Unaccompanied Filipina allowed to travel?

[Jimmyzr1 36]

I guess we won’t try to go the Mexican route. I applied for an 9a Visa last week  after having to wait for her paperwork to get to me. Unfortunately, the Philippines’s changed the rules for unvaccinated to get into the country. Now, I’m running out of time to get there. I’ve heard if I get my Visa and get to the Philippines  by either 9th or the 15th, I’d be allowed entry into the country as a spouse. Otherwise, maybe we’ll have to wait for her to finish school, so we could meet in Cambodia or Thailand. It was all going as planned, until the government started changing things, better for most, but unfortunately not good for us. I didn’t mind having to quarantine, all I’m planning on doing is to consummate our marriage and return to the US since I wouldn’t be allowed to do anything there anyway. I’m just trying to get her and her son to the US ASAP. We lived together in Cebu City and San Pablo for 2 years and 1 month, but staying long term in the Philippines was not for me. Looking back, I should’ve married her before I left, now it’s going to be a lot more expensive and a much lengthier process!

[sckms 15]

1 hour ago, Jimmyzr1 said:

I guess we won’t try to go the Mexican route. I applied for an 9a Visa last week  after having to wait for her paperwork to get to me. Unfortunately, the Philippines’s changed the rules for unvaccinated to get into the country. Now, I’m running out of time to get there. I’ve heard if I get my Visa and get to the Philippines  by either 9th or the 15th, I’d be allowed entry into the country as a spouse. Otherwise, maybe we’ll have to wait for her to finish school, so we could meet in Cambodia or Thailand. It was all going as planned, until the government started changing things, better for most, but unfortunately not good for us. I didn’t mind having to quarantine, all I’m planning on doing is to consummate our marriage and return to the US since I wouldn’t be allowed to do anything there anyway. I’m just trying to get her and her son to the US ASAP. We lived together in Cebu City and San Pablo for 2 years and 1 month, but staying long term in the Philippines was not for me. Looking back, I should’ve married her before I left, now it’s going to be a lot more expensive and a much lengthier process!

Yeah, we only chose Mexico because it was easier for me to fly back and forth and we were thinking we'd be doing this for the full 6 months, as we didn't expect the interview dates to open up. If you're just looking for a one time thing, I would definitely have chosen another country such as the Maldives, Colombia, or Costa Rica. There are still a few options out there that should be worth exploring. 

[sckms 15]

4 hours ago, top_secret said:

I'm happy she made it and having the I-Watch was a coup.  Lack of connectivity was a major issue and they actually mocked my wife because she couldn't text me. (huge mistake we made was counting on WIFI being available when she arrived)  We are pretty confident that with 20/20 hindsight she could have made it, but OTOH any country that apparently routinely detains for hours or and/or deports Filipinas with valid visas is off our list of recreational vacation destinations.  Being sent to a secondary exit interview by Philippine immigration is certainly a walk in the park compared to Mexican immigration.

Yes, I had purchased wifi on the plane as well, so we were able to stay in contact which was stress-relieving. The people in the immigration office were quite hostile, but, luckily she is quite patient so she was able to assuage their animus. I do agree that Mexico certainly should not be the first option for one-time trips though. 

 

(Sorry I'm double posting. Not sure how to combine replies.)

[Steve2022 41]

12 hours ago, Jimmyzr1 said:

I guess we won’t try to go the Mexican route. I applied for an 9a Visa last week  after having to wait for her paperwork to get to me. Unfortunately, the Philippines’s changed the rules for unvaccinated to get into the country. Now, I’m running out of time to get there. I’ve heard if I get my Visa and get to the Philippines  by either 9th or the 15th, I’d be allowed entry into the country as a spouse. Otherwise, maybe we’ll have to wait for her to finish school, so we could meet in Cambodia or Thailand. It was all going as planned, until the government started changing things, better for most, but unfortunately not good for us. I didn’t mind having to quarantine, all I’m planning on doing is to consummate our marriage and return to the US since I wouldn’t be allowed to do anything there anyway. I’m just trying to get her and her son to the US ASAP. We lived together in Cebu City and San Pablo for 2 years and 1 month, but staying long term in the Philippines was not for me. Looking back, I should’ve married her before I left, now it’s going to be a lot more expensive and a much lengthier process!

You don't need the 9a anymore.  You can enter without a visa.  You do need to get vaccinated.  This is much easier than the other options you've been brainstorming about.  Is all of your brainstorming just to avoid the vaccine?  It is a really wimpy/easy vaccine, just get it over with.  Get the Johnson and Johnson 1 shot.  It isn't like you haven't already had 20 different vaccine shots in your life.  You're going to find it difficult to travel within the Philippines or enter certain buildings without a vaccination record.   But if you wait a few months, maybe they'll have stopped caring by then. 

Edited January 30, 2022 by Steve2022

[MarJhi 963]

32 minutes ago, Steve2022 said:

It is a really wimpy/easy vaccine, just get it over with.  Get the Johnson and Johnson 1 shot.  It isn't like you haven't already had 20 different vaccine shots in your life. 

A bit judgmental don't you think? Whether they aren't taking this particular vaccine for medical reasons or personal reasons I think it's their choice to do so. People should never make an assumption about someone else's choices in life without knowing their reasons for doing so, and even then it's really nobody else's business. 

[Steve2022 41]

37 minutes ago, MarJhi said:

A bit judgmental don't you think? Whether they aren't taking this particular vaccine for medical reasons or personal reasons I think it's their choice to do so. People should never make an assumption about someone else's choices in life without knowing their reasons for doing so, and even then it's really nobody else's business. 

