Can my girlfriend travel outside the Philippines for us to meet somewhere and spend time together?

[angeljolie 188]

4 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

I'm still planning for my pre-Thanksgiving trip actually, and calling BI was on my to-do list.  From that call and what I've heard from others online, "USC spouse" seems to be a magic ticket out of the travel restrictions.  Sadly not an option yet for the OP's gf.

 

It wasn't a magic word when I called BI so I was trembling at the immigration counter in Manila, to say the least. LOL. But if it is now, then we lucked out! 

 

Safe travels! 

[Chancy 6,241]

50 minutes ago, angeljolie said:

It wasn't a magic word when I called BI so I was trembling at the immigration counter in Manila, to say the least. LOL.

 

Oh I understand!  Even with the verbal assurance from BI, I told my husband that my chances of being let out of the country are iffy, at best.  Who knows what they'll ask for when I get to the immigration counter at NAIA?  I'm even thinking of bringing my husband's medical check-up results to make a case out of his cholesterol levels or something as a last resort if they try to stop me from boarding

 

[angeljolie 188]

21 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Oh I understand!  Even with the verbal assurance from BI, I told my husband that my chances of being let out of the country are iffy, at best.  Who knows what they'll ask for when I get to the immigration counter at NAIA?  I'm even thinking of bringing my husband's medical check-up results to make a case out of his cholesterol levels or something as a last resort if they try to stop me from boarding

 

Don’t worry about it much. The officers never spoke to anyone who was leaving at that time. The airport was eerily very quiet, I was afraid they would hear my sigh of relief. 😆 

[Adventine 3,196]

So if I've got the stories straight, @angeljolie , you live with your USC husband in the Philippines, and you both travelled in August from PH to Maldives and back, for tourism? 

 

And then @Chancy, have you already travelled from the PH to the US this year? Or will this upcoming November trip be the first time you'll take the trip since the crisis started?

[top_secret 2,414]

 

My girlfriend had printed copies of the relevant  IATF resolutions, with the relevant sections highlighted. Ready to defend against any  BI challenge.   She is a very experienced traveler and has not had any trouble from Philippine Immigration for years but this time she was sent for secondary interview which she likened to just like the first time she ever left the Philippines.  She said she spent the better part of an hour where they kept going back and forth to the office and telling her probably there was no way she could go and her addressing whatever reason they gave with the IATF Resolutions.  Finally they let her pass.

 

Philippines puts actual signed pdf copies of the IATF Resolutions online at.

IATF Resolutions

Resolution 57 says:" Provided, those with confirmed bookings as of 20 July 2020 shall be allowed outbound travel subject to IATF Resolution No. 52, dated 06 July 2020."

 

We followed Resolution 52 to the letter with tickets originally booked July 15.  Although they were rebooked a number of times due to flight cancelations so I am unsure if BI was actually even able to confirm the ticket was originally booked July 15.

 

Traveling in the company of a USC spouse would also more or less be covered by IATF Resolution 57 Jul 21 which says....

 

OFWs, students enrolled abroad and participants accepted in exchange visitor programs, permanent residents of foreign jurisdictions, and foreign nationals, may leave for abroad through any of the airports or seaports in the country.......
.......
Provided, further, that departing passengers may be accompanied by not more than one (1) person when traveling to any international port, who shall be allowed to return to his/her point of origin. Provided finally. upon their return, they shall follow the Guidelines of Returning Overseas Filipinos of the National Task Force (NTF).

 

Which I read to say foreign nationals are permitted to leave for abroad, and may be accompanied by not more than one (1) person.  IE accompanying a foreign national spouse is permitted.  I have also heard of, in practice Filipinos with US B1/B2 visas being allowed to depart for the US, claiming relatives there.  

 

We knew Philippine immigration would be a problem and were prepared for that but really didn't expect trouble from Mexican Immigration.  She has traveled to over 20 countries, including a previous multiple entry Schengen Visa and unexpired multiple entry Japan and Korea visas.  Not the slightest hang-up any of those places.  Who would think it would be Mexico to be the first stop her when all her paperwork was in order.

