Balikbayen Privilege (Philippines)

[PhilipinaMagic 0]

Can someone tell me what is Balikbayen Privilege ?

I am Filipina who entered USA on a k-1 Visa. I know have my 2 year Green card. We will be going back to visa my family this May for 3 months.

Do I am my husband get Balikayen Privilege even though I still hold a Philippines passport?

If so what does this Privilege entitle us too? I read that is can make you exempt of travel tax. Is this the tax you are charged when entering and leaving out of any airport and traveling domestically within the Philippines? We plan to travel a great deal while in the Philippines so this is something that is very important to us to know.

Is the past he always had to get visa extensions. Now that we are married does he no longer need visa extension? Is it possible for my husband to get dual citizenship in the Philippines?

Thank you for all your help.

[Bill & Ivy 6]

It means that if you desire to, your husband can get a Philippine visa for permanent residency (13a or 13g) if you decide to move there. Thats what our plans are to do in 3-4 years. I am the husband, and my wife is Filipino, so I can get some different types of visa because of that, it also allows us to move one sea-container with household items free of duty taxes as long as the items meet certain requirements.

If your interested in finding out more info, try this site Live in the Philippines. Bob Martin is a blogger thats American and has lived there for many years with his wife, and he has a very informative website, that can farther explain the privileges and the types of Visa's. I just looked at his site, and one of the writers just wrote an artice a few days ago that should answer your question. the article is 2013 year end bureau of Immigration updates. Another very good site is philfaqs.com, much like here you can find answers there to about any question you might have.

Your husband will just need to extend his tourist visa at the Bureau of Immigration and pay the fee and do all the required paperwork. This site may help you some also. http://philfaqs.com/get-that-permanent-visa-in-the-states-or-in-the-philippines/http;

Enjoy you trip.

[Bill & Ivy 6]

Forgot to add this. The travel tax is charged to all Philippine citizens when they leave the Phil.

Your husband will not have to pay it since he is a US citizen, I think you will still have to pay it yourself since you are still a Philippine citizen though, but only when you leave the Philippines, inside the country you wont have to pay it, unless you visit another country.

[Dean_De 61]

Can someone tell me what is Balikbayen Privilege ?

I am Filipina who entered USA on a k-1 Visa. I know have my 2 year Green card. We will be going back to visa my family this May for 3 months.

Do I am my husband get Balikayen Privilege even though I still hold a Philippines passport?

If so what does this Privilege entitle us too? I read that is can make you exempt of travel tax. Is this the tax you are charged when entering and leaving out of any airport and traveling domestically within the Philippines? We plan to travel a great deal while in the Philippines so this is something that is very important to us to know.

Is the past he always had to get visa extensions. Now that we are married does he no longer need visa extension? Is it possible for my husband to get dual citizenship in the Philippines?

Thank you for all your help.

I just traveled to back home ( Philippines around November with my husband & Baby ) Even when we just stayed there for 3 weeks, I decided to get the Balikbayan stamped on all our passport. It ssaved us from paying the travel tax ( cost of the travel tax is 1,620 if remember it right) . That is btw good for 1 year just incase you & your husband decide to stay long term. for more info please read the following link below:

http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/balikbayan.htm#1

MOD: I would like to ask permission from the mederator to paste the link, if it is not possible, please edit & remove when needed. Thanks!

Edited January 16, 2014 by Dean_De

[merkin&regine 18]

Can someone tell me what is Balikbayen Privilege ?

I am Filipina who entered USA on a k-1 Visa. I know have my 2 year Green card. We will be going back to visa my family this May for 3 months.

Do I am my husband get Balikayen Privilege even though I still hold a Philippines passport?

If so what does this Privilege entitle us too? I read that is can make you exempt of travel tax. Is this the tax you are charged when entering and leaving out of any airport and traveling domestically within the Philippines? We plan to travel a great deal while in the Philippines so this is something that is very important to us to know.

Is the past he always had to get visa extensions. Now that we are married does he no longer need visa extension? Is it possible for my husband to get dual citizenship in the Philippines?

Thank you for all your help.

Your husband does not qualify for Dual citizenship in the Philippines. It looks like that if he plans to stay longer in the Philippines, it's better to have him apply for a visa rather than extension as I think it will be cheaper.

If he plans to stay longer Applying for ACR would be recommended. Anyway, here are some info that you guys can read and decide what to do later:

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwha006.html#Alien

In regards to your status, you are a green card holder and you have to maintain US residency for you to keep your US green card, put that into considerations too.

Only Philippines passport holder will be required to pay travel tax every time they leave the country.

Good luck!

[rlogan 2,036]

Is the past he always had to get visa extensions. Now that we are married does he no longer need visa extension? Is it possible for my husband to get dual citizenship in the Philippines?

Thank you for all your help.

If he enters with you at the same time, he gets a stamp in his passport that allows him to stay one full year without extensions. That is the privilege.

If he enters without you he only gets one month an then has to do extensions.

[merkin&regine 18]

If he enters with you at the same time, he gets a stamp in his passport that allows him to stay one full year without extensions. That is the privilege.

If he enters without you he only gets one month an then has to do extensions.

Wow! I didn't know this. Thanks for this info, I don't plan to use this though as my husband is dual citizen but great for others. Thanks.

Here's more info about this:

Consular Information Bulletin on the New Balikbayan Visa Privilege

1. What is the Balikbayan Visa Privilege?

2. Who may avail of the Balikbayan Visa Privilege?

3. What are the conditions to avail of the Balikbayan Visa Privilege?

4. What steps should be followed to avail of the Balikbayan Visa Privilege?

5. What documentation are required to enter the Philippines under the Balikbayan Visa Privilege?

- for former Philippine citizens

- for the foreign spouse and foreign minor unmarried children

No visa shall be required for a maximum stay of one (1) year for the following Balikbayans, every time they enter the Philippines to visit, regardless of the frequency of their travel:

1. Former Philippine citizens (including Filipinos who have become naturalized U.S. citizens, and citizens of the Bahamas, Bermuda and other countries within the jurisdiction of the Embassy of Washington, D.C.);

2. Foreign spouses and minor foreign unmarried children of Filipinos and former Filipino citizens.

The balikbayan privilege is extended to former Philippine citizens, the foreign spouse and the foreign minor unmarried children of Philippine citizens, provided that:

1. they are nationals of Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, or Vietnam; and

2. they are traveling together to the Philippines with the balikbayan spouse.

The former Philippine citizen shall declare before a Philippine Immigration Officer at the port of entry that he/she is availing of the balikbayan privilege and shall present his/her valid passport in addition to any of the following documents:

1. cancelled Philippine passport;

2. birth certificate; 3. naturalization papers to show former Philippine citizenship; or

4. certification from the adopted country.

The accompanying foreign spouse and foreign minor unmarried children of Filipinos and former Filipino citizens shall declare before a Philippine Immigration Officer at the port of entry that he/she is accompanied by a Filipino or former Filipino spouse or parent and that he/she is availing of the balikbayan privilege, and shall present his/her valid passport in addition to the following:

1. Foreign spouse: Valid passport and Marriage certificate

2. Foreign Minor unmarried children: Birth certificate

3. Adopted children: Adoption papers