticket then. If you are a Filipino citizen, then you can buy a one-way ticket. I was working in New Zealand prior to coming here in the States but went home for my visa interview (my interview was last month). I bought a one-way ticket from NZ to Manila.

You need to buy a round trip ticket to go there, you may just change the date of your return to the US once your fiancee gets her visa so you can travel with her back here in the US. What I can suggest is that you may need to get a return date that is more than a week after her interview to give allowance for the waiting period of her visa delivery (once she gets approved). When she is ready to fly, she can buy a one-way ticket going to the US with you. =)

Good luck!

ps.. Just to share, although my husband and I were planning to fly together to the US, well, due to very expensive airline tickets (especially in the short period of time we needed to buy), we had to just fly without each other. He flew back to the US on the original schedule of his return flight and I followed him shortly (about 4days only). I am saying this because the delivery of the visa also varies in different towns/cities in the Philippines. I was in Manila all thoughought my stay there. Other towns and cities outside of Manila can be extended up to 3-5 days from the normal delivery days. You can not really predict the exact day when she can get her visa. Hope this info also helps. =)

[thinkerlove0212 158]

Buy a ticket that you can change the date on, book it for a return as far in the future as travel rules for Phillipines will allow and then change the date when you find out when you are leaving. Tickets that are changeable cost more but not as much as 2 one way tickets. Then when it is time to leave you have your ticket and just buy a one way for her.

Be much more cheaper to buy a "Throw Away Ticket" on cheapest airline, cheapest fair, closest destination especially if not sure when departing.

[lyricalan 18]

Thanks everyone for your replies and advice. I'll consider the best route to take based on your input. I may need to go with the "throw away" ticket since I will be using award mileage for my flight to Manila. I don't think I can change the date of return on an award ticket but will check with my carrier on that issue. Thanks again

[dbcroasman 2]

try hawaiian airlines they have open date ticket that`s how we do it for 4 years...

[m60man 5]

I will try to make this brief. Yes, by law your are required to have a forward (exit) ticket when entering the Philippines unless you are a Philippine citizen or have a 13A, permanent residency visa. Chances are you have a 50/50 shot of being asked for it when entering. However, where you will run into problems is when you check in for your flight leaving the USA. The carrier will refuse to board you without a round trip or forward ticket or proof you are a permanent resident of the PH. Reason, by law they are responsible for returning you to the USA at their expense if you are refused entry because of a one-way ticket.

My last entry was in May 2009. I did come here on a great priced one-way ticket ($549.00) from Indianapolis Indiana to Cebu. When I arrived in Seattle and checked in for my flight I was asked if I was a resident of the PH and if not I could not board with only a one-way ticket. I explained I was moving here.......sorry.......after talking to 3 different supervisors they finally produced a affidavit for me to sign stating I would not hold them responsible if I was refused entry. All went well and I was never asked for anything on arrival other then a smile and are you getting married here?

Since you are coming here for a short period of time my advice is buy a round trip ticket for yourself. I have never found another one-way ticket for that price. Most of the times they are only a couple hundred dollars or so cheaper then round trip. I was lucky to find one for less then half price. By your plan you will be buying 3 one-way tickets plus a cheap ($60 to $75) throw away ticket. You will be spending approximately $1000.00 more by doing it that way.

If you are coming to attend her interview you will know the date and know she is approved that day if you feel your paper work in order. The actual visa packet will take 5 to 7 days. Rather then have them send to an address (always slow) have it sent to the nearest 2-Go Office and pick it up there, they will give you that option. Then your good to go. I would buy my ticket and her ticket for 10 days after her interview date.

Remember she will also need to attend a CFO Seminar prior to travel. This can be done before interview, once her visa is approved she can return to CFO with her receipts and certificates and get her stamp applied to her Passport. Then your on your way. Hope this helps.

[C-ma'am 684]

**Moved from K1 to Philippines. Question is a not about a K1, but rather about traveling to that country.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Good luck with (counting on) a visa packet being delivered in 5-7 days, my wife's did not receive her visa for two weeks after the interview, and we were in metro Manila.

[lyricalan 18]

I will try to make this brief. Yes, by law your are required to have a forward (exit) ticket when entering the Philippines unless you are a Philippine citizen or have a 13A, permanent residency visa. Chances are you have a 50/50 shot of being asked for it when entering. However, where you will run into problems is when you check in for your flight leaving the USA. The carrier will refuse to board you without a round trip or forward ticket or proof you are a permanent resident of the PH. Reason, by law they are responsible for returning you to the USA at their expense if you are refused entry because of a one-way ticket.

My last entry was in May 2009. I did come here on a great priced one-way ticket ($549.00) from Indianapolis Indiana to Cebu. When I arrived in Seattle and checked in for my flight I was asked if I was a resident of the PH and if not I could not board with only a one-way ticket. I explained I was moving here.......sorry.......after talking to 3 different supervisors they finally produced a affidavit for me to sign stating I would not hold them responsible if I was refused entry. All went well and I was never asked for anything on arrival other then a smile and are you getting married here?

Since you are coming here for a short period of time my advice is buy a round trip ticket for yourself. I have never found another one-way ticket for that price. Most of the times they are only a couple hundred dollars or so cheaper then round trip. I was lucky to find one for less then half price. By your plan you will be buying 3 one-way tickets plus a cheap ($60 to $75) throw away ticket. You will be spending approximately $1000.00 more by doing it that way.

If you are coming to attend her interview you will know the date and know she is approved that day if you feel your paper work in order. The actual visa packet will take 5 to 7 days. Rather then have them send to an address (always slow) have it sent to the nearest 2-Go Office and pick it up there, they will give you that option. Then your good to go. I would buy my ticket and her ticket for 10 days after her interview date.

Remember she will also need to attend a CFO Seminar prior to travel. This can be done before interview, once her visa is approved she can return to CFO with her receipts and certificates and get her stamp applied to her Passport. Then your on your way. Hope this helps.

Thanks for all the explanations and information.

[Tahoma 2,292]

Good luck with (counting on) a visa packet being delivered in 5-7 days, my wife's did not receive her visa for two weeks after the interview, and we were in metro Manila.

^^^ Amen to that, brother Hank.

Some people just can't resist gambling, even if they can't afford it!

[bunker buster 0]

Thanks everyone for your replies and advice. I'll consider the best route to take based on your input. I may need to go with the "throw away" ticket since I will be using award mileage for my flight to Manila. I don't think I can change the date of return on an award ticket but will check with my carrier on that issue. Thanks again

For me I bought plane ticket with one year validity and open return. I can sched the return anytime within the year. There are airlines that offers budget fare with open return. Usually "domestic US airlines" does not have this option, you do have to pay higher tier prices. Asian airlines do offer this option of "Open return" on budget fare. (ie Korean airlines, Eva airlines and etc.)

[YourHumboldtBud 2]

I Purchased a RT ticket from United Airlines for $867 which was from ACV to MNL. I went back to PI to be there for my fiancee's interview. After the visa approval the cheapest 1-Way ticket I could find was $679,and the earliest flight I could schedule was 2 days before my original departure! I went to UA ticketing office in Manila off of Ayala Station(MRT) and they adjusted my fiancee's ticket to fly out on my original scheduled date for $75. This happened 09/11/2012.