9(a) Visa

[RO_AH 1,659]

As some of you know I filed for an EED and 9(a) visa about 2 months ago. Well since the EED was no longer needed I reached out to the Consulate again about my visa. They sent me the requirements for the visa which were pretty much the same as the EED so I sent them again via email. They asked me to get the visa application notarized and email them a copy. Next they sent me an email to send all of it to the consulate along with my passport and prepaid return envelope and a money order for $30.00. They will notify me when they send me my visa.

 

Here were the requirements:

Copy of passport of applicant (valid at least 6 months from return date)

Travel Itinerary (duration of stay in the Philippines)

Proof of Financial Capacity (photocopy of latest bank statement and an employment certificate from the employer indicating position and salary, or affidavit of support), for Tourist Visa (for pleasure only).

Additional documents for Foreign spouse and parent of Filipino nationals:

      -   Proof of Marriage - PSA-issued Marriage Contract, for Philippines-issued documents or apostilled/authenticated, for documents issued by foreign governments

      -   Proof of the citizenship of the Filipino spouse (copy of Philippine passport or dual citizenship documents)

      -   Proof that the Filipino spouse is living and currently in the Philippines (e.g. barangay certificate)

      -   Proof of parentage to the Filipino child - PSA-issued Birth Certificate, for Philippines-issued documents, or apostilled /authenticated, for documents issued by foreign governments

      -   Proof of the citizenship of the Filipino child (copy of Philippine passport or dual citizenship documents)

      -   Proof that the Filipino child is living and currently in the Philippines (e.g. barangay certificate)

[flicks1998 1,044]

Looks like the same process is back in place that was there in November last year. Since you’ll qualify for the 9a based on spouse or child, double check what your visa says when you get it back as they will pick one or the other. If spouse, make sure to bring your marriage certificate. If based on a child, make sure to bring their Birth certificate. PI immigration will ask for this when you arrive. Have a good trip. 

[Joe Kano 327]

12 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

Looks like the same process is back in place that was there in November last year. Since you’ll qualify for the 9a based on spouse or child, double check what your visa says when you get it back as they will pick one or the other. If spouse, make sure to bring your marriage certificate. If based on a child, make sure to bring their Birth certificate. PI immigration will ask for this when you arrive. Have a good trip. 

We are lucky to have you in the PI section, you are full of information and knowledge 👍

[Kby175 115]

Yikes, 2 months and still no visa, what consulate are you going through? I may contact the local one here and find out what kind of time line I can expect.  

[flicks1998 1,044]

1 hour ago, Kby175 said:

Yikes, 2 months and still no visa, what consulate are you going through? I may contact the local one here and find out what kind of time line I can expect.  

I believe he is going through Honolulu.  Its taken him 2 months as previously, you had to apply for an exemption when you applied for the visa.  People who were successful with the exemption were taking around 3 months or a little longer to get this.  Now that the exemption is not required, he can just apply for the visa which should be much faster.  Probably within a week or so. 

[Kby175 115]

3 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

I believe he is going through Honolulu.  Its taken him 2 months as previously, you had to apply for an exemption when you applied for the visa.  People who were successful with the exemption were taking around 3 months or a little longer to get this.  Now that the exemption is not required, he can just apply for the visa which should be much faster.  Probably within a week or so. 

That is what I was thinking as well without the exemption you wouldn't think it would take so long to get the visa, waiting to hear back from the local consulate about a timeline once I have all the documents they are requesting.  

[RO_AH 1,659]

7 minutes ago, Kby175 said:

That is what I was thinking as well without the exemption you wouldn't think it would take so long to get the visa, waiting to hear back from the local consulate about a timeline once I have all the documents they are requesting.  

@flicks1998 is correct. You should receive it within 2 weeks. The biggest problem here is getting the visa section to respond to emails.

[Kby175 115]

I heard back from the visa section here in Houston after about 6 hours, the 3 questions I asked were answered.  I asked for the three items I am going to provide as proof is going to be enough for them they said yes, the second question was can I apply for a 1 year multi entry visa so I don't have to go through this next year, right now they are only issuing a single entry visa good for 3 months.  Last question was how long does it take to process the visa they said 3 to 5 working days.  

[flicks1998 1,044]

2 hours ago, Kby175 said:

I heard back from the visa section here in Houston after about 6 hours, the 3 questions I asked were answered.  I asked for the three items I am going to provide as proof is going to be enough for them they said yes, the second question was can I apply for a 1 year multi entry visa so I don't have to go through this next year, right now they are only issuing a single entry visa good for 3 months.  Last question was how long does it take to process the visa they said 3 to 5 working days.  

That’s the exact same process last November I went through. However when I went it was a 2 month visa but when I arrived at PI immigration, they told me I can extend it just as a normal 9a which would be up to 3 years. 
 

You may want to check the visa when you get it as I’ve never know PI immigration to be set up for a 90 day visa.  It may be for 59 days and then extend. 
 

Pre-Covid, immigration used to give 6 month and 1 year 9a visas but you had to do the extensions as normal.  So after 59 days you would have to pay for the next extension and so forth. The benefit was if you left the country at 59 days and reentered the country, you got an automatic 59 days. You could do that for up to 6 months or one year based on your visa. 
 

 

Edited August 12, 2021 by flicks1998

[top_secret 2,424]

5 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

You may want to check the visa when you get it as I’ve never know PI immigration to be set up for a 90 day visa.  It may be for 59 days and then extend. 

 

The 90 day validity is the window of dates that one may enter and begin the 59 day stay (extendable of course).  AFIK, the ones they are giving now are all single entry.

[flicks1998 1,044]

5 hours ago, top_secret said:

 

The 90 day validity is the window of dates that one may enter and begin the 59 day stay (extendable of course).  AFIK, the ones they are giving now are all single entry.

Yes correct.  The Covid 9a visa is single entry.  However once you enter the country, you can extend it as a normal 9a visa.  If you were to leave the country, you would need to reapply for another visa.  The pre-pandemic 9a visas (ones applied beforehand and were of 6 months or 12 months validity) were multi-entry.  

 

 

[RO_AH 1,659]

I just found out that I will need to purchase a ticket and send them my itinerary to get my visa. Kinda opposite from USA where they say do not buy a ticket until you have visa in hand.

[top_secret 2,424]

51 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

I just found out that I will need to purchase a ticket and send them my itinerary to get my visa. Kinda opposite from USA where they say do not buy a ticket until you have visa in hand.

They say just an unpaid reservation would work.

[RO_AH 1,659]

37 minutes ago, top_secret said:

They say just an unpaid reservation would work.

Well I had to do it sooner or later so I booked my flight and my wife & 2 children's fight. All done now. Hopefully they will send me my visa tomorrow and I will have it Saturday.

[RO_AH 1,659]

On 8/11/2021 at 3:00 PM, flicks1998 said:

You may want to check the visa when you get it as I’ve never know PI immigration to be set up for a 90 day visa.  It may be for 59 days and then extend. 

They called me today. They said the visa will be good for 90 days and recommended that I wait to get it since I am not leaving until October. According to her I must leave the Philippines before it expires. I said, no I would like to have it now. I will be leaving the Philippines before November so I would rather have it now. They sent it out and I should receive it tomorrow..