[Chancy 6,241]

1 hour ago, Adventine said:

@Chancy, have you already travelled from the PH to the US this year? Or will this upcoming November trip be the first time you'll take the trip since the crisis started?

 

My next trip will be my first attempt to exit since the travel restrictions started.  But I was actually in the US earlier this year, then returned before the quarantines started.

 

[Chancy 6,241]

25 minutes ago, top_secret said:

I have also heard of, in practice Filipinos with US B1/B2 visas being allowed to depart for the US, claiming relatives there.  

 

The IATF resolutions don't specify what qualifies as humanitarian reasons for travel, so I didn't think I had any basis to be exempted from the restrictions.  Then I heard from someone in my FB group who was allowed to exit on a tourist visa after presenting proof of family relationship and proof of her relative's residence abroad.  Unfortunately, I don't know of any other confirmed case, so I can't say with confidence that travel for family reunification is an exception to the restrictions.  But it does give me hope.

 

[JonSeattle 202]

49 minutes ago, top_secret said:

 

 

 

Traveling in the company of a USC spouse would also more or less be covered by IATF Resolution 57 Jul 21 which says....

 

OFWs, students enrolled abroad and participants accepted in exchange visitor programs, permanent residents of foreign jurisdictions, and foreign nationals, may leave for abroad through any of the airports or seaports in the country.......
.......
Provided, further, that departing passengers may be accompanied by not more than one (1) person when traveling to any international port, who shall be allowed to return to his/her point of origin. Provided finally. upon their return, they shall follow the Guidelines of Returning Overseas Filipinos of the National Task Force (NTF).

 

Which I read to say foreign nationals are permitted to leave for abroad, and may be accompanied by not more than one (1) person.  IE accompanying a foreign national spouse is permitted.  I have also heard of, in practice Filipinos with US B1/B2 visas being allowed to depart for the US, claiming relatives there.  

 

We knew Philippine immigration would be a problem and were prepared for that but really didn't expect trouble from Mexican Immigration. 

That provision means that someone can drive you to the airport, but then they have to go back home.

[angeljolie 188]

11 hours ago, Adventine said:

So if I've got the stories straight, @angeljolie , you live with your USC husband in the Philippines, and you both travelled in August from PH to Maldives and back, for tourism? 

That's correct. 

 

10 hours ago, top_secret said:

My girlfriend had printed copies of the relevant  IATF resolutions, with the relevant sections highlighted. Ready to defend against any  BI challenge.   She is a very experienced traveler and has not had any trouble from Philippine Immigration for years but this time she was sent for secondary interview which she likened to just like the first time she ever left the Philippines.  She said she spent the better part of an hour where they kept going back and forth to the office and telling her probably there was no way she could go and her addressing whatever reason they gave with the IATF Resolutions.  Finally they let her pass.

 

Wow, I'm so glad I didn't get questioned. Just out of curiosity, does your gf have a valid B1/B2? It would've been easier. But Brazil is definitely not a bad place to holiday in! Glad it worked out in the end.

 

10 hours ago, top_secret said:

Traveling in the company of a USC spouse would also more or less be covered by IATF Resolution 57 Jul 21 which says....

 

OFWs, students enrolled abroad and participants accepted in exchange visitor programs, permanent residents of foreign jurisdictions, and foreign nationals, may leave for abroad through any of the airports or seaports in the country.......
.......
Provided, further, that departing passengers may be accompanied by not more than one (1) person when traveling to any international port, who shall be allowed to return to his/her point of origin. Provided finally. upon their return, they shall follow the Guidelines of Returning Overseas Filipinos of the National Task Force (NTF).

 

Which I read to say foreign nationals are permitted to leave for abroad, and may be accompanied by not more than one (1) person.  IE accompanying a foreign national spouse is permitted.  I have also heard of, in practice Filipinos with US B1/B2 visas being allowed to depart for the US, claiming relatives there.  

 

I have the same interpretation as @JonSeattle :

 

9 hours ago, JonSeattle said:

That provision means that someone can drive you to the airport, but then they have to go back home.

