Returning to the UK with a Filipino Spouse

While most readers of this site will probably be more interested in moving from the UK or elsewhere to the Philippines, I assume there are also readers who are living in the Philippines already, and whom, from time to time, might flirt with the idea of moving home again.

This can happen for any number of reasons. The only permanent thing in life is impermanence, circumstances change constantly, and what seemed like a dream yesterday can grow tiring and stale. I decided last year when my son was born to return to the UK after living in Asia for almost a decade. Of course, my Filipina spouse would be coming with me.

If you’re thinking about this or do so from time to time, there are some things you should be aware of regarding the current visa rules for non-European nationals. Coming home to the UK with a Filipino spouse is extremely challenging, and there are multiple legal obstacles set up to specifically attempt to stop you from doing so.

All of these can be overcome, but being aware of them fully before making any such attempts is a crucial first step. As the old saying goes, you must ‘Know thy enemy’ to defeat him.

A Little Background

My situation is by no means unique, and I wouldn’t be the first expat to decide to return home after a major life event. As it so happens, the birth of my son also coincided with the largest crash the oil industry has seen in decades, which is how I made my bread and butter and how my wife and I had planned to stay in the Philippines permanently.

I had never even seriously considered returning home until these two events took place. However, after carefully meditating upon it for a period of months and visiting home for a trial run for the first time in years, we decided that the brighter future for both us and our son lay in the UK. I have no doubts whatsoever that we made the right decision, even though I do miss the Philippines in many ways.

Enter The Problem

However, we found ourselves in a precarious position. You see, British nationals with non-EU spouses are required to prove their income to the British government to show they can support their families. The minimum income threshold is￡18,600 per year at the time of writing. This increases with every child that you have who isn’t a British citizen.

Thus, the expat returning to the UK finds himself in a strange and frightening situation. He most likely does not have a job at ￡18,600 per year, and until he gets home and re-established, has little chance of finding one.

The UK government will give your Filipino spouse a 6-month tourist visa to visit in most cases. However, most expats agree that when returning home with your family this is nowhere near enough time to get settled, find a job which meets the minimum income requirements, and complete the necessary paperwork and gather the required evidence to prove it to the British government before the spouse tourist visa runs out.

It quickly becomes apparent that without a stroke of serious luck, either your spouse will not be able to come with you, or he/she can come but will have to leave and return to the Philippines until the process is complete. Most agree this is absurd and is a violation of the basic right to family life, and even some in the British legal system have agreed, but nonetheless it remains the law and unless your spouse wants to be permanently deported, you will have to comply with it.

So, in a nutshell, the expat with the Filipino spouse will have to either leave their family behind and return to set things up for something which could take a year or in some cases a lot longer to complete, or will have to bring their family, and then send them back to the Philippines while they work on the rest of the process.

The Courts

This has been fought in the British courts, with the initial trial siding with the British citizens and their families. The Court of Appeal, sadly, did not agree, and rules in favor of the Home Office. This case is now in the Supreme Court, but with Brexit and other such political volatility, nobody expects a final answer anytime soon.

The Solution

There are a number of different solutions to this problem, all of which should be carefully considered before any move is made. They are all somewhat absurd in nature and will make the logical man scratch his head in amazement that elected officials could be so utterly incompetent and could create such a mess, but they are nonetheless the only options the expat has.

1. Be or Become a Mac Daddy

If you’re a mac daddy with a fat pension and make more than ￡18,600 per year (more if you have kids), you have no worries. Apply before you come, provide approximately 6 months of evidence, pay the fee, and bob’s your uncle.

2. Job Hunt

You could try to secure a job before you come, particularly if you work in a lucrative field which will easily surpass the income requirements. It can be difficult to convince someone to hire you when you’re not even in the country, have no address there, and are simply promising you will return.

That said, it has been done. It may take a few connections and a little luck, but I would be lying if I said it is impossible. This still leaves you with a slight time issue and at least an extra round of flights to buy.

Sadly, it may also mean time apart from your family if they need to come back to the Philippines for a while in the event that their tourist visas expire before the necessary evidence is collected and the application launched for a spouse visa.

3. Go to Europe

I haven’t mentioned this yet, but this law does not apply to European citizens living in the UK, who are free to bring their families to live here without restriction. Anyone holding an EU Family Permit is able to come to the UK and stay, and your spouse is entitled to get one in many other EU member states, other than the UK.

Many expats returning home take the route. It’s called the Surinder Singh route and involves you picking a country in Europe, moving there, and staying for a period of roughly 3 months while you obtain the Family Permit. Once this is issued, you may return to the UK without hindrance (at least until Brexit takes place).

Most agree this is a major and unnecessary hassle, but again, it is the law. You could also approach it as a final adventure before returning home and turn it into a positive.

4. Surrender Your British Nationality

Yes, I’m dead serious. After contemplating all of the options, this is exactly what I decided to do, exercising my right to Irish nationality in the process.

If you have any other European nationality, you can surrender your British passport and move here with your spouse unrestricted and immediately. Once you get your certificate of renunciation you can apply for your spouse to join you in the UK under the EU Family Permit scheme talked about above. This is legally required to be issued within 3 weeks.

You can get your British nationality back again at a later stage, but it’s costly and there may not be any great reason to do so.

Conclusion

Apart from the conclusion that Britain has gone barmy on immigration, you can see here that an expat returning home with a Filipino spouse does have some obstacles to overcome, but does not have an impossible task ahead.

If you find yourself in this situation and are looking for a way forward, consider the options you have above. I also highly recommend getting in touch with an immigration solicitor as confirming which option is best for you under the guidance of a trained professional is a much better idea than spending endless hours scouring the internet and worrying at night about whether or not it will work.

You do have options to return home with your family. While this punitive and unfair law is current, I still believe that the arc of the moral universe is long, but does bend towards justice. At some point, hopefully, not too far in the future, this draconian law will be overturned.

Returning to the UK is your right, even if you never exercise it, and being aware of these current rules is step 1 to making an informed decision about your future.

Returning to the UK with a Filipino Spouse

Is it Still Safe to Retire in the Philippines?

By now most people who keep an eye on the Philippines will have come across sensationalist headlines of blood in the streets and a growing body count since the election of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Naturally, this causes many people concern, and some may be wondering if it’s still safe to retire in the Philippines.

