13a - Apply in advance or wait until arrival?

[AKteacher 104]

Philippines 13a visa (residency based on marriage) - Are there any advantages of applying while still in the US, or is it better to wait until after arrival in Philippines and apply there?

[Stevephoto 230]

Aloha!

 

We are looking into the same thing. From what I understand, the 13A process is easier and faster in the US. I am still researching how far out from the move is best to start the process. There are a number of medical steps to take (full lab work-ups, chest x-rays, etc.). I do not know yet how long they are valid. Where are you planning to live?

 

[AKteacher 104]

3 hours ago, Stevephoto said:

Aloha!

 

We are looking into the same thing. From what I understand, the 13A process is easier and faster in the US. I am still researching how far out from the move is best to start the process. There are a number of medical steps to take (full lab work-ups, chest x-rays, etc.). I do not know yet how long they are valid. Where are you planning to live?

If we move, we'd live down in Mindanao, probably Davao.

[Stevephoto 230]

3 hours ago, AKteacher said:

If we move, we'd live down in Mindanao, probably Davao.

We have not been to Mindanao. I hear it is beautiful. We will be in Bulacan.

[IWander 589]

On 1/16/2023 at 12:00 AM, AKteacher said:

Philippines 13a visa (residency based on marriage) - Are there any advantages of applying while still in the US, or is it better to wait until after arrival in Philippines and apply there?

What are the advantages of the 13a?  I am simply  using the Balikbayan privilege as I don't spend an entire year here without a step out.  I've been here since October and will step out in April as we return to the USA for the summer before coming back.

[AKteacher 104]

24 minutes ago, IWander said:

What are the advantages of the 13a?  I am simply  using the Balikbayan privilege as I don't spend an entire year here without a step out.  I've been here since October and will step out in April as we return to the USA for the summer before coming back.

The Balikbayan is great if you come in to PHL with your spouse. A 13a would allow me to travel freely in & out by myself as well as get an ACR card.

[Chancy 6,241]

1 hour ago, AKteacher said:

get an ACR card

 

This might be pre-COVID info, but non-PH citizens can get an ACR card even as tourists on BB privilege.  It's not required to be on 13a visa.  Just need to be legally in the PH (not overstaying).

 

[AKteacher 104]

17 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

This might be pre-COVID info, but non-PH citizens can get an ACR card even as tourists on BB privilege.  It's not required to be on 13a visa.  Just need to be legally in the PH (not overstaying).

 

Thanks for the info. My main reason would be to be able to travel in & out independently.

[Talako 781]

If you are going to do the 13a, then definitely do it in the US.  I came here to the Philippines before the Houston consulate opened back up to processing 13a visas.  It has been a headache so far.

 

I was required to get a NBI clearance, and that so far has been a two month ordeal that I might have to do over again.  I argued with an NBI encoder and supervisor about American vs. Filipino middle name conventions.  I lost, and I now have two first names and no middle name.  Now I need to make a trip to the BI, to see if they will accept that or I will have to figure something out.

[top_secret 2,417]

6 hours ago, Talako said:

I argued with an NBI encoder and supervisor about American vs. Filipino middle name conventions.  I lost, and I now have two first names and no middle name.  Now I need to make a trip to the BI, to see if they will accept that or I will have to figure something out.

 

Technically most Americans do have two first names and no "middle name" under Philippine conventions. The Philippines defines a "middle name" quite specifically as the maternal surname so it has legal meaning defining a persons kinship and the marital status of their parents.  In America a middle name is just a second given name.  It has no meaning other than differentiating you from someone else.

 

This is apparent on Philippine passports where there are lines for surname, given names, and middle name, vs American passports where there is only lines for surname and given names.  Middle names just follow the first name under given names.

 

My wife was unmarried when my stepdaughter was born so she has my wife's surname.  My stepdaughter also has a middle name in line with American conventions rather than Filipino conventions.  But on her birth certificate, passport and every other Philippine document, she has two given names and no middle name, because her mother was unmarried when she was born. That has all kinds of legal implications for a Philippine citizen, good and bad, based just on the presence or lack of a middle name.  Or, lack of a middle name may just mean you are a foreigner.

 

NBI guy is correct and BI should be happy with the two given names no middle name situation.

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

On 1/16/2023 at 9:24 PM, Chancy said:

 

This might be pre-COVID info, but non-PH citizens can get an ACR card even as tourists on BB privilege.  It's not required to be on 13a visa.  Just need to be legally in the PH (not overstaying).

 

This is good to know...Just have to make sure your local BI office knows this, too 😉

[flicks1998 1,044]

On 1/16/2023 at 10:43 PM, AKteacher said:

Thanks for the info. My main reason would be to be able to travel in & out independently.

Yes the 13A will allow you to travel in/out without your spouse compared to the BB visa.  Just note that the 13A is a resident visa and you will need to pay the travel tax (1,620p) each time you depart internationally.  The BB visa you do not need to do this.  However, you couldnt get the BB visa if you were flying into the country alone and they would only give you a 9a so getting the 13a has that advantage  along with a few others.

 

Also, alot of people confuse the travel tax with the departure tax (or terminal tax) but they are two different things.  Terminal tax is usually put into the ticket price except for one or two airports nowadays.  The travel tax is occasionally included, most Philippine airlines give you the option to pay this when buying the ticket.  The only time some needs to pay the travel tax on a 9a visa is if they spent 365+ days consecutively in the country.  Also if someone has a work visa (9g, 47a2, etc), there is actually an additional tax of 2,880p on top of all of the other taxes.