 

[Adventine 3,196]

Hmmm, interesting to know that Filipinos have successfully travelled out of the PH and back for tourism.

 

Based on all the news, and the linked IATF resolution , "essential travel" excluded tourism. Classic case of theory vs practice 😂

 

I also interpreted the resolution the same way as @JonSeattle and @angeljolie: someone can drive you to the airport, but then they have to go home.

 

Glad it worked out for those who managed to travel, though!

[Allovertheworld 355]

On 10/7/2020 at 9:34 PM, top_secret said:

I would hesitate to recommend it but I DID manage to meet my Filipina girlfriend in Brazil the end of August.  We got her out the last week of August under IATF Resolution 57 Jul 21, which said Filipinos with tickets purchased before July 20, could leave on outbound non-essential travel under the rules of IATF resolution 52 July 6 (confirmed round trip, admissible at destination and COVID travel insurance).  We got that, she holds a multiple entry Japan Visa which 'should' make her admissible to Mexico.  We verified with the Mexican Embassy in Manila that was still valid, with Japan Visas being suspended and all.  Mexican Embassy assured us it was and she was good to go with a japanese Multiple entry visa but no Mexican visa . I got a Star Alliance Award ticket with United frequent flyer miles,   Manila to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, Istanbul-Frankfurt-Mexico City on Lufthansa.  Transit without visa fine in all those countries.  We booked a 2 week stay in Cancun 5 star resort. Everything looked good.

 

So she was detained an hour by Philippine exit immigration but we expected that and had every i dotted an t crossed on the IATF Resolutions and printouts there of.  No problems with the airlines or visa questions.  As she was flying into Mexico City I crossed into Tijuana and flew down to meet her there. Waiting outside customs, everyone else on her flight came out except her.  I went upstairs to Lufthansa check-in and ask them what was up and they said she was denied entry by Mexican immigration, not for any visa issue, but because they simply did believe she would fly all that way as a tourist.  They wouldn't let her contact me.  I couldn't talk to anyone.  They stuck her strait back on the same plane she came in on and flew her back to Frankfurt Germany.  So as soon as the plane left, I bought a plane ticket on my phone back to Tijuana.  Crossed back to San Diego and assessed the situation.  Lufthansa had a hot potato on their hands since although she previously held a multiple entry Schengan visa, it was expired so she was inadmissible in Germany and there simply was not any options at all back to Manila immediately.

 

So discussing it, the best idea I came up with was fly her from Frankfurt to Sao Paulo Brazil, I would fly from Los Angeles and meet her in Sau Paulo and we would go to Rio de Janiero together.  Actually unusually cheap and her United Frequent flyer mile award ticket was rebookable for free on the return so I found award ticket availability Sau Paulo to Addis Abba Ethiopia to Manila on Ethiopian Airlines (Star Alliance member)in a couple of weeks and simply rebooked her return at that.

 

Whereas Mexico was about the worst travel experience ever, and that kind of experience leaves a bitterness that may last a lifetime, Brazil was very gracious and welcoming to both Filipinas and Americans and we didn't have the slightest problem and had a really awesome visit.  Even in the height of all this coronavirus mess I could not say enough nice things about Brazil, or enough mean things about Mexico.  

 

Oh yea, Mexico City held her luggage for a week and when we finally got it back from the airline in Rio de Janeiro it was completely destroyed.  Not sure if they ran over it with a forklift or broke it apart looking for smuggling compartments or something.  

 

She made it back safely to Manila.  Passed her COVID test and quarantine hotel in Manila.   Made it home safe and sound no problems.  But she is now stuck in the Philippines until outbound travel is allowed again.   It was a really nice visit and a big adventure but a one time loophole we used to get her out that time.  If and when IATF opens the door a crack again, If you got a ton of frequent flyer miles and can do it on an award ticket.  Brazil is a good option as a neutral third country if you are bold.  Mexico sucks.

