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

[top_secret 2,417]

22 minutes ago, flicks1998 said:

It’s true but there are some conditions but nothing that can’t be met. I think the biggest will be proof of health insurance in the destination country but that can be easy to get.  A COVID test before leaving as well. It a step in the right direction though. 

We have been down this road when she got out in August.  I got COVID travel insurance for her here.  https://www.sevencorners.com/coronavirus-travel-insurance/liaison-travel-plus-medical-insurance#/. It was simple, reasonably priced and satisfied Philippines exit immigration and Brazilian immigration which has a similar insurance requirement for entry.  For the COVID test before exit it seems implied that a "rapid test" (antibody test not PCR) may be acceptable.  I'm looking for clarification on that, as a "rapid test" in 24 hours should be no problem in Manila.  PCR test in 24 hours would be more problematic.  Anyways these are conditions we can live with.  My advice is take action now before they change the rules again.

[Allovertheworld 355]

On 10/12/2020 at 10:12 PM, flicks1998 said:

I will find a document from calbayog in Samar. Their lockdown is so severe it’s exactly like in the 1930s when the ghettos were established and the SS came in. The only thing missing is where is the concentration camp in the Philippines.  I’ll find the document and post. No one is allowed outside for 2 weeks. NO ONE!! Not even for the grocery store and they have had no deaths in weeks or months. It’s downright scary. 

Hitler would be proud of them

[AmericanNomad 16]

19 hours ago, top_secret said:

This seem like big news if it's true.  Outbound travel allowed starting October 21. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1348683/outbound-non-essential-travel-allowed-starting-oct-21

This is great news. Hopefully they keep Outbound open and don't revert it back like they did before back in July(?).

[Allovertheworld 355]

2 hours ago, AmericanNomad said:

This is great news. Hopefully they keep Outbound open and don't revert it back like they did before back in July(?).

I bet it gets rolled back again before the end of the year.  They will cite COVID cases being same or rising as the reason.

[Cody&Razely 134]

So we are trying to get prepared right now to head out. I've got the following down pat, seems pretty cut and dry from the verbiage in the Section [7], Paragraph (2) of the Omnibus Guidelines, with the notable exception of the last bit in the disclaimer "and finally, this is without prejudice to the exercise of the mandate of the Bureau of Immigration prior to departure."

And the other notable exception that I do not trust the PH Gov. as far as I can throw them. 

 

* Travel + Medical Insurance w/ Covid down pat

* We have the Exit Health and safety acknowledgment form ready to go

* We'll be getting the Tickets soon

* Antigen Test to be completed prior to Departure 

 

My questions are -

#1 am I missing something or does my fiancé just need to do these 4 simple things and fly out?

#2 Is CFO in some form or another needed for outbound Visa free (Essentially) Tourism travel?

#3 what are the "mandates of the Bureau of Immigration prior to departure."?

 

This is the excerpt regarding Outbound Non-Essential Filipino Travel from the Res. #79

 

·        Outbound travel of Filipinos, regardless of purpose, may be allowed subject to compliance with the following requirements:

                           i.          For those travelling on tourist visas (i.e. Non-Immigrant, Includes Visa Free) -

a.      Submission of confirmed round-trip tickets

b.      Adequate travel and health insurance to cover travel disruptions and hospitalization in case of COVID-19 infections - during their allowable period of stay abroad

                         ii.          Execution of a Bureau of Immigration Declaration –

a.      Acknowledging the risks involved in travelling, including risk of delay in their return trip. Form to be provided at the check-in counters by the airlines

                        iii.          As a pre-boarding requirement.

a.      A negative Antigen test result taken within twenty-four (24) hours before departure – (In accordance to the guidelines and protocols as may be issued by the Department of Health with regard to its fair and appropriate use) or whenever required by the country of destination – (A negative test result taken in accordance with the health and safety protocols of the destination country) Provided that the undertaking of either test as  appropriate shall be facilitated by the airline carrier

and

                        iv.          Upon return they shall follow the Guidelines of the National Task Force (NTF) for Returning Overseas Filipinos

Disclaimer:

The foregoing provisions shall not be interpreted to allow outbound travel by Filipinos to countries where travel restrictions are in place; and finally, this is without prejudice to the exercise of the mandate of the Bureau of Immigration prior to departure.