So, are the rumors true?

Yes, to a large extent the rumors in the newspapers are true. People are definitely dying and there is a lot of killing in the streets. However, what newspapers eager to sell copies and run by vested interests won’t tell you is that there is absolutely zero evidence to show it is actually Duterte who is responsible for any of it.

It’s true that he hasn’t exactly discouraged the idea, and at times has crossed the line and actually encouraged it, but the killings could just as easily be the work of panic-stricken drug lords who realize the game is over and who are trying to tie up loose ends.

While there have been failed attempts to link the president to death squads, there is no smoking gun, and until there is, I will stick by the principle of innocent until proven guilty (I know there’s some irony in this, but that’s life).

The second thing that isn’t reported is that in most of the country nothing violent or terrifying is happening at all. Think about how big the Philippines is, and how many towns, cities and provinces there are. Yes, 1 or 2 people involved with drugs are being bumped off every few days, and undoubtedly some of them are innocent, but in the grand scheme it really isn’t that many and like everywhere in the world, if you stay out of it, you generally don’t have anything to fear.

My insight into this is largely due to the fact that I grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and I’m aware of how most of what qualifies as ‘reporting’ is exaggeration and propaganda. I used to walk along the very same streets which I’d seen utterly destroyed on TV the night before, and not notice much of a difference. It’s pretty much the same here – there’s a war going on alright, but there’s absolutely no sign of it, at least from my vantage point.

I will say, however, that I have noticed several positive changes since the election of Duterte. Just yesterday a brand new trash truck pulled up outside my house and emptied the bins, white lines have magically appeared in the middle of the roads, people are actually stopping to let me cross the road, and new electrical pylons are being erected as I write this.

I’m not sure I can connect the two in a direct cause and effect relationship, but change is in the air and it is palpable. From what I can see, it’s largely positive, being that I neither take nor sell drugs and have nothing whatsoever to fear.

I’m not trying to paint the Duterte administration as some angelic Godsend, nor is it really my place to comment on the politics of a country in which I am not a citizen. I will reserve judgment, as it is both polite and prudent to do so, until the results are in and history is written.

For now, let me answer the question this article set out to address – yes, it’s still very safe to retire in the Philippines, and if things keep improving gradually as they have been, it will continue to remain so, long into the future.

Is it Still Safe to Retire in the Philippines?

Meet Filipinas Online The Easy Way

So you wanna meet Filipinas online, do you?

Welcome to the world of dating Pinays, some of the most beautiful and caring women on the planet. I’ve been married to a Filipina for 2 years now and life has never been better. In fact, several of my friends have decided to come to The Philippines in search of their own Filipina girlfriend within a few months of meeting her when I took her home to meet the family.

I’ve tried to taper their enthusiasm with a healthy dose of caution – not every woman here is the same as my wife! There are good and bad girls in The Philippines, just like anywhere.

Thinking about how to best advise them and answer their questions about how to meet a Filipina got me wondering – why don’t I just write an article explaining the top points of what I’ve learned after 10 years of dating in Asia?

So, that’s exactly what I did. Here are 5 tips to give you the greatest chances of success when dating Filipinas online.

Meet Filipinas Online – 5 Crucial Tips

1. Take Your Time

This might be stating the obvious, but you’d be surprised how many men sign up for a dating website to meet Filipinas online, who ticks all their boxes, and dives right in without a thought for the morrow.

Love is love, and when it strikes there’s very little you can do. One thing you can do, however, is let time do what it does best and give you some perspective.

The reason for taking your time are twofold.

First, those crazy brain chemicals that have you all over the place, eager with anticipation to fly directly to the Philippines and meet your new lady friend will calm down and level out and think about things clearly.

Second, you need at least 6 months to get to know someone well. I think this rule applies to dating anyone, anywhere.

The rules of online dating are the same as the rules of dating in the real world. Remember the old saying when dating Filipinas online – ‘Wise men say, Only fools rush in!’

2. Be Realistic

If you’re 58, have a pot belly and a few missing teeth, albeit with more than a smattering of charm, recognize the warning signs when a 19-year-old model caliber lady is interested in you. You must be honest with yourself and honest with the woman you will talk with while trying to meet Filipinas online.

Sorry to take away your ego enhancer, but if you go down this rabbit hole you’re entering a world of hurt. Why is she interested in you when she could easily take her pick of younger men who know the name of Bieber’s latest hit song? You’ve got to be aware that there are lots of very poor, very desperate girls in this country who will do almost anything to survive, including rinse a sucker like you.

Let me be clear: NOT ALL FILIPINA GIRLS ARE LIKE THIS – FAR FROM IT! I’m not being a racist, a misogynist or a prick for saying it. It’s a sad fact of life and I’ve known guys who have been taken to the cleaners in a haze of love and emotion. I don’t want the same happening to you, dear reader.

Set realistic expectations for yourself and always ask ‘What’s in this for her?’ Understanding her intentions is a key part of successfully dating.

3. Look at Her Profile History

Before I settled down and got married I admit I to was interested in finding out how  to meet Filipinas online. During this period of my life, I learned to spot the girls who lingered for a little too long on those sites, and I began to learn that this meant one of two things: she is a serial dater or she has problems and moves from one guy to the next rapidly.

This is another reason for taking your time and getting to know both the site you are using and any ladies you talk to on there.

Be especially aware of ‘Off-On’ profiles. These are ladies who repeatedly delete and reopen their dating profiles. This should ring alarm bells in your head and cause you to ask yourself ‘What’s she up to?’

3. Meet Her in The Philippines

When you do find a fantastic woman who you really could fall for (oh, you will, believe me), at some stage, you will need to meet her to move things forward.

Start with video chats on Skype. This is much better than texting when it comes to getting to meet Filipinas online.

Eventually, however, you’ll want to meet face to face. Coming to The Philippines is a great idea in and of itself. This is one of the most beautiful countries you’ll ever visit, and coming to meet a love interest is just the icing on the cake.

Meeting your lady friend in The Philippines is also a good idea because it will allow you a great insight into her, who she is, and her culture. There are actually many different cultures within The Philippines, so getting to know her city, her island, family and individual quirks is best done here in her home country.

