| It is advisable to obtain your visas prior to departure from the States. It's much cheaper and easier.
For example, if your wife is a Philippine citizen, a resident visa in the USA costs about $100; here it's $400. If your minor children were born of a Filipina mother who is still a Philippine citizen, they have "dual" citizenship. By obtaining formal recognition of this dual citizenship, they can enter the Philippines without a visa - much cheaper in the long run for them than a resident visa. In almost all cases, it's better to make those arrangements before you leave the U.S.
If you are not married to a Filipina and want a resident visa,
you will have to get it here with the assistance of a travel agent
at a cost of about $2000.
If you are single and coming to the Philippines to live, you will
need a 13 (g) visa or permanent visa or "resident visa"
many times referred to as an "ACR". An ACR is "Alien
Certificate of Registration". These are good for around 10
years. There are two common types of resident visas. A 13 (a) or
13 (g).
A 13 (a) visa is one you get when married to a Filipina and she
sponsors you.
A 13 (g) visa is when you are a foreigner coming to live and are
single.
This type visa is a Quota visa whereas the 13 (a) is a non-quota
visa. These visas vary in price since the quota visa is being purchased
and the non-quota is a give me. The price also varies where you
get the visas for example, if you get it through Philippine immigrations
yourself it much cheaper than going to a travel agent.
Philippine immigrations has a new visa that is plastic much like
an ATM card and must be on you personally at all times. This visa
makes leaving and returning to the Philippines easier.
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