Post: #1

FML

So i go to extend my passport today here in the Philippines and they notice that it was never stamped checking me into the Philippines. I have a apartment in Davao that im staying in. The lady at immigration in Davao wants me to fly back to Manila an check in with immigration there. I dont want to have to fly back to Manila just to try to check in, its not that i wont. But i really dont want to fly out there an somehow get stuck there or they make me fly out of the country from there while all my shit is still in my apartment in Davao.... She didnt give me a guarantee that they would just be like "oh my bad here ya go"

I wonder what would happen if i just stay here till im ready to leave then buy a ticket out of the country. What happens when you show up at immigration to leave a country an you were never stamped in to be at... seems risky..

Anything like this ever happened to anyone else, i guess i really need to figure out what the fuck i am to do in the next few days as my 21 days is up today or tomorrow

Post: #2

Some questions:
Are you extending your visa or your passport ? that's a big difference.
Have you asked what the consequenses are of not having a entry stamp ?
How did you get into the country without a stamp ?

I have been to the immigration office in Davao too.Even got the phone number of a girl while i had to wait there for two hours. They seemed friendly enough at the immigration, Maybe you can go to Davao airport and check in there. Not sure but i think there international flights to Singapore from there too.

I wouldn't take this lightly and maybe its better to pack up your stuff and go to Manila for the day. Its only a short flight. Immigration is strict in the phils.

Post: #3

The Davao airport has international flights from Singapore, so you should try with immigration there first. If that fails, a little grease might help at the Davao immigration office; it's a 3rd-world country, after all. Failing that, you'll probably have to head off to Manila to get it sorted.

Post: #4

1. I want to extend my passport not my visa
2. I asked the lady at immigration what happens if i try an leave the country without being stamped in she just looked at me.
3. Im not sure how i got to Davao with out getting stamped in, my flight from Hong Kong to Manila was delayed for maybe 20 mins an i only had a hour in Manila to switch flights so everything was kind of rushed.

I went to the Davao airport today an the security guy told me immigration was closed an would be open around 6 cause theres a international flight later, this was about 3 o clock. You cant get in the airport with having a flight ticket he told me if i waited he would walk me up to immigration, he was very friendly an helpful an sat with me for about a hour. He has me sit at a cafe in the airport an tells me he will come get me when the immigration people show up. Around 530 he comes an tells me they arent commining today they will be there tomorrow. An that he will meet me outfront the airport at 1130 an take me to them. So i will go back to the airport tomorrow an see what happens. From what i saw online the immigration at Davao is only for international flights going out? I know i couldnt find any flights from HK or China that flew directly into Davao, i feel like you have to go threw Manila to get to Davao. But maybe they can help point me in the right direction, the lady at the Davao immigration wasnt much help....

I have been here past my 21 days as of tomorrow, im affraid if i fly to Manila they are just gonna have me leave as i have no extended visa/passport and no return ticket. (i bought a round trip ticket from
HK cause people were saying they wouldnt let me in the Phils without a return ticket)

Its fairly lame as i have a apartment still paid for for a few weeks an things i bought for it, i planned on staying here for months. It would be lame to have pack everything an take if i go to manila just incase while im there they tell me to fly on out of the country....

Post: #5

(03-27-2012 08:30 AM)Cr33pin Wrote:  1. I want to extend my passport not my visa

So why are you dealing with Philippine immigration and not the US Department of State? This is confusing.

Post: #6

(03-27-2012 09:21 AM)Soma Wrote:  

(03-27-2012 08:30 AM)Cr33pin Wrote:  1. I want to extend my passport not my visa

So why are you dealing with Philippine immigration and not the US Department of State? This is confusing.

I was wondering that myself and why would you go to a 3rd country with a nearly expired passport ?

Give us some details.
- Did you go to phils with a nearly expired passport ?
- you didn't get a entry stamp ?
- How can you not get an entry stamp on arrival in a new country ? you have to go through customs.
- do you have a ticket out of the country ? Its mandatory but they don't always ask for it at customs. In your case they might make a problem about it.
- you already past your first free of visa charge 21 days ?

So now you have your old nearly expired passport without an entry stamp and you want a new pasport ??
What the deal here ?

You can buy a return trip to any country. i once bought a bullshit ticket in a Cebu pacific promotion sale. It was a ticket for clark (angeles city) to kota kinabalu in Malaysia ( set me back only 800 pesos)


You better get this sorted out before you end up in Pinoy jail.

Post: #7

(03-27-2012 08:30 AM)Cr33pin Wrote:  3. Im not sure how i got to Davao with out getting stamped in, my flight from Hong Kong to Manila was delayed for maybe 20 mins an i only had a hour in Manila to switch flights so everything was kind of rushed.

Did you go through the immigration? Did you fill up the immigration card? They should have you in the computer.

Quote:I went to the Davao airport today an the security guy told me immigration was closed an would be open around 6 cause theres a international flight later, this was about 3 o clock.

Go to the Bureau of Immigration, not to the airport - it is close to the airport (behind it). Their office in Davao is on JP Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City. There you can ask the questions as well as apply for the visa extension. You'll need it anyway as they won't let you out without getting it.

Quote:I have been here past my 21 days as of tomorrow, im affraid if i fly to Manila they are just gonna have me leave as i have no extended visa/passport and no return ticket. (i bought a round trip ticket from HK cause people were saying they wouldnt let me in the Phils without a return ticket)

If you overstayed, you'll also have to pay extra fine. Makes no sense to leave and reenter. And no, they won't kick you out of the country - in fact they won't even let you leave the country until you paid this fine.

Post: #8

Well I don't know the intricacies of this particular 3rd world country but a $20 bill paper-clipped to the inside of the passport followed by the question "can I pay here?" might just do the trick. That's gotten me out of many a fix in Latin America.

Post: #9

No I should have been more clear. My passport is not expiring. The way i was reading about the 21 days you get to be in the Philippines isnt really a visa they just give you a stamp an 21 days on your passport? Not like a legit visa that you apply for. My passport does not expire for 10 more years.

Post: #10

Go to Bureau of Immigration and get the "visa extension". Google it.

Post: #11

How did this work out in the end (if you're not in jail right now)?

Post: #12

The lady at the immigration office ended up saying she was gonna give me the 38 day stay extension. Since that last day i went there was my 21st day here if she had not done that i would have to start paying fines. But she said she was not gonna stamp my passport just my 38 day extension application. She was gonna call Manila an see what they said an call me back, she was very adamant about getting my cell # so she could call me.... She never called. I dont have the application she stamped saying my stay was extended. Plus i didnt have to pay the small fee that you have to pay to get the extension.

So im not real sure whats going on i will go back there an see what the deal is tomorrow or thursday

Post: #13

Maybe she wanted you to take her out for dinner; IMHO you should have offered. Never hurts to get friends in Immigration.