Besides, you coming to The Philippines is much easier with regards visas, travel costs, and other associated factors.

You’ll be glad you did, whether you decide to move things forward or not!

5. Give Her the Benefit of the Doubt

Dating Filipinas online is no different to dating any woman from a totally different culture. You’re going to have misunderstandings and assign meaning to things where there is none. This can lead to communication problems and a breakdown of the relationship.

Always give her the benefit of the doubt and try to see the best in these situations. What you think her actions mean could be totally different in reality.

Of course, there are blatant warning signs (such as asking you to send large sums of cash to her), but there are lots of little cultural mannerisms, expectations, and norms which it would be a shame to let get in the way of a burgeoning relationship.

The best way to deal with these is to seek to understand. If something doesn’t seem right to you or has you scratching your head, try talking to your love interest and asking her about it.

Opening direct lines of communication and seeking to understand one another can only help you decide whether you’re right for each other or not. This is especially true in cross-cultural relationships.

Dating a Filipina Summary

If you meet the right Filipina online you’re in for what could be the most rewarding relationship of your life. I’ve never met a woman as caring, attentive and genuinely happy as my wife, and I would love everyone to find the same in their partner.

Remembering the 5 tips above will set you on the right track and let you go in with your eyes open.

Best of luck in your quest to meet Filipinas online!

Meet Filipinas Online The Easy Way

Banking in the Philippines

You have now made your move and decided to relocate to the Philippines. You will obviously want to have easy access to your money which is almost certainly paid into your bank back home. To do that, you will want to open a bank account here in the Philippines. Which bank should you choose here? A large, reputable bank is preferable.

All the major banks here all have slightly different rules and processes to open that bank account. There are many types of bank accounts including foreign currency deposit accounts. It falls outside of my expertise to advise you on which type of account you need so I suggest you research that and seek professional advice.

Opening an Account in the Philippines

The general principles in opening an account are that you will have to show proof of ID and provide residence details. Many banks will refuse to open an account if you are on a tourist visa without the ACR card. Once you have that card, then there should be no difficulty opening an account. The process at the bank can take as little as 30 minutes or so and you usually have to wait several business days before you revisit the bank to collect your new debit card. Again, the rules differ from bank to bank, but generally you have to be a customer of the bank for at least 6 months and have a land-line in your name before you can apply for a credit card. I would suggest checking the web sites of all the major banks in the Philippines before you visit your local branch in order to open your account.

Keep your Bank and Credit Cards Back Home

The solid advice from the experts, which I endorse, is to keep your current primary account back home. It’s also a good idea to keep one or two of your home country’s credit cards active too. What about your address back home? Find a good friend or family member who is willing to receive your bank and credit card statements at their address. You can always check your statements online.

So what are the reasons for keeping a “financial footprint” back home? Simple really! You never know what the future holds in store. What if you decide to move back home, or are forced to because of reasons totally out of your control? Your accounts back home, whether bank or credit cards, will ensure you maintain your credit score. It’s a good idea to use your cards now and again for say online purchases, as it doesn’t matter where you now live but shows you are “financially alive and kicking”. In the event of a repatriation, voluntary or otherwise, this should ensure you encounter no problems with items like mortgages, car loans and almost anything else that requires borrowing money.

One of the advantages I found with retaining my home country issued cards was when I was dealing with the Apple Store. I discovered that using a Philippines issued bank card, whether debit or credit, locked me out of certain features of the store. Purely as an aside, it’s also worth considering a VPN to change your location to your home country to further ensure you benefit from features with online retailers that apply to citizens of the United States and the United Kingdom for example, but not to citizens of other countries. Yes, I know that’s discriminatory but please accept that I don’t make the rules!

A further consideration is this: there will be occasions you need to send money to friends or family back home and it’s far easier and cheaper to do this if both parties, you and the recipient, have accounts in the same country. Forget checks! A check drawn on foreign banks can take a long time to clear and it’s not unheard of for such checks not to be accepted at all by banks in the United States or the United Kingdom. Yet another advantage is that your U.S. or U.K. card also has a far greater chance of being accepted at any ATM wherever you travel in the world.

Online Banking

It’s not difficult to track and manage your home based accounts in this digital age. The days of trusting a close friend or family member to take care of your finances back home in your absence have long gone. Using any established bank or other financial institution, enables you to pay any kind of bill from your home country online and schedule money transfers to any individual or organization you wish in the same country as your home account. All it takes is a few clicks on the bank website after you go through the security log in procedures.

But to return to your Philippines bank account – the best advice is to keep sufficient in your new account for your regular payments in your new country. It’s also wise to have a separate savings account with the same bank as your “rainy day” money or “slush fund”. However, it’s also the wise man that keeps the substantial part of his savings in the financial institutions of his home country owing to the enhanced stability of the banking system in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. There are better protective measures in place for savers in the more financially stable countries of the world. Another reason to keep more of your nest egg back home is to do with stable currencies and interest rates. Historically and over the long term many western currencies have been far less volatile than some third world countries. Many savings vehicles back in your home country pay a rate of interest even on some checking accounts.

International Money Transfers

You still need to transfer your home based money to your Philippines account. By far the easiest way to do this is by using one of the many companies that specialize in international currency transfers. Like your online banking, this is also done with a few clicks of the mouse. If you shop around you will find out which are the most reliable, speediest and cheapest. You should closely examine the fees that are charged in conjunction with your actual rate of exchange. It’s no good transferring say $1000 for only a flat fee of say $2 then finding out you are not receiving a competitive exchange rate. Of course, these companies have to make a profit but make sure it’s not at your expense!

I’m sure these tips will save you a few dollars if implemented correctly. If you bump into me and that is the case, then buy me a cold beer!

Banking in the Philippines

5 Great Tips to Meet Filipinas Online

So you wanna meet Filipinas online, do you?

Welcome to the world of dating Pinays, some of the most beautiful and caring women on the planet. I’ve been married to a Filipina for 2 years now and life has never been better. In fact, several of my friends have decided to come to The Philippines in search of their own Filipina girlfriend within a few months of meeting her when I took her home to meet the family.

