Probationary 13A Expiration/Cancellation

[may5 1]

THIS IS ABOUT A PROBATIONARY 13A, NOT A PERMANENT 13A VISA.

 

I obtained a Philippines probationary (1 year) 13A visa last year to facilitate my stay in the Philippines with my spousal until her US visa process was completed.

 

It has been many months, but we are finally approved and now are looking to cross our i's and dot our t's before leaving the Philippines for the US.

 

I do not intend to continue with my probationary 13A -> permanent 13A. The probationary 13A expires in 2/3 months by which time I will already been in the States. Does anyone know what happens at that point? Do I have to do something before going to the airport or is the ECC-A exit clearance enough? If I have to go somewhere before the airport, do I have to convert it to a 9A? Does anyone have any success stories or info?

[Edward and Jaycel 1,111]

You just have to get your ECC and leave. The probationary 13A will be cancelled if you don't convert it to permanent. If you want to return in the future to live as a permanent resident you will just have to start all over again with a fresh application and a new probationary period.

[may5 1]

That's what I thought initially, but I've seen a lot of talk online about issues with not first downgrading to 9A (tourist) and turning in your probationary ACR I-card, coupled with compiled annual "late" fees ranging into the hundreds of dollars when returning to the Philippines for a vacation.

 

As usual, BI has been spectacularly unuseful. Here are my results so far:

Emails resulted in no actual response to the question.

Calling (a half a dozen times because they'll just forward you to a blank number) resulted in the instructions to just do an ECC-A and no downgrading.

Facebook resulted in instructions to downgrade or face penalties (for permanent 13A, but no info on probationary)

[Edward and Jaycel 1,111]

3 hours ago, may5 said:

That's what I thought initially, but I've seen a lot of talk online about issues with not first downgrading to 9A (tourist) and turning in your probationary ACR I-card, coupled with compiled annual "late" fees ranging into the hundreds of dollars when returning to the Philippines for a vacation.

 

As usual, BI has been spectacularly unuseful. Here are my results so far:

Emails resulted in no actual response to the question.

Calling (a half a dozen times because they'll just forward you to a blank number) resulted in the instructions to just do an ECC-A and no downgrading.

Facebook resulted in instructions to downgrade or face penalties (for permanent 13A, but no info on probationary)

When I left the Philippines with my ECC, I asked if I needed to turn in my ACR-I card at my exit immigration stop in NAIA and the BI officer said no. Still have it here.  I can’t tell you if the reports on Facebook are accurate or not. You know the BI… all of it could be true. Each BI office seems to have its own rules and sometimes each officer 🤣