For those who have not followed my posts here, I'm a retired Boston guy with a house in Pototan on my wife's family's property of 10 Hecters.
Anyway, I just returned from Boston for some business and other reasons (had to file my taxes, which were complex for 2022 and I'm in the middle of a tooth implant.
So, I'm currently on a Balikbayan visa, as I entered Manila with my wife last week. I went to the Iloilo branch of the Bureau of immigration and they could not have been nicer. I am 70 YO and wife is 67. We have been married for 20 years and both worked in the US until last year. They gave me a check list which has requirements that are not that difficult. the woman at the desk told me that they expedite US citizens and the fact that my wife is dual and we've been married so long and our finances are in order she thinks it may take on 2 or 3 months to get a temporary (one year) 13a visa.
She advised us to go to the Bureau of Investigation ASAP to get that background clearance. We went today. Again, nice, polite and efficient. We went early and the top guy walked me through everything right there. I got fingerprinted, both electronically and the old-fashioned ink way. I had to provide my passport and a photocopy. They returned my original. I needed two 2x2 photos, which I had with me. And I needed to provide an address here and, in the states, (since I still have residency there). They told me it should take 2 or 3 weeks for clearance and then I can return to Immigration to fill out my final forms and formalize my request. Immigration told me it will be 3 to 4 weeks from that point.
If all goes well, I may have my 13a visa in about 2 months. Let's see.
I'll keep people here informed of my progress.
Anyway, I just returned from Boston for some business and other reasons (had to file my taxes, which were complex for 2022 and I'm in the middle of a tooth implant.
So, I'm currently on a Balikbayan visa, as I entered Manila with my wife last week. I went to the Iloilo branch of the Bureau of immigration and they could not have been nicer. I am 70 YO and wife is 67. We have been married for 20 years and both worked in the US until last year. They gave me a check list which has requirements that are not that difficult. the woman at the desk told me that they expedite US citizens and the fact that my wife is dual and we've been married so long and our finances are in order she thinks it may take on 2 or 3 months to get a temporary (one year) 13a visa.
She advised us to go to the Bureau of Investigation ASAP to get that background clearance. We went today. Again, nice, polite and efficient. We went early and the top guy walked me through everything right there. I got fingerprinted, both electronically and the old-fashioned ink way. I had to provide my passport and a photocopy. They returned my original. I needed two 2x2 photos, which I had with me. And I needed to provide an address here and, in the states, (since I still have residency there). They told me it should take 2 or 3 weeks for clearance and then I can return to Immigration to fill out my final forms and formalize my request. Immigration told me it will be 3 to 4 weeks from that point.
If all goes well, I may have my 13a visa in about 2 months. Let's see.
I'll keep people here informed of my progress.