I’ve tried to taper their enthusiasm with a healthy dose of caution – not every woman here is the same as my wife! There are good and bad girls in The Philippines, just like anywhere.

Thinking about how to best advise them and answer their questions about how to meet a Filipina got me wondering – why don’t I just write an article explaining the top points of what I’ve learned after 10 years of dating in Asia?

So, that’s exactly what I did. Here are 5 tips to give you the greatest chances of success when dating Filipinas online.

Meet Filipinas Online – 5 Crucial Tips

1. Take Your Time

This might be stating the obvious, but you’d be surprised how many men sign up for a dating website to meet Filipinas online, who ticks all their boxes, and dives right in without a thought for the morrow.

Love is love, and when it strikes there’s very little you can do. One thing you can do, however, is let time do what it does best and give you some perspective.

The reason for taking your time are twofold.

First, those crazy brain chemicals that have you all over the place, eager with anticipation to fly directly to the Philippines and meet your new lady friend will calm down and level out and think about things clearly.

Second, you need at least 6 months to get to know someone well. I think this rule applies to dating anyone, anywhere.

The rules of online dating are the same as the rules of dating in the real world. Remember the old saying when dating Filipinas online – ‘Wise men say, Only fools rush in!’

2. Be Realistic

If you’re 58, have a pot belly and a few missing teeth, albeit with more than a smattering of charm, recognize the warning signs when a 19-year-old model caliber lady is interested in you. You have to be honest with yourself and honest with the woman you will talk with while trying to meet Filipinas online.

Sorry to take away your ego enhancer, but if you go down this rabbit hole you’re entering a world of hurt. Why is she interested in you when she could easily take her pick of younger men who know the name of Bieber’s latest hit song? You’ve got to be aware that there are lots of very poor, very desperate girls in this country who will do almost anything to survive, including rinse a sucker like you.

Let me be clear: NOT ALL FILIPINA GIRLS ARE LIKE THIS – FAR FROM IT! I’m not being a racist, a misogynist or a prick for saying it. It’s a sad fact of life and I’ve known guys who have been taken to the cleaners in a haze of love and emotion. I don’t want the same happening to you, dear reader.

Set realistic expectations for yourself and always ask ‘What’s in this for her?’ Understanding her intentions is a key part of successfully dating.

3. Look at Her Profile History

Before I settled down and got married I admit I to was interested in finding out how  to meet Filipinas online. During this period of my life, I learned to spot the girls who lingered for a little too long on those sites, and I began to learn that this meant one of two things: she is a serial dater or she has problems and moves from one guy to the next rapidly.

This is another reason for taking your time and getting to know both the site you are using and any ladies you talk to on there.

Be especially aware of ‘Off-On’ profiles. These are ladies who repeatedly delete and reopen their dating profiles. This should ring alarm bells in your head and cause you to ask yourself ‘What’s she up to?’

3. Meet Her in The Philippines

When you do find a fantastic woman who you really could fall for (oh, you will, believe me), at some stage, you will need to meet her to move things forward.

Start with video chats on Skype. This is much better than texting when it comes to getting to meet Filipinas online.

Eventually, however, you’ll want to meet face to face. Coming to The Philippines is a great idea in and of itself. This is one of the most beautiful countries you’ll ever visit, and coming to meet a love interest is just the icing on the cake.

Meeting your lady friend in The Philippines is also a good idea because it will allow you a great insight into her, who she is, and her culture. There are actually many different cultures within The Philippines, so getting to know her city, her island, family and individual quirks is best done here in her home country.

Besides, you coming to The Philippines is much easier with regards visas, travel costs, and other associated factors.

You’ll be glad you did, whether you decide to move things forward or not!

5. Give Her the Benefit of the Doubt

Dating Filipinas online is no different to dating any woman from a totally different culture. You’re going to have misunderstandings and assign meaning to things where there is none. This can lead to communication problems and a breakdown of the relationship.

Always give her the benefit of the doubt and try to see the best in these situations. What you think her actions mean could be totally different in reality.

Of course, there are blatant warning signs (such as asking you to send large sums of cash to her), but there are lots of little cultural mannerisms, expectations, and norms which it would be a shame to let get in the way of a burgeoning relationship.

The best way to deal with these is to seek to understand. If something doesn’t seem right to you or has you scratching your head, try talking to your love interest and asking her about it.

Opening direct lines of communication and seeking to understand one another can only help you decide whether you’re right for each other or not. This is especially true in cross-cultural relationships.

Dating a Filipina Summary

If you meet the right Filipina online you’re in for what could be the most rewarding relationship of your life. I’ve never met a woman as caring, attentive and genuinely happy as my wife, and I would love everyone to find the same in their partner.

Remembering the 5 tips above will set you on the right track and let you go in with your eyes open.

Best of luck in your quest to meet Filipinas online!

5 Great Tips to Meet Filipinas Online

Philippine 13a Visa Requirements Explained

So you’ve moved to The Philippines, fallen in love and now you’re married. Welcome to the club!

It’s time to take care of the practical side of living here permanently, and one way to do that is to obtain a Philippine 13A visa. This allows you to live here in the Philippines indefinitely and puts an end to those monthly visits to the hot and bothersome immigration office once and for all.

So how do you go about getting the 13A via? Let us explain via this handy FAQ!

Q. Who’s eligible for a 13A visa?

A. Anybody married to a Filipino. If you’re married (either here or abroad), you’re eligible.

Q. Where can I find the relevant law at its source?

A. A quick Google search for ‘Philippine Immigration Act 1940, Section 13’ will bring up the exact law. You can see for yourself exactly what it says. Alternatively click here.

Q. Where can I apply for the 13A visa?

A. You can apply in Cebu, Manila, and Davao. While you can’t apply in any other city as of the time of writing you can ask for further information there and immigration officers will be happy to help.

Q. How long is the visa good for?

A. The first issuance is good for 1 year, after which you will need to renew it. The second issuance is good for 10 years, giving you a long and enjoyable decade of hassle-free living in the Philippines.

Q. Do I have to be married or can I apply while engaged?

A. You’ll need to be married to get the visa, as an authenticated copy of your marriage contract needs to be presented when applying. If you got married abroad this will have to be done in the Philippine embassy.

