Has anyone downgraded a 13A permanent residence visa to a tourist visa? I'm going back to the US for cancer surgery, and I want to come back in one year. It would be a big help if you could tell me how long this process takes.
If you're coming back, you don't need to downgrade your visa. When you leave, pay the ECC-B (3,380 pesos) and it's valid for one year. If you stay outside the Philippines for more than a year, you'll need to pay a new ECC-B for each year (or part of a year) you're absent. Have pesos ready. You can handle the annual report within 30 days after you return. If your ACR-I expires while you're abroad, you can still come back in, but you can't leave again until you fix it. If you don't plan to return to live in the Philippines permanently, downgrading is the better option. Allow 2 to 3 months for the process.
You don't need to downgrade. If you plan to come back, why go through that whole process from the beginning again?
Keep the 13A. If there's a problem when you come back, you can just enter on a tourist visa. Don't forget your outbound flight ticket. Good luck.
Sorry to hear about the cancer... Why are you going back to the US? Is it because of Medicare? Depending on the type and stage of cancer, it might be worth considering treatment in Manila or Vietnam... Your wife can also come with you during treatment.
Comments 0
Please log into write a comment.