I've had a 13A for, hmmmm, 14 years maybe? If you wan5 one I recommend getting it anywhere but the Philippines so you only have to do it once. Wish I had known it could be done in the US. I left the Philippines every other year since I got it. I calculated after I had it for 10 years or so, it was just then becoming the cheaper option than the BB visa with annual trips for 2 to (wherever). This is due to the fact that a BB pays nothing on departure whereas a 13A has to pay about p2880 to the BI and p1640 travel tax (every time you depart). Also, a 13A has to pay p310 AR every year and renew their ACR-I card every 5 years which runs something like $50 plus p5k or whatever. Probably the biggest reason to get the 13A over BB is for tax advantages if you have foreign income. As a 13A holder, you are bona fide resident of a foreign country and are eligible for foreign income exclusion regardless of the time spent in the US each year.