Q. How long will it take after I apply?

A. Generally, you can estimate about 1 month from the time of application. This can vary so give or take a week.

Q. What documents do I need to submit with the application?

A. You’ll need the following:

• A notarized letter of application from your Filipino spouse.


•  A notarized general application form (yes, it should be filled in).


• An authenticated birth certificate for your Filipino spouse.


•  A copy of your passport showing your current visa (date of arrival must be visible).


• Proof of savings of a minimum of $10,000 USD.


• A clearance certificate issued by the department of immigration.


• A barangay certificate attesting to the fact that you and your spouse live together as husband and wife.


• Police clearance from your own country if you have been in the Philippines less than 6 months. A clearance certificate from the NBI will also be required if you have been here more than 6 months. Source.


•  The appropriate fees, totaling around 20,000 pesos.

Q. What alternatives are there to a Philippine 13A visa?

A. If you’re willing to travel in and out of the country once per year with your spouse you can get a renewable Balik Bayan visa. This will not ever make you a resident of the Philippines but does entitle you to live here with your spouse for a year at a time.

While this is by no means to be taken as expert legal advice, it is a very good starting point information wise when it comes to applying for a Philippine 13A visa.

Whether you’re currently dating and doing your research or are already married and planning to stay we wish you the best of luck and a happy life in the Philippines!

Philippine 13a Visa Requirements Explained

The Philippines - Retire In A Tropical Paradise

The Philippines is such a great place to retire, but few do, and that’s a shame. First of all, the people in the Philippines are different from what you may have grown accustomed to. There’s no sulky faces, no complaining.

Instead, the Filipino people are easy going and friendly and smile a lot.

For a first timer to the Philippines, you may just wonder if you have been magically transported to another dimension! Life is much more enjoyable here. The pace is much slower and the attitude towards life, work and love are much more relaxed.

If you want to quit the rat race and retire to a tropical paradise with pristine beaches, cheap living, and beautiful women, then the Philippines is the place for you.

Consider this; What will you get for $1000 in the US? It’s hardly enough to get a roof over your head, much less live a decent, enjoyable life. Why should your retirement years be spent turning every nickel and being relegated to dating divorced jaded women?

Back in the states, I was a 57-year-old man with alimony, two grown kids and I felt old. And I was treated like I was old. No one smiled at me, and I guess not many people gave a damn. Dating meant taking out divorced middle-aged women, who were always complaining about men, despite having let themselves go. Needless to say, I did not enjoy my life. I am telling you this because I think – no – I KNOW that there are many other guys like me.

Well, imagine waking up in a two story house, kissing your wife, and then getting up for an already prepared breakfast by your own chef. Later in the day, I get my driver to take me to my various appointments that I have. In the evening, we eat out in a nice restaurant or get the chef to prepare a tasty meal. I travel at least once a month and never have to watch my money. To me, this is quite appealing.

Of course, having money is only good if you have someone to share it with. Filipina girls are some of the most beautiful, sensual and kind women you could ever meet. Treat a Filipina with respect and she will make your life happy. I want you to think about this also. Are you satisfied with your life now? Be honest? I want you to know that there is another option.

12 Reasons to Retire in the Philippines

Following are 12 of the most popular reasons for an Expat to retire in the Philippines that I have encountered as a consultant on retirement.

1. An Expat can retire with more money in his pocket at the end of the month.

The cost of living in the Philippines is about one-fifth to one-fourth of the cost of living in the U.S. or the U.K

Consequently, a retirement pension buys more lifestyle for less money and permits the retiree to even have savings at the end of the month.

2. You can escape those cold U.S. winters.

The weather in the Philippines is similar to Hawaii. Although warm year around, it is a bit cooler during

the months of October through March, and then hotter during the period April to September.

3. You can escape the rat-race America and the UK have become.

We all know the pace of life in the 21st century is fast, fast, fast in the U.S and the U.K. However, in the Philippines, things move at a much slower pace, which reduces one’s stress level.

4. You can retire with one or two maids, and a driver.

The cost of a maid is approximately $40 monthly and the cost of a driver is about $60 monthly. Not only does the maid take care of the residence, but she will also navigate the weekly market shopping needs for the best and lowest purchase price for you. Having this kind of value added to one’s life for this small monthly amount of money is unheard of in the western world.

5. After 40 years of toil with no return, working on a job and always “running out of money before running out of month”, retirement in the Philippines reverses this.

Due to the low cost of living in the Philippines, one who retires there will find that due to the lower cost of living, one will always “run out of month before they run out of money”. This is a very delightful experience.

6. You will be able to go to bed every night and wake up every morning free of frustration and anxiety over a lack of money.

When one is continuously anxious about the lack of money, it leads to chronic stress which spills over into health and self-esteem problems. By retiring in the Philippines, due to the lower cost of living you can eliminate this stress from your life.

7. You can have your first and only wife be a beautiful and exotic Filipina. Or if divorced, you can have a beautiful Filipina who completes you rather than competes with you.

Women outnumber men in the Philippines, and due to low per capita income in the Philippines, Filipina ladies are attracted to foreigners with a steady pension income. Further, they are attracted to older foreign men than to younger foreign men. They consider them less likely to philander.

8. You will have great personal relationships that are full of love and friendship and true caring for each other.

Filipinos find themselves by being surrounded with others and having lots of friends. They are not independent people like those from the U.S, rather they are “joiners” and family people. You will develop many warm and lasting friendships while retired in the Philippines.

9. You can live in a male-oriented society, as compared to a female, feminist-oriented society where males are confused about what it is to be a man.

The Philippines culture is one where the man is looked at to be the leader of the family unit. The wife is taught from childhood the importance of being in submission to her husband. The Philippines is a male oriented society.

10. You can have nurses and caregivers readily available to care for you if desired.

One of the major vocations taught in the Philippines is nursing. Nursing schools and graduates are everywhere, with many of them seeking employment overseas. This generates a pool of highly qualified nurses readily available and seeking employment as personal nurses and caregivers, if desired, at extremely low costs compared to the western world.

11. You can live in a country where travel to exciting and adventurous locales in Asia is inexpensive.

The Philippines is very centrally located in Asia, with just a few hours flying time to Tokyo and Korea, a little over an hour to Hong Kong, a couple of hours to Bangkok, and a little over an hour to Singapore.

