13A Visa requires Filipino spouse to be US citizen?!

[Gem 1]

I'm Filipino in the US on a gren card. My husband is a US citizen. We are trying to get him a 13a permanent visa but the consulate general in SFC keeps denying it (and they dojt answer the phone). A lady there told me they cant process the visa because I was not a dual citizen. This makes no sense to me and based on my research  there is nothing saying that. Does anyone have any knowledge or advice on this situation? The visa section at the consulate is totally unresponsive. 

[Hank_ 9,174]

13(a) is a pain the buttz    Why not simply use the BB privilege that allows you husband to stay in the Phils for up to one year without the hassles of the 13(a).   Another option is the SRRVisa, which is light years better than the 13(a).   

 

If you are dead set on the 13(a), apply for it in the Philippines... much easier.       

 

As for your question, the woman at the consulate is wrong (nothing new there )   

 

Under the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, Section 13 (a) you are eligible for permanent residency in the Philippines. This visa is issued to an alien on the basis of his valid marriage to a Philippine citizen.

To qualify for this visa, the applicant must prove that:

• He contracted a valid marriage with a Philippine citizen.

• The marriage is recognized as valid under existing Philippine laws.

• There is no record of any derogatory information against him in any local or foreign law enforcement agency.

• He is not afflicted with any dangerous, contagious or loathsome disease.

• He has sufficient financial capacity to support a family and will not become a public burden.

• He was allowed entry into the Philippines and was authorized by Immigration authorities to stay.

NOTE: This visa is only available to citizens of a country which grants permanent residence and immigration privileges to Philippine citizens.

 

 

 

http://www.immigration.gov.ph/faqs/visa-inquiry/permanent-resident-visa

 

 

Edited February 12, 2019 by Hank_

[Just Paul 4,595]

SRRV is really the way to go if you can.   It cuts down on extra trips to Manila and you can get a Driver's License and ACR-I card easier.

 

If you can afford to put money on deposit.

Edited February 12, 2019 by Paul & Mary

[John & Rose 7,239]

15 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

If you can afford to put money on deposit.

$50,000 deposited into a bank there?  Is that annually or one time?

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

32 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

$50,000 deposited into a bank there?  Is that annually or one time?

One time but I thought it was lower than that. 

[John & Rose 7,239]

7 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

One time but I thought it was lower than that. 

There are options but I wasn't eligible for the cheaper options.  $20,000 with a pension (I'm 401k) or $1500 if I need full time medical care.

 

 

https://pra.gov.ph/srrv/

Edited February 12, 2019 by John & Rose

[John & Rose 7,239]

1 minute ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

One time but I thought it was lower than that. 

There are options but I wasn't eligible for the $1500 option.  That option requires full time medical care for the retiree.

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 hour ago, John & Rose said:

$50,000 deposited into a bank there?  Is that annually or one time?

One time payment, then annual renewal fee, which varies.  The deposit varies upon certain things, you have to read through the website very carefully.   IF you are buying property or a condo you can use that money, it doesn't have to stay in the deposit acct.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

41 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

There are options but I wasn't eligible for the cheaper options.  $20,000 with a pension (I'm 401k) or $1500 if I need full time medical care.

https://pra.gov.ph/srrv/

So live in maids don't count?

[John & Rose 7,239]

Just now, Cyberfx1024 said:

So live in maids don't count?

Hmmmm.  You might be onto something there.  I'm not sure Rose will agree but my guess is that I can find a very nice caregiver there. 😁

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

8 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

Hmmmm.  You might be onto something there.  I'm not sure Rose will agree but my guess is that I can find a very nice caregiver there. 😁

My wife wouldn't agree with that either. 

[Just Paul 4,595]

1 hour ago, John & Rose said:

$50,000 deposited into a bank there?  Is that annually or one time?

One time but it is $10,000 if you have a pension or retirement payments and 20,000 if not.  That kicks in at age 50.

 

But when I went in last year they said if I waited after I we married and she became a dual citizen it would only be $1,500 as they "SRRV Courtesy" Program would be applicable.

 

Looks like they updated the website so it is clear as mud now.  https://pra.gov.ph/srrv/

 

Ultimately we decided to go to the US and think about it in a few years.

[John & Rose 7,239]

7 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

One time but it is $10,000 if you have a pension or retirement payments and 20,000 if not.  That kicks in at age 50.

 

But when I went in last year they said if I waited after I we married and she became a dual citizen it would only be $1,500 as they "SRRV Courtesy" Program would be applicable.

 

Looks like they updated the website so it is clear as mud now.  https://pra.gov.ph/srrv/

 

Ultimately we decided to go to the US and think about it in a few years.

I was leaning BB but if this is a better option we will look into it.  It won't be for a few years for us either.

[Just Paul 4,595]

1 hour ago, John & Rose said:

I was leaning BB but

 . . . I need to go in and out of the country as I still do consulting.  So it isn't always convenient to bring Mary on trips so I can keep getting BB.

[Hank_ 9,174]

SRRV for me is the better way to go as well.