[Cody&Razely 134]

17 minutes ago, Allovertheworld said:

I bet it gets rolled back again before the end of the year.  They will cite COVID cases being same or rising as the reason.

Yeah well me and mine ain't coming back lol until well after

[top_secret 2,417]

For actually getting out past exit immigration, realistically it depends on the travel experience, confidence and demeanor, and how worldly and capable she presents herself.  As well as where she is going.  If it's a first overseas trip in this environment it may be dificult no matter what.  CFO is required if she mentions plans to marry on the trip.  It could be a grey area about CFO if she is going to meet her fiance.  There is no requirement for CFO if she is going to meet her boyfriend.  If she would tell Philippine immigration that you paid for the trip you better be prepared to explain the relationship in very fine details.  If she is not coming back in the short term future there better be an in depth explanation for all of the details of that too.

[Cody&Razely 134]

26 minutes ago, top_secret said:

For actually getting out past exit immigration, realistically it depends on the travel experience, confidence and demeanor, and how worldly and capable she presents herself.  As well as where she is going.  If it's a first overseas trip in this environment it may be dificult no matter what.  CFO is required if she mentions plans to marry on the trip.  It could be a grey area about CFO if she is going to meet her fiance.  There is no requirement for CFO if she is going to meet her boyfriend.  If she would tell Philippine immigration that you paid for the trip you better be prepared to explain the relationship in very fine details.  If she is not coming back in the short term future there better be an in depth explanation for all of the details of that too.

Holy Geeze! They scrutinize the people leaving to that extreme?

[top_secret 2,417]

5 minutes ago, Cody&Razely said:

Holy Geeze! They scrutinize the people leaving to that extreme?

If it's a first trip overseas, or if it's a trip financed by a foreign sponsor, absolutely that extreme.  Depending on the travel experience your girl has you better have a very high level of preparation before trying to go abroad alone in the current environment.  Hard questions will very likely be asked.

[Chancy 6,241]

7 hours ago, Cody&Razely said:

Holy Geeze! They scrutinize the people leaving to that extreme?

 

Will it be your girlfriend's first time to travel abroad?  Does she have a steady job?

 

[Cody&Razely 134]

6 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

Will it be your girlfriend's first time to travel abroad?  Does she have a steady job?

 

Yes and Yes, Though I was not aware of the scrutiny of the "exit police" lol it sounds pretty crazy there. My Fiancé is nearly in her 30's, she has held a stead job for a few years at the same place she can still do her job remotely if allowed by her employer. My job is also one that I can do remotely, though with hers we are not sure yet if her employer will allow her to work remotely as currently she is one of only two people required to report to a field office and logs in remotely via VPN.

Both of us would 100% prefer me to come and stay in the Philippines rather than have to travel abroad but we have been separated and our lives placed on hold with 0 regard for 10 months now and neither of us trust where the PH Gov. is headed and what ever nonsense they will do next. 

So in the mean time we have one opportunity to be re-united and that is for both of us to travel abroad to a third party country since we cannot get her a visitor visa for the same reason we cannot get the USEM to process her K-1. 

We'd both rather set up new digs in a third party country and wait for a resolution together than to rely on this obnoxious, two faced, unreliable government talking out of their necks while being kept apart and the whims of the Gov. in PH seem to shift as the wind.

I have traveled extensively since 17 , both domestically and abroad as it used to be in my job requirements for the past 20 years or so. 

[top_secret 2,417]

1 hour ago, Cody&Razely said:

I was not aware of the scrutiny of the "exit police" lol it sounds pretty crazy there.