Airfares are highly competitive and there are lots of daily flights in and out of the Philippines. This makes for a fun retirement life full of travel and excitement, at a very reasonable cost, and with little pain of long travel times.

12. You can live in a country where elders are respected and treated with dignity.

Like other Asian countries, people are taught from childhood the need to respect the elderly.

While living in the Philippines as a senior retiree, you will be treated with respect and dignity unlike you can find in the U.S. or U.K. As an elder, you are considered to be wise and someone to listen to and learn from.

The Philippines has so much to offer American men looking for an escape to a tropical paradise. Most will never fulfill their dreams but continue pondering ‘what if?’.

Don’t get stuck. Live your dreams!

This was an  article submitted by a reader of RTTP. If you would like to have your article featured on our site, please feel free to submit it via email and we’ll take a look.

The Philippines - Retire In A Tropical Paradise

5 Things You Better Ask Before Entering a Cross-Cultural Marriage in The Philippines

Last year I got married to my beautiful wife, K.

I’m from Ireland, and she’s from The Philippines. We’re both in our early thirties, and we love each other dearly.

But boy are there some questions I wish I’d asked and some things I wish we’d talked about before we tied the knot!

Don’t get me wrong, I have absolutely zero regrets and I would do it all again in a heartbeat, but trust me, if you’re going to marry outside your own culture, you’d best straighten these things out, because they will come up later, and then you will stare at each other like alien creatures with several foreheads and wonder what the issue is and why the other person doesn’t understand your perspective.

Talk these things out before they become an issue. Then make the decision based on what’s best for both of you.

Here we go….

Gender Roles

Coming from the Western world, I was accustomed to thinking that helping out by washing dishes after dinner and doing a bit of housework would make my wife happy. You can imagine my confusion when she got angry at me and frustrated by the fact that I was ‘in the way’ and ‘not doing it correctly’.

Yes, that’s right, I was being chastised for doing what I thought my wife wanted and what I’d heard my mother and sister wish their husbands would do for them at home. It turns out that in my wife’s culture a man doing housework is unacceptable, and he is expected to do no more than a few things in a marriage: provide, protect, entertain and advise.

I took the opportunity to never have to do housework again with open arms, but I advise anyone entering a marriage with a Filipino spouse to have a serious chat about what is expected from both parties. Never assume that what flies in your country flies here. That’s rule number 1 on the list.

Ask: What is a man expected to do in a marriage? What is a woman expected to do? What happens if you violate the rules or fail to live up to them? Yes, you’ve got to ask these things you would take for granted by marrying in your own culture.

Family Order & Living Arrangements

Again, coming from the West we learn to be reasonably independent from a young age. We are given choices, advised, and generally told to make it on our own after we leave for college or enter the workforce. What then happens when we start our own families is largely our own business.

Not so in The Philippines.

I quickly discovered that my wife’s family expect to be informed of, involved in, and party to virtually every decision we make of any consequence. This deeply frustrated me to begin with, and I admit on a few occasions I wanted to tell them to go and leave us alone.

I’m thankful I didn’t, because the perspective they provide and the different way of seeing things and how they should be done is invaluable and extremely enriching. I personally value gathering different perspectives and analyzing things from multiple angles before deciding on something, but for those who would interpret this as interference or an encroachment on territory, this could cause serious problems in a marriage.

Another shock I got was that when we got married my brother-in-law moved in with us right away. I was gobsmacked and astounded, and I admit a little miffed. I interpreted this as my wife not wanting to spend time with me alone, whereas my wife intended it as someone to help us out with the stressful times ahead with a new baby on the way and me not having a clue where I was or how to even order a sandwich in the local language nor being able or willing to drive on the insane roads here.

As it turns out this move has been immensely helpful, but it could have blown up in the first weeks and months, and if you’re going to be living in your spouse’s country, it’s best to check what the family set up and living arrangements are, and again, never assume it will be the same as home or that the gestures mean what you think they do. This equally applies if you’re husband or wife moves to your country.

Ask: Will you live together without others? If not, who will live with you? Will you be expected to help out with the extended family? In what ways? Will your parents in law live with you as they age? These are all things worth checking and talking about because we can have vastly different expectations in regard to family life and how it should unfold.

Taboos and Norms

If you met your spouse in the Philippines you should already have a good idea of what’s cool and what’s not. If like me, you met your spouse in a third country you both lived in and moved here later, you will be utterly clueless and totally mystified, and will probably cause your spouse some embarrassment as you learn the ropes.

This can be a very entertaining thing, but it can also be annoying and can put stress on you both. Whereas we in the Western world we tend to question authority and ‘just because you’re older doesn’t mean you’re smarter’, in The Philippines questioning an elder in the family is an unforgivable sin and you’ll be seen as an ignoramus if you do it.

This is something you will need to suss out for yourself. Be aware of it going in if possible, and try your best to accommodate it without sacrificing your own values and individuality. It’s a tightrope walk at times, but it has to be done for your loved one and you would expect the same in return.

If you’re going to live here, then do as the locals do, but it certainly helps to know what that is to begin with!

Money

Yes, you knew it was coming, and it is one of the most important factors of all. Money is one of the leading causes of divorce everywhere and before you enter into a legal agreement with someone whereby you will be sharing financial assets for the rest of your life, you need to straighten out expectations and boundaries with the green stuff (it might be yellow, blue or even purple in The Philippines).

In some countries it is customary for both spouses to work and make a financial contribution throughout their lives, whereas in others it is much more the norm for the wife to stop working when there are small children in the equation, for a much longer period of time than you might be accustomed to in your home country.

Likewise, in some countries a spouse will be very understanding if her husband or his wife can not provide temporarily, whereas in others you will be expected to do whatever it takes, right down to leaving the country and working somewhere else where you will not see your children for extended periods of time, to put the bacon on the table.

You’d better talk this out up front. I lost my job once and my wife nonchalantly suggested I go and work in Ireland while she stayed here. I almost exploded at the thought that she found it acceptable for me to be apart from my son as he grew up, until I paused and realized that here in The Philippines there is a massive culture of overseas foreign workers, and while not quite the norm, it is both common and acceptable to have one spouse working in another country and sending back the finances to support their family. Again, those assumptions will get you!

