Hi all,
I was involved in a recent discussion here about getting a 13A Permanent Resident visa (basically an immigrant visa you can get when married to a Filipino citizen). I thought I'd write about the experience in a new thread so anyone contemplating doing the same might have a better idea of what's ahead.
I turned in my paperwork today and it was accepted (for processing). My wife and I go back for the interview this Friday and if that goes well all the paperwork will be forwarded to Manila. At some point between about a month and two (according to the folks in the BI Office that I went to) BI in Manila will send back my approved paperwork and new ACR I-Card.
First, let me warn you to be careful in regards to the forms; both the checklist and the application. They need to be the latest version, which makes sense but there's no sure way to know (short of asking at a BI office) what the last revision is. What I found on the BI website is that both forms are correct if you choose Visa > Immigrant Visas > Immigrant Visa by Marriage > Conversion to Non-Quota Immigrant Visa by Marriage. On that page you can click on a link to the Checklist (V-I-002-Rev 1) and Application Form (CGAF-001- Rev 2). Of course, that's as of this date of writing.
If you click on the FAQ tab > Visa Inquiry > Immigrant Visa by Marriage the link for the "concrete list of documentary requirements" (aka Checklist) it links to an older, incorrect checklist, it's Rev. 0 (zero) rather than Rev 1 (which is the current one as of this writing). The earlier Checklist has things on it that are no longer needed, so don't use it.
Now for some observations:
- It IS necessary to have your petition letter notarized (we did that). I did two originals (I'm not sure that was necessary but it didn't hurt).
- It is NOT necessary to have the Application forms notarized. I did that based on information I had read but it wasn't necessary, they still took them without issues.
- The Checklist seems to be correct if you apply in Manila but not so much if you're applying from an outlying BI Office. The Checklist says to have two original copies of the Application (that's correct) and to have two 8,5" x 14" folders (that's also correct) and to put one original application in one folder by itself, which will be for the ACR card (a new one, even if you already have one; this one will say "Permanent Resident" on it, rather than "Tourist"). That's not how it went at my BI office.
They sent me to the hotel next door with instructions to get two copies of everything in my application folder (pretty much everything on the checklist). See the note below about extending first if you need to.
In the end what happened was that they built two files using the two folders I supplied and the paperwork. One file got all the originals (and both original copies of the Application) and the other folder got the exact same paperwork but one set of copies. The second set of copies they handed back to me and said they were for my records.
They told me they needed the extra copies (not listed on the Checklist) because they'll send the originals to Manila and they need to have a copy of my file in their office. That makes sense once explained but it's not information given on the BI website.
For those applying in Manila, it seems you can follow the Checklist and it will work fine, though I have no personal knowledge of this.
For those applying outside Manila, my recommendation is to just go ahead and get two copies of all the paperwork you're going to submit. If they don't use it...fine, if they want it you've already got it.
A special note: the 13A process is quoted as taking one to two months, so make sure you've got enough time left on your tourist visa. If you need to extend do that first and then go get two copies of your passport bio page and visa page(s), they'll need to be in the paperwork package and it has to show your latest extension.
- My BI office had told me previously that they dropped the requirement for a police clearance from your home country (that was something on the older Checklist, which is why you don't want to use that one). The requirement was that I had an NBI clearance since I'd been here longer than six months.
Make sure you check and recheck everything. I had to deal with an issue with my NBI clearance. For whatever reason the NBI clearance did not show the barangay as part of my street address; of course, the 13A application has a space for it on the form, so I filled it in. In the end they decided to use correction tape on the 13A application form and have my just fill in the city (and leave the barangay out) and initial it. We'll see if that comes back to bite me (I'm waiting for some stickler in Manila to send the application back saying that the barangay information must be filled out!).
The other issue I had was that I'm a Jr. I've never seen a form here in the Philippines that has a space for a name suffix. I can't just leave it out because my passport has the Jr. on it (and it is my legal name). My name has been printed out just about every conceivable way on my Philippine driver's license, my ACR card, my bank account, you name it, I never know where the Jr will end up. I had put the Jr. after my first name (which has been most often used here ) but they decided to use correction tape on that and have me put it behind my surname. I don't know how you outguess something like that, you pretty much just have to fill up the forms, turn them in, and see what they have to say.
- They did not ask for any photos today (although I had some with me, both 1x1 and 2x2).
- The total cost for the 13A Permanent Resident visa was P11,010. That was one lump sum that I had to pay up front and included all fees and the cost of the new ACR I-Card.
In addition to that was the cost to extend my tourist visa two months, P2930. So, the total bill today was P13,940...ouch!
I was told that I cannot leave the country while my 13A application is processing. I don't think this is absolutely true but I've been told that it is necessary to get permission and it's a pain-in-the-tail. So, I think they just told me not to leave rather than having to hassle with more paperwork (I'm not planning to go anywhere anyway).
I did have a bit of a discussion with the head lady, I really didn't feel comfortable paying for the ACR up front since there's no assurance you'll get it (if your application is denied), she explained life to me and, politely, told me "no pay, no visa".
She did go onto say that the process is different in the provinces (or smaller offices) compared to Manila. She said "We only have a few people here, so we handle it all. We don't have to send you to different windows to get each thing done, so the process is easier but because we're sending everything to Manila at once, you must pay for everything first."
All-in-all it was easy. I wish I hadn't had the horrible headache I did from a sinus infection and the 1.5 hour ride in the UV Express van. I wasn't as easy-going as I usually try to be but it still wasn't bad (my normal extensions are a breeze).
To put a concise list to this rambling post:
- Download (or pickup) the most recent checklist and application and start to put your package together.
- Get your NBI clearance if you've been here more than six months (this took me three weeks to get).
- Write your petition letter (I'd suggest two originals) and have them notarized.
- Fill out the Application Form (2 originals) fully (no blank spaces) and make sure things like addresses and birthdates and such are absolutely correct.
You're going to need two references on the app form, so get their addresses and phone numbers.
I'd also get a couple of copies of the application (outside of Manila).
- Have your PSA (formerly NSO) marriage certificate (and two copies unless you're in Manila).
- Have your spouse's PSA (NSO) birth certificate (and two copies if you're outside Manila).
- Have copies (I'd suggest three if you're outside Manila, two if you're in Manila may be okay) of your Passport bio page and Philippine visa page (with the latest sticker if you're extended at this time)
- Have your NBI clearance form (and two copies if you're outside Manila), if you've been here longer than six months.
That's pretty much it, they'll take care of the BI Clearance that's listed on the Checklist, and unless you're from a country listed on Annex "A" (see Checklist for the rest of this) you don't have to deal with the medical aspect.
Oh yeah, and hand over your 11,010 Philippine pesos!
One thing I didn't get a chuckle out of is that they never asked my wife for any ID at all. Maybe they will at the interview but today she could have been someone I picked up on the street! LOL [Funny in light of how picky they were being about the smallest things on my forms.]
I understand the interview is with a BI attorney and it's really a formality (rather than a grill session). Mostly it's a paperwork check and a chance for the attorney to meet you in person before signing off on the paperwork. I'll find out, and report, this Friday.
I'm sorry this got so long but I do hope it's helpful.
Les
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