If it's her first trip overseas there is an extremely high probability she will get sent to a secondary screening by Philippine Exit Immigration and they will be extremely nosey about everything.  Prepare for that, and get to the airport early because it will take extra time  They will very thoroughly try to establish her reason for travel and financial capacity to travel.  If she cannot demonstrate convincingly that she can pay for her own trip, she will have to convince them, to their satisfaction, that your relationship is very real and you are a good guy.  If she is not returning in the short term they will want an explanation of her immigration status at the destination and how she will support herself there.  I would not mention working remotely since Philippine Immigration may see that as a contradiction to leaving as a tourist, and not documented to be leaving to work.  Google or do a youtube search for OFFLOADED BY PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATION to get a million opinions about the subject of Philippine Exit Immigration. 

Edited October 17, 2020 by top_secret

[Cody&Razely 134]

4 minutes ago, top_secret said:

If it's her first trip overseas there is an extremely high probability she will get sent to a secondary screening by Philippine Exit Immigration and they will be extremely nosey about everything.  Prepare for that, and get to the airport early because it will take extra time  They will very thoroughly try to establish her reason for travel and financial capacity to travel.  If she cannot demonstrate convincingly that she can pay for her own trip, she will have to convince them, to their satisfaction, that your relationship is very real and you are a good guy.  If she is not returning in the short they will want an explanation of her immigration status at the destination and how she will support herself there.  I would not mention working remotely since Philippine Immigration may see that as a contradiction to leaving as a tourist, and not documented to be leaving to work.  Google or do a youtube search for OFFLOADED BY PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATION to get a million opinions about the subject of Philippine Exit Immigration. 

10-4, thanks for the outline. Yeah in light of your advice, I will be furnishing her with pretty much everything I can think of, Criminal record, Credit report, bank statements, hell probably tax transcripts lol, Engagement photos, chat logs, financial assistance receipts, Approved I-129f NOA2, booked accommodations at destination, travel insurance for both her and I, Car rental booking, round trip tickets, etc... the works, as well as signed declarations of relationship and probably the same from family and friends. 

[top_secret 2,417]

That which you have mentioned would probably do it.  Possibly overkill, but then again maybe not.  Make sure she has some cash, US $100's , on her as well.  "show money" If you have a Citibank card in the US you can get her an authorized user credit card with her name sent to your house.  Which if you could send to her, having possession of a credit card looks good.  https://online.citi.com/US/ag/authorizedUsers  Probably other US credit cards too but Citi is nice because you can do it online with no SS# and nothing but a name and birth date.   It probably shows some comingling of finances as evidence for the petition as well.  Also be actively in touch in real time as she goes through to answer any curve ball questions.  They have been known to ask a a girl to get pictures of this or that document or additional details from a sponsor in real time during the interview.  They can be extremely intrusive with their questions. I know one girl the asked to go through the chat and photos in her phone and she let them.  This is the form they would have her fill out to start things off if(when) she gets sent to secondary by Philippine Exit Immigration.  

 

[Cody&Razely 134]

54 minutes ago, top_secret said:

That which you have mentioned would probably do it.  Possibly overkill, but then again maybe not.  Make sure she has some cash, US $100's , on her as well.  "show money" If you have a Citibank card in the US you can get her an authorized user credit card with her name sent to your house.  Which if you could send to her, having possession of a credit card looks good.  https://online.citi.com/US/ag/authorizedUsers  Probably other US credit cards too but Citi is nice because you can do it online with no SS# and nothing but a name and birth date.   It probably shows some comingling of finances as evidence for the petition as well.  Also be actively in touch in real time as she goes through to answer any curve ball questions.  They have been known to ask a a girl to get pictures of this or that document or additional details from a sponsor in real time during the interview.  They can be extremely intrusive with their questions. I know one girl the asked to go through the chat and photos in her phone and she let them.  This is the form they would have her fill out to start things off if(when) she gets sent to secondary by Philippine Exit Immigration.  

 

 

Awesome, I really appreciate all the help