Ask: Who’s going to earn what? What are you expected to contribute? At what times and in what circumstances is it OK not to contribute? Will you be expected to contribute to anyone else in the family? Will they be expected to contribute to you? All of these things need to be asked because you’re going to have to deal with them eventually.

Time

Time, you say? Yes, time!

You won’t realize this until you have children together, but even if you’ve been expatriated abroad for close to a decade like myself, the intensity with which you miss your family and friends back home is probably going to increase when you have kids.

If you live in The Philippines and are close with your family at home, it’s going to be hard for you when you see your little one bond with and have experiences with his or her family. Yes, it’s wonderful, but you’re also going to think about your loved ones back home and how they’re missing out.

You might even begin to feel guilty or sad about this.

You need to figure out where you’re going to spend your time and how to divide it up. This, of course, is going to cause a lot of distress to your spouse’s family if you decide to spend several months at home since you’ll be yanking a key feature of their lives away from them for a while. You need to find ways to communicate your intentions and make sure both your spouses family and your family understand the rules of what’s going to happen going forward and how everyone can be part of the kids lives.

There are real practical elements to consider here, as well as people’s feelings. How much will all this travel cost? Who will foot the bill? How will this affect your budget and financial plans for the future? Can anyone help out if they have expectations or demands and expect you to meet them? Ask these things now, and you’ll be thankful you did later.

Summary

A cross-cultural marriage is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, escapades you will ever endeavor upon. You will be tested to your absolute limits, learn something new every day, and ultimately go to sleep at night probably more confused and mystified than you were the day before.

Yet, you will be richer in experience, wiser, and altogether better off for it. While the challenges are many, the rewards are equally great!

I hope this has been a helpful guide to cross-cultural marriage in The Philippines. It’s only the tip of the iceberg, and there’s a lot more to it than the above, but these are the basics and it’s best to get them out there in the open from day one.

5 Things You Better Ask Before Entering a Cross-Cultural Marriage in The Philippines

Mindanao Revisited

The article I penned here back in September last year certainly provoked some comments.

Some of you asked for further information, and one of you, Mitchell, wrote in with a longish comment that was converted into an article. Mitchell used a young Canadian, Kyle, as an illustration of the safety of living in and traveling around Mindanao.

Let me make three things clear.

Firstly, there is no mileage in this subject becoming a saga. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Second, the sole purpose of my article was to make folks aware of the travel advisories issued by the U.S., U.K. and Canadian governments about travel in Mindanao.

Third, there are many foreigners either living in, or have traveled around Mindanao who have never encountered any threats.

That’s great news! The same is true for foreigners all over the Philippines. Great news, or even good news, rarely gets reported in the media as we are all aware. Can you sense a ‘but’ coming here?

Negative Image of Mindanao

It was a coincidence that the timing of my article was preceded by the kidnapping of foreigners at the resort in Samal Island in Davao del Norte.

Kyle mentions similar travel advisories on his blog Becoming Filipino –

He says,

At first they definitely put a little bit of fear into my life. I was a little more cautious and fearful then my usual self. There are so many negative thoughts thrown around about Mindanao on a daily basis, through media, internet and in general chit-chat that it would be hard not to have a little fear when you hear that word.

“That word” he was referring to was “Mindanao.” I agree with him. It’s ludicrous to label the whole island as some kind of lawless wild-west frontier.

However, the ‘but’ you may have sensed coming is that terrorists do operate in Mindanao and some of them specialize in the ‘kidnap for ransom’ of foreigners.

Since the Samal kidnappings another foreigner was kidnapped in Dipolog. The victim was an Italian, a former priest and a pizza parlour owner at the time of the kidnapping. Clearly, the kidnappers believed that he was wealthy and someone would pay a ransom.

He has never been heard of since.

The British and Australian governments state clearly on their websites that they will not negotiate with terrorists. It is my understanding that the U.S. Government has a similar policy. It seems that if you are foreigner and kidnapped here in the Philippines no one in authority gives a flying fig! ‘You were warned’ is probably the unofficial government view.

No Room for Complacency

It’s abundantly clear that Kyle and Mitchell make a valid case for over-hype of the Mindanao ‘problem’.

Life carries on. It may carry on for you as a foreigner living or traveling in Mindanao, but there ought to be no room for complacency.

Despite the picture painted by Mitchell and Kyle, a kidnap for ransom could happen to any foreigner. It is foolish not to accept that risk exists as a fact even if you are in Iligan or CDO, or even further afield.

The latest intelligence warnings from western governments spell out that certain groups plan to extend their kidnap operations further away from their base in southern Mindanao.

Kidnap for Ransom Groups Operating in North Mindanao

This is what the U.K. government is currently advising:

[I]t appears that the information as of late October 2015 indicates that kidnap for ransom groups may be planning operations in North Mindanao including the islands off the coast.

That advice stood as of 1/2/15. Indeed, it has been suggested that these kidnap raids could extend to the coastal areas of southern Negros Island and Siquijor.

It matters not one iota how much you smile or mingle. If a terrorist group sees you, a foreigner, as an easy target for kidnap, then no amount of smiley faces will prevent that happening.

The editorial preamble to Mitchell’s article included a reference to high and moderate risk assessments throughout the Philippines. It correctly pointed out that the official Philippines intelligence agency had rated Boracay as a higher risk than much of Mindanao. There was good reason for that which is beyond the scope of this article.

Before that Philippines government assessment lulls anyone into a false sense of “security”, I must point out that Samal Island near Davao, was the scene of the recent kidnapping of a group of foreigners on 21 September, 2015. Yet, Davao del Norte and Samal Island are in the “moderate” classification and Boracay rated under “high” risk. Go figure!

This Samal kidnapping was the one referred to in my original article. To all intents and purposes those foreigners have disappeared just like most of the other kidnapped foreigners over the past five or six years.

Lightning Can Strike Anywhere Anytime

I stress once more I accept that you guys who know and live in certain parts of Mindanao feel safe.

Surely the operative word is “feel”. The comments section of both articles on this site contain sentiments to the effect that, “there are plenty of foreigners now living in X, Y or Z” (therefore all is fine).