Is it their choice if it is required to travel within the Philippines and also to enter the Philippines?  Doesn't seem like much of a choice to me. 

[MarJhi 963]

1 hour ago, Steve2022 said:

Is it their choice if it is required to travel within the Philippines and also to enter the Philippines?  Doesn't seem like much of a choice to me. 

Maybe that's the point. He was looking for other alternatives to travel because he said he cannot get vaccination for reasons only he knows. I don't think he was here asking medical advice that none of us are qualified to answer. 

 

I say this with firsthand knowledge. Vaccines aren't a one size fits all solution for everyone on this planet as some seem to think. I never had a measles shot when I was a child because the doctors said it would do me more harm than good because of a couple of rare medical conditions I have. Everyone should be able to do what is best for them. I respect those who make the decision to take it just as much as I respect those who make the decision not to do so. I am sometimes puzzled, shocked and disappointed by those that take this one size fits all approach with this when they have NO idea what risk they may be asking someone else to put themselves in.

[RO_AH 1,659]

17 hours ago, Jimmyzr1 said:

I guess we won’t try to go the Mexican route. I applied for an 9a Visa last week  after having to wait for her paperwork to get to me. Unfortunately, the Philippines’s changed the rules for unvaccinated to get into the country. Now, I’m running out of time to get there. I’ve heard if I get my Visa and get to the Philippines  by either 9th or the 15th, I’d be allowed entry into the country as a spouse. Otherwise, maybe we’ll have to wait for her to finish school, so we could meet in Cambodia or Thailand. It was all going as planned, until the government started changing things, better for most, but unfortunately not good for us. I didn’t mind having to quarantine, all I’m planning on doing is to consummate our marriage and return to the US since I wouldn’t be allowed to do anything there anyway. I’m just trying to get her and her son to the US ASAP. We lived together in Cebu City and San Pablo for 2 years and 1 month, but staying long term in the Philippines was not for me. Looking back, I should’ve married her before I left, now it’s going to be a lot more expensive and a much lengthier process!

They will probably clarify if there are any rules regarding unvaccinated. I think a test and quarantine should be allowed. That's what I had to do in October last year. I'm just happy got my wife and kids out of there finally. Hoping all of the covid bs will be done within a year.

[IWander 589]

6 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

They will probably clarify if there are any rules regarding unvaccinated. I think a test and quarantine should be allowed. That's what I had to do in October last year. I'm just happy got my wife and kids out of there finally. Hoping all of the covid bs will be done within a year.

Current rumor is actually the opposite. The clarification that is being talked about is that any unvaccinated option, for any class of traveler, even what is currently allowable, will be eliminated in the near term future.

 

I hope it's wrong.

[RO_AH 1,659]

10 hours ago, IWander said:

I hope it's wrong.

Me too. I still believe in a year or so all of the covid manure will be in the past.

[Steve2022 41]

On 1/30/2022 at 11:26 AM, MarJhi said:

A bit judgmental don't you think? Whether they aren't taking this particular vaccine for medical reasons or personal reasons I think it's their choice to do so. People should never make an assumption about someone else's choices in life without knowing their reasons for doing so, and even then it's really nobody else's business. 

You are right, we should support him, especially at this stage, when it no longer matters.  So my apologies to the OP.  He didn't ask for a lecture.  However, it wasn't very many months ago that the unvaccinated were threatend with jail time.  Unless they've got an iron-clad medical excuse, it seems like a lot of trouble to go through.   There ya go, another lecture.  Maybe I'll never learn.  I hope the OP can get where he needs to go with as few roadblocks as possible.   I have no idea how to help him and will just shut up now.  Peace.

[Steve2022 41]

On 1/31/2022 at 1:48 AM, RO_AH said:

Me too. I still believe in a year or so all of the covid manure will be in the past.

Are you kidding, it is almost completely over now.  Especially if you are vaccinated.  All the serious restrictions are already over.

[MarJhi 963]

5 hours ago, Steve2022 said:

You are right, we should support him, especially at this stage, when it no longer matters.  So my apologies to the OP.  He didn't ask for a lecture.  However, it wasn't very many months ago that the unvaccinated were threatend with jail time.  Unless they've got an iron-clad medical excuse, it seems like a lot of trouble to go through.   There ya go, another lecture.  Maybe I'll never learn.  I hope the OP can get where he needs to go with as few roadblocks as possible.   I have no idea how to help him and will just shut up now.  Peace.

Haha, sarcasm duly noted.

[Jimmyzr1 36]

8 hours ago, Steve2022 said:

You are right, we should support him, especially at this stage, when it no longer matters.  So my apologies to the OP.  He didn't ask for a lecture.  However, it wasn't very many months ago that the unvaccinated were threatend with jail time.  Unless they've got an iron-clad medical excuse, it seems like a lot of trouble to go through.   There ya go, another lecture.  Maybe I'll never learn.  I hope the OP can get where he needs to go with as few roadblocks as possible.   I have no idea how to help him and will just shut up now.  Peace.

Well, luckily I got my Passport and 9a Visa in the mail yesterday, so as long as I don’t get the flu and everything goes as planned, (flight doesn’t get cancelled, etc.) I should be quarantined in Manila early next week!

[Talako 785]

45 minutes ago, Jimmyzr1 said:

Well, luckily I got my Passport and 9a Visa in the mail yesterday, so as long as I don’t get the flu and everything goes as planned, (flight doesn’t get cancelled, etc.) I should be quarantined in Manila early next week!

Good Luck