Balikbayan

[Randy Randolph 0]

My wife and I were married in March 2018 in the Philippines.  She has never been out of the Philippines.  Our house will be completed in the Philippines soon and I want to stay there for a year with her.  If I have her meet me at NAIA and she flies to another country and then back to Manila with me, will I qualify for the Balikbayan?  Does she have to have been living in US or any other country for us to qualify?  

[Redheadguy03 505]

You have to enter the Philippines together and request it. Bring a copy of the marriage certificate as well. Your plan should work fine as long as you have the marriage certificate. 

[Randy Randolph 0]

Thank you.  She seems to think that she should have a passport from another country for us to get the stamp.  We are just worried that all our plans will fall through.  

[Randy Randolph 0]

What country would be the best for us to travel to and then back?  Where would she be eligible to go?

[Just Paul 4,595]

She needs a Philippines Passport.  Travel to Honk Kong and back.   If she asks for BB stamp for you they usually write BB in the red stamp.  This works in Manila. We couldn't get it done in Cebu last month as they have gone to electronic gates. I just use the diplomat line.

 

The issue is if you leave the Philippines you just get a regular stamp that over rides the  BB.

 

Two other options are just get the filipino 13a visa or the SRRV  https://pra.gov.ph/srrv/

 

 

[JFH 12,190]

*~*~*country-specific question moved to Philippines regional forum*~*~^ 

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

43 minutes ago, Randy Randolph said:

What country would be the best for us to travel to and then back?  Where would she be eligible to go?

Most go to Hong Kong or Singapore, HK seems to be where most go

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

https://twomonkeystravelgroup.com/visa-free-countries-philippines-passport-filipino/

 

[Randy Randolph 0]

Thanks, everyone.  So she can get a visa if she meets me in Hong Kong?  Or would it be better if we traveled to Hong Kong from Manila together?

[Hank_ 9,174]

5 hours ago, Randy Randolph said:

My wife and I were married in March 2018 in the Philippines.  She has never been out of the Philippines.  Our house will be completed in the Philippines soon and I want to stay there for a year with her.  If I have her meet me at NAIA and she flies to another country and then back to Manila with me, will I qualify for the Balikbayan?  Does she have to have been living in US or any other country for us to qualify?  

yes that will do the trick.  When clearing immigration at entry, with your wife, into the Phils request the BB stamp ... done   

Edited December 15, 2018 by Hank_