Of course, that is the case, but entirely misses the point of the warnings. The unspoken part of the warnings surely is, “lightning can strike anywhere, anytime.”

Response to Comments

In answer to Jay Alexander’s questions in his comment following my original article, I would say this as general advice based on my 30 years’ experience in law enforcement (these views are entirely my own opinion).

The advice applies wherever you live or choose to live in the Philippines –

• Find a house to live in a secure sub-division in an urban environment. The more remote and isolated your home is, the more likely you will be targeted by criminals.


• Keep a low profile.


• As a foreigner, you are not legally permitted to own a firearm. There is nothing to stop you having access to one owned by say your wife, in the event of a life-threatening situation. The consequences of you using that gun are impossible to predict.


• The notion of fostering good relations with a PNP officer is not a bad idea, but, can you trust him?


• The guard/attack dog is a great plan.


• No matter how ‘native’ you intend to go, you will always be a foreigner!


• Your valid question about the victims’ lifestyles is difficult to answer in full as I simply do not have the facts at my disposal. The reports of the kidnappings of the foreigners in Samal Island in September 2015, Canadians, Norwegian and a Filipina, say they were simply doing their normal thing at the holiday resort.

The most recent government travel advisories are to be found here:

• UK Government Foreign Travel Advisories


• UK Government Terrorism Advice


• US Government Travel Advisories for the Philippines


• Australian Government Travel Advisories for the Philippines

If any of you are interested in a full and detailed current account and history of insurgency in the Philippines then I thoroughly recommend further reading:

• Philippines government document National Security Policy 2011 – 2016


• Terrorism – a Problem in the Philippines, Michelle Celebrado


• Current Terrorist Groups and Emerging Extremist Armed Movements in the Southern Philippines: THREATS TO PHILIPPINE NATIONAL SECURITY , Rommel C. Banlaoi

Mindanao Revisited

Nose Bleed! Nose Bleed!

‘Nose bleed’ is an expression you soon hear as an expat when mixing with Filipino friends or the family of your spouse or girlfriend.

Many of your Filipino acquaintances will make an effort to speak in English with you, assuming you as the foreigner, are from an English speaking nation. However, don’t be at all surprised after thirty minutes or so if they revert to speaking in their regional or national tongue. Occasionally, the odd Filipino will make zero effort to speak in English in your company.

I noticed this within a few short weeks of arriving on the shores of the archipelago. Every time I was socializing surrounded by Filipinos all would speak in English for a time before reverting to Ilonggo; the language of Negros Island also known as Hiligaynon. Except for one guy, who flat refused to talk in English.

After a few months I decided to query this phenomenon in a most pleasant way. Laughing and joking with a smile on my face, I asked two of the family group about this. They laughed and simply said, “Nose bleed”.

Essentially the expression is used whenever Filipinos encounter somebody that speaks English fluently. Alternatively, it is used by Filipinos when they encounter something difficult like an exam, an interview, when trying to solve complex problems, or when reading a document containing technical words. Examples of those types of documents would be those found in the medical or legal professions where English is the lingua franca.

Personally, it does not faze me when experiencing the sudden switch from English to the native tongue. I know of one expat who finds it annoying and even interprets it as a sign of rudeness. I don’t agree with that – it’s simply a Filipino thing just like surfing Facebook on their cell phones even during a meal! Vive la difference!

Filipino or Tagalog?

The use of language in the Philippines is an interesting subject. For example, from my own reading I am still uncertain whether Filipino or Tagalog is the official language of the country. It depends on the source of your information.

And, did you know that there are some 120 to 175 languages in the Philippines, depending on the method of classification?

It also appears that the subject of language is capable of causing spleens to vent. A recent article in the Inquirer titled “Filipino is no longer Tagalog” by Marne Kilates, deals with the evolution of Filipino, the national language, since it was proclaimed as the basis for the development of the national language in 1937. Much of this piece is about a misconception among Filipinos that the national language is “out to kill [off] the native and regional languages”.

Living Language

In the same article, Almario, one of the prominent defenders of the national language extolled its virtues owing to it being a “living language”. The article then goes on to explain in detail about the history of the Filipino alphabet (abakada) with its addition of consonants such as F and V. Then later as Rizal added the vowels E and O to the native 3-vowel, 17-sound vocabulary the argument runs that abakada was “no longer ‘pure’ Tagalog”.

It was the 1987 Constitution of the Republic that first called the national language Filipino. It also added 8 letters to the abakada so it became more “inclusive of the sounds occurring in the Philippines’ other native languages”. This marked the change from the Tagalog/Pilipino abakada to the Filipino “alpabeto”. Almario concludes with the proposition “[T]hat’s why the Filipino language is no longer Tagalog”.

Venting of Spleens

The venting of spleens was to be found in the comments section of the article –

Bull! Filipino is still Tagalog, pure and simple, not this kind of stupidity fostered by Almario and his gang. What are the sounds this megalomaniac is talking about? KWF has no strategy/program for developing Filipino. The F and V sounds and the orthographies they are developing for the other languages do not make Filipino. But the structure, the syntax, the vocabulary of Filipino should define the national language. What words, idiomatic expressions, phrases in the other languages have been incorporated in Filipino? For one, where is balay that is common to Ilokano and other Visayan languages?

Followed by –

Listen to UKG or TV Patrol for a minute or two and you’ll be amazed at the words they have introduced into Pilipino, new words like “problemado”, “tensionado”, “inorderan”, “klnumpirmahan”, etc. I suggest the anchors and support personnel take some time to read “Florante at Laura”, “Banaag at Sikat” or “Ibong Mandaaragit”. It’s a shame.

It all reminds me firstly of why Latin is now a ‘dead language’; secondly it is also harking back to the days when the ‘language police’ in England used to wring their collective hands at such Americanisms as “alphabetize”.

It’s what people who collect records do to their collection. Until relatively recently, British people would have just called that putting the records in alphabetical order, or having a tidy-up, but now many of them use this apt expression for it, even if it does come with that troublesome z on the end.

Anyway (if you are British, anyways if American) a living language, whether Filipino or English, has to be better than a dead one, even if it all gives us nose bleed!

If you would like to read the full article that inspired this post you can find it here.

Nose Bleed! Nose Bleed!