Amazing story

 

Funny how Mexico encourages illegal aliens to come to and live in the USA. But you try to enter Mexico legally with no ill intent and they going into full retard mode

Edited October 9, 2020 by Allovertheworld

[Chancy 6,241]

On 10/8/2020 at 2:58 AM, AmericanNomad said:

Yes, we are not married yet. I just wish we could go somewhere so we can see each other. Any idea when they might allow outbound travel again for the Philippines?

 

Looks like you won't have to wait for too long --

 

IATF OKs easing outbound travel limits for Pinoys

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s pandemic task force has agreed in principle to relax the outbound travel restrictions on Filipinos who want to be with their foreigner partners.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/12/2048977/iatf-oks-easing-outbound-travel-limits-pinoys

 

[Cody&Razely 134]

50 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Looks like you won't have to wait for too long --

 

IATF OKs easing outbound travel limits for Pinoys

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s pandemic task force has agreed in principle to relax the outbound travel restrictions on Filipinos who want to be with their foreigner partners.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/12/2048977/iatf-oks-easing-outbound-travel-limits-pinoys

 

Don't get your hopes up and read the article very well. Listen to the actual words used. It's a load of smoke!. IATF is "OK" with the "Idea" in "Principle" and goes on to talk some BS about not having any plan, any guidelines, essentially nothing at all and then further goes on to say will take possibly much more time to "Eventually" make a plan and details and then to "Coordinate" with other countries. My opinion, they feel the pressure, they want to placate foreign nationals, PH Citizens and the world stage with a line of BS. Action is action and words are just that. Put the pressure on them thick right now and keep it on them. This is essentially blowing smoke and amounts to fundamentally NOTHING. They outlined exhaustive and frankly ridiculous guidelines and protocols for everything from A to Z on outbound travel back in early June from documentation to airports to processes and health and safety there is nothing left to be debated in that area and in regards to coordinating with other countries first of all that is a joke there is no need only to further implement control and ridiculousness as well as setting up more excuses to blame on someone else as to why it can't happen in a timely manner while shirking the responsibility. There is no need as all they must do is allow people to simply leave, the immigration and visiting processes are already in place and have been for a very very long time and are the responsibilities of each individual country allowing foreigners in. It does not require the PH to dictate the rules of entry to other countries, they will deem that on their own as they have for centuries. This is just another PH Smokescreen. Just pay attention to how many un-official disclaimers there was in this statement which they even disclaim isn't even a "statement" as they say it. My Point is, there is nothing changed, nothing resolved and please do not let up either by petitions, emails or by what ever means, just keep fighting to see your loved ones until the ACTION is taken to make it so and not just these smoke screen, empty words which the PH Gov. is so famous for. 

 

Edited October 12, 2020 by Cody&Razely

[Allovertheworld 355]

7 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

Looks like you won't have to wait for too long --

 

IATF OKs easing outbound travel limits for Pinoys

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s pandemic task force has agreed in principle to relax the outbound travel restrictions on Filipinos who want to be with their foreigner partners.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/12/2048977/iatf-oks-easing-outbound-travel-limits-pinoys

 

Davao City just brought back curfew and liquor ban until the end of the year Dec 31, 2020

 

I don't see Philippines easing restrictions on letting people out of the country until maybe June to August of 2021

 

http://davaotoday.com/main/politics/davao-city-brings-back-curfew-liquor-ban/

[flicks1998 1,044]

I wrote in another thread that Australia doesn’t plan on allowing Australians to travel out of their country until everyone is vaccinated, which means probably 2022. Something is going to have to give soon though. It’s beyond ridiculous now.  If flights are actually flying and people have the correct visa and are willing to fly there is no point to hold them back. It’s not if planes are even full even when people are allowed to travel. Flights into and out of the EU and Schengen countries to/from the US are only about 10% full.  It’s easier to social distance on international flights then it is on domestic ones. 
 

I’ve purchased a PAL flight leaving from JFK to MNL on November 26 coming back temporarily at the end of February. That flight at the moment barely has anyone on it.
 

 

Edited October 12, 2020 by flicks1998