[flicks1998 1,044]

On 1/19/2023 at 11:33 AM, top_secret said:

 

Technically most Americans do have two first names and no "middle name" under Philippine conventions. The Philippines defines a "middle name" quite specifically as the maternal surname so it has legal meaning defining a persons kinship and the marital status of their parents.  In America a middle name is just a second given name.  It has no meaning other than differentiating you from someone else.

 

This is apparent on Philippine passports where there are lines for surname, given names, and middle name, vs American passports where there is only lines for surname and given names.  Middle names just follow the first name under given names.

 

My wife was unmarried when my stepdaughter was born so she has my wife's surname.  My stepdaughter also has a middle name in line with American conventions rather than Filipino conventions.  But on her birth certificate, passport and every other Philippine document, she has two given names and no middle name, because her mother was unmarried when she was born. That has all kinds of legal implications for a Philippine citizen, good and bad, based just on the presence or lack of a middle name.  Or, lack of a middle name may just mean you are a foreigner.

 

NBI guy is correct and BI should be happy with the two given names no middle name situation.

Out of curiosity, did the father of your stepdaughter not sign the birth certificate when she was born?  Many times this occurs and if so, the child will obtain the mothers later name.  However, if the father signs the birth certificate (even if not married), the child can use the fathers last name.  This was the case with my son.  He has my last name although I was not married to the mother.  His name structure is:  the two first names, middle name is the mothers last name, his last name is my last name.  However there is a cutoff on when the father needs to sign the BC and if that date is missed, the child will take the mothers last name.  A UK friend of mine worked overshore and when his daughter was born, he could not get back to the Philippines in time to sign the BC.  It became a disaster as it took him about 2 years to get it correct and alot of money spent.  I dont remember the cut-off time, but I thought around 2 weeks or 30 days but not sure.

[top_secret 2,417]

47 minutes ago, flicks1998 said:

Out of curiosity, did the father of your stepdaughter not sign the birth certificate when she was born?  Many times this occurs and if so, the child will obtain the mothers later name.  However, if the father signs the birth certificate (even if not married), the child can use the fathers last name.  This was the case with my son.  He has my last name although I was not married to the mother.  His name structure is:  the two first names, middle name is the mothers last name, his last name is my last name.  However there is a cutoff on when the father needs to sign the BC and if that date is missed, the child will take the mothers last name.  A UK friend of mine worked overshore and when his daughter was born, he could not get back to the Philippines in time to sign the BC.  It became a disaster as it took him about 2 years to get it correct and alot of money spent.  I dont remember the cut-off time, but I thought around 2 weeks or 30 days but not sure.

 

The biological father of my stepdaughter refused to sign her birth certificate and is not listed on her birth certificate. She has two names listed under "first name", no "middle name", and my wife's "last name".  On her Philippine passport she has two "given names", no "middle name" and her mom's "surname".  It's actually convenient he wouldn't sign because although USCIS or USEM wouldn't care if he signed or not, when mom naturalizes, US Passport offices and various other agencies have been know to make a fuss about other parents consent.  With no fathers name on the birth certificate that is forever a non issue.

 

However, on my wife's birth certificate her parents were kind of common law married but not legally married when they registered her birth, but her father did sign an affidavit of acknowledgement of paternity at the same time they filed the birth certificate and he is fully listed on her original birth certificate.  Although it was all late registered when she was already 5 years old so maybe they missed the cutoff date, but it was all filed the same day.  None the less, my wife's birth certificate only lists her first name and her mothers maiden last name. Even though her father is fully listed, acknowledged, signed and everything, it says "DATE AND PLACE OF MARRIAGE OF PARENTS, NOT MARRIED.  So no fathers last name and no middle name for her either.

 

Her parents registered their marriage shortly after that, and years later, as an adult my wife filed to have her birth certificate legitimized since her parents married so now it is annotated to list her first name, her mother maiden name as her middle name and her fathers last name but it took the legitimization to do that.

[flicks1998 1,044]

1 minute ago, top_secret said:

 

The biological father of my stepdaughter refused to sign her birth certificate and is not listed on her birth certificate. She has two names listed under "first name", no "middle name", and my wife's "last name".  On her Philippine passport she has two "given names", no "middle name" and her mom's "surname".  It's actually convenient he wouldn't sign because although USCIS or USEM wouldn't care if he signed or not, when mom naturalizes, US Passport offices and various other agencies have been know to make a fuss about other parents consent.  With no fathers name on the birth certificate that is forever a non issue.

 

However, on my wife's birth certificate her parents were kind of common law married but not legally married when they registered her birth, but her father did sign an affidavit of acknowledgement of paternity at the same time they filed the birth certificate and he is fully listed on her original birth certificate.  Although it was all late registered when she was already 5 years old so maybe they missed the cutoff date, but it was all filed the same day.  None the less, my wife's birth certificate only lists her first name and her mothers maiden last name. Even though her father is fully listed, acknowledged, signed and everything, it says "DATE AND PLACE OF MARRIAGE OF PARENTS, NOT MARRIED.  So no fathers last name and no middle name for her either.

 

Her parents registered their marriage shortly after that, and years later, as an adult my wife filed to have her birth certificate legitimized since her parents married so now it is annotated to list her first name, her mother maiden name as her middle name and her fathers last name but it took the legitimization to do that.

Yeah, makes sense on your step daughter and agreed that with no fathers name on the BC is very helpful.

 

Your wife's situation was exactly my wifes situation, I think she was around 5 years old as well.  Because of that, we had to get the NBI AKA for USCIS.